Students who soon will be filling critical jobs in Lehigh Valley’s growing industries were honored for their investment in building their futures through career and technical education.
Ninety students from Lehigh Career & Technical Institute, Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School, Upper Bucks County Technical School, Monroe Career and Technical Institute, and Career Institute of Technology participated in SkillsUSA Council District 11’s annual Signing Day event on May 10 at DeSales University. 
Modeled after the popular events where high school athletes sign with colleges, the students signed with their future employers, military academies, and institutions of higher learning as their parents and other supporters watched.
“Local employers constantly tell us what they need, the fact that they require a steady flow of talent that is trained and ready to maintain operations with flexibility to change and grow. Today is a celebration of these students who have chosen to maximize their skilled trade training, with an eye on becoming successful and financially secure. Today, we are proud to recognize students who have made a solid investment in their future,” said Andy Hammer, Executive Director of SkillsUSA Council District 11.
SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. A nonprofit national education association, SkillsUSA serves middle school, high school, and college/postsecondary students preparing for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations.
The graduating students recognized at Signing Day will be entering fields including manufacturing, engineering, construction, technology, health and human services, transportation, and culinary arts. Many of the businesses, colleges, and armed forces where they are headed attended Signing Day to support them.
Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. (LVEDC) was the Title Sponsor of Signing Day. Promoting and coordinating a skilled and prepared workforce is one of the priorities of LVEDC, which works with partners to uncover regional occupation and skills demand and build strategies to ensure that our workforce is prepared for the career opportunities at local employers.
Karianne Gelinas, LVEDC’s Vice President of Regional Partnerships & Talent Strategies, told the students there is a demand for their skills.
“Every day we at the LVEDC work with companies that are looking to relocate to or expand to the Lehigh Valley. And every day those companies tell us that a critical factor in their choice is knowing that they'll have access to the talented workforce that will get the job done. You are that talented workforce. Those companies need you to be successful,” Gelinas said.
The graduates include Jaden Barasch of Parkland High School, who attended Lehigh Career & Technical Institute to study electrical technology. He told the audience at Signing Day about his journey with LCTI and SkillsUSA, which included making it to the statewide SkillsUSA competition twice. He had a co-op with West Side Hammer Electric and an internship with International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local No. 375.
“The training, guidance, support, and opportunities provided are second to none,” he said.
The Lehigh Valley boasts the only SkillsUSA Council that not only offers all the benefits of SkillsUSA national, but also professional development conferences and interest clubs year-round here in the Lehigh Valley.
Hammer thanked the parents of students who participated in Signing Day.
“You guys have played an integral part, and you may not realize this, in getting rid of or eliminating the stigma of what career and technical education is,” he said. “That is one of the missions of SkillsUSA. We want to fight that battle every day and continue to show off the skills that are necessary to create a world-class workforce in the 21st century.”