Seven northwest Georgia high school students committed to pursuing a technical education during a signing event hosted by Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC).
This year marks GNTC’s second time participating in the National Career and Technical Education (CTE) Letter of Intent Signing Day, which was held on April 16 at the Gordon County Campus in Calhoun.
“Technical education provides practical skills, industry connections and a strong foundation for lifelong success,” Dr. Elizabeth Anderson, GNTC’s vice president of Academic Affairs and Institutional Effectiveness, said. “Today we celebrate the impact of technical education in shaping the future of our workforce.”
During National Signing Day, 84 participating National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3) Leadership Schools across the nation hosted high school students, parents, educators, industry partners, potential employers and others to watch students sign their letters of commitment to pursue a technical education at the college of their choice after they finish high school. GNTC also live-streamed the event.
NC3’s mission is to train and educate future skilled workers for productive careers. NC3 certifications can be used across various CTE program areas including aviation, construction science and energy efficiency, digital literacy, health and safety, horticulture, manufacturing, transportation and welding. NC3 certifications also include STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programs.
“NC3 trains instructors so that they can effectively train the students and give them the certifications that are much needed in the skilled workforce to help companies operate and grow,” said Jon Byrd, executive director of Aviation at GNTC and Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) state aviation advisor.
Certiport, Copeland, Daniels Manufacturing Corporation, Dremel, Festo, Greenlee, Kubota Tractor Corp., Lincoln Electric, Palmer Hamilton, RIDGID, Snap-on Inc., Starrett Co., Swift, 3M, Test Products International Inc. (TPI), Thermo King, Tormach and Trane are global industry partners partnering with NC3.
The organization also partners with the American Association of Community Colleges; Association for Career and Technical Education: Aspen Institute; American Technical Education Association; Federal Aviation Administration; National Association of Manufacturing; Manufacturing Skill Standards Council; National Association of Workforce Boards; National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers; National Rural Education Association; Partnership for Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration Accreditation; SkillsUSA; SME Education Foundation; TechForce Foundation; and the United States FabLab Network.
Listed below are the signees including the students’ names, high schools and intended programs of study:
Cosmetology
Isila Diaz-Ambrocio, Rome High School
Gracie Laine Isbell, Rockmart High School
Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Myriam Perez-Borja, Gordon Central High School
Electrical Technician
William Luke Poteet Rosenbalm, Dade County High School
Nursing
Madison Brylee Tucker, Heritage High School
Radiology
Christopher Ortiz, Sonoraville High School
Welding and Joining Technology
Ireland Amyx, Sonoraville High School
“In fall 2023, GNTC was honored to become Georgia’s first NC3 Leadership School,” Anderson said. “This distinction allows GNTC to participate in exclusive events like today’s National Signing Day, and we are excited to be a part of this opportunity.”
Anderson said 13 GNTC faculty members have a combined total of about 165 NC3 certifications, and the college has issued more than 1,000 industry NC3 credentials to students. Byrd and Zac Fager, program director and instructor of Aviation Maintenance Technology at GNTC, are NC3 Master Instructors.