Trade students in Bedford set up for success as they sign onto full-time jobs

BEDFORD, Va. (WDBJ) – Friends, families and employers joined in the Susie G. Gibson Science and Technology Center to celebrate two years of hard work by graduating seniors for the Career and Technology Education (CTE) signing day.

“What we want to do is take the opportunity to recognize all the accomplishments of all these students, specifically the graduating seniors,” said Anna Payne, a senior in Bedford County Schools and a student and Susie G. Gibson.

Seniors have completed their studies in various trades- ranging from automotive, cosmetology, HVAC, military and more. On Tuesday, those students got to share their successes in the CTE program by signing onto full-time jobs for after graduation.

“It’s just great for the kids. I mean, to be able to work so hard as they have the past two years, and then be able to have a job that training that they’ve had, I think that’s an awesome thing,” said Stephen Wingold, the HVAC instructor.

Careers in trade are going, and they’re jobs that come with lots of preparation.

“A trade is not easy. You have to pass the certifications, you have to know a lot of information, you have to have that credibility,” said Payne. She is the Cadet Captain of the JROTC program at the school. 

It’s a big day for students and employers. Wingold said jobs in trade, especially HVAC, are needed now.

“The age rate of the HVAC contractors is like 45, so they’re going to be retiring soon. So the best time for these guys to get in there is to learn from them, and then they’ll just walk in there right behind them,” he explained.

For all the hard work and everything these students will accomplish in the future, Wingold has no doubt these students will succeed.

“I think they’re going to do awesome. I really do. I mean these kids have worked really hard to get where they’re at,” he said.

As graduation rolls around, some of these students have signed onto jobs that are local. They will continue to grow in the same area where it all began.

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