May 8, 2019 (Excelsior Springs,MO) – In order to help close the skills gap and raise awareness of career options in the skilled trades, ESACC, participated in SkillsUSA National Signing Day Sponsored by Klein Tools, celebrating thousands of high school seniors across the country pursuing a career in the skilled trades.ESACC was one of approximately 300 schools across the U.S. participating in National Signing Day, which recognized over 2,500 students nationwide.
“We are thrilled we were able to partner with SkillsUSA and Klein Tools’ for the first-ever National Signing Day,” says Justin McBee HVAC instructor. “As the shortage of skilled workers worsens, we at ESACC encourage students to enter this rewarding industry upon graduation. Our seniors should be very proud of everything they have accomplished at ESACC as they continue to further their education and training post-graduation. We wish them all the best as they prepare for their lifelong careers.”
In a style similar to “National Signing Day” events for high school student athletes, multiple students at ESACC were recognized as they signed their “letters of intent” for a job offer, apprenticeship or advanced technical training. Students were celebrated among school administrators, teachers, SkillsUSA advisors, family and friends, as they take the next step in their education in residential wiring, building trades and renovations, HVAC or plumbing. High school seniors also received a Klein Tools Signing Kit, which included a hat, t-shirt, and their first pair of Klein Tools pliers to begin their lifelong careers.
“This was an exciting day for our students as they committed to careers in the skilled trades,” says Ed Gouldsmith, SkillsUSA advisor at ESACC. “These seniors have worked hard over the years to prepare for this next chapter of their life. Through their education at ESACC, our seniors understand the hard work needed to be successful in the trades. This recognition is very well deserved to each and every one of them.”
“The first National Signing Day was a success thanks to ESACC and its students,” says Mark Klein, co-president of Klein Tools. “Best of luck to these students as they enter the skilled trades to start their careers with their first pair of Klein Tools pliers.”
For more information on National Signing Day, visit: www.kleintools.com/nsd.
About Klein Tools
Since 1857 Klein Tools, a family-owned and operated company, has been designing, developing and manufacturing premium-quality, professional-grade hand tools. The majority of Klein tools are manufactured in plants throughout the United States and are the No. 1 choice among professional electricians and other tradespeople. Klein is a registered trademark of Klein Tools, Inc. For more information, visit www.kleintools.com.
About SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is a vital solution to the growing U.S. skills gap. SkillsUSA empowers its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens as it improves the quality of our nation’s future skilled workforce. The nonprofit partnership of students, instructors and industry ensures America has the skilled workforce it needs to stay competitive. SkillsUSA helps every student excel through the development of SkillsUSA Framework skills that include personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics. The association serves more than 360,000-member students and instructors per year in middle schools, high schools and colleges. This diverse talent pipeline covers 130 trade, technical and skilled service occupations, the majority STEM-related. More than 600 corporations, trade associations, businesses and labor unions actively support SkillsUSA at the national level. Local, state and national championships are designed and judged by industry to set relevant standards for career and technical education and provide recognition opportunities for students. SkillsUSA programs also help to establish industry standards for job skill training in the lab and classroom and promote community service. SkillsUSA is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and is cited as a “successful model of employer-driven youth development training program” by the U.S. Department of Labor. SkillsUSA offers technical skill assessments and workplace credentials through the SkillsUSA Career Essentials program, a cutting-edge solution that defines, implements and measures career readiness skills for students. For more information: www.skillsusa.org.