By NATE KING
Salina Post
Salina Area Technical College celebrated National Tech Signing Day on Thursday. The nationally celebrated event recognizes students who are entering technical fields and emphasizes the commitment of tech colleges to help students gain skills necessary to compete in high demand jobs.
The event took place at the Salina Tech Student Success Center, 2562 Centennial Road, where students were honored for their dedication to pursuing technical careers.
Brenda Gutierrez, executive director for the Salina Tech Foundation, said students who participated in the national signing day event received a $1,000 scholarship.
Students signed commitments to continue their education or start their careers at Salina Tech. The event was attended by families of the students signing and Salina Tech faculty, staff, and fellow students.
Students who were on campus to sign commitments included:
Madison Brackney, Prairie View, Dental Assisting
Emma Gilpin, Pratt, Dental Assisting
Hannah Fleming, Clay Center, Dental Assisting
Laramee Chestnut, Glade, Early Childhood Education
Retired career technical education coordinator and former school board member for Southeast of Saline, Joe Ryan, served as the guest speaker for the event.
Ryan currently serves on the Smoky Valley school board and served as the master of ceremonies for Salina Tech's first signing day four years ago.
Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, national signing day was moved to a virtual format. Salina Tech President Greg Nichols, said having this year's signing event not only in person, but also in the recently renovated student success center, made it a huge success.
"Before the COVID-19 pandemic, we had never done the signing day remotely, so now having them [signing students] come back on campus, it gets them the excitement of oh, 'This is really happening,'" said Nichols. " I don't think people are just looking for show, it's got to be substance. You got to put on your best presentation for attracting people. The jobs are going to attract people in one way, but our facilities are in good shape. We are working towards maintaining and improving a lot of different facilities."
Brackney said she decided to join the dental assistance program because she always had issues with her teeth. Thanks to the help of dentists and dental assistants, Brackney said she has greater confidence and a better smile.
"I want to work in a job that will allow me to boost people's confidence and to help people like me," Brackney said.
Brackney is from the town of Prairie View and attends high school in Logan. Last year she and her family visited Salina Tech for a tour to help in the decision making process.
"Salina Tech has always really stuck with me," Brackney said. "After seeing the program's classrooms and with the recent renovations it seems like a lot of new and cool stuff is happening here in Salina."
Because not all of the students who were signing commitment papers were able to make it to Salina for the Thursday event, Erica Kruckenberg, vice president of student services, visited other high schools that preferred their students stay on campus. In total, 29 students signed letters of commitment to Salina Tech.
Gutierrez also emphasized the signing event would not have been possible without the more than 25 individuals, businesses, and industries support for the scholarships given out.
Local sponsors able to attend the event on Thursday included
Tyler Johnson, Geoprobe
Monica Heasty, Berry Companies, Inc.
Bill Nelson, Lindsborg, Trane
Donations in support of national signing day are still being accepted.
"To support incoming students, please mail your donation to Salina Tech, 2562 Centennial Road, Salina, KS 67401 attention National Signing Day," Gutierrez said.
