CCPS' CTA Participates in SkillsUSA National Signing Day

Calvert County Public Schools’ (CCPS) Career and Technology Academy (CTA) hosted a SkillsUSA Signing Day ceremony celebrating 99 graduating seniors on May 7, 2024. In attendance were business partners, sponsors, community officials, school leaders, and families. The event is celebrated annually via SkillsUSA, a co-curricular Career and Technical Student organization dedicated to supporting students in becoming skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members.

According to the SkillsUSA website, “SkillsUSA National Signing Day is a nationwide celebration showcasing our next generation of skilled professionals and the skilled career paths that have been, are and always will be essential to America’s future. With the ongoing labor shortage continuing to affect so many skilled trade areas, generating student interest in pursuing these in-demand, high-paying careers — and honoring those who do — is more vital than ever.”

According to CTA Principal, Carrie Akins, the event is important as a way to recognize individual students, but also to highlight the importance and role of careers in the trades. “This event is an important reminder to us all that success follows many paths. I hope our community is as excited about the opportunities that these students have prepared for as we are,” stated Akins. 

During the event, students signed symbolic letters of intent to pursue careers across a variety of skilled trades, including construction fields, healthcare, information technology, culinary arts, cosmetology, the United States Military, and more as part the event. In all, CTA students’ commitments are aligned with over 40 different organizations, business, branches of the military, and technical or trade programs.

Tom Gifford, Business Agent for Steamfitters Local 602, was one of many business partners who participated in the event, sitting alongside students as they signed commitments to join the organization. “The partnership between Steamfitters Local 602 and Calvert Career & Technology Academy has been fantastic. We get some of the best candidates for our apprenticeship program through CTA. Many of the previous students from CTA have graduated from our apprenticeship program and are enjoying fulfilling careers in the HVAC and Pipefitting Industries,” stated Gifford. He added, “The National Signing day event positively promotes the fact that you do not need to attend a four-year university to be successful and earn family sustaining wages and benefits.”

“To say we are proud of these students is definitely an understatement,” said Akins. “I am excited for the roles they will be filling in our community which ensures that we are well-sustained as a county and region for years to come.”

This year’s students who signed letters of intent and their intended employers, military service, or technical education program sponsors are:

• 231 Farm & Outdoor Sports: Josh Mannis
• Annapolis City Fire Department: Cody Davenport
• Architect of the Capitol: Andrew Wroten
• Boothe’s HVAC: Connor Finnegan, Jonathan Musser, and Jeremy Spriggs
• Bunky's Charter Fishing: Cody Stephens
• Calvert Body Works: Dohnovan Fratantuono
• Calvert County Detention Center: Nic Jones, and Angelina Giuliano
• CalvertHealth: Katie Cooke, Caylee Coyner, Bradi Fleming, Nate Hawley, Journey Kalins, and Allison Whittington
• Calvert Internal Medicine: Alexa Gheen
• Constellation Energy: Payson Crockett
• Culinary Institute of America (NYC Campus): Sheala Jefferson
• CVS Pharmacy: Jessica Cecil
• Dirty Habit Restaurant DC: Jacob Adamson
• House of Grace Salon: Kira Young
• Lincoln Technical Institute: Lillian Jacobs
• Local 5 Ironworkers: Justin Barkwill
• Local 5 Plumbers & Gasfitters: Dashaun Reek and James Garis
• Local 26 IBEW: Cameron Bowen, Cody Carter, Caleb Clauser, Jonathan Colarusso, Anthony DeSantis, Charles Harvey, Louis Herbert, KJ Holland, Caleb Koscielniak, Daniel Link, William Popp, Mason Robertson, Matt Strawser, Alex Wilson, and Dylan Wilson
• Local 602 Steamfitters: Makenna Barth, Charlie Bearns, Austin Crouse, Frank Farrall, Michael Gaetano, Asher George, Camden Goin, William Hall, Xavier Hawkins, Tyler Lancaster, Jackson Montague, Jamie Pitcher, Josef Putman, Jacob Roberson, Triston Smith, Lucas Stevens, Calvin Strohecker, Hank Valentin, Kaden Walp, and Colbey Wilson
• Michelangelo's Hair Studio: Scarlette Campbell
• Montgomery County Fire Department: Nick Alonso, Jett Cramer, Hunter King, and Travis Winston
• National Ink and Stitch: Dante McGowan
• Naval District of Washington Fire Department: Kaleigh Weems
• No Thyme to Cook Restaurant: Maggie Green
• Patuxent Adventure Center: Randolph Young
• Precision Home Improvements: Brian Davis
• Premier Health Express Urgent Care: Moier Graham
• Prince Frederick Ford - Ford Asset School: Thomas Marshall
• Prince George's Community College - Culinary Arts: Allison Gallagher, Isaiah Harris, Cariana Holland, and Fernando Rivas
• Prince George’s County Fire Department: Amira Akli, Matthew Constantino, Tyler Griffith, and Faith Radisch
• Prince William County (VA) Fire Department: Dalton Simpson
• Scheibel Construction: Lee Veltz
• Sport Clips Haircuts: Isabella Hammen
• Top Shelf Tinting: Brandon Bousquet
• United Rentals: Dustin Stephens
• United States Army: Will Elliott, Kevin McCaffity, and Ta’Myrah Mclendon
• United States Marine Corps: Tristen Borgholthaus, Ayden DeSeve, Cory Herbinko, and Drew Kinner
• United States Navy: Christopher Ford
• UPS Millwright Cove Point LNG: Juan Ruiz
• Victor Stanley: Nick Craig
• Walls Plumbing & Heating: Curtis Walls
• Walgreens Pharmacy: Malia Ford

For more information about CCPS’ CTA, visit cta.calvertnet.k12.md.us. To learn more about sponsoring an internship or apprenticeship opportunity, please contact CTA Principal Carrie Akins at 443-550-9940.