Photo: Signing letters of intent to join the Salon and Spa Management program are: Shayla Denney, front row, center and Leslie Pecina, both of Fairview High. Also sitting is Salon and Spa Management instructor Tracy Smith. Pictured on the back row are, from left, Wallace State President Dr. Vicki Karolewics, Wallace State Dean of Applied Technologies Jimmy Hodges and Wallace State Vice President Dr. Tomesa Smith.
HANCEVILLE – Wallace State Dean of Applied Technologies Jimmy Hodges could sense the excitement in the room during the Technical Division’s inaugural Letter of Intent Signing Day on Tuesday.
“It’s a time to celebrate our career and technical programs, and there was a lot of energy here during these signings. A lot of times these students don’t get recognized like your athletes signing a scholarship or those who might excel in academics. The students signing these letters are going to excel with skills that are in high demand and for high-wage jobs,” Hodges said. “The students here are in the inaugural group, so they are a select and special bunch.”
Wallace State’s Applied Technologies Division set up in the Wallace State School of Nursing/Center for Science Building Conference Center as if an athletics signing was underway.
Incoming students in attendance signed their letters on stage with their future Wallace State instructors and with Hodges, Wallace State President Dr. Vicki Karolewics and Wallace State Vice President Dr. Tomesa Smith. The students’ families and friends were also invited on stage for the celebration. Each student received a Wallace State hat upon signing and had the opportunity to tour his or her department.
The letters the students signed stated, “I, the undersigned student, understand that with this Letter of Intent I am occupying one of the very limited training openings in this technology education program and I am committed to successful completion of this program. I understand I will be trained to work in a highly-technical occupation and I will graduate workplace-ready.”
Wallace State’s signing day coincided with the nationally-recognized Reach Higher Initiative celebrated across the country, which encourages students to complete their education past high school, whether at a professional training program, a community college or four-year college or university.
Hodges plans to continue the signing day ceremony each February in acknowledgment of National Career Technical Education (CTE) Month.
For more information about Wallace State, visit www.wallacestate.edu.
