They've only just begun

On Tuesday, May 29, the Career and Technical Education(CTE)Department at Goochland High School held a signing event to celebrate its graduates who are going into the military or world of work. The  motto of Goochland Tech, name of the CTE program, is "Jobs that build America".

School Superintendent Dr. Jeremy Raley spoke to a gathering of representatives of local companies; parents; teachers;  Army recruiters; and students antsy with anticipation before they headlong into their futures.

Raley said that this was the first time that GHS has recognized graduating seniors going directly into the workforce or the solemn task of protecting our nation. They are well-trained  and well prepared academically to handle the challenges that await them. Goochland, he said, has the only high school heavy equipment program in the Commonwealth that prepares students to go directly into high paying jobs.

Chris Collier, GHS principal said these graduates are not only talented in their chosen fields, but have also mastered soft skills that separate them from their peers. They know to look someone in the eye, shake hands, and engage in conversation. The core values these students learn at home and in the community at large will serve them well. He congratulated the CTE graduates for knowing what they want to do and where they are going in life.

Congressman Dave Brat, who represents the 7^th Virginia Congressional District arrived a bit after the event began. Brat’s comments were short and to the point. Jobs, contended Brat, are the number one issue facing Congress. Small business has a need for many more skilled workers and far too many people are still un or underemployed because they lack marketable skills.  Correcting that mismatch is a challenge.

No student loan debt for these Goochland Tech graduates. Those seated are headed for military service

Raley explained that School Board Vice Chairperson Beth Hardy, District 4, met with Brat on Capitol  Hill and extoled the virtues of Goochland’s CTE program. She invited the Congressman to see its tangible outcomes. Raley also said that Brat helped the Marine Junior ROTC program secure more stable funding from the  Marine Corps, which freed up almost $100 thousand school budget dollars for other uses.

Brat said that Goochland is at “the top of the pack” in governance among the jurisdictions that he represents. Our county government, he said, is a model of well- run government that gets a lot out of its tax dollars.

Tim Greenway, chair of the CTE, explained that students earn two credits for internships in heavy equipment operations and spent every other day in school  getting over 500 hours on worksites. Class work targeted industry models and all aspects of small business operation. One goal of the CTE program is to prepare students for local well=paying jobs so they can stay in our community.

He hopes to expand internships to all CTE concentrations in the future.

Mike Verrastro, head of the heavy equipment operator program, said that he is very proud of his students who invested a lot of time and effort to master those skills.

The future employers of these students seemed almost as excited as the students as they presented them with caps, hard hats, and company shirts.

Some students shared a few words about their futures and did a great job of ad hoc public speaking, yet another soft skill that will be useful on life’s journey.

The mother of one student confessed that, at first, she was not pleased with her son’s decision to forego college. However, knowing that he has always liked to work with his hands and is excited about the opportunity-filled career path he has selected, she accepts applauds his choice.

Many of the students will receive additional on-the-job and technical training, including college credits in related skills, at the expense of their employers. This all translates to skilled jobs, with healthy salaries and no student loan debt!

Marine Lt. Col. Kevin Williams of the Junior ROTC program introduced three young people who “responded to their country’s clarion call to don the cloth of their nation”; two in the Marine Corps, one the United States Navy, who plans to be a corpsman attached to Marines. 

Army Recruiter Sgt. 1^st Class Woodford said that GHS is one of his favorite schools and he spends lots of time here. One graduate will join the Army with the goal of becoming am elite Ranger. Woodford congratulated all of the seniors on their choices and wished them good luck.

Bruce Watson, CTE director, said “Not a day goes by that I do not get a call from someone looking for skilled workers. I could get all students a job. We could not do this without the great partnerships with area businesses who make sure that what we teach is what they need. We want our students to get sweaty and dirty and see if this is really what they want to do with their lives.  We believe in real world learning.”

Brat, a former educator, exhorted the students to thank their teachers for preparing them for the real world.

The students honored were: Brandon Eubank; Brandon Fortune; Austin Harless; Taylor Guy; Sean McLeod; Brandon Thurston; Hunter Proffitt; and Matthew Lowry. Those entering the military were:  Dylan Scruggs; Alexandra Garcia-Herrera; Rachael Payne; Jaxson Smith; Kylie St. John; Luke Byerly; Troy  Swinson; Gavin Swiney; Hannah Kingery; Sean Spaulding; Zachary Gordon; Alexander Leseman; Anthony Whitlatch; and Alexander Golightly.

Employers participating were: Wilton Construction; New Day Construction; Ridgeline Roofing; Luck Stone/Carter Machinery; Sargent Corporation; Newport News Shipbuilding; and  Chenault Contracting.

Godspeed to all these fine young people as they build America and keep her safe.