‘Signing Day’ not just for athletes anymore

Area 30 construction equipment operator students Victoria Honey and Dakota Campbell sign on for summer internships with Martin Marietta. Celebrating their accomplishment are (from left) assistant instructor J.R. Scott, instructor Scott Livesay, Martin Marietta Cloverdale operations manager Mike Mote and human resources manager Jeff McIntosh.

Area 30/Marla Farris

INDIANAPOLIS – The annual ritual known as “Signing Day” that occurs at many high schools across the country typically involves student-athletes agreeing to play a sport at a college or university that has recruited them, usually in exchange for a scholarship.

But now more high schools and career education centers are lending the term to recognize graduating seniors who have “signed on” to work for local employers instead of attending college — a career path that has gone largely ignored by school corporations.

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development recently noted several high schools across the state where this phenomenon has started, but it’s also taken hold right here in Putnam County.

Area 30 student Olivia Schneider (seated) is congratulated on signing to work at Hickory Creek at Sunset by Area 30 nursing instructor Ann Weatherford (left) and Hickory Creek administrator Jill Stott.

Area 30/Marla Farris

Area 30 Career Center recently honored four students who recently signed on for full-time employment or internships with local employers.

Hickory Creek at Sunset

Area 30 student Olivia Schneider accepted a certified nursing assistant position at Hickory Creek Healthcare after completing her state-approved curriculum at Area 30.

New Pathways Preschool owner/director Mary Jane Scamahorn welcomes recent graduate Dakota Spencer to the New Pathways family. Spencer is a North Putnam graduate who completed two years of early childhood education training at Area 30 Career Center.

Area 30/Maureen Egold

The Indiana State Department of Health’s CNA certification process requires classroom instruction, 75 clinical hours in a healthcare facility and passing a board-certified exam.

Schneider is a Greencastle High School graduate, a National Technical Honors Society member, a top 10 percent student and an Area 30 scholarship recipient.

This fall she plans to attend the Indiana State University honors program to pursue a degree in nursing while continuing her work as a CNA.

Hickory Creek administrator Jill Stott said Olivia’s healthcare training at Area 30 was a key component to her being hired and will greatly contribute to her future success in the nursing field.

Martin Marietta

Area 30 Career Center students Victoria Honey and Dakota Campbell had their internship signing day on May 20 with Martin Marietta.

They will start their internships at the Cloverdale operation later this summer and work through the coming school year as they complete their senior year.

Campbell will be a senior at Greencastle High School and Honey will be a senior at South Putnam High School. Both will be second-year students in the construction equipment operator (CEO) program at Area 30 Career Center.

Through this internship, Martin Marietta will be providing them with valuable training in heavy equipment, plant operations, maintenance and mechanics, welding and fabricating, quality control and even clerical duties.

Human resources manager Jeff McIntosh said they will be doing everything that a full-time employee would be doing during a regular workday.

This is the third year Area 30 has been able to partner with Martin Marietta and offer internships to students in the CEO career path.

New Pathways Preschool

Area 30 student Dakota Spencer has accepted a position with New Pathways Preschool after completing her CDA (Child Development Associate) credential.

This credential requires 120 hours of early childhood education classroom instruction and 480 hours of practicum in a preschool classroom.

Spencer completed two years of early childhood education at Area 30 Career Center and is a recent North Putnam High School graduate.