Students from Crawfordsville, North Montgomery and Southmont high schools were recognized Tuesday at the Third Annual Montgomery County Workforce Signing. The event celebrates graduating seniors’ future commitments to the workforce, technical school and branches of the military.
In conjunction with the City of Crawfordsville and West Central Indiana Career and Technical Education, the three county school corporations came together to honor students as they signed certificates of intent with their local industry partners. Students also received a “Workforce Ready” lapel pin to wear on their graduation regalia later this month.
Dr. Colleen Moran, superintendent of North Montgomery Community School Corporation, welcomed the audience of students, families and industry partners while additionally recognizing the Crawfordsville Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce and Blue Marketing as sponsors.
“We are honoring these students from the three Montgomery County school corporations. We are also recognizing their families, and the employers, technical programs, and military partners who are committed to ensuring the success of these students,” Moran said. “Each of these students have chosen career paths that will better equip them for the skills needed to be successful as they navigate post-secondary life.”
Crawfordsville Mayor Todd Barton opened the event by encouraging the students to recognize the value of joining the local workforce. Barton himself joined the workforce after high school and commended the students on their first steps in building their future.
Attendees heard from keynote speaker Tracy Mobley, a dairy sourcing leader at Kroger and current board president of the Crawfordsville/Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce. Mobley spoke to the current need for workforce, and the benefits of entering a career directly out of high school.
“When I graduated high school, I wish this would have been there for me,” Mobley said. “I went to college, but why? I didn’t realize that I could start a path in manufacturing directly out of high school and be in the same place I am today in my career.”
Newly-signed Crawfordsville Fire Department firefighter Colton Meadows, a 2021 North Montgomery High School graduate, served as this year’s alumni speaker. Meadows emphasized to this year’s class that “the only source of knowledge is experience,” and that taking opportunities to learn a variety of trades or skills can help to find a career that students can be passionate about.
“This type of event is a great way to showcase the strength of our local industries and to recognize a variety of students,” said Sara Nicodemus, West Central Indiana Career & Technical Education director. “These students are about to close a chapter of high school as graduating seniors, but begin a new journey with new opportunities to develop and grow their careers.”
A wide variety of organizations were recognized Tuesday in the North Montgomery High School auditorium. Students recognized were: Trinity Darby, Crawfordsville, Erskine Greene Training Institute; Kyle Fruits, Crawfordsville, United States Navy; Thatcher Gambrel, Crawfordsville, Nucor Technical Academy; Peyton Groumoutis, Crawfordsville, Prime Body & Paint; Jacob Halupka, Crawfordsville, United States Marine Corps; Emma Lyons, Crawfordsville, Lincoln Technical Institute; Liddy McCarty, Crawfordsville, Ben Hur Health & Rehabilitation; Owen Rush, Crawfordsville, United States Army National Guard; Kyle Schick, Crawfordsville, United States Marine Corps; Lauren Carr, North Montgomery, United States Army National Guard; Nolan Graham, North Montgomery, United States Marine Corps; Brock Hagan, North Montgomery, Lincoln Technical Institute; Donavan Haworth, North Montgomery, Secure Fence & Deck; Lindsey Jaimez-Gonzalez, North Montgomery, United States Army National Guard; Sean Kilgour, North Montgomery, Newton Welding Fabrication; Noah Leonhardt, North Montgomery, Vincennes Aviation Technology; Carter Livingston, North Montgomery, Cook Home Services; Blaine Pate, North Montgomery, Secure Fence & Deck; Donnie Reyes, North Montgomery, Perry Equipment; Mackenzie Shepherd, North Montgomery, Franciscan Health Crawfordsville; Sydnee Turner, North Montgomery, United States Army National Guard; Noah Benge, Southmont, International Paper; Gavin Haltom, Southmont, Maxwell Drainage Innovations; Dayton Hastings, Southmont, Maxwell Drainage Innovations; Jarrett McKinney, Southmont, Hendrickson International; Carson McKinney, Southmont, Vincennes Aviation Technology; and Nash Young, Southmont, United States Army.
