The Cooperative Education Program (Co-op) at Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School (BVT) held its 3rd annual Career Signing Day on May 12. The ceremony celebrated its senior Co-op and career placement students who announced their career plans and signed a commitment letter to work with their employer after graduation.

Vocational Director Michele Denise welcomed the graduating seniors, their parents, instructors, industry partners, and school administrators before recognizing individual student achievement in their trade areas and the Co-op program, which had 134 seniors participate this year, representing double the number of job placements from the previous two years and illustrating the local demand for skilled employees. These employable young adults have worked 54,500 hours collectively since April 2022, earning an estimated salary of $874,000 over the past year.

During the ceremony, employment contracts were signed with representatives from local companies. Among those signing contracts were:

Mendon residents: Kurt Bellefontaine, Jack Gooding, and Ryan Michaud. Kurt, a senior in the HVAC&R program at BVT, will take his vocational-technical training as an HVAC Technician to his Co-op employer Medway Oil in Medway, MA, and will work towards his Oil Burner certification and gas card. Jack, a senior in the HVAC&R program at BVT, will take his skilled training as an HVAC Technician to his Co-op employer J.J. Mechanical Services, in Mendon, MA. Jack will work towards earning sheet metal certification and oil burner certifications and hopes to one day open his own HVAC Company. As a senior in the Construction Technology program at BVT, Ryan obtained his Hydraulic license. Ryan will take his training as an excavator operator to his Co-op employer, JB Sawmill & Land Clearing, Inc., in Hopkinton, MA. 

Milford resident Brendan Hawkins, a senior in the HVAC&R program at BVT, was one of many who signed a contract. Brendan will take his vocational-technical training as an HVAC Technician for Service and Install to his Co-op employer, Centerline Mechanical, in Upton, MA. Next, he will work towards his sheet metal and oil burner licenses, with a long-term goal of becoming a lead technician hoping to open his own business one day.

Upton residents: Kevin Galicki and Alex Taylor. Kevin, a senior in the Electrical program at BVT, will take his vocational-technical training as an apprentice electrician to his Co-op employer, Renaud Electric, working towards obtaining a journeyman license and becoming a master electrician. Alex, a senior in the Advanced Manufacturing & Fabrication program at BVT, did not participate in the Co-op program this year, electing to remain in the shop to continue to master his craft with the vocational instructors at BVT. Alex has accepted a manufacturing technician 1C position with Primetals.

With all their energy and enthusiasm, these seniors earning nearly a million dollars in one year of Co-op placements have found their financial footing using their vocational skills and technical training. Of course, they'll continue to gain more experience with full-time employment and on-the-job training. But they've proven to their employers that they're ready to go, full steam ahead, directly from high school into high-skill, high-wage employment.

While many students signed contracts during the ceremony, several more who could not attend due to work conflicts are also headed directly to industry careers. For more details about the school and this event, please visit www.valleytech.k12.ma.us/careersigningday2023.

About Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School (BVT):

Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School serves the towns of Bellingham, Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Hopedale, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton, and Uxbridge. Located in the heart of the Blackstone Valley, BVT creates a positive learning community that prepares students for personal and professional success in an internationally competitive society through a fusion of rigorous vocational, technical, and academic skills.