DeSoto High School Students Commit to Dallas College - Cedar Valley Career and Technical Education Programs
Eighteen seniors from DeSoto High School (DHS) were among more than 130 area high school students who participated in the March 7, 2024, National Career and Technical Education Signing Day event at Dallas College Cedar Valley, sponsored by the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3). The event provided an opportunity for students to publicly declare their intent to obtain post-secondary, industry-focused technical degrees and certifications.
See the event video recap here
The DHS students signed letters of intent in business administration, entrepreneurship, culinary arts, real estate, digital art and design, accounting, construction technology, automotive technology, and computer science among other pathways to continue their studies at the collegiate level.
In addition to the signing day experience, DHS students spoke with Cedar Valley College industry partners about their industries and technical career journeys while engaging in a student-centered CTE fair hosted as part of the event.
See event photos here
“This was a chance for the students to see companies and industries that are hiring as students are going through their community college experience for two years,” said DeSoto ISD CTE Director Melinda Pugh. “They can walk into the industry and make a sustainable living, not necessarily having a four-year degree, but making good money that can support them as individuals and their future families.”
Pugh said Career and Technical Education opens up more opportunities for our students, especially with the Dallas County Promise program which allows the students to attend a DCCCD campus without cost.
“In DeSoto ISD, we try to expose our students to as many areas as possible, whether it is industry, college, or a combination of the two,” said Pugh. “We hope students see that they have options and there are opportunities out there. These skills can help them make a living and be productive citizens in the community. They can also choose to own a company or further their education. They can work and go to school. This gives them options to dream.”
National CTE Signing Day is in direct alignment with the mission and goals of the DeSoto ISD Career and Technical Education Programs. It offers early career exposure, opens doors for students that can breed new careers, improves career potential, and positions students for a better quality of life.
DHS students who participated in the National CTE Signing Day events are as follows:
- Jamyah Anderson - Business Administration
- Riley Brown - Business Administration
- Caless Canteen - Real Estate
- Nyla Coburn - Culinary Arts
- Jeremiah Curlin - Entrepreneurship
- Diamond Davis - Real Estate
- Tatianna Hazel - Digital Art & Design
- Josiah Hendricks - Accounting
- Tyren Hill - Business Administration
- Tyre Jones - Construction Technology
- Ricky Kiatoukaysi - Automotive Technology
- Israel Landeros Morales - Automotive Technology
- Trevian Mack - Real Estate
- Anthony Mendez - Automotive Technology
- Kinnadi Mosby - Computer Science
- Jamekeha Myers - Automotive Technology
- Treon Wilkerson - Computer Science
- Malachi Williams - Automotive Technology