Stories @ TCAT

The National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3) Celebrates Technical Careers with Nationwide Letter of Intent Signing Day:

Event participants signed letters to attend the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Dickson and Clarksville Campuses

(Dickson, TN) February 16, 2017 was a big day for area high school students. Community and technical colleges across the country participated in the Annual NC3 sponsored National Letter of Intent Signing Day. Students took part in signing ceremonies that recognized their intention to pursue technical career pathways. The event celebrates students choosing to pursue a technical college education and earn a certificate and/or diploma for a high demand, high skilled and high paying career. Local area high schools participating in the event included:

CreekWood High School

Dickson County High School

East Hickman High School

Hickman County High School

McEwen High School

Santa Fe High School

Waverly High School

Montgomery Central High School

Kenwood High School

Northwest High School

Clarksville High School

Jo Byrns High School

In its second year at TCAT Dickson, the college has inked intent signatures from over 133 students with 20 more to be signed in Dickson and Hickman Counties. This is a substantial increase from the original 48 in its first celebration in 2016.    Some students were unable to attend the signing day event due to school closures stemming from an outbreak of the flu.  Since that time TCAT has taken the recruitment event on the road to the schools that were impacted to give those students a chance to sign up.

The national signing day is scheduled for the third Thursday in February each year.  Signing Day mirrors the NCAA’s National Signing Day for athletes who commit to play sports in college, but instead of athletes, this event is designed to honor students who are entering a technical field.  The emphasis in TN is on the value of a technical college education and the fact that it is tuition free via the TN Promise for high school seniors and TN Reconnect for all other adults.

“We are proud of these students who have chosen to continue their education after high school, and we are proud that they have chosen us to be a part of that educational experience with them.”

The range of technical programs students signed to attend is impressive, from automotive and HVAC to health care, computer information technology, graphic design, and more.

Local area business and community leaders participated in Signing Day along with NC3’s partners Chrysler Corporation, Starrett, DREMEL, FAB LAB, Snap-On, Greenlee and IC3 Digital Literacy Certification.   For more information on the signing day event go to www.nc3.net/signing-day/

TCAT Dickson is a Tennessee Board of Regents institution, is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, and complies with non-discrimination laws: Title VI, Title IX, Section 504, and ADA. Located on Highway 46 in Dickson, the technical training college also has extension campuses in Clarksville, Ashland City, and Franklin. Additional information about the school is located at www.TCATDickson.edu