‘Career and Technical Education Letter-of-Intent Signing Day’ returns to build on national attention

Henrico, Va. May 17, 2021 — After pausing the event in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, Henrico County Public Schools will resume its annual Career and Technical Education Letter-of-Intent Signing Day on Tuesday. The event, which recognizes students entering the workforce, debuted in March 2018 and sparked hundreds of calls to HCPS’ Department of Career and Technical Education from school divisions asking for advice on replicating the idea.

The third installment will last for several hours on May 18 and be organized into smaller ceremonies, by industry. The signing day will again be held at the Junior Achievement Finance Park, located on the third floor of Henrico County Public Library’s Libbie Mill branch. More than 50 students will take part. There will be limited public attendance, with space reserved for special guests and members of the media. The event will be livestreamed, with a link available May 18 at https://henricocte.com/. 

The concept mimics ceremonies that honor high school athletes as they gather in gyms to sign letters-of-intent to play for NCAA athletic programs. Henrico Schools’ Career and Technical Education Letter-of-Intent Signing Day recognizes students entering the workforce with a similar ceremony before family and members of the media. Students and representatives of their future employers will both sign letters-of-intent outlining what students must do before and during employment, what the employer will provide in pay and training, and an estimate of the position’s value. Similar to signing day for athletes, students will don a hat or other form of promotional clothing representing the company, HCPS or the school division’s Career and Technical Education program.

HCPS Career and Technical Education Letter-of-Intent Signing Day

Who: Members of the media are invited to attend in person. Safety measures, including face coverings and distancing, will be in effect. A livestream link will be available at https://henricocte.com/.

When: May 18 (ceremony times are organized by Virginia Department of Education career clusters)

  • 10:45-11:30 a.m.: Health Science
  • 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Architecture and Construction
  • 1-1:45 p.m.: Transportation, Distribution and Logistics
  • 2-2:45 p.m.: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM); Energy; Education and Training; Hospitality and Tourism

Where: Libbie Mill Library (Junior Achievement Finance Park, third floor), 2100 Libbie Lake East St., Henrico, Va. 23230

The 2018 event was featured on CNN Headline News, Fox News and Today.com. A school division Facebook post about the signing day reached more than 4.9 million people, was shared more than 25,000 times and prompted more than 36,000 likes when it was shared by Mike Rowe of the Discovery Channel’s “Dirty Jobs” and other projects.

Graduating HCPS seniors and their future employers participate in Career and Technical Education Letter-of-Intent Signing Day in 2019 at the Junior Achievement Finance Park. The third edition of the event will take place Tuesday.
Graduating HCPS seniors and their future employers participate in Career and Technical Education Letter-of-Intent Signing Day in 2019 at the Junior Achievement Finance Park. The third edition of the event will take place Tuesday.
CTE students sign their letters of intent with Henrico County Fire Department.
CTE students sign their letters of intent with a medical transportation company.