As their families and teachers cheered, 65 Henrico County Public Schools high school seniors and representatives of their future employers signed ceremonial letters Tuesday at the 2025 CTE Letter-of-Intent Signing Day. The seniors are entering the workforce with skills and industry credentials they’ve earned at the school division’s three Advanced Career Education Centers.
The event owes its success to community collaboration and dedication, said Marcie Shea, Henrico School Board chair and Tuckahoe District representative.
Shea expressed thanks for “the staff, for sharing your expertise, and growing passion and skill within our students. For our families, for supporting your students on this journey. For our businesses, for partnering in authentic ways — and hiring our students today. And most of all, our students. We celebrate your hard work and dedication.”
As in past years, the 2025 CTE Letter-of-Intent Signing Day was held at Junior Achievement Finance Park, on the third floor of Henrico County Public Library’s Libbie Mill location. Students from 11 programs were recognized, in areas as diverse as masonry, baking, fire science and early childhood education. The signing day letters outline 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. After signing, students posed for photos with hats and T-shirts featuring their employer’s logo and celebrated at a reception.
Videos of 2025 CTE Letter-of-Intent Signing Day are available at https://tinyurl.com/2025CTESigningDay. A collection of photos can be seen at https://tinyurl.com/CTELetter2025.
Since its 2018 debut, the trendsetting event has inspired similar celebrations in 49 states and Canada. In 2023 the Virginia General Assembly voted unanimously to recognize Henrico County Public Schools for its role in popularizing the concept and designated the third week in April each year for Career and Technical Education Letter-of-Intent Signing Day.
Those completing HCPS career and technical edition programs have also excelled academically. Of 1,704 HCPS seniors who completed the program in 2024, all but one graduated on time.