A signing ceremony took place at Memorial High School on Monday, but it didn’t involve sports.

Welding students Sebastian Aguilar and Andrew Reisner, along with precision metal student Juan Garza, sat at a table, Gulf Copper’s banner behind them and black and light blue baseball caps with “Make Gulf Copper Great Again” on the front.

While there was no official “letter of intent” these three students are set to graduate high school on Wednesday and start their new jobs at Gulf Copper on Monday.

Jonathan Hale, vice-president of Gulf Copper stood behind the soon-to-be graduates as he explained the meaning of the brief ceremony.

“For me, it’s about growth,” Hale said. The labor market is pretty tight right now, and a lot is going to happen in this area. You’ve seen it. We are glad to be in the early part of these guys’ careers.”

Principal Glenn Mitchell said he is elated with how these young people are moving to the next phase of the work world.

Port Arthur Independent School District Superintendent Mark Porterie was equally pleased with the students’ success and that Gulf Copper asked the district to find their new employees.

The students, who had received first hand knowledge and teaching from the school’s Career And Technology Education department, were likewise pleased.

“I’m so excited to work for a company that will give me a lot of experience I can use for the rest of my life,” Aguilar said.

Garza said he feels blessed, excited and ready for this next step in his life.

The idea of holding a signing day for the CATE students came from PAISD board member Donald Frank Sr.

 

See also: Port Arthur ISD offers career education to students