Earn an education and launch a career – all while in high school.

That’s the dream of many Americans and on May 20 approximately 70 high school students from across the region will be celebrated for doing just that.

Capital Region BOCES will host its National Signing Day celebration at the Career and Technical Education Center – Albany Campus.

Roberta Reardon, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Labor, will be joined by business, union, and labor officials at the event.

Festivities will begin at 9 a.m. at the center, which is located at 925B Watervliet-Shaker Road, Albany, NY 12205.

The Capital Region BOCES National Signing Day event mirrors the NCAA’s National Signing Day for athletes who commit to play sports in college. It is designed to honor students who are entering a technical field and to celebrate the dignity of work.

“Pursuing a career is as important as going to a four-year college or playing a sport,” Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education Director Jeff Palmer.

“These students that will be celebrated are already making a difference in their communities and the greater world by showing putting their skills to work and building the local, state and national workforce during a time when workers in the skilled trades are desperately needed,” he added.

Joining Reardon in speaking at the ceremony are Joel Lape, Shop Foreman, Power Generation Division, New York State Registered Apprenticeship Program at P1 Industries, Inc. and Emma Weiland, a senior from Shenendehowa who is signing to work with P1.

Also scheduled to attend are officials from  NY Creates; Morris Ford; Global Foundries Inc.; Double B Electric; DePaula Ford and Mazda; Abele Tractor; North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters; Cobleskill Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram; MDRM Industries, Inc.; UA Local 7 Plumbers and Steamfitters Apprenticeship; Standard Steel Inc.; Greno Industries; Laborers Local 190; Finke Equipment and Laborers Local 157 and Jersen Construction Group.

Additionally scheduled to be on hand to sign students are: Bellow Electric Excavating; TCI of NY, LLC; Duell Plumbing and Heating; Capital Land Motors Subaru/GMC; Mohawk Honda; Gil’s Garage; Richards Auto; Iron Workers Local Union 12; AOW; P1 Industries, LLC; Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram of Clifton Park; Sarchiotos Automobile Repair; Bast Hatfield Construction, LLC; Aaron’s Electric, LLC; Carls Auto & Truck Repair and Mohawk Honda; Iron Horse Welding; Electric City Motors; J & D Automotive; Hair Salon 1533; Goldstein Collision Center.

Students scheduled to sign letters of intent represents school districts that include Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk; Guilderland, Schenectady, Middleburgh; Sharon Springs; Shenendehowa; Bethlehem; Voorheesville; Cohoes; Cobleskill Richmondville; Scotia-Glenville; Schalmont; Niskayuna; Duanesburg; Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake; Berne-Knox-Westerlo; Mohonasen; Guilderland; Schoharie and South Colonie.

More than 1,500 high school juniors and seniors 29 school districts across seven area counties attend approximately 29 different programs—ranging from Electrical Trades to Automobile Trades, Video Game Design, Nursing and Diesel Technology—at Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Schools. Working with more than 300 business, industry and education partners, these students gain valuable training and professional certifications, as well as work-based learning experiences that fuel their passion for success.