BEDFORD COUNTY, Va. – Lots of companies in our region have jobs open and ready to fill, and Bedford County’s high school students are signing up.
On Tuesday, 30 students from CTE (Career and Technical Education) signed onto jobs or committed to continuing education.
“Some students just aren’t, they don’t like to work with the books,” HVAC Instructor Stephen Wingold said. “They’re here to actually work with their hands. That’s what they want to do for their career. It’s great paths either way.”
Soon-to-be graduates are joining many sectors. From auto tech to education, and even the military. JROTC student Anna Payne is taking the skills she learned to Virginia Military Institute.
“I think there is just kind of like a communal pride where everybody is like, ‘We know the work we’re putting in,’” Payne said. “We know we have studied these things because I mean a trade is not easy. You really do have to pass the certifications, you have to know a lot of information, you have to have that credibility.”
Economic leaders in the area couldn’t be happier that schools are preparing students with the certifications and skills they need to join the workforce now. After all, positions are ready to be filled.
“There’s a big shortage of teachers, nurses,” Bedford County Director of Economic Development Pam Armstrong said. “I think there’s 5,000 jobs available in this region, in the Lynchburg region, so any of these jobs will be able to be the next stepping stone.”
Students said they feel prepared to take on the challenge.
“It’s exciting to see this chapter kind of ending, but I’m excited to see what the next chapter holds,” Payne said.