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HCS students participate in New Horizons Career Selection Day

The New Horizons Regional Education Centers’ (NHREC) BUILD Hampton Roads Good Life Solution (GLS) Career Selection Day, representing the six Greater Peninsula school divisions, was held on May 11, 2023, at Liberty Live Church in Hampton. One hundred and ten seniors made their career selection and signed on with 23 regional employers who have pledged to hire and retain the graduating high school seniors through the GLS Program. 


Patterned after the NCAA’s National Signing Day for athletes who are committing to play sports in college, this event celebrates students entering into the automotive, construction, advanced manufacturing, or technology/cybersecurity workforce directly after high school. Through their specialized career and technical training at NHREC, these graduating seniors have the opportunity to gain full-time employment with Hampton Roads employers in high-demand and high-wage entry-level positions earning on average between $14 to $23 per hour plus full employer benefits. This is why the program has been proudly coined as the “Good Life” Solution Program. Last year 26 regional employers hired 80 students, and in the previous four years of the program’s existence, the one year following graduation retention rate for students that complete the Good Life Solution Program is 80%. The national average retention rate for individuals entering the workforce within all fields between the 18-24 age range is a disappointing 29.9%. 


Casey M. Roberts, NHREC executive director, in touting the success of the program, spoke about the importance of employer buy-in, regional collaboration, and engagement:


“These incredible employer partners agree to join the BUILD Hampton Roads Good Life Solution Program on the principle that their organization would receive ready-to-learn entry-level graduates that are ready on day one. Employers believe that to remain relevant and competitive in today’s global economy, talent acquisition and ultimately talent retention are key to long-lasting success. Our regional partners believe that the BUILD Hampton Roads GLS Program is one of the best resources for their current and future talent needs. We can

see the real results of our program, and we know the model works. To date, the BUILD Hampton Roads GLS Program has successfully transitioned over 200+ graduates into high demand and high wage-earning entry-level trade careers across the Hampton Roads region.”


The group of signing students includes the following from Hampton City Schools:


Student

School

Field

Hiring Company

Astro Bren

Phoebus

Building Construction Class

Bryant Structures

Kursten Clark

Kecoughtan

CJ Class

Commander Navy Federal Police

John Creath

Hampton

Mechatronics Class

Master Machine & Tool

Ayden Boothe

Phoebus

Welding II Class

Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School

Emily Jones

Kecoughtan

Auto Collision & Repair Class

Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School

Aubrey Copeland

Hampton

Building Construction Class

Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School

Karli Gerczak

Kecoughtan

Welding II Class

Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School

Dravon Johnson

Hampton

Welding I

Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School

Luke Mitchell

Kecoughtan

Marine Service Tech Class

Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School

Jonathan Weiss

Hampton

Welding I Class

Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School

Jayson McKnight

Phoebus

Internship/OJT Extended Offer


Tristan Thurman

Kecoughtan

Internship/OJT Extended Offer


Mekaila Bailey

Hampton

Internship/OJT Extended Offer


Marangely Colon

Kecoughtan

Internship/OJT Extended Offer



We congratulate these students as they begin the next chapter of their lives. Our Hampton graduates are certainly college-, career- and life-ready!