Pitt Community College's CTE Program Welcomes Record 100 Students

Pitt County, N.C. (WITN) — On Friday, welders, construction workers, and mechanics, as well as other upcoming students at Pitt Community College’s Career-Technical Education program, celebrated their commitments during a CTE signing ceremony.

"It means a lot to me and my family. I'm truly grateful for everyone who has been assisting me," says Hayden Dickinson.

The PCC welcomed 90 students eager to participate in the college’s technical program and acquire the necessary skills for their selected profession.

I have the opportunity to shape the future,"Nyazzia Parker states." I will construct houses, some of my fellow students will do the welding, but we'll all work collectively to build our world.

As stated by PCC, among almost 400 applicants and 52 recipients across the country, five Pitt County high school students were awarded the 3M Transformational Scholarship.

The scholarship offers $1,000 to assist students in achieving their aspirations.

I didn't anticipate getting a scholarship. Still, it's thrilling," remarks Bless Davis. "Given all the challenges we've faced recently, this has shown me that there are individuals supporting me. They're encouraging me to continue progressing with my welding studies. That remains my intention.

Lawson Bennett was also awarded the scholarship, and similar to numerous students, he believes that this program serves as an opportunity to contribute to the community.

We're planning to head up to Mountain Christ Mount to contribute to the ongoing reconstruction efforts," Bennett explains. "I think I can be of greater assistance in situations like these when unexpected issues arise if I owned a business capable of providing support.

Although numerous individuals aim to join the workforce post-completing their associate’s degree from a community college, both Bennett and Davis intend to continue their studies at a four-year institution following their time at PCC.

"Ever since I began exploring more opportunities at Pitt, I planned to complete the entire two-year program before potentially transferring, but now I'm researching my options,"Davis states.

The CTE programs at PCC offer courses in areas such as air conditioning, welding, automotive systems, and electrical systems.

Students express that for them, the program serves as a means to create an influence.

"Just show others that I can take action to create change in the world and support the future," says Dickinson.

This year, Pitt Community College took part alongside over 100 additional educational institutions nationwide in an event organized by the National Coalition of Certification Centers, known as NC3.