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The third annual CTE (Career Technical Education) Signing Day at LBCC was Feb. 15. The annual event celebrates technical training programs and allows high school students to get early acceptance to CTE programs and assistance with scholarships and college resources.

LBCC President Greg Hamann welcomed students and their families. He congratulated them for making an important career choice. “I think you have figured out something that not everyone has figured out,” he said. “One: You are choosing to be part of a great opportunity. Two: High school isn’t enough. Today’s careers require education and training beyond high school, and we want to partner with you as an investment in your success.”

The event, sponsored by LBCC and the Pipeline to Jobs project, was one of 50 events at colleges around the country. More than 3,000 students signed letters of acceptance to a variety of training and certificate programs. Thirty-two GAPS students signed letters of intent in a variety of programs at LBCC.

The program included speakers from local industry, who emphasized the need for skilled workers in technical jobs and the opportunities for students who pursue these careers. Speakers included representatives from NC3, ATI, TRANE, Greenlee, SNAP-On, Fiat Chrysler Automotive. Albany City Councilor Mike Sykes, owner of Mike’s Heating and Air, and Oregon Department of Education Deputy Superintendent Theresa Richards also spoke.

The event concluded with comments from Dave Turin from the Discovery Channel’s reality TV show, Gold Rush. Turin encouraged the students to continuing learning throughout their careers, to challenge themselves and to give back to their communities when they achieve success.

The following students will enroll in career technical programs at LBCC in the fall.

Accounting Technology

• Gerardo Cortez Ortiz, Albany Options
• Victor Campbell, West Albany

Automotive Technology

• Eric Martinez-Contreras, Albany Options
• Israel Moreno, Albany Options
• Dillon Garcia, South Albany
• Antonio Cintron, West Albany
• Jacob Van Order, West Albany

Computer Aided Design and Drafting

• Madeline Crocker, Albany Options
• Cole Beaty, West Albany

Culinary Arts

• Austin Allen, South Albany
• Courtney Rich, West Albany

Machine Tool Technology

• Austin Stewart, Albany Options
• Oscar Fryman, West Albany

Mechatronics/Industrial Automation Technology

• Jose Mendoza-Ramirez Albany Options
• Airell Clark III, South Albany
• Zack Engel-Christensenm South Albany
• Quetzal Palma, South Albany
• Zachary Reeves, South Albany
• Bobby Joe Chavez-Paloma, West Albany

Medical Assistant

• Rosa Mendoza-Vidrio, Albany Options
• Jennifer Orozco Sanabria, Albany Options
• Adela Ortiz, Albany Options
• Yuritzi Rivas Romero, Albany Options
• Stefany Sanchez, Albany Options
• Hatsli Talavera Arreola, South Albany

Non-Destructive Testing

• Connor Schaffner, West Albany

Practical Business Management

• Morgan Carr, South Albany
• Kylynn Rodriguez, West Albany

Welding and Fabrication Technology

• Talton Dunshee, Albany Options
• Gilbert Howell, Albany Options
• Elver Antonio May Uc, Albany Options
• Matthew McMenamin, Albany Options

Forty-one students from NAMS attended the annual Teen Summit in Benton County this week. The free event for students in grades 8-12 is sponsored by Strengthening Rural Families and was held at Oregon State University.

North Albany Middle School science teacher Katy Kelly accompanied the students, who had the opportunity to participate in a variety of workshops “with the goal of offering workshops for youth to come together, network, and learn more about important issues that affect their lives.”

North Albany Middle School will have new leadership for the remainder of the school year. Timber Ridge Assistant Principal Tristan Heisley will take over principal duties through June.

Principal Marshall Jackson is out on emergency leave. He shared more information in a letter to families: “Unfortunately, I found myself having emergency surgery during the holiday break. It was not life-threatening, but a situation that needed to be addressed urgently. I am currently out and will be for some number of weeks, I just don’t know how long.”

Tristan has been an assistant principal at Timber Ridge for four years and a high school principal before that in Arizona. “Tristan has the talents to be a principal and is ready to lead NAMS,” said Superintendent Jim Golden.

Dani Blackwell will replace Tristan as assistant principal at Timber Ridge. She had previously been in the district office in charge of overseeing Secondary Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment.

Jazz bands from West Albany High School and North Albany Middle School brought home awards from the West Salem Jazz Festival last weekend.

The West Albany High School jazz band is directed by Stuart Walsh. The North Albany Middle School jazz band is directed by Andy Nelson.

West Albany Jazz Band II: 1st Place – High School Novice Division
West Albany Jazz Band I: 2nd Place – High School Heavy Division
NAMS Jazz Band: 1st Place – Middle School Intermediate Division

The sixth annual event drew high school and middle school bands from around the state in classifications ranging from no festival experience to established programs with extensive experience.

The high school novice division is for bands with no festival experience; the heavy division is for bands with established programs, medium to difficult charts, mature concept of style and mature soloists.

In addition to performing and listening to other student performances, the students attended a concert by guest artist Jeff Coffin, a professional saxophonist.

A joint meeting of the Albany City Council and the GAPS School Board is scheduled for tonight. District representatives will update the Council on the District’s strategic planning, bond project developments, school programs and emergency management.

See the agenda

The meeting will be held at Albany City Hall, 333 Broadalbin Street SW. It will begin at 7 p.m.