Leeward Community College Hosts National Career & Technical Education Signing Day
50 new CTE students ink letters of intent for the 2025-2026 school year
Leeward Community CollegeDean of Career & Technical Education, Career & Technical Education Office
Devon Bedoya, (203) 570-3953
Marketing Specialist, Creative Services
Leeward CC CTE Signing Day
Leeward CC CTE Signing Day
Leeward CC CTE Signing Day
For the first time, Leeward Community College held National Career & Technical Education (CTE) Letter of Intent Signing Day today to honor the 50 students who are entering a CTE field of study in the 2025-2026 school year. It was part of a national movement, with over 100 other leading institutions from across the country holding similar signing ceremonies. At this morning’s event, students and their family members had the opportunity to meet with program faculty, staff, and administrators before starting classes in the fall.
“By signing our incoming students to Letters of Intent, we are acknowledging their commitment to their education and reaffirming the college’s commitment to providing them with the resources, training, and support necessary to get them job-ready,” said Chancellor Carlos Peñaloza. “These students are the future of Hawai‘i’s workforce, and it’s exciting to witness their journey.”
The incoming students will learn skills in accounting, automotive technology, business, culinary arts, digital media, health information technology, human services, information and computer science, mechatronics, sustainable agriculture, and teacher education.
“Finally, I have something in my life that I can work towards,” said Dexter Yago, an incoming Culinary Arts student. “At the beginning of my freshman year, I didn’t know what I was doing. I was really hoping at the end of my senior year that I would find something, and I did—Leeward CC Culinary Arts.”
The CTE Signing Day event also featured a keynote address by Mark Perna, a bestselling author and generational expert, who spoke about the importance of education in economic development and community growth. It’s a message shared by Leeward Community College.
“Today’s signing ceremony is a pivotal moment for our students and our community,” said Ron Umehira, dean of Career & Technical Education “By committing to a CTE program, these students are not only preparing themselves for rewarding careers, but they’re also helping to build a skilled workforce that will contribute to the economic growth of Hawai‘i.”
The CTE Office oversees business, professional arts, and technology programs at Leeward CC, which collectively serve more than 900 students annually. The CTE Office also oversees the non-credit programs in the Office of Workforce Development, which serves over 3,000 students annually, and the Wai‘anae Moku Education Center, which serves over 500 students—a majority of whom are Native Hawaiians.
Media kit (Courtesy of Leeward Community College):
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About Leeward Community College
With a main campus in Pearl City and an educational center in Wai‘anae, Hawai‘i, Leeward Community College’s proven commitment to affordable, quality education is the foundation of its mission. As part of the University of Hawai‘i system, Leeward provides an environment for academic learning and a center of cultural life for neighboring communities. From professional career studies to liberal arts, the College offers diverse and comprehensive opportunities for all students.
For more information, visit www.leeward.hawaii.edu, and follow @Leewardcc on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.