While many high school seniors are gearing up for college in the fall, some are preparing for another path.

Twenty students participated Friday in the first ever Limestone County Career Technical Center Signing Day, a way for the center to recognize not only the hard work put in by their seniors over the last few years but also the outcomes of that work.

“We recognize a lot of awarded scholarships for people going to college, but we really wanted to recognize people who are going to the workforce, whether that be a trade or trade school to continue their education for their trade,” said Bailey Speer, career coach at the center.

Several students in today’s event committed to jobs in cosmetology; heating, venting, air conditioning and refrigeration; advanced manufacturing; and collision repair. Others committed to the armed forces, diesel college and other next steps.

“We truly wanted to honor these kids for the decision they’ve made,” Speer said.

The center also invited underclassmen to take a break from class and watch their classmates in the ceremony. Part of Speer’s job is speaking with students in eighth through 12th grades about the various career options open to them.

“We want them to see, ‘Next year, this could easily be you,'” Speer said.

Here is a list of the students who participated in this year’s Career Signing Day:

• Tyler Goode, diesel college;

• Justin Hill, diesel college;

• Layla Norton, cosmetology;

• Katie Bain, cosmetology;

• Chyann Neely, U.S. Army;

• Jacob Haggermaker, U.S. Marine Corps;

• Rhiannon Soper, U.S. Marine Corps;

• Maverick Washburn, U.S. Marine Corps;

• Anthony Mendoza, U.S. Marine Corps;

• Brandon Reynolds, U.S. Marine Corps;

• Allen Silas, U.S. Marine Corps;

• Blade Duncan, U.S. Air Force;

• Josh Strickland, HVACR;

• Garret Mann, HVACR;

• Connor Chittam, HVACR;

• Andrew Pressnell, collision repair;

• Jakob Poole, Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education, Toyota;

• Brayden Cothren, FAME, Mazda-Toyota Manufacturing USA;

• Phillip Sulkowski, FAME, MTMUSA; and

• Michael Badner, architectural design.