In Sept. 2022, The Washington Post reported that there are 5 million more job openings than there are unemployed Americans, demonstrating a complex, nationwide labor crisis. Meanwhile, a bounty of students studying an array of trades at Western Colorado Community College (WCCC) have the option to enter the workforce up to two years before even graduating. 

To celebrate this triumph, WCCC administrators, Colorado Mesa University (CMU) President John Marshall, community employers and the students’ loved ones all crowded into Building B at WCCC’s Bishop Campus for Signing Day. Despite the event taking place on a rainy Wednesday night on Dec. 7 at 5:30 p.m., almost twice as many supporters showed up than there were chairs to sit in.

The intention of the Signing Day was to give students at WCCC a certificate, commemorating them for breaking into their respective professional fields. Community employers were encouraged to attend so that they could sign the certificate and formally congratulate the student. 

“[The certificate] is a celebration that we got to explore what we love to do and how we want to do it, in our own sense,” senior in WCCC’s culinary program Alex Noble said. “For me, I love to cook–but again, I love to see smiles and everything. So that’s why I want to be a personal chef, I get both roles.[…] This certificate we just signed just made us more appreciative of what we’re doing in our future.”

Prior to the certificate signings, Marshall and Vice President of Community College Affairs Brigitte Sundermann celebrated the Mav honorees from WCCC with individual speeches.

“[WCCC’s student employment] illustrates the commitment U.S. community employers have made to seek out and invest in local talent. At WCCC, we’re proud of our work, and we know that the skills we teach through our technical programs are tremendously beneficial to our students and our community,” Sundermann said.

Marshall went on to praise the students for affirming stability in the Grand Junction community, as the trades they are entering are responsible for many of the town’s daily operations. These jobs range from diesel mechanics to certified nursing assistants, electricians, plane mechanics, pilots, chefs and law enforcement. While this responsibility may intimidate a lot of people, many Mavs at WCCC jumped at the opportunity to experience these jobs first-hand, and confirm it to be their calling. 

“My teacher gave me an opportunity I couldn’t miss so I was like, ‘You know what, I’m going to go to Devil’s Kitchen and see what it’s about.’ And I really enjoy the prep cooking […] and making all types of stuff,” junior in WCCC’s culinary program Jazmin Anderson said. “I really like how the energy is positive in the kitchen back there, because you gotta have positive energy in your work environment or everything could just go downhill from there […] It’s a great environment.”

Anderson went on to say how the job at Devil’s Kitchen was a great chance to affirm her aspirations to work in the restaurant industry. For Anderson, seeing her customers’ faces light up has been one of the most enjoyable aspects, and she hopes to continue this by eventually opening up her own restaurant. 

Given that WCCC opened its doors over 17 years ago in 2005, it’s no surprise that former students have already returned to pay it forward as partner employers. The Mesa County Sherriff’s Office (MCSO) has been one of WCCC’s longest-standing employers, ever since the opening of The Western Colorado Peace Officers Association (WCPOA) in 2006. In fact, the agency’s current liaison and Investigator for The Mesa County Sherriff’s Professional Standards Unit Jenifer Keyes got her start at CMU.

“It’s been a great partnership between WCCC and the MCSO. Prior to working at the MSCO, I was a student at CMU in the Criminal Justice Program, and also attended this same academy in 2016 before accepting a job with the MCSO,” Keyes said. “As a cadet, I remember the impact the instructors and agencies had on each of us. Now, I am currently the agency’s Liason for the Academy at WCCC and get the opportunity to spend quite a bit of time with the cadets.”

After almost an hour of celebration, the sizable crowd of employers, trade students and their supporters all went their separate ways. However, it would appear that few attendees of the event will forget the value of WCCC and trade schools like it anytime soon. 

“There are a lot of [instances] when people come into college, and don’t know exactly what they want to do, so they bury their heads in books and they’re still confused. But when you come to WCCC, you actually put your hands on things, work with stuff and try to see what really works for you and if this could be something you want to do in the future or something that you don’t want to do,” Noble said.

To find out more about WCCC and its diverse set of trade programs, you can register for a tour on its website. You can register by going to WCCC’s home page and clicking “Visit Our Campus” under the “Admissions and Costs” tab, or by visiting https://go.coloradomesa.edu/portal/explore-wccc.