Five Yazoo County High School seniors were awarded $1,000 signing bonuses during a special “Skills That Pay” ceremony held on May 5th at Yazoo County High School. The event celebrated students who are entering training programs in high-demand technical careers after graduation.
This year’s recipients were Kellie Lipsey, Ammar Sabri, Dakota Blaylock, Christopher Haggan, and Tykira Holiday. The students were recognized in front of friends, family, and Yazoo County High School Principal Dewayne Profit. Each recipient has committed to pursuing hands-on career training after graduation. The group of students are pursuing a variety of career paths, including welding, nursing, engineering, and construction.
The signing bonus is designed to help with costs associated with the transition from high school to a workforce training program. Recipients can use the funds for things like transportation to class, books and equipment needed for their courses, and other expenses that are usually not covered by tuition payments.
Skills That Pay is a program run by the Skills Foundation of Mississippi, a nonprofit committed to increasing the number of skilled workers in the state. The program seeks to connect young Mississippians with opportunities in fields like manufacturing, construction, energy, information technology, and healthcare, as well as highlight the benefits of pursuing jobs in these industries.
Skills Foundation Executive Director Clifton Carroll says that Mississippi has a rising demand for more workers trained in these key industries. “As Mississippi continues to succeed in economic development, the need for skilled workers continues to grow,” said Carroll. “We created Skills That Pay to educate more students on the great benefits of pursuing jobs in key skilled industry sectors, including above-average wages, less or no student debt, quicker earning potential, and entrepreneurial opportunities.”
The Skills That Pay program has been awarding these bonuses each spring for the past three years, with ceremonies held in several high schools across Mississippi, including Yazoo County High School, Vicksburg High School, Warren Central High School, Petal High School, Hattiesburg High School, Raymond High School, and Itawamba Agricultural High School. This year, the nonprofit gave away $29,000 in signing bonuses, nearly double the amount given away a year prior.
“By honoring students who choose to enter the skilled trades, the program sends a clear message: technical careers matter, and Mississippi needs skilled workers now more than ever,” said Taylor Kelly, Project Manager for The Skills Foundation. “We are honored for the opportunity to celebrate these students who are choosing to pursue these careers and give them a boost as they begin the next chapter in their lives.”
