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Signing Day

The Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeships (CRYA) program celebrated career education with hundreds of students, business leaders, educators, and funders at Signing Day 2021. The event was held on Thursday, July 29, at the College Center on TTC’s Thornley Campus in North Charleston.
Former CNA/pre-nursing youth apprentice Kevin Boyd shares a laugh with Dr. Thornley reflecting on his time working at Roper St. Francis Hospital as a young high school student aspiring to attend medical school. He is currently a student at Duke University.

Former CNA/pre-nursing youth apprentice Kevin Boyd shares a laugh with Dr. Thornley reflecting on his time working at Roper St. Francis Hospital as a young high school student aspiring to attend medical school. He is currently a student at Duke University.  

Signing Day 2021 recognized the eighth signing class of over 70 new youth apprentices from the tricounty area, with many more still being hired for the 2021-22 academic school year. The event, sponsored by RegionsBank, began with opening remarks from TTC President, Dr. Mary Thornley. It was highlighted by a panel discussion facilitated by Dr. Thornley with four current and former youth apprentices. Kevin Boyd (graduate of Academic Magnet High School), Keyshon Green (graduate of Burke High School), Keri Sheffield (graduate of Hanahan High School) and Allison Shipp (graduate of Wando High School) discussed how their apprenticeships changed their lives.

The discussion was followed by the official signing ceremony between the employers and the  youth apprentices. Employers in attendance represented Automotive, Baking and Pastry, CNA/Pre-Nursing, Culinary Arts, Cybersecurity, Hotel Operations, HVAC, Industrial Mechanics, Machine Tool Technology, Networking, PLTW Engineer Technician and Welding.


2021 signee Sanaa Lemmon, a student at Cane Bay High School,was hired by Berkeley County Government as a PLTW Engineer Technician youth apprentice. 


Through CRYA, Trident Tech connects qualified high school students with participating employers. The employers interview and hire the students, who then begin employment while taking high school and college courses. At the completion of the apprenticeships, students will have earned a high school diploma, a TTC certificate, a journeyman credential from the U.S. Department of Labor and two years of paid work experience.

Costs associated with the program, including tuition, books and most materials for apprenticeship-related courses at Trident Technical College, are paid for through the support of several funders. 

Funders include Apprenticeship Carolina/U.S. Department of Labor, Bank of America, Boeing, Charleston Engineers Joint Council, Daniel Island Rotary, Mercedes-Benz Vans, Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeships (PAYA), Regions Bank Foundation and Truist. Currently, there are 45 business partners who have or are interested in hiring youth apprentices for the 2021-22 academic school year. 


Signing Day 2021 recognized the eighth signing class of the Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeships program of over 70 new youth apprentices from the tricounty area.

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