Oyster River seniors celebrate joining workforce in Career Signing Day

Special to Foster's
·2 min read

DURHAM — Oyster River High School 2023 graduating seniors who will be entering the workforce were celebrated in a Career Signing Day hosted by the the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce Tuesday, June 5.

Three students — James Barrett of Barrington, Denzel Owens of Madbury, and Connor Brown of Lee — signed certificates of intent with Seacoast companies to begin careers as electricians, welders, and automotive technicians. Barrett and Owens will begin apprenticeships at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, while Brown has accepted employment with Tri-City Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. A fourth student, Gavin Weingart of Barrington, will also be working at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard but was unable to attend the ceremony.

Oyster River graduating senior Connor Brown holds his certificate of intent to join the automotive technician team at Tri-City Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. With him are (left to right) Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce President Margaret Joyce; Connor's father, James Brown and ORHS Principal Rebecca Noe.
Oyster River graduating senior Connor Brown holds his certificate of intent to join the automotive technician team at Tri-City Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. With him are (left to right) Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce President Margaret Joyce; Connor's father, James Brown and ORHS Principal Rebecca Noe.

Career Signing Day is a program of the the chamber's Business and Education Partnership Committee and was created to increase awareness about the many viable career opportunities that don’t require a college degree, and to recognize students who opt to enter the workforce directly after high school.

“We are so excited to celebrate the accomplishment of these four young people,” says GDCC President Margaret Joyce. “The training they will receive at their chosen places of employment will set them up for long and rewarding careers, and they’ll have a jump start on their peers in terms of saving for the future.”

In addition to signing a letter of intent with their employers, each of the students received a $100 gift certificate from the Rotary Club of Dover to help defray the cost of tools.

Oyster River High School Class of 2023 graduating senior James Barrett signs his certificate of intent June 5 to become an apprentice welder at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
Oyster River High School Class of 2023 graduating senior James Barrett signs his certificate of intent June 5 to become an apprentice welder at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

“Rotary Club of Dover is pleased to partner with the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce on Career Signing Day," says Dover Rotary President Megan Keil. "Our Rotary club believes strongly in developing the workforce, and we offer financial assistance grants for people who live or work in Dover to acquire or upgrade skills in their chosen vocation. The funds can be used to pay for training resulting in a license, certification, or degree in a vocational program, or for the purchase of tools or necessary equipment to continue in the vocation.”

Celebrating the Oyster River High School graduating seniors who signed certificates of intent June 5 to enter the workforce are representatives from Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce, Oyster River High School, and Oyster River Cooperative School District.
Celebrating the Oyster River High School graduating seniors who signed certificates of intent June 5 to enter the workforce are representatives from Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce, Oyster River High School, and Oyster River Cooperative School District.

An application and more information about the Dover Rotary’s Vocational Training and Tools Grant can be found at doverrotary.com.

OHRS Principal Rebecca Noe told ceremony attendees all three of her own children are graduates of technical education programs.

“I’m proud that we are able to offer a variety of career technical education options at Oyster River,” Noe said. “Our affiliation with the New Hampshire Extended Learning Opportunity (ELO) Network allows our students to benefit from a credit-bearing learning experience that takes place outside the traditional classroom. These experiences are driven by the students’ interests and provide flexibility in terms of location and schedule. It is extremely gratifying to celebrate our ELO students, their families, and their future employers with the Career Signing Day.”

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Oyster River seniors celebrate joining workforce in Career Signing Day