(TEMPLE, Texas) – Eight students from Belton High School, along with two members of Texas State Technical College’s 2025 SkillsUSA Texas delegation, were honored on SkillsUSA National Signing Day on Tuesday, May 6, at Lowe’s home improvement store in Temple.
The day’s purpose was to bring attention to students who are committing to pursue a skilled trade. Each student walked through a blue and white balloon arch and onto a blue carpet as they were introduced to the industry professionals, relatives, educators and Lowe’s employees in attendance.
“It’s pretty inspiring,” said Brian Bohannon, TSTC’s statewide SkillsUSA manager. “Belton always has a lot of talent. They have a good team of instructors who teach with industry expectations and good community support.”
Denise Ayers, director of K-12 career readiness at the Belton Independent School District, told the students that their futures are bright and strong because of their achievements. She said they symbolize the craftsmanship, precision and skills that are thriving in the school district.
“You all are committing to problem-solving and hard work that is building our communities, literally,” Ayers said.
Belton High School juniors Angel Armas, Dillion Calice and Joey Sandoval, along with senior James Clark, all signed pledges to pursue technical studies at TSTC.
Armas said he looks forward to his senior year of high school so he can hone his skills doing more electrical work.
“I have my path ready when I leave high school,” he said.
Andy Bass, vice president of operations at R.K. Bass Electric Inc. in Harker Heights, said the company has partnered with the school district for the last 15 years and hired about 20 Belton ISD students.
“It’s awesome to stand here and see these gentlemen pursue this trade,” Bass said.
Belton High School students who signed apprenticeship pledges for the electrical company were seniors Tyler Cook, Emry Lewandoske, Riley Rhodes and Vicente Servantez. Victor Flores, of Belton, a fall 2024 graduate of TSTC’s Electrical Construction program, also signed a pledge as part of his employment at the company.
Flores, along with TSTC Building Construction Technology student Chad Robertson of Belton, are two of the four members of TSTC’s TeamWorks group that won the gold medal at the 2025 SkillsUSA Texas Leadership and Skills Conference last month in Corpus Christi. The TeamWorks group will represent the state at the 2025 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference set for late June in Atlanta, Georgia.
Robertson, who signed a pledge as part of his employment as a construction crew worker at Morton Buildings Inc. in McKinney, said the day was a good one for all of the students.
“This shows we have a lot of support and our community is willing to support us to start in our careers,” he said.
The students received several gifts, including $50 Lowe’s gift cards and DeWalt drill/drivers.
The Lowe’s Foundation is a major sponsor of SkillsUSA National Signing Day.
“This is a seminal moment in these students’ lives, and we’re proud to celebrate their achievements on the largest SkillsUSA National Signing Day ever with 3,500 students participating nationwide,” said Betsy Conway, director of the Lowe’s Foundation based in Mooresville, North Carolina. “These students — and their parents — are helping reshape the narrative about the skilled trades, which offer fulfilling and well-paying careers, not just jobs.”
For more information on SkillsUSA, go to skillsusa.org.
For more information on TSTC, go to tstc.edu.
