FORT WORTH, Texas – Tarrant County College had 227 students sign letters of intent committing to its future technical program pathways NC3 and attending TCC once they have completed high school.
Signing events took place April 18 at TCC Northwest and TCC South. Crowley ISD held its signing event March 5 with 65 students participating.
This is TCC’s seventh year to observe NC3 signing day.
TCC Northwest President Zarina Blankenbaker said the day underscores the transformative power of technical education. “It highlights the importance of skilled work shaping our community’s future and the valuable contributions these students will make.”
TCC South President Dan Lufkin expressed pride in students committing to pursuing technical degrees and certificates. He said TCC will stand by these students on their journeys toward educational and career success.
Kate Smith, coordinator of special projects at TCC South, considers the event an opportunity to celebrate Career and Technical Education (CTE) students. “CTE industries are booming in the DFW area,” she said. “Our industry partners are eager to hire our students.”
Janetta Kruse, division dean for Lifestyle and Community Learning at TCC Northwest, also sees value in the NC3 initiative, saying that it validates student aspirations and provides a platform for future collaboration between them and industry representatives.
One of the students who signed last year at TCC South, Allayna Brown, is already pursuing an Engine Analysis Technician certificate. She says she chose that field to learn how to operate and repair her vehicle and assist others.
Reflecting on the day she signed her letter of intent, she said that “participating meant a long-term goal and contract toward my future career in the automotive industry.” She has since received the Ford Auto Tech Scholarship, which extends a special invitation to women for the impact they can make in a field where they currently represent only 2.03% of all auto technicians.
Another TCC student, Ivan Glenn, is working toward an AAS in Automotive Service Technology. He sees the NC3 ceremony as a boost to morale. After graduation, he says, he wants to expand his automotive industry knowledge and have room to engage with customers.
Northwest’s Kruse says that as a champion of technical education, TCC is dedicated to providing pathways to meaningful careers and empowering students to thrive in high-demand industries.
Tarrant County College is one of the nation’s largest higher education institutions and boasts the second-lowest tuition of Texas’ Top 10 community colleges. A comprehensive two-year college with six campuses in Tarrant County and online classes, TCC offers a range of opportunities for learners of all ages and backgrounds, including Associate of Arts and Associate of Applied Science degrees; workforce and economic development programs; technical and skilled trades programs; and customized training for area businesses and corporations.