RCSS Career and Technical Education

Two groups were recognized during yesterday’s Apprenticeship Randolph event: the Class of 2025 graduates who successfully completed the program, and the newly selected apprentices preparing to begin their journey. The 9th Annual Signing and Graduation Ceremony was held in the Randolph Community College auditorium. Congratulations to both the graduates and the incoming apprentices—and a heartfelt thank you to the local business partners who make these opportunities possible.

Look what some of our FFA students are up to this week!

Several RCSS high school students left this morning for a week long State Leadership conference at the NC FFA Center at White Lake.

PGHS Farm Business Management Team Receives Awards, Heads to Nationals
PGHS Farm Business Management Team Receives Awards, Heads to Nationals
Providence Grove High School's Farm Business Management team traveled to Raleigh yesterday to receive their first-place award at the annual NC FFA Convention. Team members Troy Blakely (’25), Peyton McGraw (’27), Caleb Ward (’26), and Hunter Ward (’25) earned top honors for their outstanding performance. The team will represent North Carolina at the National FFA Convention in Indiana this October.
They also received recognition for their third-place finish in the NC Hunter Safety competition. Troy Blakely (’25) and Hunter Ward (’25) accepted the award on behalf of the PGHS Hunter Safety Team.

On Thursday, May 29, the Randolph County School System's Career and Technical Education (CTE) Business Advisory Board held its semiannual meeting at Pemmco Manufacturing in Asheboro. Rick Powell, President of Pemmco, provided an informative tour of the facility, answered questions, and offered valuable insight into the manufacturing industry.

The CTE Business Advisory Board is a collaborative leadership group composed of representatives from various industries and community organizations. The board meets twice each school year to help ensure RCSS CTE programs align with current workforce demands and effectively prepare students for high-skill, high-wage careers after graduation.

RCSS FFA TEACHER SELECTED AS A NATIONAL 2025-2026 NATIONAL COHORT OF TEACHER AMBASSADORS
Sierra Simmerman, Agriculture teacher at Providence Grove High School has been selected as part of the 2025-2026 Cohort of National Teacher Ambassadors by the National FFA Chapter. There will be 65 national teacher ambassadors representing 28 states. RCSS is very proud of Ms. Simmerman and this honor of being selected. For more information, please read the article below.

Indianapolis (Tuesday, May 20, 2025) – National FFA Organization is proud to announce the new cohort of National Teacher Ambassadors for the upcoming school year. There will be 65 National Teacher Ambassadors representing 28 states.

The National Teacher Ambassadors serve as positive and professional examples to more than 13,000 FFA advisors in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands during their year of service. The teacher ambassadors serve as a resource for teachers nationwide by leading, mentoring and training them through formal and informal programs such as webinars and workshops. They also provide feedback to National FFA leadership about the evolving educational landscape based on their own experiences.

“The National Teacher Ambassadors for FFA help inspire our next generation of leaders by engaging with other agricultural educators, state and national FFA staff to further the innovation and passion that they bring to life in their classrooms across the country, said Ambra Tennery, director of educational programs in the program and events division of the National FFA Organization. “Their commitment empowers students and also strengthens local and statewide communities to ensure the future of agriculture will be bright.”

Alabama

Allison Heald (Mentor), Southside FFA Chapter

Macy Scruggs, Red Level FFA Chapter

Amanda Teixeira, Tallassee FFA Chapter

Arizona

Victoria Imhoff, Desert Sunrise FFA Chapter

Cheryl Sawyer, AAEC Estrella Mountain FFA Chapter

Arkansas

Cheyenne Holliday, Lincoln FFA Chapter

Dixie Miller, Russellville FFA Chapter

California

Audrey Lent, Lakeside Middle FFA Chapter

Colorado

Alison Brown, Dolores FFA Chapter

Taylor Eurich, Windsor FFA Chapter

Alexandra Grimes, Greeley FFA Chapter

Delaware

Rebecca Moore, Smyrna FFA Chapter

Florida

Deanna Thompson, Charlotte Sr. FFA Chapter

Stacy Young, Branford FFA Chapter

Georgia

April Davis, Commerce Middle FFA Chapter

Donovan Hemmings, Denmark FFA Chapter

Ashley Rivers, Etowah FFA Chapter

Megan Seawright, Washington-Wilkes FFA Chapter

Idaho

Katie Christiansen (Mentor), Salmon FFA Chapter

Indiana

Leslie Fairchild, Delphi FFA Chapter

Cameron Frazier, South Putnam FFA Chapter

Iowa

Anna Brooks, Ames FFA Chapter

Kansas

Kim Clark (Mentor), Royal Valley FFA Chapter

Laura Miller (Mentor), Junction City FFA Chapter

Hannah Adame, Neodesha FFA Chapter

Ashley Vahsholtz, Junction City FFA Chapter

Anna Williamson, Wellington FFA Chapter

Louisiana

Bonnie McCallister, Grand Lake FFA Chapter

Mississippi

Toni Boatner, Brandon FFA Chapter

Haley Britt, Bogue Chitto FFA Chapter

Missouri

Alicia Flowers, Louisiana FFA Chapter

Morgan Looten, Versailles FFA Chapter

Montana

JR Pierce (Mentor), Shields Valley FFA Chapter

New Jersey

Patricia Smith, Warren Hills FFA Chapter

New Mexico

Vickie Lake, Shiprock FFA Chapter

Shannon Watling, School of Dreams Academy FFA Chapter

North Carolina

Elizabeth Espino, North Lenoir FFA Chapter

Emma Hendley, Northwest Cabarrus FFA Chapter

Christopher Hicks, Eastern Wayne FFA Chapter

Emma Potter, South Rowan FFA Chapter

Sierra Simmerman, Providence Grove FFA Chapter

North Dakota

Bailey Hawbaker, Stanley FFA Chapter

Callahan Lemar, Grafton FFA Chapter and Minto FFA Chapter

Ohio

Caleb Hickman, Utica FFA Chapter

Lori Romie, Ridgemont FFA Chapter

Jeremy Ryan, West Muskingum FFA Chapter

Oklahoma

Shawn Martin, Bluejacket FFA Chapter

South Carolina

Desiree Still, Barnwell County Career Center FFA Chapter

South Dakota

Sarah McClure, Gettysburg FFA Chapter

AnnaMarie Sachs, Langford Area FFA Chapter

Tennessee

Brittney Cagle, Ripley FFA Chapter

Jake Duke, Smyrna FFA Chapter

Chris Martin, Battle Creek FFA Chapter

Jessica Ross, Hendersonville FFA Chapter

Texas

Charlotte Main (Mentor), Kilgore FFA Chapter

Kasey Naylor (Mentor), Sam Rayburn FFA Chapter

Jordon Bien, Brownsboro FFA Chapter

Macey Cheatham, Frisco-Lebanon Trail FFA Chapter

Tylan Long, Ballinger FFA Chapter

Adrianna Segura, Devine FFA Chapter

Tanner Smith, Arlington FFA Chapter

Virginia

Dakota Stroud, Signal K**b Middle FFA Chapter

Caitlin Price Tatum, Bassett FFA Chapter

West Virginia

Allyson Lewis, Upshur FFA Chapter

Jessica Snyder, Upshur FFA Chapter

The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 1,027,200 student members as part of 9,235 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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About National FFA Organization

The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 1,027,200 student members as part of 9,235 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. For more, visit the National FFA Organization online at FFA.org and on Facebook and Twitter.

About National FFA Foundation

The National FFA Foundation builds partnerships with industry, education, government, other foundations, and individuals to secure financial resources that recognize FFA member achievements, develop student leaders, and support the future of agricultural education. Governed by a 19-member board of trustees composed of educators, business leaders, individual donors and FFA Alumni, the foundation is a separately registered nonprofit organization. About 82 percent of every dollar received by the foundation supports FFA members and agricultural education opportunities. For more, visit FFA.org/Give.

Welding Success at RCC: Eleven RCSS Students Earn Certifications
On Friday, May 23, Wesley Corder, Agriculture Teacher from Eastern Randolph High School, took eleven students to RCC’s Archdale Campus to attempt their AWS D1.1 welding certification. Mr. Corder is proud to share that all eleven earned their GMAW (MIG/wire welding) certifications, and ten also earned their SMAW (stick welding) certifications. The only student who didn’t earn SMAW on Friday was Abigail Taylor—because she already earned it last May. As of now, every student in the group holds both certifications—a major accomplishment, especially considering most are just in 9th or 10th grade.

To earn these credentials, students had to complete an 8" fillet weld on 1/8" steel, which had to pass a destructive bend test without cracking or separation. These skills can lead directly to jobs starting at $18–$25/hour.

The RCC welding instructors—and even the restaurant staff where the students had lunch—were highly impressed with these students' skills, manners, and work ethic. "They truly represented what it means to be a Wildcat," states Mr. Corder.

Special recognition goes to Wesley Cooke, who was the first in the group to earn both certifications—on his first attempts.

"This was the best group of students I’ve ever taken to RCC for certification. I’m incredibly proud of them," states Mr. Corder.

Congratulations to the following students:

Bryson Brown

Wesley Cooke

Eli Cox

Brantlee Deaton

Nathan Draughn

Nathaniel Farlow

Sam Goodson

Landon Peterson

Cody Ritter

Justin Shane

Abigail Taylor

The RCSS Career and Technical Education Business Advisory Board will meet on Thursday, May 29 at Pemmco Manufacturing from 9:45 am - 12:00 pm. The CTE Business Advisory Board is a leadership group with representation from various industry and community partners that meets twice each school year to ensure the RCSS CTE programs align to workforce needs and best prepare students for the high-skill high-wage careers that await them after graduation.

Northeastern Randolph Middle School, Southeastern Randolph Middle School, and Trinity Middle School competed in the BrickEd State Robotics competition Saturday, May 17th.
All teams represented RCSS well and they look forward to participating again next year.

Trinity Middle School hosted their first annual plant sale on Saturday. The sale was well attended and students’ hard work during the school year was recognized.

Thank you to all the parents and community members that supported their Ag program.

Southwestern Randolph High School hosted Seagrove and Southmont Elementary 5th graders for 5th grade tours.

5th grade tours helps students explore the different CTE courses available at the high school level to help prepare students for their CTE journey starting in 6th grade.

Southeastern Randolph 7th Graders explored Agricultural Careers today. Students started the day by visiting NC A & T Farm learning about college programs available in our area along with agricultural careers.

Students then had the opportunity to tour Eastern Randolph High School to discuss Agricultural pathways to obtain their careers.