Old Colony Celebrates 27 Seniors After Industry Signing Day Sends Them Into the Workforce

Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School in Rochester held its fifth annual Industry Signing Day last week, celebrating 27 seniors who have accepted full-time positions in their chosen fields.

Families, instructors, and employer representatives gathered to cheer on the graduates as they signed letters of intent and took their next big step into the workforce.

What Is Industry Signing Day?

Industry Signing Day is modeled after the traditional college athletic signing day. The idea is to give vocational students the chance to be recognized for their hard work and commitment to their craft.  Students are called up to a table at the front of the crowd and sign letters of intent from their employers.

Old Colony Superintendent-Director Aaron Polansky described the event as "everything the school stands for."  Incredibly, OC students who participated in co-ops this year brought in nearly three quarters of a million dollars in earnings, showing in dollars and cents how lucrative a skilled job can be.

"Industry Signing Day, to me, is just as good as graduation," said Vocational Director Bethany Botelho. "This is exactly what our students have prepared and trained for."

Meet the Class of 2026 Industry Signers

Automotive Technology: Robert Leclair to Best Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM, Landen Menard to Roberton's GMC, and Luke Villeneuve to Grieco Ford of Raynham.
Carpentry: Trent Arancio to Bisio and Son Construction, Mason Garcia to Borden Light Marine Contracting, Ryan Manchester to Perkins Quality Construction, James Williams to the Town of Acushnet, and Mathew Yahoub to MJS Construction and Home Improvement.
Cosmetology: Marissa Comfrey to Supercuts of Fall River, Jeisa Costa to Supercuts of Plymouth, and Annabella Putignano to Supercuts of Plymouth.
Culinary Arts: Elijah Morgado to Morgado Asphalt and Concrete Services, and Viviana Vieira to Warren's Harborview.
Electrical: Mackenzey Allen and Brendan Miller to Infra-red Building and Power Service, Benjamin Costa to MB Electrical Contracting, Aiden Mello to Payzant Electrical Contractors, Jack Rioux to Andrade Electric Co., and Anastasia Rose to Pereira Electric.
Electronics Engineering Technology: Dillon Valentim to JW Fishers.
Machine and Tool Technology: Oscar Hutchison to AMI Precision Machining, Cooper Parrott to D.W. Clark, and Jackson Pelletier to AutoCAM Medical.
Metal Fabrication and Joining Technologies: Mark Bowman III to Bowman's Plumbing and Heating, Benjamin Dextraze to MAS Building and Bridge, Jake Koczera to Pine Hill Equipment, and Keith Tobin to T&B Solutions.