Channeling the most exciting moment for new college athletes, the U.S. Department of Labor has marked the final week of September for Job Corps Signing Day ceremonies across the nation to celebrate new students who have enrolled in the free career training program and taken control of their futures.  

All 121 Job Corps campuses will be holding Signing Day celebrations throughout the summer and early fall, with the campaign culminating in a program-wide week of ceremonies the week of Sept. 26–30 to honor summer enrollees who joined the program during its current recruitment drive, announced May 9. Job Corps has campuses in each of the 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.  

“We are celebrating our new students the same way colleges celebrate their new student-athletes, because the rewards are the same,” Job Corps National Director Rachel Torres said. “It’s about commitment, learning and the drive to succeed. Our students are super-motivated to skill up, join the workforce and live their best lives.”  

Job Corps Signing Day and the summer recruitment drive are part of a national effort to restore Job Corps campuses to full capacity after pandemic safety measures had restricted enrollments, due to the residential aspects of the program. Job Corps has restored pre-pandemic admission standards nationwide and has immediate openings for new students.