Beech Tree News Network

The Class of 2013 had many things to celebrate Friday evening:  great friends, high school graduation and the first step to life after high school.   Preceding graduation, the students had the first ever College and Career Ready Pinning Ceremony.  This ceremony was held during the graduation ceremony practice on Thursday, May 22nd.  The ceremony was one in which students were recognized among their peers by Superintendent Scott Howard, Butler County High School Principal Patrick O'Driscoll and Principal Ray Hammer of the Butler County Area Technical School.

The ceremony had a dual purpose in its intent to speak to students on the eve of their graduation:   to encourage them in their individual pursuits after high school and pin those who met the College and Career Ready standards set forth by the state of Kentucky on national exams and industry certification requirements.  The Presidential Pin of Academic Excellence is a symbol of the hard work, determination and success these students have achieved.  This token given to students will hopefully be a reminder to continue to be diligent, persevere and be faithful to a hard work ethic after high school.  The College and Career Ready status was recognized in their graduation program as well.

The standards set forth are recognized by industry, technical schools and colleges/universities throughout the state and nation indicating a student is prepared to enter into post-secondary schooling and/or the workforce with skills prepared to learn on the job.  Students were required to meet benchmarks in industry standards and on one or more of the following exams:  ACT, KOSSA, COMPASS, or ASVAB.  The pinning ceremony will become an annual event and we encourage students during their high school career to meet the benchmarks.  The BRADD area Workforce investment Board and local industry has shown an interest in attending the ceremony as a way to recruit potential employees and assist students in locating resources for college and work placement.