Sanford Regional Technical Center (SRTC) held its first student assemblies of the 2026-2027 school year last Thursday, welcoming hundreds of students representing 26 distinct trade and career programs. First-year students gathered at the Sanford Performing Arts Center at 9 a.m., followed by returning students at 11 a.m., as SRTC educators and staff introduced them to the Center’s mission, values, and opportunities for the year ahead.
The assemblies began with SRTC Director Matt Petermann challenging students to think beyond the classroom and consider the futures they are capable of building.
“When you walk out of here with a career, you’re not just leaving with skills, you’re leaving with an impact.”
While Mr. Petermann, by his own admission, is not one to memorize or rehearse his speeches, his passion for SRTC and the students it serves is evident in his words. As he addressed students with varied experiences, perspectives, and levels of certainty about their futures, he acknowledged that some may still be wondering whether joining SRTC was the right call. His message, however, made one thing clear: he believes in his students, and he is committed to supporting their success.
That same commitment came through in the words of Assistant Director Michael Redmond, who also addressed students during Thursday’s assemblies, and in the shared message of the SRTC staff. Together, they emphasized that students are developing not only the technical skills needed for their chosen careers, but also the character, confidence, and sense of purpose needed to navigate their futures.
Thursday’s assemblies also highlighted an opportunity to put that confidence into action through SkillsUSA, a workforce development organization that helps students develop technical, leadership, and employability skills. Since SRTC’s inception in the early 70s, Sanford students have participated in SkillsUSA competitions like the annual Maine State Leadership and Skills Conference in Bangor, and earned national championships in each of the past two years.
But the opportunities with SkillsUSA for Sanford students extend beyond competition. Following the presentation, Mr. Petermann issued a call for students interested in leadership to consider becoming officers of the Sanford SkillsUSA chapter. Madison Penney, an Auto Collision & Repair student who served as Sanford’s SkillsUSA officer over the past year, also spoke with her peers and shared her experience with the organization.
“SkillsUSA is great because you’re competing in what you like to do, and as you do you’re getting better and better at that skill,” Ms. Penney said.
As the halls of the Sanford Regional Technical Center are filled once again, Thursday’s assemblies offered a reminder of what makes career and technical education so meaningful: students are not simply mastering a trade or preparing for the workforce; they are building skills, discovering what they are capable of, and learning to confidently lead lives of impact. As the 2026-2027 school year begins, SRTC educators and staff will be with them every step of the way.