My name is Aaron, and I'm fighting to save a program that changed my life.

Highlands Career Institute has served our community for nearly 20 years. HCI isn't just a school — it's where students who don't thrive in a traditional high school setting can earn their diploma, gain college credits, and train for real careers in the trades: auto mechanics, HVAC, lineman work, drafting, 911 dispatch, health administration, auto body, and mechatronics. These aren't just classes. These are futures.

My classmates tell me the same thing: "HCI is the first place I've ever felt like I belong."

Now our district leaders — through poor management and misuse of financial funds — are forcing a restructuring that would send students back to their home schools. Scheduling conflicts and transportation barriers would make it impossible for many of us to continue. HCI would effectively cease to exist.

Students should not pay the price for leadership's failures.

The trades are essential to our economy and our nation's future. A 20-year program that creates skilled workers and gives at-risk students a real path forward should not be dismantled because of decisions made by adults in charge of the budget.

I'm not just standing up for myself. I'm standing up for every current student, every future student, and every community that needs the tradespeople HCI produces.

Sign this petition. Share it everywhere. Make some noise. Hold our leaders accountable.

— Aaron, HCI Student and Advocate

Every signature sends a message: students are watching, the community is watching, and we will not let our program disappear without a fight.