LYNN — Two Lynn Vocational Technical Institute seniors have been invited to appear live on “Good Morning America” Tuesday morning to announce their commitment to working in the technical trades industry upon graduating high school in honor of National College Signing Day on May 4.
Brian Lopez and Nyssa Lewis will be interviewed by GMA anchors Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos and Michael Strahan to highlight careers in technical education and the importance of skilled trades.
The two students are members of the SkillsUSA program at Lynn Tech, and were picked by the program’s Massachusetts Executive Director Karen Ward and Lynn Tech’s SkillsUSA advisor Jason McCuish.
“We have two of our rock stars here,” Ward said. “We’re just really excited for them for sure.”
The SkillsUSA national organization reached out to Ward informing her that one of their sponsors, 84 Lumber, will be honoring high school seniors for their dedication to pursuing a career in residential construction, building trades and renovations, HVAC and plumbing, and many others on May 4.
84 Lumber asked Ward to recommend two students in skilled trades from the Boston area to be featured on GMA, and Ward said she immediately thought of Lynn Tech because it is one of the top SkillsUSA chapters in the country.
“Immediately, I knew that both Nyssa and Brian were construction trades and I knew they were both rock stars,” Ward said. “I knew they were both just great representatives of our program and they’ve done such amazing things in the community. They’re quality people and the kind of students that we want to highlight.”
Ward said National College Signing Day is the day for these students to commit to a future in these trades. 84 Lumber is highlighting this by participating in signing day festivities on SkillsUSA’s new virtual platform “SkillsUSA CONNECT,” with GMA jumping on board by featuring Lopez and Lewis.
Lopez and Lewis are the only two students to be featured live on GMA, and were chosen by the show from a pool of many others throughout the country.
Jerome Bettis, a former running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, Jimmy Garoppolo, will lead the other signing day events in partnership with 84 Lumber. Both NFL players have parents working in skilled trades.
“I’m excited to support this next generation of American essential workers by participating in their national signing day and by helping to spread the message of their commitment to their important career in the skilled trades,” said Bettis.
Lopez and Lewis said they are excited to be on GMA and feel honored to be chosen for this opportunity.
Both said they are excited but nervous to be on live TV.
“This is really awesome and I’m so grateful, but a little nervous,” Lewis said.
“I’m so grateful that we’re in this place, and I will definitely take advantage of this opportunity,” Lopez said. “I feel good now, like before, but I know it’s going to be live, so my nerves are probably going to come in when the time comes.”
McCuish said Lopez and Lewis have not yet finalized decisions for their future, but they have both committed to continuing their careers in carpentry and construction.
Lopez, Lewis, Ward and McCuish flew to Pittsburgh on Monday morning where the signing day events and live filming will take place.
Lopez and Lewis said they are both “proud to represent Lynn and SkillsUSA.”
Allysha Dunnigan can be reached at [email protected].
