Nathan Montgomery, an 11th-grader at St. Edmond High School, was invited to a signing of a proclamation by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds.

The proclamation was to announce that February would be statewide Career and Technical Education month. Gov. Reynolds is a huge supporter of CTE programs across schools statewide because she says that it strengthens students interest in future career paths and gives them the necessary skills to be fully prepared for their future endeavors.

Montgomery was invited to the signing because he currently serves as the statewide Vice President of Leadership for Iowa DECA.

DECA is an organization and CTE program that prepares students and leaders to go into the area of finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, and management. DECA has 215,000 members globally in eight different countries as well.

Serving as the Vice President of Leadership, Montgomery understands the importance of CTE programs in the state as well. He said that he sees continuous growth in students’ communication skills and their business-like skills over the course of their involvement in the organization DECA.

Being invited to this opportunity and signing, Montgomery said, was an amazing opportunity and shows the importance of CTE programs and is glad the governor is in 100 percent support of these programs.