Vo-tech students commit to apprenticeships
Soon-to-be Butler County Vocational-Technical School graduates received much more than a sheepskin at an awards ceremony Friday. The 17 seniors present entered into apprenticeship programs with a paycheck, benefits and the possibility of future journeyman status.
The students officially signed apprenticeship letters with Penn United Technology, Oberg Industries and Sheet Metal Workers Local 12 of Harmar Township at the event at Butler Intermediate High School.
Taylor Shephard, 18, of Butler who will be an apprentice with Local 12, said she would soon have an interview with Bova Corp., a stainless steel fabricator in Valencia for a welding position.
She said, “I've been doing this since ninth grade, and it's something I'm good at. I enjoy welding.”
Shephard and the other seniors had to take a skills assessment test and go through an interview process to be selected for the apprenticeship program.
“We just started doing this last year,” said Stacey Burke, Butler County vo-tech program development coordinator, referring to the signing ceremony.
Dayne Stauffer, head of the apprentice program at Oberg Industries, said the apprenticed students at Oberg will have a chance to become machinists, grinders and toolmakers once their apprenticeships are over.
Jason Falkner, Oberg apprentice supervisor, said, “We've been taking apprentices since the 1970s. They have benefits and pay. They are getting paid the whole time. “The apprenticeship is competency based, not time based. They will rotate through different areas and supervisors, see what they think and know where to place them,” said Falkner.
Those are the same opportunities that will be offered to the four apprentices Penn United Technologies Inc. signed, said Keith McKain, Penn United human resource manager.
“It's a four-year program. They will get a journeyman position in four years,” said McKain.All the new apprentices will be given performance reviews every six months to gauge their progress, said McKain.Keith Schettler, apprenticeship coordinator with Sheet Metal Workers Local 12, said the union is happy to take on Butler County vo-tech students as apprentices.Schettler said, “In my opinion, no instructor or school system does a better job at getting kids ready to be an employee than Butler vo-tech and HVAC instructor Eric Collins.”McKain echoed that appreciation of Butler County vo-tech students.“We couldn't be happier with the training they get,” he said.And the new apprentices will no doubt be happy with their paychecks.“The first year they are apprentices they are making good cash. The contractors are happy with them and the union is happy with them. They are getting their feet on the ground,” said Schettler.Union apprentices are going to make $30,000 their first year plus benefits, he said.“The way that the industry is growing, it's going to need more kids,” he added. “Electrical, plumbing, steam fitting, sheet metal, these jobs are in demand. These are good-paying jobs.”Paula Nicklas of Evans City was on hand to see her son, Adam, sign an apprenticeship letter.“He's going with Sheet Metal Workers Local 12,” she said.Adam Nicklas said he will start his orientation June 17.“The union said they could be sending me to contractors in West Virginia, Erie and Pittsburgh. I'm looking forward to that and the money I can make,” he said.
