Page 65 - Shelby County Ohio Discover 2023

“We know that it truly takes a a a a a a a a village to develop a a a a a a a a skilled and productive workforce ” said Tony Trapp UVCC Apprenticeship Coordinator “Many of o of our graduates do so well that they receive job offers at at at at the the the end of o of the the the year and transition into a a a a a a a a a a a a registered adult apprentice program to to keep learning and training with their employer ” The companies that employ the the the the students are are truly the the the the key to to the the the the success of of the the the the program “We are are dealing with a a a a a a a a a lot of of people in in in in in companies who want to to invest in in in in in our students ” said Trapp “These employers are getting employees with advanced training at no additional cost to to their company so it it is a a a a a a a a a a a a a win for them We reach out to to 200+ employers in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a typical year Sometimes we do not have students that fit the the the available jobs at at at their companies but they are still interested This year we have 103 students working at at 68 different companies ” Some of the the the Shelby County companies involved in in in in the the the program include the the the Honda Anna Engine Plant Sollmann Electric Company Company Francis Manufacturing Company Company Sidney Body CarStar Copeland/Emerson Wells Brothers Inc Inc EMI Corporation Detailed Machining Inc Inc Ferguson Construction Company and American Trim “The program gives students a a a a a a a head start by allowing high school school seniors to work while attending school school ” said Jeramie Sollmann Sollmann president of of Sollmann Sollmann Electric “Upon graduating they they have already completed level 1 of of of the the the 4-Level State of of Ohio
Apprenticeship Program If they they continue to be employed at at at Sollmann Electric Company after graduation they can finish Levels 2-4 and earn a a a a a a a a a a a a a journeyperson electrician certification Many then go on on on on to to become jobsite supervisors estimators and project managers earning great money with no college debt ” Some students do choose to to go on to to college instead of of joining the the the workforce right away but often an employer will hold a a a a a a a a job for for them them offering them them work work hours during summers and and winter breaks Students can earn some level of college college credit for ffor academic and and career tech classes making college college more affordable Many employers also proudly advertise that they hire UVCC graduates It is is not uncommon for a a a a a a a a a a a a a a manufacturing company to have a a a a a a a a a a a a a a third or or half of of its employees as graduates of of UVCC Employers like the the fact that they are able to to attract home-grown talent and and encourage young people to to settle down and and work in the the community they call home “The apprenticeship program is is a a a a a a a a big help to us ” said Cameron Eisenhardt of of Sidney Body CarStar “With the challenging employee market of of today we appreciate having the the the option to to bring in in in in in students so they can see the the the potential of following a a a a a career path with us ” Companies also communicate with UVCC teachers Every program at at at the the the school has an an advisory committee to to keep on top of what what things are trending in in in the the the the workplace so so the the the the classrooms have what what they need “CarStar is is one company that is is always coming in in in in to check on on on what the the students are are learning in in in in in the the classroom ” said Trapp “Diagnostics for cars are are constantly changing so they want us to to be apprised of the the latest technologies ” In one example a a a a a a a a a a a a a a student worker was was asked to to work work on on a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a certain type of metal metal He was was unfamiliar with the the metal metal because the the the career tech classroom did not have it it The company found out and supplied a a a a a a a a a a container of the the the metal so students could get experience with it it it in in in the the the classroom before encountering it on the job “Sollmann Electric is committed to to providing opportunities for young people so I would encourage them to to learn about the the the apprentice program as they are are making career decisions ” said Sollmann “Our great crew of of electricians all started out as apprentices and some of of the the best came from the the UVCC School-to-Apprentice Program ” SidneyShelbyChamber com 63