More than 85 high school students took the next step toward their careers Tuesday, July 28, during the Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeship (CRYA) program’s 13th annual Signing Day at Trident Technical College (TTC).
The students committed to paid apprenticeships with 39 employers across Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties in 19 career pathways. Approximately 400 people attended the breakfast, signing ceremony and student panel discussion at the College Center on TTC’s Thornley Campus.
Melissa Stowasser, vice president for Community and Continuing Education at TTC, welcomed students, families, employers and community partners.
“Signing Day represents the beginning of an important opportunity for these students,” Stowasser said. “They will gain paid work experience, industry credentials and college credit while building skills that are important to the future of our region’s workforce.”
Taylor White, director of the Postsecondary Pathways for Youth Initiative at New America’s Center on Education & Labor, also addressed attendees.
Ellen Kaufman, youth apprenticeship and marketing coordinator, moderated a panel featuring current and former youth apprentices:
- Jack Israels, a Wando High School student and hotel operations youth apprentice with The Dewberry
- Cayden McClary, a Goose Creek High School graduate and former baking and pastry youth apprentice
- Tatiana Wiedenman, a Charleston County School of the Arts student and pre-nursing youth apprentice with MUSC
- Kymell Williams, a Goose Creek High School graduate and former culinary arts youth apprentice.
The panelists discussed their workplace experiences, the skills they developed and how youth apprenticeships helped prepare them for their education and career goals.
Yvonne Brown, business consultant with Apprenticeships and Employer Partnerships at TTC, delivered closing remarks.
Regions Bank sponsored this year’s Signing Day. Additional support was provided by these program funders: Apprenticeship Carolina, Bank of America, The Boeing Company, Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship, Trident Technical College Foundation and U.S. Department of Labor.
This year’s youth apprentices entered the following career pathways: automotive; baking and pastry; certified nursing assistant/pre-nursing in long-term care; certified nursing assistant/pre-nursing in hospitals; culinary arts; computer networking; education aide; engineering assistant; facilities maintenance; hotel operations; heating, ventilation and air conditioning; industrial mechanics; logistics; machine tool technology; mechatronics; medical laboratory assistant; pharmacy technician; security/pre-law enforcement; and welding.
Through CRYA, TTC connects qualified high school students with local employers who interview and hire them. Participants work while completing their high school and college education. During the two-year program, students can earn a high school diploma, a TTC certificate, a nationally recognized credential from the U.S. Department of Labor and two years of paid work experience.
Since its first Signing Day in 2013, CRYA has grown into a nationally recognized model for youth apprenticeship. The program is a demonstration site and core partner in the Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship network.