Early engagement

20世纪80年代，吉姆·伊士曼从高中毕业，对这些行业产生了兴趣, he had to chart his own path. 他加入了海军，服役后，完成了训练，成为一名熟练的磨坊工人. 

Later, when Eastman decided to become a tech ed teacher, 驱使他的部分原因是希望改变对行业的叙述，并帮助那些想在该领域从事职业的学生. 

考考纳ua400 Pipe Trades的业务经理特雷弗·马丁(Trevor Martin)讲述了一个类似的故事. He graduated from Appleton North High School in the late 1990s, and his school offered little in the way of tech ed classes. 学生们被推向了四年的大学之路，却对这些行业一无所知.

“如果我走进指导顾问的办公室，说我想更多地了解如何成为一名管道工, 他们会看着我，好像我头上长了角一样,” Martin says. 

而马丁说，认识管道安装领域的人帮助他进入了他想要追求的职业, options were lacking even as recently as two decades ago. The industry suffered for it, and Martin is happy to see more pathways for students now, including the Appleton Area School District offering ATECH, 这是一所特许高中，专门为从事制造业的孩子开设.

Similarly, at Menasha High School, where Eastman attended school and now teaches, interest in tech ed classes and apprenticeships is booming. “Those classes are bursting at the seams. Kids really want to take them because they’re hands-on,” he says.

For the district, which includes many kids from blue-collar backgrounds, offering pathways to the trades makes sense, Eastman says. Menasha高中今年增加了一名技术教师，并提供焊接学徒或合作项目, machining, carpentry, masonry, IT and graphics. 学生还可以利用福克斯谷技术学院的双学分计划. 

伊士曼说，学校的课程帮助孩子们走向成功，同时帮助满足地区雇主的需求. “很多孩子来找我说，‘我不知道我要做什么.他说:“我所有的学徒孩子都知道自己在做什么。.

Hands-on experience 

Hannah DuCharme, a 2020 Menasha High School graduate, 她在高中时完成了阿普尔顿郊区企业的青年学徒计划，并认为她知道自己毕业时想做什么. She decided to attend a four-year university, only to discover the experience wasn’t for her, especially with the isolation she faced due to COVID-19.

DuCharme, 在暑假和休息时间继续为Suburban工作的人, 决定回到雇主那里，很快就找到了一份预制技术员的工作. While she may pursue schooling as a welder in the future, DuCharme doesn’t think she’ll go back to a four-year school. 她认为，作为青年学徒的经历帮助她养成了扎实的工作习惯和技能.

“它教会了我如何平衡很多事情，因为在工作(和学校)之间，并试图与朋友出去玩, it was a good way to manage your time,” she says.

Scott Martin, training and development coordinator for Suburban, 他说，很多在Suburban工作的高中学徒都会留在公司. Some decide to pursue other options, 无论哪种方式——学习你喜欢或不喜欢做什么——都是一种宝贵的经历, he says.

This year, Suburban is taking on six new youth apprentices, and Martin says it’s a vital strategy for the company, 它可以培训年轻人，为他们在Suburban的职业生涯做好准备. 他列举了一些成功的例子，比如一位过去的学徒现在是工业流程领域的熟练电工，正在考虑担任领班的角色.

“对我们来说，就是在他们还在读高中的时候就找到那些有动力的人. If they’re motivated to want a youth apprenticeship, typically they’re a motivated person to begin with, so they turn into great employees,” Martin says.

Kirk Kallio, director of human resources for Waupaca Foundry, says youth outreach is an important focus at his company as well. The manufacturer offers co-op, apprenticeship and internship programs, scholarships, and financial support for STEM programs, 此外，我们还举办了一个“盒子里的铸造”项目，以小规模的方式向学生和社区展示铸造工作的样子.

可靠的彩票平台网址大全几十年来一直提供合作社和学徒项目, 它试图使安排尽可能灵活和满足学生. 该公司围绕学生的学校和课外活动安排开展工作，并试图将学生聚集在一起，建立同志情谊. 它还增加了在It等领域的体验, human resources, marketing and accounting as well as the trades.

“可靠的彩票平台网址大全及其供应商基础需要一个强大的熟练人才管道, 这不仅有助于保持我们的竞争力，也有助于行业向前发展, 对学生的好处是，我们向他们展示了一条职业道路，不仅是一份收入丰厚的职业，而且是一份长期的职业,” says Sara Timm, director of marketing for Waupaca Foundry.

Providing pathways

Jeff Gaecke是机械承包商协会的执行副主席, 与ua400管道贸易公司合作，并运营该组织的培训基金. MCA和UA 400管道行业与威斯康星州东北部的90所高中合作，提供学徒机会. In recent years, Gaecke has seen an uptick in interest.

“有很多非常好的职业和高薪的工作, so we’ve certainly seen an influx,” he says.

Last year, the groups’ program brought in 37 youth apprentices, 其中9人选择继续进入完整的学徒计划. During their time as YAs, students also become union members and get access to UA 400’s 61,000-square-foot training center in Kaukauna. It also offers a satellite training center in Fond du Lac.

The shift Gaecke has seen is powerful. In 2008, the average age of an apprentice was 24 years old, 他们中的许多人上了大学，然后选择了不同的道路. Today, an apprentice can start in high school and by the time they’re 22, become a full-fledged journeyman.

ua400的马丁说，那些继续成为熟练工的人可以享受很多好处. Today’s journeyman wage including benefits is $65 per hour. Furthermore, at the age of 18, someone can expect to be in the workforce for at least 40 years, and by the time that worker retires, he or she could have a seven-figure pension. 

Martin says the YA program is critical, given the region’s aging population, retirements on the horizon and overall people deficit. “你必须全力以赴，让尽可能多的人看到你的机会,” he says.

马丁设计了一种方法来提升青年协会的工作和承诺，那就是创建一个学徒签约日活动. 该组织去年举行了首次活动，今年的签约日定于9月9日. 24.

签约日的设计是为了模仿学生运动员签署大学承诺时的盛况. While Martin doesn’t underestimate that accomplishment, he says the dedication of YAs is equally worthy of celebration.

“参加管道行业学徒计划的人也很重要. They build our community,” he says. “用一天的时间，让我们向这些新学徒展示他们到底有多重要.”