Youth Apprenticeships: Helping Youth Develop the Skills Needed by Today’s Workforce
By Nicole Ouellette, Central Carolina Technical College Creative Communications Coordinator
South Carolina’s high school students have the unique opportunity to participate in a Youth Apprenticeship program through Central Carolina Technical College and local businesses. The Youth Apprenticeship program combines high school curriculum and career and technology training with critical on-the-job training performed at a local business. Students can earn a paycheck through part-time work while earning a national credential in one of many high-demand occupations. “Youth apprenticeships are a great way for high school students to receive on-the-job training and earn college credit through CCTC. This program gives students the opportunity to experience a jumpstart into a career outside of high school, it’s education through the college that they don’t have to pay for and it sets the student up for plans after graduation,” says Dean of Workforce Development & South Carolina Environmental Training Center Elizabeth Williams.
Cole Bentley, a senior at Crestwood High School is currently a youth apprentice at BD while also a dual enrollment student at CCTC. “This is actually the first job that I’ve ever had before and once I graduate I’ll finish with a high school diploma and an associate degree,” says Cole. BD has worked closely with CCTC since this program started and they are seeing many benefits from this partnership. They, and many other local businesses, have a generation of employees that are in the workforce currently who are close to retiring which means that there will be a serious need to find qualified and skilled workers to enter these businesses and keep them running successfully. This program gives these companies the opportunity to expose young students to company-specific on-the-job training and it lets them create their next-generation workforce. Derrick Brooks, Engineering Manager of the VMS Department at BD, says “These programs are rare and this is a great opportunity for students to get their feet in the door of local industries. Having this type of experience for these students’ résumé is very powerful in interviews. Give these students a chance; they bring a lot of knowledge to the workforce and we are definitely learning a lot from this young generation as we prepare to have our older generation of workers retire and leave.”
The college held a Youth Apprenticeship Information Night event where parents and students had the opportunity to speak with company representatives to learn more about becoming a youth apprentice. Possible Youth Apprenticeship occupations include: Mechatronics, Machine Tool Technology, Business/Management, Logistics, HVAC, Environmental, Health and Safety, Administrative Office Technology, Accounting, Certified Nursing Assistant, Environmental Engineering Technology, Wastewater Operator and Engineering Design Technology. This year’s employer sponsors included: BD, SKF, Santee-Wateree Mental Health, Hatfield Heating & Air, Carolina Filters, EMS -CHEMIE and McLeod Health.
To find out about eligibility requirements for the youth apprenticeship program and more, visit: www.cctech.edu/youthapp. For more information, please contact Elizabeth Williams at 803.778.7873 or williamsel@cctech.edu.
