On Wednesday, April 14, 15 high school students signed their apprenticeship programs in four different categories: welding, engineering, information technology, and patient care. They entered the work-based programs through the Career Academy of Pella and WorkSMART Connector. The students, parents, and program leaders celebrated signing apprenticeship contracts with local Pella businesses with a ceremony in the high school commons. The apprenticeships are “earn as they learn” programs, which also include potential certifications and college credits.

The following students committed to an apprenticeship for the upcoming academic year:
Welding:
Aidan Brand, Pella – Vermeer
Seth Fisher, Pella – LDJ
Henry Hick, Pella – Co-Line
Trenton Keuning, Pella Christian – PPI
Vincent Roff, Pleasantville – Weiler
Patient Care:
Marie VanderWilt, Pella – Pella Regional and Wesleylife
Engineering Assistant:
Joshua McGee, Pella – Weiler
Carver Van Zee, Pella – Pella Corporation
Carter Vos, Pella Christian – Vermeer
Katelyn Vos, Pella Christian – Pella Corporation
Information Technology:
Thomas Clark, Pella – Pella Corporation
Andrew Cottington, Pella – Musco
Connor Folkers, Pella – Pella Corporation
Joseph Lee, Pella – Vermeer
Lucas Schakel, Pella – Vermeer
These students have been working thoroughly to make sure they were able to get the hours and skills required to be successful. The programs are meant to help students in the local community to grow as a person and get some hands on experience during the school day. The apprenticeships will start next year at local businesses in Pella and other local towns.
“This program is great because it lets people have real-world jobs straight out of high school,” said junior Aidan Brand. The program lets students interview with companies and eventually be hired to work a summer of their senior year, half the day of school during their senior year, and it gives them a job after high school all while getting paid.
Out of all the students, junior Marie Vander Wilt was the only student to do an apprenticeship in patient care. The apprenticeship Vander Wilt will do in the future is at Wesley Life, a nursing home in Pella, and the Pella Regional Hospital.
“I will be working after school for the remainder of my junior year, full time during the summer, and then go to school part time and work part time during senior year,” said Vander Wilt.
Any extra hours she needs will be complete during the summer after her senior year. Vander Wilt will get experience in all different aspects of the medical field: everything from geriatrics to med surg to OB to ER.
“The signing day was nerve-wracking but exciting all at the same time,” said Brand. However, these local students took a leap and explored their interests by apprenticeship. Each student worked hard and all earned what they deserved.