Recognizing Local Schools and Talented Individuals for the 1st Ever Youth Apprenticeship Week
May 6th through the 10th represents the first ever Youth Apprenticeship Week (YAW). YAW comes as an offshoot from National Apprenticeship Week and highlights individuals participating in Registered Apprenticeship programs throughout the country (learn more about Youth Apprenticeship Week at www.apprenticeship.gov/youth-apprenticeship-week).
The Hanover community and its schools boast robust apprenticeship and training programs to provide our youth with an opportunity to stand out to employers and earn a competitive wage. We reached out to the schools in the area to provide us with statistics and direct quotes from the students to highlight just how impactful apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs can be. And with the recent approval of Pennsylvania’s first Automotive Technician Apprenticeship, Hanover Auto Team’s Tech Pathways, this is certainly an exciting time to recognize our community’s talented youth.
David Harnish, Transition Coordinator/ Diversified Occupations Instructor at Hanover High School, provided the following statistics regarding their students, the programs they are participating in, and what the future holds:
17/135 seniors will receive their NOCTI Certification in Welding and Diversified Occupations (~13%)
40/135 seniors will be receiving either a national certification, and/or regional credential related to Career & Technical Education Programs within the district (~30%).
Graduating Seniors are entering full time employment/pre-apprenticeship & apprenticeship programs at some of the following local companies: Conewago Enterprises, Utz Brands, H&H General Excavating, Emeco, Hanover Iron Works, Kinsley Construction, IEC Chesapeake Electrical Apprenticeship Program, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, Armed Forces - to name a few.
1 senior will complete the Hanover Auto Team - Tech Pathways Program in its inaugural year.
Career Counselor, Rachel Berkebile, also provided statistics for South Western High School’s students and the apprenticeship programs they are involved with. Mrs. Berkebile also gave details on what they are anticipating for next school year:
Current school year: 4 Pre-Apprentices, 6 UPMC Hospital Interns, and 14 general interns (not in formal pre-apprenticeships, but working hands on in career fields).
For next school year, we have 8 Pre-Apprentices already accepted to Electrical and Building Trades programs through YCAL, 8 tentative hospital interns, and 11 tentative general interns.
Elizabeth Taylor, English Teacher, Instructional Support Specialist & Internship Coordinator at Delone Catholic High School, provided insight on the apprenticeship and internship programs. She stated that there is a junior who was accepted into Hanover Auto Team’s Tech Pathways for the 2024-25 school year. She also spoke to the many internships that Delone Catholic students are participating in.
We have 1 student is with a construction company, 1 student is with an electrician, 4 students were in an elementary/middle school, 1 student is with a personal trainer, 1 student is with an occupational therapist, 1 student is with a marketing department,1 student followed supply chain from start to finish, and 2 students following graphic arts/marketing.
Students have been placed with Smith Brothers, Inc, J Kidder Electric, St. Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School, St. Joseph's School, Hanover, Utz, Fuhrman Creative, L2 Brand, Aumen Performance
Upon graduation, the seniors are going directly to college or into the workforce.
“When I was assigned to this position at the end of the 2022-23 school year, we had 6 students signed up for the Internship Program for the 2023-24 school year,” Taylor stated. “As the year began, students started talking about the program, and by the second semester I added 6 additional students!” Like Elizabeth Taylor, we are excited to see the interest of students in jumpstarting their career path before graduation.
Conewago Valley School District also has an impressive set of stats, provided to us by Kennedy Geiser, Diversified and Cooperative Education Teacher. Listed below are various ways in which students are enhancing their professional development before graduation:
Diversified Occupations: Current Enrollment - 14 Students
The program is designed to bridge the gap between education and the workforce, and equips students with practical skills and real-world experience to excel in various industries. More Info
Places of Employment: Walmart, Subway, Waggoner Construction, Hanover Ciocca, Taco Bell, The Green Horizon Grille, The Altland House, UPMC Hanover, Penn Cares Support Services, B&K Appliance, McSherrystown Moose
Capstone: Current Enrollment - 3 students completing the welding program
“Capstone is for students enrolled in one of our state approved Career and Tech programs. As of right now, there are 3 students in the welding program who are "capping off" their senior year with employment within the welding industry."
Job Shadowing: 55+ students shadowing a wide variety of businesses/companies within the New Oxford, Hanover, & York Area
Targeted Shadowing Opportunity: Wellspan Shadowing Program - 14 Students (Fall and Spring Cohort)
Below are quotes from several of the students participating in these programs. It is evident that our schools are providing an enriching experience for our students and inspiring the confidence they need to tackle to the professional world.
"I consider this (the Hanover High School Metals Lab) the land of opportunity - you can come in here not knowing a thing and when you leave you will have the skills to make you successful in your future". – Hanover High School Student
"A shop like this (at Hanover High School) is the future of America - this is where we build and create. I know that in the future I can drive down the road and look at buildings and roads and know that I will have helped to build that" – Hanover High School Student
"Through the Pre-Apprenticeship program I plan on learning what it's like to work in electrical fields, learn essential skills needed for the profession, and craft a decision on what to do after high school." – South Western High School Student
“My internship at L2 Brands has been incredibly helpful in helping me choose my career path. As a fashion design major, I was quite hesitant to go into a creative field as there is such an emphasis on STEM careers now. However, my internship has made it abundantly clear that there are plenty of job opportunities in the arts. The one common piece of advice among the individuals I talked to during my internship was to pursue what you are passionate about, and the rest will fall into place. (Riley S, senior at Delone Catholic High School)” – Riley S., Delone Catholic Senior
“The opportunity to gain experience in a profession without having the consequence of failure is an incredible gift to young people and one I don't take lightly. I would highly encourage future students who are uncertain about their path or just seeking clarity, to use internships as low-stress opportunities to gain knowledge and learn about professions.” - Nic P., Delone Catholic Student
Thank you to David Harnish from Hanover High School, Rachel Berkebile from South Western High School, Elizabeth Taylor from Delone Catholic High School, and Kennedy Geiser from Conewago Valley School District for your contribution to this article.
Do you work for a school in Hanover and are interested in providing further insight into the Hanover community’s students and their participation in apprenticeship or internship programs? E-mail Marketing & PR Manager Katie at kbream@hanoverchamber.com for details.