Students working to complete their first year trades training through the Ace IT Trades Training Program and the Secondary School Apprenticeship Program (SSA) with SD20 and Selkirk College received over $28,000 in scholarships to help pay for books, equipment, travel and future training
Five 2011 Grads from SHSS, and RSS received $1000 cheques from the Ministry of education for completing 1000 hours of work experience towards their trade under the Secondary School Apprenticeship Program. Students worked towards qualification as Steel Fabricators, Carpenters, Hairdressing and Meat Cutting.
Scotty Stephenson, as well as gaining meat cutters’ credentials also completed the Ace IT Millwright Machinist Program Thru Selkirk College and School District 20. By completing both programs in his grade 12 year he earned ten Grade 12 courses, passed his first year exam as a millwright and has earned the hours for his first year as an apprentice meat cutter.
Matt Finlin completed both 1,000 hours in a Carpenters Apprenticeship and Selkirk Colleges Ace It Electrical Program.
Writing one of the top Provincial Exam marks in his class, as a first year electrician, Matt moved to BCIT to complete Electrical Instrumentation. Matt will finish at BCIT in August and hopes to return to work for either TECK or Zeltsoff Celgar as an Instrumentation Technician
Other award winners, Nathan Morrasuit (steel fabricator) is at SAIT applying his skills in architectural design. Will Henderson is continuing on as a carpenter with Henderson Construction, and Justine Armour is continuing as a hairdresser as well as working towards becoming an elementary teacher.
Next year looks even more amazing with 27 district students currently working towards completing their first apprenticeship training through the Secondary School Apprenticeship Program. Local employer commitment leads the province in supporting trades training and these programs would not be possible without them.
Thirty eight students from SD 20 are completing their first year apprenticeship training as chefs, hairdresser’s carpenters, electricians, millwrights, machinists and fabricators. These students were fortunate to receive funding of more than $28,000 from the Southern Interior Development Trust. The trusts generous sponsorship has greatly eased the financial burden on our students as they advance their career training while in high school. Grant funds are for their personal tools, books and travel costs. Jan Morton of the Greater Trail Community Skills Centre and Joleen Kinakin of Selkirk College were instrumental in helping obtain and administer these grants and have helped spearhead trades training in the district.
Currently grade 12 students can begin working towards completing their first year apprenticeship through SD 20’s Ace It Programs. Students can attend the Rossland Sec. Chef’s Training program, or directly enter Selkirk Colleges Electrical, Mill-right Machinist, Welding, Fabricators, Electrical or Hairdressing Programs, at no cost while receiving grade 12 graduating course credits.
These programs are generously supported thru the Industry Training Authority of B.C. and run at no cost to the School District.