Success for Life » Apprenticeship

Craig Robinson Charges Up His Life

News Desk — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:06:44 +0000

Craig Robinson will graduate from Central Huron Secondary School this year. In Craig’s grade twelve year he is completing a four credit Co-op placement with an electrical company. He hopes to get signed as an OYAP student and continue in an Electrical Apprenticeship after graduation.Craig lives on a farm and balances his school with work on the family farm. He enjoys many outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing and 4-wheeling on his ATV. Technical courses at CHSS have helped Craig with his career choices. His family has been supportive of him and has always encouraged him to work hard and pursue a career that he will enjoy.

Connor Wilhelm – Building Towards A Promising Future

News Desk — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:46:30 +0000

Connor Wilhelm is a grade twelve student at Stratford Central. He attended Stratford Central Public School in grades seven and eight. Like many high school students, Connor completed the majority of his eighteen compulsory course requirements in his first two years of high school. In his senior grades, many of Connor’s electives were in Cooperative Education and Technological Studies (Stage Technology, Construction Technology and Communication Technology). Connor felt that his Co-op experiences at Ken Krantz Construction and Wilhelm Concrete allowed him to gain valuable work experience and be exposed to different work options. After taking a two-credit Co-op in grade eleven, Connor decided it would be worthwhile to enrol in an additional two credits in Cooperative Education in semester two of his grade twelve year.
Connor is considering many routes upon graduation. He is looking at the possibility of working toward an apprenticeship as a Diesel Mechanic or a Mobile Crane Operator. He is also considering the option of entering the workplace upon completion of his grade twelve year or returning to Central for additional courses of interest.

Dillon Finkbeiner Actively Pursues His Future

News Desk — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:14:27 +0000

Dillon Finkbeiner has enjoyed his four years at South Huron. He is a farm boy at heart as his family has lived and farmed here for many generations. Dillon has spent his time outside of class curling, playing baseball and running cross-country. Most of all, he enjoys working on cars and farm equipment. Through these activities, he has made many friends and learned important skills that he can use in his chosen career.
Dillon credits his transportation teachers with inspiring him to pursue a career as an automotive technician. He hopes to find an apprenticeship at a local garage or dealership. Being a part of the Specialist High Skills Major in Transportation has allowed him to enhance his learning with extra certifications and Reach Ahead experiences. His transportation teacher, Mr. Krainz, is always willing to spend extra time with his students in the shop and Dillon credits him with providing beneficial information about his chosen career.

Jesse Rudolph Credits School Culture

News Desk — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:12:45 +0000

Jesse has found many positive experiences in high school. He feels that the culture of Mitchell District High School allows everyone to know each other and just makes being at school a better place. Jesse’s favourite courses include English and practical classes like construction and transportation. He enjoys the subject matter and the links to everyday life.
Jesse has so many good memories of school experiences that he can’t choose just one – he enjoyed his shop classes, school assemblies, English and, of course, lunch. Jesse has also been involved in staking trails for the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs – sledding is one of his passions. His co-op placement has been really helpful to him and in fact co-op was the major reason he had the opportunity of apprenticing. He has signed as an apprentice as an agricultural equipment technician. The most important influence for success has been his mother – she is proud of whatever Jesse decides to do and how he does it. Future plans for Jesse include either farming or running his own shop, fixing cars.

Aaron Gregory – Moving Towards His Career Goals

News Desk — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:05:43 +0000

Aaron is a Grade 12 student at LDSS who is intending on becoming an Automotive Service Technician when he graduates in June, 2012. He has taken Grades 9 and 10 Technical courses and has focused his senior years on Transportation Technology, and is currently in the Grade 12 Automotive (TTJ 4C) class.
Aaron is also currently taking co-operative education and is working at Hudson’s KIA in Listowel. He will soon be signed as a registered OYAP student with the MTCU at this placement. Aaron will continue to take co-operative education in the second semester while he completes his Grade 12 Math and English courses and will make a smooth transition into the skilled trades apprenticeship pathway.

Kevin Hansen – Practical Experience An Asset

News Desk — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:37:10 +0000

Kevin is a 5th year student at GDCI. While at GDCI he has played soccer and participated on the Track and Field team. In his spare time he works on a farm.
Next year he is applying to the Electrical Technician program at Conestoga College. His ability to do well in math, physics and construction helped him decide to pursue this profession, as did having summer employment in the electrical field.
In 10 years time, Kevin sees himself owning and operating an electrical business.

David Harkes – A Drive To Succeed

News Desk — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:24:07 +0000

David is a local guy, having lived in Wroxeter since early childhood. He went to Howick Public School then came to Madill, where his brother and sister both still attend. For him, attending school is all about acquiring the skills he needs for the next stage of his life. He didn’t get involved in extracurriculars, and he didn’t come to dances. He came to school to learn, and to figure out what career will suit him once he graduates.That’s where some of his classes, especially auto and cooperative education, have played a role.

He credits Mr. Armstrong and Mr. McIntosh with giving him advice and teaching him content that led him to thinking about a career as a truck/coach technician. His grade 11 co-op at Borrmann’s Garage gave him further prompting in that direction, and his grade 12 co-op at Hyndman’s Transport has confirmed his choice. He hopes to continue there for his apprenticeship after leaving Madill.
David says he is the kind of guy who keeps to himself, but he has appreciated the support of his family along the way, and does have a bit of advice for those who, like him, are looking for a balance of good career, good earnings, and good family for the future: “Take co-op in grade 11… it will help you decide and narrow your choices down, then you can get the most of your co-op in grade 12.” He also says he wishes he’d taken some computer courses: “You need them in everything you do these days.” Very true, David.

Josh Kittmer Learns Valuable Life Lessons

News Desk — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:04:26 +0000

A grade 11 automotive class with special friends will always be the best memory I have from high school. Mr. Brunton, the automotive teacher, also impacted my high school education. He would talk to us about being more mature and that we needed to be responsible for our actions. This taught me a lot and every time he spoke, I think I grew a little bit every time! However being an automotive technician is my back up plan if apprenticing for an electrician doesn’t work out. DCVI introduced me to the possibility of apprenticeship in grade 10. With a plan in place I hope to sign on as an apprentice during my placement in coop second semester. With this career, I can eventually have a family and continue working at a job that constantly changes from day to day.
Coming from a rural elementary school and secondary school has assisted me to develop the skills I need to become successful. My family is also very important because without them I would not be where I am today – on the verge of graduation!

Allan King – Variety Provides Discovery

News Desk — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:01:18 +0000

Allan’s favourite part of school has always been sports whether it be Soccer, Cross Country, Nordic Skiing, or Badminton. However, aside from gym class he also enjoyed participating in the Technological studies in classes like Manufacturing and Welding. But it wasn’t just the classes Allan enjoyed, he also enjoyed teachers like Mr. Collings and Mr. Sheer who have not only taught him in some of his favourite classes but have helped it to find what he wanted to do in the future.
Allan is headed towards an apprenticeship in Welding. He is hoping to begin this process through the Youth Apprenticeship opportunities offered through his Co-Op classes at Northwestern. Allan thinks that the younger students should know not to rush towards finding a career. He thinks it is a good idea to take a wider variety of classes and try out all the opportunities at Northwestern so you will end up doing something you like as opposed to something you don’t.
Secondary school will always be one of Allan’s fondest memories. He knows he will be well trained as an apprentice because of the opportunities he had at Northwestern. Allan is positive that everything he has learned will go a long way in his personal life and future plans.

Curtis White – Two Trades Are Better Than One

News Desk — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 20:54:14 +0000

A Brussels boy born and bred, Curtis likes hunting, being outdoors and going to the gym. He also likes welding, a lot. Welding is something he has done on his own time for a long time now. He likes the challenge of welding, and of making something new. This interest should serve him well in his choice of career, or in one of his choices of career.

Welding is not the only destination in Curtis’ plans for the future. Yes, he wants to do an apprenticeship, preferably with a local welder, but he doesn’t want to stop there. He also wants to do a second apprenticeship, as an electrician. After all, if one trade is good, two must be even better, right? Being an electrician, in his opinion, offers the same kinds of challenges as being a welder. In either career, there are new projects all the time, new places to work, new things to learn. Once he has completed both apprenticeships, he will be in the perfect position to open his own shop, offering more than just one service, and maybe taking on other employees.

Curtis credits his tech department teachers, especially Mr. Greidanus and Mr. McIntosh, with encouraging him in his path, and helping him learn the skills he needs to succeed. He also is grateful that his father was looking out for him, recommending careers in trades that were most likely to expand and have plenty of opportunities available in the future.

School is important in Curtis’ opinion, as long as you choose wisely as you proceed. He says, “Start thinking early about what you want to do, then take the courses that will help you along the way, including co-op.” That seems like a very sensible plan.