New Youth Apprenticeship Program
Assembly members Jake Ashby and John T. McDonald III and joined Questar III District Superintendent Dr. Gladys I. Cruz at the Rensselaer Educational Center in Troy to present a bipartisan legislative resolution to honor National Apprenticeship Week and Questar III’s Youth Apprenticeship Program on Tuesday, November 10. National Apprenticeship Week is November 8 through 14.
The Questar III Youth Apprenticeship Program will partner with Capital Region businesses to offer high school students paid work experiences, potentially leading to immediate employment after graduation.
The program provides students the opportunity to apply skills and knowledge developed through four Questar III Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs in apprenticeships during their junior and senior years of high school. The program targets heavy equipment operations, construction technology, HVAC and welding. Students can also earn nine college credits, as they’ll be dually enrolled in three courses at Hudson Valley Community College. Business partners will offer juniors job shadowing opportunities, allowing them to observe the many facets and varieties of associated careers to which their education can lead, followed by a paid internship in their senior year.
“I am pleased to launch such a wonderful program this year. Through partnerships with local businesses, our students have the opportunity to gain experience outside the classroom not available to most students in the state. The New York State Department of Labor says the number of Capital Region workers approaching retirement is nearly 13 percent higher than the national average, and the number of local workers to replace those retiring is about nine percent lower than the national average. There is an expected 17 percent growth in skilled trade jobs through 2024. The possibilities are endless for students participating in the youth apprenticeship program and for our partner businesses,” said Cruz.
“It is my honor to recognize National Apprenticeship Week with the kickoff of Questar III’s Youth Apprenticeship Program,” Assemblyman Jake Ashby said. “Programs like this contribute to workforce development and provide our youth an opportunity to learn valuable skills that give them a direct path to high wage, high demand jobs.”