Eight local school districts came together this past December with a goal to bring apprenticeships in the manufacturing field to St. Louis County high schoolers. An agreement to join the U.S. Department of Labor’s registered apprenticeship program was signed, and by doing so, the Youth Apprenticeship Accelerator, in partnership with Career WayZ and Beckwood Press, was started in St. Louis County.
Following the program’s creation, interested students from the involved districts — including Affton, Bayless, Lindbergh and Mehlville, among others — were vetted and chosen to participate. Those selected have spent the semester honing their skills and securing placements with local advanced manufacturing leaders. Some of the occupations offered through the partner companies include computer numerical control (CNC) machining, welding, maintenance technicians, advanced assembly and special processing.
“These companies are leaders that fabricate or manufacture parts, assemblies and systems for aerospace, military and ground systems, automotive components, medical components and hospital operations,” Dan Fitter, former president of Quest Specialty Products, explained. “Additionally, some of these companies are original equipment manufacturer (OEM) machine builders, others produce chemicals that are essential in producing many products across many industries. One company builds the structure used for bridges and pipelines.”
On May 26, 21 Youth Apprenticeship Accelerator students, including eight from South County, signed apprenticeship agreements with the Department of Labor and employee partners at an areawide ceremony, the first of its kind in the county. Employers and students were matched following a “speed dating” format interview process prior to the signing event.
“A decade ago, the Department of Labor changed federal law that allowed 16 and 17-year-old individuals to work in several manufacturing occupations if they were part of a registered youth apprentice program. Just a few weeks ago, there were zero youth apprentices under 18 years old in advanced manufacturing from St. Louis County high schools,” Fitter said. “Twenty-one students today (are) being recognized as apprentices. This is a major step in the right direction for youth not going to college or university after high school, and critical to maintaining and eventually growing advanced manufacturing in our communities and region.”
Six Lindbergh students involved in the program accepted apprenticeships in advanced manufacturing: Sadeq Alyasseri signed with Jost Chemical, Nick Burton and Era-Ann McAnally signed with Kemco Aerospace Manufacturing, CJ Stathopulos signed with Hydromat Inc. and Nick Weber signed with Seyer Industries. Caden Sullivan, a Lindbergh student who jointly attends South Technical High School, will apprentice as an Industrial Manufacturing Technician for Natoli.
Two Mehlville School District students — Deagan Giannas of Mehlville High School and Clayton Waggoner of Oakville High School — also accepted apprenticeships at the signing ceremony. Giannas signed with Jost Chemical and Waggoner signed with Beckwood Press.
Students will be able to start their apprenticeships over the summer.
“Thank you all for taking a chance on my crazy idea. What you are providing these students is absolutely spectacular,” Julie Durham, Real-World Learning Coordinator for Lindbergh Schools and a major force behind the start of this area-wide program, said at the signing event. “I am so incredibly excited to see everybody here and my vision come to life. I had a dream of doing this here in St. Louis County, and it’s finally here … I knew that we had the opportunity to change the lives of so many young individuals. It all started with a coffee at Panera with Bryan Davis from Trinity Products. Thanks to that conversation and a little push forward, here we are almost one year later.”