(York, PA) – The Manufacturers’ Association concluded its 6th program year
on April 20th for their high school Pre-Apprenticeship program with a graduation ceremony hosted by Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster, PA. The Association’s Pre-Apprenticeship program introduces high school students to advanced manufacturing occupations in seven different trades and provides opportunities to pursue high wage in demand careers. The program includes students from York, Lancaster, Perry, Chester, Dauphin, Cumberland, and Lebanon Counties, as well as County Career and Tech Centers and Career
and Tech Ed high schools.
This year’s Pre-Apprenticeship program will graduate 70 students in total from across southcentral Pennsylvania. The recognition event included a tour of the College’s Greiner Center for Advanced Manufacturing, the HAAS Factory Showroom, and presentations on potential career opportunities, concluding with students receiving their state recognized Pre-Apprenticeship Hours Certificate. Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology was chosen as a graduation site because of the high-quality advanced manufacturing degrees offered and its recognition as a high quality post-secondary institution, it has been recognized as the #1 Technical College in Pennsylvania.
“Pre-Apprenticeships offer an excellent opportunity to introduce high-tech modern manufacturing careers to all students” said Miranda Martz, the program’s Pre-Apprenticeship Coordinator at the Association. “The program also provides a pathway for advance placement in employer apprenticeships - accelerating high wage, high quality careers for graduates,” she stated.
Pre-apprenticeship programs are designed to offer classroom and hands-on learning specifically to train students to enter a Registered Apprenticeship program with an employer or continue their technical education. The Association’s program started in 2017 with a handful of students and enrolled nearly 100 students across south central Pennsylvania this past school year. Students receive several industry recognized credentials and upon graduation have the opportunity to enter full registered apprenticeships with sponsoring employers while benefiting from advanced placement the pre-apprenticeship provides for graduates of the program.
Pedro Rivera, President of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology said, “We were happy to host high school students from across the region and provide them with an interactive look at the hands-on manufacturing programs we offer,” said Pedro Rivera, President of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology. “We hope to see these students back in our classrooms and labs, where they’ll have an opportunity to earn a college degree or certificate, and gain the skills needed for the increasing number of high-wage careers in technology and the trades.”
The
program is registered with the PA Department of Labor (L&I) and has
received support from the state agency to expand the program across south central
Pennsylvania. L&I estimates that on
average, apprentices earn much higher starting wages after completion of
programs and are on track to earn $300,000 more than those workers without Journey
worker credentials over their careers. For
every dollar spent on apprenticeships, employers get an average of $1.47 back
in increased productivity.
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The Manufacturers' Association is on a mission to ensure that our region’s manufacturing sector not only survives but remains stronger than ever! We exist to ensure that critical knowledge is preserved, expanded, and shared with the manufacturing professionals of tomorrow. Founded in 1906, we are the voice of the industry for hundreds of member & non-member organizations in central PA & northern MD. We support manufacturers with the knowledge they need to operate, hire, & train smarter. Visit our website at mascpa.org
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is a premier, residential, two-year, accredited technical college that prepares students for skilled employment in a diverse, ever-changing workforce. Founded in 1905 with 15 students, Thaddeus Stevens College has grown to more than 1,300 students and 24 high-skill, high-wage technical degree programs. Through its mission, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology breaks down barriers that perpetuate educational inequities and creates access to a college degree. Committed to the legacy of its benefactor, Thaddeus Stevens, the college serves as an instrument of change in the lives of its students, graduates, and employees – who, in turn, impact change on businesses, industries, and communities across Pennsylvania and beyond. stevenscollege.edu
