At a signing event on Thursday, Magna Vista High School Senior Tyler Sturm officially signed on for an apprenticeship with local business, Lawless Welding with the support of his parents, teachers, and administrators.
Sturm began as a High Quality Work-Based Learning Intern last fall, reporting to Lawless Welding Monday to Friday from 12:30 to 3 p.m. to meet the minimum of 90 hours by the end of the semester. He was then presented with the offer to register as Henry County Public Schools’ first Youth Registered Apprentice, which he gladly accepted. As a YRA, Sturm will gain additional valuable hands-on experience and training under his mentors at Lawless Welding.
“This is the very first apprenticeship in Henry County Public Schools,” said Tiffany Coleman, Work-Based Learning Specialist. In addition to on-the-job experience, Sturm can count his internship hours toward his RYA hours, allowing him to bank those hours.
“Henry County is very active in the internship space, and now we’re active in the apprenticeship space,” said Natori Neal, Apprenticeship Coordinator Institute for Advanced Learning and Research. “It’s an investment in growing skilled talent for your future … and the youth in this community.”
As an apprentice, Sturm will be a paid employee from day one, working part-time during the school year and then possibly working full-time hours in the breaks from school. As a YRA, he will receive related technical instruction that provides the classroom component behind what he’ll do on the job. After he has completed his apprenticeship hours at Lawless Welding, he will be presented with his National Journeyman’s Card.
“I’m very excited and happy to have Tyler,” Lawless said. “I can see him becoming an asset to the company.”
