After taking a welding class with Travis Sertich, Bryce Frankel was encouraged to apply for the inaugural apprenticeship program between the Mechanical Trades Institute and Oglethorpe County High School.
He and Andy Alvarez were the first OCHS students to commit to the program last week and will start the five-year, fully funded structured training program in September with mechanical and plumbing contractor Batchelor & Kimball.
“It’s pretty cool,” said Frankel, who graduates from OCHS this week. “It feels amazing that me and Andy are the first two chosen to be able to start the program for the school.”
Both students will “earn as they learn” in OCHS’ new state-of-the-art welding facility and focus on areas of drafting and general piping, math and science, medical gas certification, brazing, soldering, welding, plumbing code, and service and building automation.
“This is what they want to do,” said Sertich, the school’s agriculture education teacher. “This is welding and doing construction-type work, and they’re excited about the opportunity.”
Frankel and Alvarez will be two of roughly 15 apprentices throughout Georgia to participate in the 1,100 hours of classroom instruction and at least 8,500 hours of on-the-job training to receive certificates of completion from the Department of Labor that may be used anywhere in the country.
Sertich said for roughly two nights a week, apprentices will learn about safety practices and welding content, and begin with basic welding techniques, gradually increasing their abilities.
“I’ve always loved recruiting these kids, but if the school’s not part of it, then there’s no future in it,” said Bob Bradley, the director of workforce development for the Mechanical Contractors Association of Georgia.
Frankel said he was most interested in pipe fitting and “maybe” plumbing.
While the facility is under renovation, students from both the high school and the apprenticeship will be able to use any welding materials used by the contractors, Sertich said.
“If there’s materials you need or something else you’re looking for, all of our contractors are really good about giving back and helping out,” he said.
For Frankel, who lives in Crawford, the opportunity to work in the new facility is “exciting.”
“It’s not far from home, and it’s local,” he said. “And I’ll make some money.”
Sertich said he’s hopeful the new facility will provide students and apprentices with more opportunity.
“It’s exciting to create more opportunities for kids, (and) we’re looking forward to the partnership, hoping that it’s mutually beneficial,” Sertich said.