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This year, the Savannah River Site Apprenticeship School has welcomed six high school students from across the CSRA to participate in their inaugural Youth Apprenticeship program. With the success of the pilot program in 2022, the Youth Apprenticeship program has expanded, providing more students with opportunities to gain early professional development experience. The 24-month program enables rising high school juniors or seniors to complete on-the-job training within departments across the Site including IT, Fire Protection and Site Training.
Upon completing the program, apprentices earn a certificate recognizing them as a Youth Apprentice from the Department of Labor and are allowed to continue through the program for up to a year after graduation. After this time, students are given the option to transfer to the adult Apprenticeship Program if they wish to continue. “We are thrilled to announce a partnership between Aiken County Public School District's Career and Technical Education (CTE) Department and Savannah River Nuclear Solutions to launch an IT and EMS Apprenticeship Program,” said Kenneth O.
Lott, ACPSD CTE Director and Principal of Aiken County Career Center. “Students from North Augusta High School's Dell Tech Crew and Aiken County Career and Technology Center's EMS Pathway will gain hands-on training and the skills needed to excel in today's evolving workforce, bridging the gap between education and industry.” “This program is a unique opportunity for students to gain professional work experience while still in school,” said BooBoo Roberts, SRS Apprenticeship School Program Manager.
“We interview candidates from all over the CSRA, treating this just like any other job application process. Our hope is that this program provides an invaluable experience that prepares students earlier for the workforce while still focusing on their education.” Considered Limited-Service Employees, youth apprentices are able to earn a wage and learn valuable professional skills while attending school.
Students work part-time around their studies but can work full-time through school breaks. Depending on their high school, some students are also able to earn work-based learning credit to go towards their diploma. Savannah River Nuclear Solutions’ Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Sean Alford, stated, “It is important for us to intersect the workforce pipeline at three strategic junctures; engaging the unemployed, engaging the underemployed and engaging those who enter the workforce for the first time.
Youth Apprenticeships are measurable and highly productive avenues for companies to engage those who are entering the workforce for the first time.”.
