INAUGURAL COHORT OF BUCKS COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE PRE-APPRENTICESHIP BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION TRADES PROGRAM CELEBRATES GRADUATION

Bucks County Community College celebrated six Building & Construction Trades Pre-Apprenticeship program students during their inaugural cohort graduation on June 15 at the new Center for Advanced Technologies on the Gene and Marlene Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks in Bristol, PA. Graduates of this 10-week program will be applying for union-registered apprenticeships.

The program, funded through a PA Department of Labor and Industry PAsmart grant and believed to be the first of its kind in Pennsylvania, consists of 288-hour curricula that provides the fundamental education necessary for graduates to apply for a Registered Apprenticeship Program to potentially secure a high-paying, family-sustaining job. Additionally, students earn OSHA-10 and Aerial Platform Lift Safety certificates.

Throughout the 10-week program, students experienced hands-on training in a variety of building and construction trade disciplines including sheet metal working, electrical, and plumbing.

Luke Millevoi of Conshohocken, a member of the inaugural cohort of students who graduated from the program, praised the learning opportunities it provided him.

“Through this hands-on training and classroom instruction, I’ve gained a comprehensive understanding of the trades, and I am confident in my ability to contribute effectively to the workforce. The Building & Construction Trades program has opened doors to a career that aligns with my passions and values while allowing me to contribute to a better future for all workers. I am grateful for the opportunities it has presented, and excited about the journey that lies ahead.”

Millevoi, who has already applied to be accepted into Steamfitters Local 420, also said that the program has helped him form strong bonds with his classmates and Bucks County Community College staff.

“I’ve developed friendships with fellow students and instructors who share the same passion for the trades, creating a network of support that will endure throughout my career.”

Anjeannette Parlin of Philadelphia, another member of the inaugural cohort, said she chose to enter the Building and Construction Trades program because, “it ties into what I want to do in life, which is real estate and development.” Parlin, who has applied to be accepted into Philadelphia Carpenters Local 158 and Sheet Metal Workers Local 19, said that she enjoyed every day being in the program and that, “these were some of the best weeks of my life. I’m forever grateful for the opportunity, the knowledge, the experience, and exposure that I’ve gotten from these past 10 weeks.”

The pre-apprenticeship program can accommodate as many as 32 students over the next two years thanks to the current grant funding. For more information, visit //bucks.edu/wfd.