While many teenagers spend their high school years planning for college, Emily Ock had her sights set on a different path. Thanks to the school-to-apprenticeship program, Mr. Ok was well on his way to becoming a union welder by the time he graduated.
The program, also known as the Apprentice Preparation Program (ARP), gives high school seniors a head start on their industry careers. Oku was introduced to the program by Eugene Frazier, training coordinator for the International Sheet Metal, Aviation, Railroad and Transportation Association (SMART) Workers Local 24. She became a pre-apprentice at just 16 years old and completed her first year of apprenticeship while still at school. Highest grade.
Och’s hard work paid off this summer when he graduated from an apprenticeship program in Dayton, Ohio. The 22-year-old received the Eugene Frazier II Award and Perfect Attendance Award for the highest performing apprentice. She is the first woman to receive these honors.
Ok believes the program has given her a sense of responsibility and dedication. “I definitely wanted to go to a union, but what was really cool was being able to join a union on the spot and go to school at the same time,” she said. Despite being nearly a 90-minute drive from her home in Lima, Ohio, Oku was dedicated to achieving perfect attendance.
The School to Apprenticeship program allows students to balance education and work experience. They attend school for two weeks, then work in the field for two weeks while taking an apprenticeship course in the evening. This schedule will help students grow into adults and jump-start their careers.
“It’s not full-time. The student retention rate for our school-to-apprenticeship program is much better than any other program,” said Tony Stevens, Local 24’s training coordinator. 50% of our apprentices are brought in through traditional means. ”
Mr. Ok’s experience in this program prepared him for success in the industry. As a child, she did repairs in her father’s garage, but now she works in the sheet metal shop at Smith-Bohan Mechanical in Lima. Her next goal is to become a foreman.
“(The program) makes you more comfortable, helps you understand the basics, helps you understand what you’re getting into,” Ock said. “It gives you a sense of responsibility. You have to be on time. You have to be prepared. It gives you a sense of responsibility. I think this has definitely been a good path for me.”
