Career and Technical Education Department holds annual National Apprenticeship Week Fair

The New York State Department of Labor and various local trade unions set up tables at Mount Vernon High School to share available apprenticeships and opportunities with students. The Mount Vernon High School Career and Technical Education (CTE) Department held their annual National Apprenticeship Week Fair on Friday, November 17, 2023.  

“This has shown me the benefits of being an electrician and the rest of the opportunities that come with it,” said Leu-Andre Hall, an eleventh grade student at MVHS. “I can go to school and get other benefits from it like interviews and other opportunities.” 

Trade unions shared the various opportunities available to students out of high school. Many apprenticeships also allow students to attend trade school while working, and some even pay for it. Students from Rebecca Turner Academy and Mount Vernon STEAM Academy were also invited to attend the fair and learn about apprenticeships. 

“The opportunities are amazing, more than any other school I’ve been to,” said Matthew Genius, a 12th grade student at MVHS. “They’re always doing things like this fair with jobs coming in, sharing resumes, getting hired on the spot and colleges coming in.” 

Matthew would like to pursue a career in information technology (IT), and classes at MVHS have been preparing him for that. The District is also paying for his CompTIA, a vital certification in the IT industry.  

Many of the students attending the fair have been taking CTE classes, and an apprenticeship would be the next step towards starting their career.  

“The opportunities are endless,” said Jaime Larmon, work-based learning coordinator at MVHS. “They have the ability to basically walk out of high school with a 401k, medical benefits and the ability to have these unions pay for them to go to school. There are so many facets within the union, so the opportunities are endless as far as where they can go from starting as a journeyman to a full apprentice, which is a great thing. Some of these kids don’t know what they want to do for school, so, even if they don’t go down this road, this is just another option that they have.”