‘This is a big deal’ – QC students start apprenticeship journeys

Ashley Simmons has big plans for her future. She plans to work in the health care field, and she will soon be working an apprenticeship to help turn those plans into a reality. “I want to be a nurse someday. So doing this today, working as a CNA (certified nurse assistant), is the first step […]

Ashley Simmons has big plans for her future. She plans to work in the health care field, and she will soon be working an apprenticeship to help turn those plans into a reality. “I want to be a nurse someday. So doing this today, working as a CNA (certified nurse assistant), is the first step to doing that,” the Rock Island-Milan School District student said shortly after signing a letter of intent to work as a CNA apprentice at UnityPoint Health-Trinity.

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Ashley was one of 78 local high school students to express their commitment to become apprentices at 26 employers in 11 different fields during a special event Wednesday, May 14. That event – the annual High School Apprenticeship Signing Day – attracted hundreds of people who filled the Capitol Theatre in downtown Davenport to see the students sign letters of intent to work in as apprenticeships in various fields. The event was a cross between a graduation ceremony – with parents, friends and family members often cheering as their students signed – and a rally to tout the merits of apprenticeship programs in the region and across the state. It also was similar to the now popular sports signing events for high school athletes. Much like those sports signing events, many of the students on Wednesday wore their own style of uniforms. Students wore T-shirts representing the companies they will be doing apprenticeships with in the near future. (Some begin as early as June.) Other shirts included green for John Deere, gray for McLaughlin Body Company, orange for Oertel Metal Works and many others. “This is a big deal today. … We are so proud of you. This will make a difference in this community,” Davenport Mayor Mike Matson said as he congratulated the students for taking on numerous jobs that will help the community. Some of those jobs include welding, CNA, plumbing, electrical work, heavy equipment operators, engineering, concrete work and others. Tyler Henkel, a student at the United Township High School Area Career Center, plans to be a welder. On Wednesday, he signed a letter to be an apprentice at McLaughlin Body Company. He said he hopes Wednesday's ceremony is the start to big things in his future career. “I hope this builds my future. I'm looking for it to jumpstart my future,” he said. Sitting next to Tyler at the ceremony was his friend Riley Schoutteet, who also is going to be a welder apprentice at McLaughlin. Riley said he was attracted to the program because of his instructor and after seeing the facilities at McLaughlin. While most of the ceremony centered on the students, leaders also used the event to praise local high school teachers and businesses for getting involved and helping launch the apprenticeship program. David Ottavianelli of Ottavianelli Consulting called the instructors and business officials the “unsung heroes” who helped launch the local program. Mr. Ottavianelli was one of the local business leaders who helped form the local apprentice efforts when he joined a group that visited Pella, Iowa, six years ago. At that time, the Pella schools had an apprenticeship program model that worked well and other school districts were looking to copy. “After that visit, we said ‘We can do this.’ … It took a community-wide effort to make this happen,” he added. Mr. Ottavianelli  told the crowd of students and parents that while he is happy the local program is progressing, he wants to see it grow. He wants to see 100 local students take part in future apprenticeship program ceremonies, and he challenged this year’s students to encourage their classmates to get involved. Those apprenticeship jobs will not only help young people earn a living with good-paying jobs, they will help the local business community thrive. Peter Tokar III, president and CEO of the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce, told the crowd that the signing event was significant because it is the first step in creating the next generation of talent for the Quad Cities. Others said they were pleased young people will soon get jobs in the community and likely stay in the Quad Cities. “We need you. Trust the people who are teaching you,” said Mr. Matson. These students were recognized for taking part in the apprenticeship program: Bettendorf Community School District

• Jayden Anderson, welding at John Deere.
• Aiden Shumaker, welding at John Deere.
• Peyton Smith, welding at John Deere.

Calamus - Wheatland (Iowa) Community School District

• Brady Olson, plumbing at Superior Plumbing.
• James Prachar, electrical at River Cities Engineering.
• Logan Reidesel, electrical at Hoffman Electric.
• Drew VanderHeiden, heavy equipment operator at Rittmer, Inc.
• Logan VanderHeiden, heavy equipment operator at Rittmer, Inc.

Davenport Community School District

• Brayden Armstrong, electrical at Davenport Electric Contract Company.
• Tucker Blankenship, welding at McLaughlin Body Company.
• Maddie Bly, engineering at John Deere Davenport Works.
• Ryan Boyd, welding at River City Metal Works.
• Collin Brown, welding at McLaughlin Body Company.
• Mathew Caldwell, electrical at Davenport Electric Contract Company.
• Azeriah Collier, welding at John Deere.
• Parker Coker, concrete at River City Cutting & Coring.
• Memphis Cress, welding at Superior Tube Products.
• Jaden Demers , welding at River City Metal Works.
• Allen Doyle, machining at M.A. Ford.
• Cooper Ellsworth, supply chain management at John Deere.
• Tyler Gajeski, welding at McLaughlin Body Company.
• Calvaunah Hayes, machining at M.A. Ford.
• Noah Harland, welding at John Deere.
• Jason Heggen, machining at M.A. Ford.
• Jayden Howes, machining at M.A. Ford.
• Bailey Jahns, electrical at Davenport Electric Contract Company.
• Hailey Meier, welding at John Deere.
• DeVaughn Nimmers, autobody/mechanics at Duck Creek Tire & Service.
• Maxwell Roberts, machining at Arconic.
• Hannah Schreiber, welding at River City Metal Works.
• Ryan Strawhacker, welding at John Deere.
• Khoa Troung, welding at River City Metal Works.
• Zoey Wainwright, welding at John Deere.
• Cayden Williams, machining at Jewell Group.

Moline – Coal Valley Community School District #40

• Miguel Cornelius Diaz, welding at John Deere Seeding Group.
• Devin Hollingsworth, machining at Bowe Machine Company.
• Darrin Hoyt, welding at John Deere Harvester Works.
• Jaylen Jamison, welding at John Deere Harvester Works.
• Saige Marsh, machining at LMT Defense.
• Brady Morrison, machining at LMT Defense.
• Luis Plata-Diaz, welding at John Deere Harvester Works.
• Tamiah Rogers, machining at M.A. Ford.
• Simon Uwezo, machining at Arconic.
• Drew VandeVoorde, machining at John Deere Cylinder Works.

  North Scott Community School District

• Cole Engelbrecht, welding at Invio Automation.
• Derek Nimke, machining at Oertel Metal Works.
• Avery Poole, CNA at Grand Haven Retirement Community.

Pleasant Valley Community School District

• Kristiina Pope, panel fabrication at River Cities Engineering.

  Rock Island-Milan School District #41

• Eric Biswell, welding at Oertel Metal Works.
• Vanessa Boswell, CNA at UnityPoint Health - Trinity.
• Jada Brown, CNA at UnityPoint Health - Trinity.
• Olivia Bunch, CNA at UnityPoint Health - Trinity.
• Tatiana Catillon-Cisneros, CNA at UnityPoint Health - Trinity.
• Nolan Foyntene, welding at Oertel Metal Works.
• Blessing Jabbah, CNA at UnityPoint Health - Trinity.
• Susu Let, CNA at UnityPoint Health - Trinity.
• Kylee Littlejohn, CNA at UnityPoint Health - Trinity.
• Aubrey Massie, CNA at UnityPoint Health - Trinity.
• Addison Pannell, CNA at UnityPoint Health - Trinity.
• Lincoln Perez CNA UnityPoint Health - Trinity.
• Charisma Pullium, CNA at UnityPoint Health - Trinity.
• Austin Schwab, welding at John Deere.
• Ashley Simmons, CNA at UnityPoint Health - Trinity.
• Kaiden Swanson, welding at John Deere.
• Beautiful Wah, CNA at UnityPoint Health - Trinity.

United Township High School District #30 Area Career Center

• Braden Brown, welding at John Deere Harvester Works.
• Mylee Cole, welding at John Deere Harvester Works.
• Amaya Correa, welding at John Deere Harvester Works.
• Tyler Henkel, welding at McLaughlin Body Company.
• Russell Johnson, welding at John Deere Harvester Works.
• Anthony Kolani, autobody / mechanics at Zimmerman Honda.
• Jose Martinez, autobody / mechanics at Stecker Graphics.
• Logan Miller, welding at Oertel Metal Works.
• Brody Oppendike, welding at John Deere Harvester Works.
• Jacob Perez, autobody / mechanics at Sexton Ford.
• Riley Schoutteet, welding at McLaughlin Body Company.
• Aaron Wheatley, welding at McLaughlin Body Company.