70+ QC high school students sign apprenticeships with local companies on Signing Day
Over 70 Quad Cities students signed letters of intent to launch careers in the QC during the high school apprenticeship Signing Day event. Students from nine school districts across the region signed with 16 businesses hoping to propel talented young adults into long-term, meaningful careers.
Signing Day was organized through the Registered High School Apprenticeship (RHSA) program, a collaborative effort from the Chamber, local school districts and business partners to develop the QC region’s talent pipeline. Students signed letters of intent for apprenticeships in eight fields: airframe mechanic, auto body, auto mechanic, certified nursing assistant (CNA), emergency medical technician (EMT), IT software engineer and welder.
With so many QC companies looking to bolster their talent pool, students entering these fields are primed to become valuable members of the regional economy. Eckhart General Manager Travis Turner, one of the first companies to join the RHSA program, said that growing employees through apprenticeship programs is one of the best ways to create a workforce funnel. “Once you establish relationships with the high schools, teachers, and guidance counselors it's easier to hire students than it is to go to a job fair or the marketplace. It's just a better way to develop that and it's much more sustainable in the long run.”
Participating companies have a unique opportunity to build positive work habits in their apprentices from an early age. James Hotchkiss, Deere & Company Community Integration Coordinator said, “When we give young people an opportunity to learn a skill they are interested in, they will remember who gave them that opportunity and will be vested in that company for a long time. The company gets a young person they can mold into the person they would like to hire.”
Pleasant Valley High School RHSA graduate Clayton Shelton appreciates the apprenticeship opportunity given to him by Arconic, “I tell all upcoming graduates and upcoming apprentices that you really should dedicate time to learning to what you are doing. Nothing is more important than going to work and learning, then getting off of work and going back to school and learning even more,” said Shelton. “I can say that I'm happier than I've ever been because of that hard work.”
Rock Island High School classmates David Axnix and Matthew Coon are excited to develop their skills as apprentices at McLaughlin Body Co. Axnix said, “I’m excited for the opportunity to work for McLaughlin and build my skillset with my apprenticeship. I’m ready to show what I can do.” Coon shared a similar sentiment, “To work for McLaughlin is a great opportunity because they can teach me a lot about the skills I want to learn.”
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds praised the RHSA program’s efforts to stimulate growth in the QC. “Working together, you have expanded opportunities for kids and helped fill the talent pipeline here in the Quad Cities. It's a remarkable accomplishment that will benefit kids and communities on both sides of the river,” said Reynolds.
Reynolds attended the event to not only share her praises for the new apprentices, but also to sign into law Senate File 318, effectively establishing an Iowa Office of Apprenticeship and Iowa Apprenticeship Council to facilitate the development and growth of collaborative apprenticeship programs in the future. “The state level agency should be seen as a sign of our continued commitment to making the apprenticeship pathway available to every single Iowa student that wants to take advantage of it,” said Reynolds. This comes just days after Iowa Workforce Development announced $3.47 million in new funding for registered apprenticeship programs across Iowa, with the state leading the nation in multiple areas related to registered apprenticeship programs.
As these students opt for apprenticeships instead of a traditional four-year college programs, they enjoy the financial freedom that comes with avoiding student debt. “The impact of this program on me is the fact that I'm financially stable with zero student debt. I have college credits, and I'm 19 years old,” said Shelton. “In the next three years, I’d like to put a nice down payment on a house in the Quad Cities area, because you can make plenty of money and live comfortably here.” Shelton will be just 22 years old by the time he hopes to become a homeowner.
Rock Island High School Principal Jeff Whitaker understands the impact that RHSA has on students like Axnix and Coon by presenting them with an alternate pathway to success. “It's a tremendous opportunity for our students to gain work-based experience. I think it shows that there's tons of options out there. College isn’t the only option, and I think that was a narrative for so many years. There's so many different paths to employment and ways students can be successful.”
Events like Signing Day are valuable reminders to celebrate those who commit to a long-term, meaningful career, whether or not they choose the college route. “We need students that choose a career to be celebrated just as much as students that choose a college for sports. For far too long we have celebrated college without acknowledging the young men and women who chose a skilled occupation career as if it were something bad. This has put our country in a skilled occupation deficit,” said Hotchkiss.
Reynolds shared similar words of affirmation to the apprentices, asserting the value they'll bring as members of the Quad Cities community. “The truth is there are multiple lanes on the road to success. Some run through a traditional four-year college and some don't. But all of them have value. Thanks to the students like you and your supportive families this message is breaking through more and more every single day. The trend toward training for work is growing. Choosing an unconventional path isn't always easy, but it sets you apart as a trailblazer. You're taking control of your own future and you're setting a great example for the apprentices who come after you to follow in your footsteps. That's something that all of you should be proud of.”
The Registered High School Apprenticeship program has been steadily growing in the Quad Cities, and our area has more interested students than business partners, particularly in welding. Healthcare, IT and automotive programs are also gaining rapid interest, with additional programs being added throughout the year. If you are an interested business looking to grow your talent pipeline, contact the Chamber for more information.
Here’s the full list of 2023 Registered High School Apprenticeship program signees:
Bettendorf Community School District
- Kaitlyn Reis, EMT at MEDIC
- Peyton Morse, EMT at MEDIC
- Abby Gamble, EMT at MEDIC
- Adriana McGee, EMT at MEDIC
- Owen Allison, Welder at John Deere
- Zarin Tracy, Welder at Siyver Steele
Calamus-Wheatland Community School District
- Chase Olson, Welder at John Deere
Davenport Community School District
- Nicolos Schmook, Airframe Mechanic at Elliott Aviation
- Zane Augustine, Software Engineer at John Deere Global IT
- Sean Brown, Software Engineer at John Deere Global IT
- Landon Migawa, Software Engineer at John Deere Global IT
- Lee Nelson, Software Engineer, at John Deere Global IT
- Aiden Jacobs, Welder at ArcFlash Weld Solutions
- Briar Guenther, Welder at Davenport Electric
- Julian Torres, Welder at John Deere
- Kylie Daily, Welder at John Deere Davenport Works
- Trent Kopp, Welder at John Deere Davenport Works
- Jace Griffin, Welder at John Deere Davenport Works
- Magnus Ricketts, Welder at John Deere Davenport Works
- Conner Varchola, Welder at John Deere Davenport Works
- Jose Reyes, Welder at John Deere Davenport Works
- Hayden Schmidt, Welder at John Deere Davenport Works
- Taylor Bates, Welder at McLaughlin Body Co.
- Nathan Borgel, Welder at McLaughlin Body Co.
- Conner Keck, Welder at McLaughlin Body Co.
- Brooklynd Hellberg, Welder at McLaughlin Body Co.
- Jada Daily, Welder at McLaughlin Body Co.
- Hope Hunsucker, Welder at McLaughlin Body Co.
- Hailey Mizer, Welder at McLaughlin Body Co.
- Bryton Goellnitz, Welder at McLaughlin Body Co.
- Kayson Blackwood, Welder at Siyver Steel
- Logan Peet, Welder at Siyver Steel
- Sammy Cheatheam, Welder at Siyver Steel
Moline-Coal Valley Community School District #40
- Mackenzie Smith, CNC Machinist at John Deere Cylinder
- Abby Pollock, Welder at John Deere Harvester
- Roman Ojeda, Welder at John Deere Harvester
- Garrett Myers, Welder at McLaughlin Body Co.
- Aedyn Rowe, Welder at McLaughlin Body Co.
- Dalton Summers, Welder at McLaughlin Body Co.
- Oscar Patino, Welder at McLaughlin Body Co.
- Tayvian York, Welder at McLaughlin Body Co.
North Scott Community School District
- Ella Jewell, Software Engineer at John Deere
- Soren Hundertmark, Software Engineer at John Deere
- Peyton Pike, Software Engineer at John Deere
- Kennedy Rupp, Software Engineer at John Deere
- Jameson Christensen, Welder at Bowe Knife
- Shaun Yaudas, Welder at John Deere
- Carver Johnson, Welder at John Deere
- Elijah Shewmake, Welder at John Deere
Pleasant Valley Community School District
- Trystan Ritchie, Welder at Bowe Machine Co.
- James Morley, Welder at Boyler Ornamental Ironworks
- Jackson Franzenburg, Welder at John Deere
Rock Island-Milan School District #41
- Dah Gay Htoo, CNA at Unitypoint Health
- Sirenity Morales, CNA at Unitypoint Health
- Gavin Gasper, Welder at John Deere
- Michael Brose, Welder at John Deere
- Riley Porter, Welder at John Deere
- David Axnix, Welder at McLaughlin Body Co.
- Matthew Coon, Welder at McLaughlin Body Co.
Sherrard Community Unit School District #200
- Alec Simms, Welder at McLaughlin Body Co.
United Township Community School District #30
- Jose Lopez-Vargas, Auto Body at Kunes Ford of East Moline
- Michael Hays, Auto Mechanic at Kunes Ford of East Moline
- Karsin Manning, Welder at George Evans Corporation
- Grady Craver, Welder at John Deere Harvester
- James Johnson, Welder at John Deere Harvester
- Peyton Stewart, Welder at John Deere Harvester
- Tabitha Barham, Welder at McLaughlin Body Co.
- Jacob Peterson, Welder at McLaughlin Body Co.
- Ryan Vermeulen, Welder at McLaughlin Body Co.
- Addisyn Bowling, Software Engineer at John Deere
- Joseph Todd, Software Engineer at John Deere