Four Columbia high school students sign as registered youth apprentices with businesses

Four Columbia high school students on Monday signed on as Columbia Public Schools' first registered youth apprentices through the U.S. Department of Labor.

The ceremony took place in the office of Regional Economic Development Inc., REDI. The Columbia Area Career Center wasn't available because it is undergoing renovations.

Rock Bridge High School junior Christian Siegel, 17, and Battle High School senior Ethan Cooper, 18, signed on as apprentices with Columbia Safety & Supply. Rock Bridge senior Ashlyn Ingram, 17, and Hickman Hick School senior Sophia Thompson, will complete their apprenticeships at Jacobs Property Managment.

Stacy Elsbury runs the apprenticeship program through the Columbia Area Career Center.

The students will receive paid on-the-job training at businesses and related technical instruction at the career center, Elsbury said.

"The vision of youth apprenticeships is fortifying our economy while filling the gaps in our workforce," Elsbury said.

It's a powerful opportunity to connect high school students with employers, said Brandon Russell, career center director.

The program overcomes barriers, said Cynthia Walker, apprenticeship specialist for the state education department.

"The thing that sets apprenticeships apart is that mentorship piece," Walker said. "It's really a great model to set them up for success."

Appropriately, the ceremony took place on the first day of the U.S. Department of Labor's first youth apprenticeship week, said Jeanna Caldwell, apprenticeship specialist with the federal agency.

"You're in this and you're ready to see growth and you're ready to partner with businesses to make that happen," Caldwell said.

Graduating from an apprenticeship is portable and transferrable, she said.

"Once you graduate from an apprenticeship, that means something," Caldwell said.

Christian, one of the apprentices for Columbia Safety and Supply, said he was ready to learn all the aspects of the company when he starts this summer.

The opportunity for growth and flexibility during the school year were things that appealed to him about the program, he said.

He's part of the Early College Program partnership between CPS and Moberly Area Community College and expects to graduate next year with a high school diploma and an associate's degree from MACC.

"We're excited and very honored he was accepted," said his mom, Katie Siegel.

Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on X at @rmckinney9.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Jacobs Property Management, Columbia Safety & Supply get apprentices