Ryan Wilkins never imagined he could earn a paycheck while still in school, but thanks to a unique apprenticeship program, that’s exactly what he’s doing.
Wilkins, 21, of Chickasha, attends weekday classes at Canadian Valley Technology Center. Four times each week, he leaves class early and drives across town to work.
At Cimarron Trailers, he earns $17.50 an hour designing components for equine and stock trailers, applying the very skills he’s learning in class to real-world projects
Wilkins and classmate Samuel Crawford are participating in Career Tech certified apprenticeships. These are similar to the U.S. Department of Labor’s registered apprenticeships. Both initiatives connect employers with career seekers.
Wilkins said he had been looking for employment related to his skillset since last spring. He tried college and determined it was not a fit for him.
“I am very excited to be able to finally be in a job that I have been learning for the past year,” he said. “There is still a lot to learn in the industry, so I intend to be a sponge so I can be more proficient and versed in software and professional development.”
Crawford, 22, of Amber, logs 25 hours each week at Cimarron Trailers, though he prefers to go every day. A typical day’s work is turning drawings into new trailer designs, he said.
The apprenticeships could turn into full-time work for both Wilkins and Crawford, though that is dependent on many factors, said CV Tech CADD instructor Corey Ferguson.
Apprenticeships help ease the transition from school to a career. CV Tech began partnering with area businesses to offer registered apprenticeships two years ago. Labor Department data shows 90 percent of students who complete apprenticeships retain employment and earn higher wages when the terms of the apprenticeship are completed.
For Wilkins and Crawford, apprenticeships represent opportunity. As they continue refining their skills at Cimarron Trailers, they are proving that learning doesn’t just happen in the classroom. Sometimes, it happens in the workplace, too—one blueprint at a time.
