Twenty-one Cleveland Job Corps Center (CJCC) Carpentry students showcased their talents, as well as developed and enhanced their skills at the Northeast Ohio Carpenters Apprenticeship Contest on Wednesday, April 18, 2018. CJCC Carpentry Instructors, David Lummus and Daniel Volpe, accompanied and supervised carpentry students as they assisted in the set-up of the contestant work areas.

For the past ten years, the Richfield Carpenters Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) has welcomed Job Corps carpenters to the event. The Work-Based Learning/Service Learning Project allows CJCC pre-apprentice students the opportunity to work side by side with JATC Instructors and fourth-year apprentices for about one week leading up to the main event. The one-day event featured 24 fourth year apprentices, each representing the Northeast Ohio Training Center in one of six events. The first-place finishers in the six categories will go on to compete in the Tri-State competition.

Students receive great exposure to the industry by instructors from the local training Center in Northeast Ohio, state-wide carpentry contractors, business representatives from the Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters, as well as employers attending the event. In addition, approximately 400 vendors that included suppliers, colleges, technical schools, high schools, representatives, and union officials also attend. “This is a great opportunity for area high school students to check out the Cleveland Job Corps Carpentry program before enrolling,” stated Cleveland Job Corps Career Technical Training Manager, Adam Bohn.

This year, employers interviewed three carpentry students; Lorena Moreno, Elijah Rowland, and David Brindley on the spot. Lorena was offered a job with Great Lakes Construction Companyand Elijah with Frank Novak & Sons. These students are entering apprenticeships as part of the Carpenter’s union. David was offered employment pending the completion of the carpentry trade.