Penobscot Job Corps Center celebrated National Apprenticeship Week in a big way. On Monday April 27, trainees and pre-apprentices signed pledge sheets to explore Registered Apprenticeship Opportunities. They also signed gold stars and our Apprenticeship Scroll. We used feather pens to commemorate 250 years of the USA. We hung the pledge sheets and stars in our Union Street Building to make an Apprenticeship Walk of Fame.

On Tuesday April 28, trainees and staff took a field trip to visit with Local S6 in Augusta. This was the first time Local S6, who represents Bath Iron Work employees, had given a presentation to a school. They were very excited to meet our trainees, and one member was actually a Penobscot Alum.

On Wednesday April 29, Mike McGuigan, who is the Business Representative for UBC Local 352 and Local 349 met with UBC pre-apprentices to talk about some Registered Apprenticeship Programs they offer. Also on April 29, Derek Armstrong, who represents Local 716 (Pipefitters, Pipe-Welders, and Plumbers) came to center to present to our Welding and Advanced Marine Pipefitting trainees, and our UBC pre-apprentices.

On Thursday April 30, Michelle Gayne who is the Apprenticeship Coordinator for the Maine Community College System and the Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine’s Workforce, and Amanda Dennison who is the Apprenticeship Navigator for the Maine DOL, gave two presentations to all of our trainees and pre-apprentices in the gym about Registered Apprenticeship Opportunities in Maine. They also gave a tour of the apprenticeship.maine.gov website. Also, on Thursday our Welding and Advanced Marine Pipefitting trainees attended a presentation by Iron Workers Local 7 and the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organization.

On Friday May 1, Penobscot Job Corps wrapped up an amazing National Apprenticeship week by taking a field trip to General Dynamics Bath Iron Works’ Trade Show in Brunswick, Maine. Our trainees got to experience Virtual Reality Simulators and took a tour of their training facility. It was a really informative trip.