Droves of students flocked to the electrical exhibit at the Mahoning Valley Skilled Trades Expo on September 17-19.
They were learning to bend conduit, testing out a virtual reality tool that walks them through various electrical tasks, talking with apprentices about basic wiring and what a career is like, as well as getting an up-close look at the bucket trucks and pole digger on display.
Great skills and livable wages
Briniyah Angel, a student at Campbell Memorial High School, was with her friends at the Expo learning about the equipment. She has a couple of career paths on her radar but hasn’t decided yet.
“I’m interested in the electrical trade and nursing. I have a love for both of those things.”
Angel says math comes easy to her, but it was the near and dear experiences that exposed her to the trades in the first place.
“My grandpa used to do roofing, and I would help him with jobs here and there. That’s where my interest grew.”
She said being an electrician would mean making good money, so she is keeping her options open.
Pathways to the electrical trade
The electricity program at the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center is another way students are being exposed to the industry.
Cam’ren Natalie is a senior from Austintown and goes to MCCTC for the program. He said it’s a good experience and a great trade to learn.
“It’s a good living. We’ll have the skills for the rest of our lives. Even if I don’t end up in this trade, knowing at least the basics, is great.”
He and others in his class also recently put in application forms for different electrical programs in the industry.
Educators agree that exposure and awareness are key for students that may not know what they want to do after graduation.
“Students that don’t have a path – this is good. For a lot of us [educators], it’s a big motivator,” said Zach Capan, intervention specialist, MCCTC. “Don’t like school? We’ll get you a trade. That’s kind of the goal for us.”
A career worth fighting for
Danielle Cree, a third-year apprentice working at TSquared Electrical, has been determined since high school to become an electrician.
“Someone once told me I couldn’t do this, but it was something I enjoyed. I tried other things, but always came back to it.”
Cree’s journey didn’t follow a straight line. It took her a couple of tries before she got into the Warren JATC with IBEW Local 573.
“I went to a trade school while I was waiting. Then, I was a CW for a couple of years, and after that, I finally got into the apprenticeship.”
Now 29, and raising a nine-year-old daughter, the stability means everything.
“I’ve been chasing this down for quite a while, and it’s now my lifelong career. I’m sticking with it,” Cree said.
The electrical trade is a rewarding career for someone like Cree who didn’t want to go to college.
“If you have a specific interest, college is fine. If you’re going for something general, it’s harder afterwards to nail down a career path. You’ll learn a lot in the apprenticeship and just focus on the trade. There are good wages and benefits, and long-term, a retirement plan.”
NECA-IBEW Electricians, an association of IBEW Local 64 in Youngstown, IBEW Local 573 in Warren and signatory electrical contractors throughout the Mahoning Valley.