Students at Davenport Central High School now have a chance to work for Elliott Aviation right after graduation.
From WVIK Dubuque: This month, the school district and company announced the new, "Airframe Mechanic Registered Apprenticeship." It's for students who participate in a career program at Central High called, "i-JAG" -- or Iowa Jobs for America's Graduates.
Alli Vandermyde is the district's Career and Technical Education Specialist. She says the idea for an apprenticeship began when Elliott representatives visited iJAG students at Davenport Central High School. The apprenticeship requires students to take Construction Tech I and Automotive Tech I classes at Davenport Central High School. Then Vandermyde says they take airframe mechanics classes at Elliott at the Quad Cities Airport.
The apprentices will accrue hours by working the summer between their junior and senior years, plus half the school day their senior year.
She hopes this registered apprenticeship will lead to even more apprenticeships at Elliott and other local companies.
The Davenport Community School District says it's the first apprenticeship of its kind in the country. One of the biggest perks is students "earn while they learn" and get hands-on experience.