Schuylkill Technology Center is launching a program to connect high school students in Schuylkill County with employment.

The project will expand STC’s existing programs in residential/industrial electricity and electromechanical technology by introducing a pre-apprenticeship program through a partnership with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Labor Union Local 743.

The initiative will create pathways for 40 high school seniors to enter advanced manufacturing and building and construction fields in electrical occupations.

The program is made available by grant funding from the $6 million dollar Schools-to-Work grant, which supports workforce development programs, in partnership with schools that establish or enhance employment and training pathways for Pennsylvania students.

“Students who have access to career training before they leave high school are empowered to make informed decisions about their next steps into the workforce, whether through training or higher education. Pre-apprenticeship programs are a critical tool in preparing the next generation of Pennsylvania workers, and I look forward to seeing the life-changing impacts of the programs funded through the School-to-Work initiative,” said Nancy Walker, secretary of the state Department of Labor and Industry.

STC plans to launch the program with students entering the 12th grade for the 2024-25 school year. The program will operate using a hybrid delivery model with 2 to 3 days of in-person classes, and online instruction from 2 to 4 p.m. at the STC South Campus in Mar Lin. Upon completion of the apprenticeship program, graduates will be granted an interview with the IBEW Local 743. If accepted into the union, program participants will qualify for an exception of the first year of the 5-year journeyman apprenticeship program.

Students seeking more information about the program should attend an information session with their parent or guardian at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The program is limited to students who will be entering the 12th grade for the 2024-25 academic year. Any questions may be directed to hessd@stcenters.org