By Debbie Adams
Five William Byrd High School students were recognized in a signing ceremony for the regional
Registered Apprenticeship (RA) program during Educators Night at the Salem Red Sox game on
May 3. They are Jordan Bryant, Keegan Harnish, Nathan Hiemstra, Steven Hornaday, Jr., and
Blake Richardson.
students Nathan Hiemstra (on left) and Blake Richardson will be working as apprentices at
Wabtec-Graham White. (photo by Debbie Adams)
According to Roanoke County Schools, the Registered Apprenticeship is a training system that
produces highly skilled workers to meet the demands of employers competing in a global
economy, through a combination of on-the-job training and classroom instruction.
It is a “win-win” approach to workforce development for more than 13,000 apprentices
(employees) throughout the Commonwealth. Roanoke County, Roanoke City, Botetourt County,
and Salem City Public Schools are partnering with local businesses to provide RA opportunities
for juniors and seniors.
This program is not an internship – apprentices are employed by the company. Through the
apprenticeship program, students can learn many skills all while earning a paycheck, high school
credit, and an industry credential that means they could go straight into the workforce after high
school graduation. For students, apprenticeships can lead to careers. For employers,
apprenticeships can help companies train future workers and fill open jobs.
Local companies partnering in the program this year with local school systems include Archer
Western/Walsh Group, Balzer & Associates, First United Methodist Church in Salem, G&H
Contracting, GJ Hopkins, Inc., Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center, Integer, Lawrence
Companies, Medeco, Mersen, Optical Cable Corporation, Salem City Water Dept., Southern Air,
Varney, Wabtec Graham White, the Western Virginia Water Authority, and Woods Service
Center.
According to program organizers, “The Registered Apprenticeship program was designed in the
late 1930s by the Roosevelt administration. Originally designed as an adult job preparation
program, it has expanded over the years to encompass over 1,300 jobs in a variety of businesses
and industries. Managed by the Dept. of Labor and Industry in Virginia, the RA program offers a
unique work-based learning model for 16- to 18-year-old students.
“Participants in the program work towards credentials associated with each business through
employment training and instruction. Once the student completes the program, they are eligible for
a Journeyman’s license. This license is a portable and widely recognized credential that indicates
they have the relevant training and are on the path to becoming a master in their chosen industry.”
Nathan Hiemstra and Blake Richardson will be apprentices with Wabtec Graham White; Jordan
Bryant is an apprentice with Woods Service Center; and Keegan Harnish and Steven Hornaday,
Jr., will be apprentices with GJ Hopkins.
Other new apprentices for 2024 include Will Mills, Sophie Shearer, Abel Braaten, Kaidin Colburn,
Gavin Overstreet, Nathan Rhodes, Blake Balzer, Maddux Fite, Nathan Madison, Justin Quam,
Luke Turner, Andrew Trent, Tyler Dulaney, Meharjot Padda, Ashley Scott, Vance Starkey, Jack
Kipps, Tommy Woo, Kenya Hernandez-Cortez, Tyler Lane, Kaden Galyor, Logan Dalton, Sienna
Donald, Lilla Wagner, Emmet Griffin, Terrel Hairston, Braedon Young, Layla Gillman, and Sam
Judge.
In signing the partnership agreement, students make a commitment to maintaining good grades
in school and working part-time at the business under specific Virginia Department of Labor and
Industry regulated conditions toward becoming a highly trained and credentialed employee of the
business.
The process of being selected for the apprenticeship program includes students being screened
by school system officials to ensure graduation requirements can be met and an interview with
the business.
Student apprentices work approximately 20 hours per week. Most RA positions require a minimum
of 2,000 on the job hours and 144 hours per year of industry-related instruction. Students receive
school credit for their apprenticeship. Their schedules are arranged in a manner agreed upon by the
student, parent, school system, and employer.
Becky Caldwell, administrative assistant with the Career and Technical Education Dept. in
Roanoke County Schools, says that most students in the apprenticeship program start at age 16 and
then finish their two-year program the summer after they finish high school, earning their
journeyman’s credential.
At the May 3 signing ceremony, students and representatives from their partner companies were
introduced to the crowd by Chuck Lionberger, Roanoke County Schools Director of Community
Relations.
Jordan Bryant is a senior at William Byrd, who has been interested in working on automobiles
for years. He started his apprenticeship year a few months ago as a student but will continue as
an adult at Woods Service Center to finish out his two-year program. He began the program with
Berglund but asked to switch to Woods to be closer to home, to save time and gas. He has been a
student at the Burton Center for Arts and Technology in the automotive program and continues
to take classes at both BCAT and William Byrd, in addition to working 4-5 hours a day at
Woods. His main interest is in diesel mechanics and working at Woods gives him the
opportunity to develop skills in that area with their trucking shop as well. He plans to attend
Virginia Western Community College to study HVAC, welding, and electrical work, both residential and industrial, in what amounts to a five-year program. Jordan is enjoying his job at
Woods, where he says he has been treated very well. His parents are Kathy and Rob Bryant.
Keegan Harnish will be a junior next fall and working with GJ Hopkins as an apprentice
plumber. He will be taking 4 or 5 courses at Byrd and working every other day at GJH. He says
he wanted to do the apprenticeship because of the knowledge and experience he would gain from
it. He liked GJH because of the kindness of the representatives he talked with. After high school,
Keegan plans to complete college and either continue his trade career or go into the medical
field. His parents are Kellay and Jake Harnish.
Nathan Hiemstra will be a senior at WBHS in the fall. He has also been a student at BCAT in the
mechatronics program. At Wabtec Graham White, he will be involved with manufacturing of parts
for trains. He will be taking at least three classes at Byrd (science, math, and Spanish) while also
working at Wabtec. He decided on the apprenticeship program with Wabtec because he wanted to
get experience in the field as he is considering a career in mechanical engineering. He plans to
attend Virginia Western Community College and then transfer to a four-year college or university
to study engineering. He described the process for joining the apprenticeship program—he first
attended the Registered Apprentice Open House to meet representatives of the partner businesses.
He next interviewed with Wabtec and found it to be a good fit for his interests and future plans.
Nathan’s parents are Stephanie and Donald Hiemstra.
Steven Hornaday, Jr., from William Byrd will also be an apprentice with GJ Hopkins. His parents
are Steven and Amanda Hornaday.
Blake Richardson is also an upcoming senior, joining the Registered Apprenticeship program. He
is a student at BCAT in his third year in the mechatronics program. At Wabtec he will be working
with Computer Numerical Control machines. He will be attending classes at William Byrd (for
Calculus, Government, and Physics) and BCAT and working at Wabtec. He’ll be taking English
this summer to make his apprenticeship schedule do-able. Blake says he signed up for the
apprenticeship because he wanted experience in the field to make sure he has made the right
choice, and because it gives him “an edge over the other students.” Friends who worked for
Wabtec recommended the employer. After graduation, he plans to attend Virginia Tech to study
mechanical engineering. He says that after the Registered Apprenticeship open house, Wabtec
contacted him about the position. His parents are Jennifer and Kevin Richardson.
