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A moment during a trip with his grandparents to Africa helped to set a career path for Luke Phillips, a senior at Caroline County Career and Technology Center from Greensboro.
Phillips signed as a Youth Apprentice with Trident Aircraft, Easton, for on-the-job training as an aviation mechanic. He “gained an interest in” the field while flying in a small plane on the safari with his grandparents and sister two years ago. He is leveraging his instruction in automotive mechanics at CCTC into the aviation mechanic Youth Apprenticeship, and to an opportunity to own his future.
“Luke – the future is yours,” Caroline County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Derek Simmons said at the signing. “Trident is a great partner” in providing entrance into the world of aviation that is not readily available in Caroline County. Trident Aircraft is aircraft management, charter, and maintenance company headquartered in Easton, MD with locations throughout the East Coast.
Phillips was one of three candidates for the Youth Apprenticeship at Trident this go-around. All three candidates were exposed to real-world application and interviewing processes, including what can seem like an endless stretch of time before hearing whether one gets the job. The patience paid off, as both Tad Woodward, Chief Financial Officer, and Steve Steven Nawrocki, Phillips’ mentor and supervisor with Trident are excited to have Phillips join the Trident team.
As Phillips parents, Jade and Amy, sister Kylie, and staff from CCPS were getting a tour of the Trident facility after the signing, Simmons was visibly excited for Phillips, and commented, “this is what I would have done” as a career. “I love working with my hands (on) mechanical stuff. I worked on marine engines” as a part-time job when I was in high school.
When asked what helped determine his chosen career path into education instead of mechanics, he replied, “there weren’t any (CCTC) programs available” in Easton High School at the time. Simmons noted that the importance of offering career-readiness programs through CCTC, in balance with college prep studies at the high schools, is what gives students like Phillips the chance for a successful career.
The Caroline County Public School Apprenticeship Program (#EarnandLearn) provides students with paid, mentored, real-world learning opportunities. The program is open to Juniors and Seniors ages 16+.
The Apprenticeship Program includes one credit of relevant classroom education and a minimum of 450 hours of PAID work experience. The sponsoring business works with the school system to match qualifying students with work experiences, and agrees to terms of the Youth Apprenticeship program.
