MCEF HONORS 43 GRADUATES OF APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS
- June 19, 2020
PEARL ― Forty-three graduates of the Mississippi Construction Education Foundation's apprenticeship program were honored recently for completing training requirements that move them one step closer toward becoming journeymen– the highest level in a trade profession.
MCEF's apprenticeship program is approved by the Department of Labor and prepares craft professionals in eight trades: carpentry, electrical, HVAC, pipefitting, plumbing, sheet metal, welding and interior finish. Students must work for an approved employer to be accepted into the four-year program, which includes a total of 576 hours of classroom instruction and 8,000 on-the-job training hours. Students work during the day and take classes at night.
"Construction companies throughout the country, as well as here in Mississippi, are gearing up to hire more workers ― if only they can find them," said Mike Barkett, president of MCEF. "This shortage of skilled labor is having a negative impact on the construction industry and causing the loss of millions of jobs each year. MCEF is working to address this crisis by encouraging interest in technical-based careers and providing training, resources and recognition to help build a ready workforce for Mississippi."
In addition to increased job skills and pay, graduates can take apprentice certificates to a community college and earn up to 32 academic credit hours toward an associate degree.
Graduates were honored June 19 during a virtual graduation and awards ceremony hosted by MCEF at its Pearl headquarters. Also recognized were students with perfect attendance along with outstanding students chosen based on attitude, GPA and class involvement.
Graduating from MCEF’s apprenticeship program were:
• Jamie Abram of Byram, employed by Moses Electric
• Rodney Alcerro of Metairie, LA, employed by Bernhard MCC - LA
• Haydn Aldridge of Hernando, employed by Whitfield Electric
• Tyler Allen of Long Beach, employed by All South Electric
• Phillip Anderson of Mendenhall, employed by Shivers Construction
• Terry Bailey of Greenwood, employed by Upchurch Plumbing
• Anthony Bell of Madison, independent
• Tyger Booker of Madison, employed by Moses Electric
• Seth Boyd of Utica, employed by Upchurch Plumbing
• Ricardo Bravo-Arias of Senatobia, employed by Whitfield Electric
• Nicholas Burge of Gulfport, employed by Edwards Electric
• Rayne Burge of Pearl, employed by Adco Electric
• Brad Chevalier of Pearl, employed by Environment Masters
• Blake Cuevas of Gulfport, employed by AllSouth Electric
• Stephen Daniels of Pearl, employed by Climate Masters
• Christopher Davis of New Orleans, LA, employed by Bernhard MCC - LA
• Michael Davis of Florence, employed by Buie Electric
• Robert “Cody” Davis of Pass Christian, employed by Edwards Electric
• Dusty Dear of Brandon, employed by Dear Electric
• Christopher Dickerhoof of Brandon, employed by Upchurch Services
• Ray Edwards of Jackson, employed by Environment Masters
• Sam Gardiner of Hernando, employed by Whitfield Electric
• James Holland of Belzoni, employed by Upchurch Plumbing
• Lanney Jones of Meraux, LA, employed by Bernhard MCC - LA
• Corey Johnson of Jackson, employed by Environment Masters
• Michael McLallen of Vancleave, employed by Duprey Electric
• Thomas Means of Pearl, independent
• Donald McKee of Pearl, employed by Environment Masters
• Nelson Moncada-Hernandez of Metairie, LA, employed by Bernhard MCC - LA
• Marcus Montgomery of Brandon, employed by Environment Masters
• Lavaris Parker of Byram, independent.
• Austin Pepper of Richland, employed by ADCO Electric
• Robert Pickett of Pearl, employed by Climate Masters
• Jaylon Proctor of Brandon, employed by Moses Electric
• Matt Reaume of Jackson, employed by Environment Masters
• Benjamin Robinson of Gulfport, employed by Duprey Electric
• Kaleb Robinson of Hernando, employed by Whitfield Electric
• William Sealy of Coldwater, employed by Whitfield Electric
• Raymond Strode of Brandon, employed by Environment Masters
• Elijah Wheatley of Vancleave, employed by Talon Contracting
• Austin Whitfield of Coldwater, employed by Whitfield Electric
• Matthew Whittington of Crystal Springs, employed by SEC of Mississippi
• Anwan Word of Clarksdale, employed by Upchurch Plumbing
MCEF is a non-profit educational foundation that provides NCCER craft training and credentialing in more than 100 career and technical programs across the state. The foundation’s mission is to train individuals for the construction and manufacturing industries in Mississippi.
MCEF also offers workforce training and credentialing in construction, industrial maintenance and manufacturing trades. Learn more about MCEF at http://mcef.net.