With friends and family cheering them on, 19 local residents recently graduated from the OUC-sponsored Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program, which sets them up for well-paid careers in skilled trades like construction and electrical work.

The ceremony, which took place on July 16 at the Grand Avenue Neighborhood Center near downtown Orlando, was the culmination of six months of hard work and dedication by the participants.

The program includes 420 hours of hands-on instruction, spread out over twice weekly classes, in trade skills that can be used in construction, carpentry, electrical, plumbing and building maintenance. The curriculum also includes safety basics and workplace ethics, as well as communication and employability skills. In addition, participants receive mentoring and help with preparing for job interviews, among other important career competencies.

“I learned electrical, plumbing, HVAC, rough carpentry, framing… things like that. We even grouped up and built a bench as a team. We put our names on it and signed it. One of my other favorite parts was when we learned how to plumb the right way to put in a sink or toilet – that was pretty cool,”
said Felesha Francis, who commented that she feels her fellow graduates are like family.

“If you want to be challenged and learn new things, this is the place to be,” added Felesha.

Graduates of the OUC-Sponsored Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program each received a power drill to use in their new careers during their graduation ceremony.

Mimi Layton, Senior Talent Development Consultant, and Corey Johnson, Water Operations Manager, were among the OUC employees who met with students during the program, giving advice and encouragement. Queen Massaline, Senior Community Engagement Coordinator, provided job interview tips.

Graduates of the program receive full-time job offers as apprentices with local employers. Apprenticeships come with a commitment from their new bosses to continue their training and skills development, including paying for classes at Orlando Technical College.

This is the third graduating class for the program, which kicked off in 2021.

“I am incredibly proud of our achievements this year. This cohort of participants is our most impressive yet. Not only did we have our largest graduation class with 19 students, but we also celebrated an outstanding graduation rate of 83%. Additionally, this group stands out for its diversity in race, ethnicity and gender. A particularly heartwarming highlight is that we had a mother and son graduating together in this class,” said Alandus Sims, who oversees the program as OUC’s Project Manager for Strategic Community Partnerships.

Sims, as well as Jenise Osani, OUC’s Vice President of Marketing and New Products, spoke at the ceremony. Mike Scott, Orange County Commissioner for District 6, and Shan Rose, interim Orlando City Commissioner for District 5, were also on hand to offer their support and congratulate the graduates.

Alandus Sims, OUC’s Project Manager for Strategic Community Partnerships, speaks at the graduation ceremony.

The Pre-Apprenticeship Program classes are overseen by iBuild Central Florida, which is a nonprofit involved in workforce development. OUC’s sponsorship covers tuition, supplies, and other program fees and costs, which leaves the students free to concentrate on learning. The program uses standardized training and credentialing curricula set by the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER). To earn an NCCER card, which is a gateway to a well-paying entry-level job in a trade field, the students must pass more than 70 assessments.

The program targets residents in the Empowerment Zone, an economically disadvantaged area in the 32805 ZIP code where OUC fosters community support and economic prosperity by providing opportunities that fall under three pillars: education, sustainable housing and health and wellness.