ODU's 1st Engineering Apprentices Graduate During May Commencement
May 04, 2016
Apprentice School ODU engineering graduates (from left) Brenden Frazier, Jarrod Griffith and Angel Counts
An innovative partnership launched three years ago by Old Dominion University and Newport News Shipbuilding's Apprentice School will see its first dividend: nine graduates at the ODU spring commencement exercises May 7.
The students, who went through the Professional Development Program (PDP) partnership with the University, will receive engineering degrees from Old Dominion. The program has garnered national attention for its fusion of the hands-on nature of The Apprentice School and the academic rigor of the University's engineering program.
The students, who have juggled engineering school with their full-time marine engineer apprenticeships, are not complaining.
"This has been a great program," said Brenden Frazier, originally from North Carolina, who will earn his degree in electrical engineering. "Instead of graduating with student debt, I've been able to go to a great school while earning a salary as an apprentice. We are very fortunate."
Angel Counts, from Newport News, attended Old Dominion for a year coming out of high school. She returned to the University as an apprentice and has excelled as an electrical engineering student in the Batten College of Engineering and Technology.
"I have a really high drive to be successful," Counts said. "I will study as much as possible, and learn everything I can from the TAs" (teaching assistants).
Jarrod Griffith, a mechanical engineering student originally from Delaware, said the pressure for apprentices to perform reflects the support they have been given by The Apprentice School.
"I think I've done well because I've had so much support. You don't want to let them down; you are indebted to them," said Griffith.
The program provides a unique integration of planned work experiences at Newport News Shipbuilding for the marine engineer apprentices while also attending academic courses at Old Dominion. A typical work week may find apprentices working full time three days a week while attending academic classes two days during the week.
The University and Newport News Shipbuilding have ties dating to the 1960s. The shipbuilder employs more than 1,000 ODU grads, more than from any other school.
The creation of the partnership in 2013 by Newport News Shipbuilding and Old Dominion President John R. Broderick further cemented those ties. In fact, the program has been so successful that other apprenticeships and degree opportunities are being considered.
Alicia Uzzle, manager of academics with The Apprentice School, said she is proud of the Professional Development Program and the apprentices' hard work.
"Our apprentices are full-time shipbuilders who were taking courses in one of the most academically challenging programs in higher education," Uzzle said. "The Apprentice School and ODU have had a longstanding relationship, so this achievement further complements the partnership that had been established."
In addition to Counts, Frazier and Griffith, the initial cohort includes electrical engineering graduates Eric Ollenberger and David Lamb and mechanical engineering graduates Anthony Riddle, Patrick Boston, Chris Spencer and Brandon Weiler.
Dean Oktay Baysal of the Batten College said the performance of the students is only one reason that the partnership has been so successful.
"Partnership with the Apprentice School provides their students easy access to electrical and mechanical engineering education. This further builds this relationship between our institutions, which will, in turn, help the economic competitiveness of our region," Baysal said.
Founded in 1919, the Apprentice School admits about 250 current and prospective employees annually and offers four- to eight-year tuition-free apprenticeships.
Apprentices work a regular 40-hour week, and are paid for all work, including time spent in academic classes.
Frazier said the program has been well-structured. "Our time is totally blocked out so that we can fit our engineering studies with our work here."
Griffith has found the engineering classes an invaluable complement to his work as an apprentice shipbuilder. He took a materials science class at Old Dominion, then used those skills supporting his engineering work at Newport News Shipbuilding.
"It's really nice how it fits in. We're able to use the knowledge we gain in the classroom right away," he said.
The nine graduates will finish their time as apprentices with Newport News Shipbuilding this year, moving into positions at the shipyard with starting salaries that exceed those of typical Apprentice School graduates.
"We have been really fortunate to be part of this first group," Counts said. "We know there are other apprentices eager to start."