Students in the Skilled Trades Program (STP) at Spokane Community College will benefit from extra support thanks to a new grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation. The 11-week pre-apprenticeship program gives students experience in a number of trades before choosing one.
The program focuses on providing opportunities for women, minorities and economically disadvantaged individuals to get into trades. The $50,000 from WSDOT will support students with costs for equipment, childcare and transportation.
In the STP program, students learn the basics of apprenticeship, applied math, financial literacy and job search skills. Additionally they can become certified in first aid, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)-10 construction, flagging and fork lift driving.
“The Skilled Trades Program offers a pathway into apprenticeship that otherwise wouldn’t be possible for many of our students,” said SCC Acting President Kevin Brockbank. “This one quarter opens the door for numerous career opportunities that provide a living wage.”
A new STP class is beginning this September. For more information or to register, contact Kenna May, SCC director of apprenticeship, at 509-533-8098.
SCC is one of the largest community colleges in the state and serves more than 20,000 students every year. SCC has provided college transfer, career-technical and adult basic educational opportunities to hundreds of thousands of students in Eastern Washington since 1963. The main campus is located in Spokane, but there are centers in Colville, Newport, Republic, Ione and Inchelium.