Plumbing, electrical and painting are difficult trades to enter without proper experience and training. To help make it possible for other members of physical plant to work their way up the ladder, the college reinstated its apprenticeship program last year. The program provides training in various maintenance vocations and the opportunity to become a member of the College's skilled trades crew.
The apprenticeship program was adopted many years ago, but lack of interest forced it to be dropped. A newly designed apprenticeship program was created last year and was welcomed by both the College and the community at large. Frank Marsicane, associate director of physical plant, believes the program provides maintenance employees the opportunity to learn new skills. Last year four apprenticeship positions were created in the plumbing, electrical, and painting departments. According to Marsicane, the paint shop regularly has only four workers. "There is a lot of ground to cover and not a lot of people," Marsicane said, "the program is a benefit to all involved."
Mahlon Moon, an apprentice in the program last summer, joined the painting crew when an employee retired last year. "In order to work at Hamilton, you need ability, enthusiasm, and a good attitude," Moon explained. "The apprenticeship program gave me the skills I needed to work at the College." The apprenticeship allowed him to obtain the multi-faceted training he needed. "You need to be able to do many different things. I learned some new things even after 20 years, and picked up little things here and there. There is a lot to be learned when you're working with other people," Moon explained.
