WESTFORD – Nashoba Technical High School’s Career Training Initiative continues to make connections for its Electrical students.
Two adult students in the evening program at the Westford-based school have been accepted into the IBEW Clean Energy Electrical Pre-Apprenticeship program after successfully completing the Electrical Technology program nights at Nashoba Tech.
Ranphy Caceres and Sage Kim, both Lowell residents, recently completed the 200-hour program and applied to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers’ program for newcomers to the field.
Robert Baker, one of Nashoba Tech’s Electrical Technology instructors who also teaches the CTI program, said Caceres and Kim went from electrical neophytes to potential licensed electricians in the course of the 10-week program.
“They were not these guys 10 weeks ago,” Baker said. “The last 200 hours of electrical work has been all about becoming great apprentices. The IBEW is taking them to the next level.”
Baker said their acceptance into the pre-apprenticeship program is a “foot in the door” to the IBEW Local 103 union.
“They definitely have what it takes to become electricians,” he said. “They take it seriously, and they’ve covered a lot of ground in 200 hours.”
The IBEW Clean Energy Electrical Pre-Apprenticeship Program is a 10-week course that offers an introduction to the union electrical industry, focusing on clean energy, including electrical-vehicle charging stations, battery storage, and solar and wind power.
“It’s tough to get into the pre-apprenticeship program, so it’s a pretty good accomplishment,” Kim said.
He said he had no electrical background before starting the CTI class at Nashoba Tech but caught on quickly.
“I like that it’s all diagrams and you have to try to figure out what goes where,” he said. “Each day is different.”
Caceres had a little experience working with his uncle, but Nashoba Tech’s CTI program gave him the background to apply for the IBEW program. Like Kim, he said the CTI program ignited a spark.
“It’s fun to take something that’s hard and, little by little, you learn how to make it easier,” he said.
Baker said anyone looking to start a new career in electrical, no matter their age, can learn through Nashoba Tech’s CTI program.
In fact, Caceres and Kim’s acceptance isn’t the CTI program’s first bright spot. In October, 2003 graduate Nathanael Espinal was sworn into the IBEW Local 103.
“CTI is a nice place to start a new career with confidence,” he said. “You hate to see anyone start their career with insecurities. It’s stressful starting out at anything, and we’re trying make it less stressful.”
Baker is quick to mention that Kierah Bongiorno, a current senior in Nashoba Tech’s Electrical Technology program, assisted him in teaching the adult class for the 10-week duration of the program and has a bright future in electrical, too.
“Kierah is a stellar student here at Nashoba Tech,” he said. “I knew she’d be a perfect match for what I’m trying to do. The students in the CTI program know I’m a master electrician, but to have her demonstrate it makes them think, ‘Wow, this kid can do it.’”
Bongiorno, a Chelmsford resident, works for MEC Electrical Contractors, also in Chelmsford, through Nashoba Tech’s Cooperative Education program, which allows qualified juniors and seniors to work in their chosen field every other week.
Baker said MEC has hired several of Nashoba Tech’s CTI graduates, and dozens of high-school students, both through Cooperative Education and after they’ve graduated.
“One of the things that attracted Kierah to MEC is that they have a lot of females on the management team,” Baker said.
Nashoba Tech will present the CTI Electrical program again. Visit www.nashobatech.net for more information.