Colleagues,
Westfield Technical Academy Vice Principal Kevin Daley, who coordinates the cooperative education program and internships for upper class students, said the school had over 80 placements this year. “That’s the most we’ve ever had,” Daley said. “We have great partnerships with local businesses.”
David
Westfield Tech breaks its record for most student Co-Op Placements this year
Published: May. 24, 2024, 2:18 a.m.
Westfield Technical Academy seniors Aidan Layng, Sophia Brooks, Parker Roit, Ayden Richter, and Vice Principal Kevin Daley talk about cooperative education opportunities at the school. (AMY PORTER / THE WESTFIELD NEWS)The Westfield News
By Amy Porter | The Westfield News | aporter
WESTFIELD — Westfield Technical Academy Vice Principal Kevin Daley, who coordinates the cooperative education program and internships for upper class students, said the school had over 80 placements this year.
“That’s the most we’ve ever had,” Daley said. “We have great partnerships with local businesses.”
The Cooperative Education Program provides an opportunity for students to participate in paid employment in their career and technology programs. Daley said most of the placements are seniors, but third-semester juniors who have completed the requirements can participate in co-ops, and some will start over the summer and usually continue into their senior year.
Four seniors in co-ops who talked about the program this week all said they have been offered the opportunity to stay at their workplaces beyond school.
Ayden Richter, a senior in electrical wiring, said he has been at M&M Electrical Services Inc. in West Springfield since last July. He works on putting up the pipes to install electric car charging stations.
“You learn a lot more when you’re out in the field,” Richter said, giving the example of learning on half-inch pipe in school, and working with 3-inch pipe in the field. “You get to see more of the business side.”
Asked what his plans are for next year, Richter didn’t hesitate. “I’m staying where I am,” he said.
Also staying is Parker Roit, a senior in automotive technology, who has been working for Endangered Species Jeep Custom in Holyoke for the past year and a half, where he outfits Jeeps with custom enhancing.
Sophia Brooks, a business technology senior, has been working as a bank teller at the Polish National Credit Union in Westfield since October. She plans to go to Westfield State University in the fall to major in psychology and minor in accounting.
Brooks said she will stay at PNCU over the summer. She said the credit union has offered her continued opportunities at one of its several locations, another common thread among all of the WTA co-op students.
Aidan Layng, a senior in cabinetmaking who was recently named WTA Outstanding Vocational Student of the Year, has been on co-op at Wright Architectural Millwork in Northampton, and is a co-founder in Wright’s new training program for high school students.
Layng, who started his co-op at Wright when he became eligible halfway through his junior year, said his work there involves cabinetmaking, cabinets, millwork, trim, door casings and doors, “Pretty much all wooden elements inside a home. I just worked on a set of stairs,” he said, adding, “I like it because you’re able to get real world experience [while in] school.” He also talked about the opportunity to make connections in the industry.
In the fall, Layng plans to attend the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport, Maine, a nine-month program, and said he wants to return to work in the industry while getting an associate degree in business management or construction management. He said one day he would like to own his own cabinet making business. As with the other students, his employer already asked him to come back.
In order for students to be eligible for co-ops, they must meet academic, attendance and discipline requirements, must maintain their vocational and academic grades, and receive a positive recommendation from all of their teachers. In return, they receive fair and competitive wages and valuable work experience. Richter said he has been paid scale for some of the jobs he’s worked on.
Layng calls cooperative education “one of the biggest benefits of Westfield Technical Academy,” and “motivation to keep grades up.”
“I tell everyone who’s going into high school,” said Roit. He said there are many advantages, including not having to search for a job.
Richter said a lot of the bosses are flexible. He plays baseball and has no problem scheduling his work shifts around his games. “They stuck with me when I broke a finger,” Roit said.
Daley said some of the students who graduated from WTA and started their own businesses are now looking for co-op students. “We’ve come full circle,” he said.
Mike Mottola, owner of M&M Electrical, is from Westfield, went to WTA for electrical wiring.
“His brother went here too, and is an electrician for the schools,” said Richter, who said one of his other work colleagues was also at WTA on co-op. “They like us more than most workers that come in.”
Layng said his company also prefers to hire vocational students. He is currently working with another girl from Smith Vocational. Brooks works with a recent graduate from WTA and a junior who just started on co-op. Roit is the first co-op student at Endangered Species Jeep.
All of the students said they love their bosses. “Five other co-op students would say the same things,” said Daley.
In the fall, WTA has 165 entering students out of 228 applicants: the third year in a row with over 200 applicants. He said most of the students who can be on co-ops are, or they are placed in internships. “Across all industries, they need workers,” Daley said.
For more information on the cooperative education program at Westfield Technical Academy, contact Kevin Daley at k.daley.
David J. Ferreira
MAVA Communications Coordinator
DavidFerreira
