GRAUDUATES — Earning an associated degree and completing their apprenticeships were, from left, M. Christopher Dougherty, Bradley Berkey, Mark Fitzpatrick (top apprentice), Joshua Thelen, Nathan Ferrell and Brandon Stewart; back, Trevor Cooper, Dustin Davis, Richard Brown, Paul Runkel and Sesto Nidle. -- Contributed

STEUBENVILLE –Thanks to a unique partnership between a local union and Eastern Gateway Community College, 11 students finished a five-year apprenticeship program and earned an associate degree at the same time.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 246 and the Steubenville Division of the National Electrical Contractors Association celebrated the apprentices’ graduation with a dinner and ceremony on May 12. This is the 11th group of inside wiremen to complete the training and also receive an associate degree of technical studies in electrical trades technology.

The celebration marks the completion of more than 8,000 hours of on-the-job training, accompanied by 1,000 hours of classroom training through the Steubenville Electrical JATC, and 47 credits through EGCC. The graduating apprentices received certificates of completion from the U.S. Department of Labor and The Electrical Training Alliance.

Christina Wanat, senior vice president and chief student affairs officer, said Eastern Gateway accepts IBEW Local Union 246 apprentices nearly every year. Under EGCC’s program, it is mandatory for apprentices to earn their associate degree. This, in turn, opens up more opportunities for continuing education.

Thanks to the program, participants are offered the opportunity to earn wages and benefits while they acquire the skills needed for the trade, obtain an associate degree, and go through multiple certification processes all at the same time. Students in the five-year program are all union electricians and only a certain number of participants are accepted, said Christy Hardwick, the assistant training director.

Mark Fitzpatrick received the John Habash Award for Outstanding Apprentice. This award is named in honor of longtime apprentice instructor and IBEW leader John Habash of Steubenville. The award is based on excellence in classroom training, leadership and on-the-job performance. Fitzpatrick, along with other apprentices, will attend a summer session in Ann Arbor, Mich., to further their knowledge of the electrical construction industry.

Local 246 includes all of Jefferson, Columbiana and Harrison counties and part of Carroll County in Ohio, and all of Brooke and Hancock counties in West Virginia. Information about apprenticeship and access to skilled electrical craftsman can be obtained by contacting IBEW Local Union 246 in Steubenville.