On Tuesday, Feb. 17, Big Lake High School held its 10th annual Youth Apprenticeship signing day. This long-standing celebration honors the current student apprentices who chose to pursue real-world experiences while still in high school, while also recognizing the family and community partnerships that make it all possible.

This year, there are seven local community partners who are working with our students. These pairings include:

• Accurate Professional Plumbing: Alex John
• T & T Auto Repair: Trevor Couch
• Wright Auto Repair: Jared Huhta
• Precera Medical: Blake Fleigle, Willem Hillukka
• BeeHive Homes: Kati Martinez, Bella Torrence
• MetalCraft: Chandler Gerth, Kaeden Hartfield
• GATR Truck Center: Shad Blomquist

The Youth Apprenticeship program pairs students with an employer in their chosen industry. Working under the supervision of a highly skilled mentor, youth apprentices earn academic credit, earn competitive wages, and gain industry-relevant skills that prepare them for life beyond high school. All training is based on statewide youth apprenticeship curriculum guidelines, endorsed by business and industry.

Youth Apprenticeship represents the capstone of our 3E model of career readiness, designed to empower students to enter a career by choice rather than fall into a career by chance.

2026 commemorates the 10th year of the program, which marks a decade of sustained partnerships, expanding pathways, and students choosing their futures with purpose.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to all of our community partners who work with our students, the parents who stand beside them every step of the way, and all other supporters of the Youth Apprenticeship program. Without these strong partnerships, none of this would be possible!