This morning at Ben Davis High School, 26 Central Indiana high school sophomores signed the Modern Apprenticeship certificate of acceptance to work as apprentices for 16 local employer partners*, piloting the first-ever cohort of EmployIndy’s Central Indiana youth apprenticeship program, Modern Apprenticeship. Of the 100+ students that expressed interest, these 26 apprentices were chosen among their peers to participate in Modern Apprenticeship, a two- to three-year paid experience launched in coordination with Ascend Indiana in Fall 2020. EmployIndy, Marion County’s workforce development board, and Ascend Indiana, the talent and workforce development initiative of Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), actively support the apprentices, employers, and general programmatic outcomes for Modern Apprenticeship.

For the apprentices, the journey will officially kick off this summer as they attend a bootcamp to develop their employability skills and start their jobs at their new employers. Beginning their junior year of high school, apprentices will split their time between the classroom and the workplace. By the end of the experience, they will have obtained not only a high school diploma and invaluable social capital, they will also earn industry-recognized credentials and transferable college credits.

“The Modern Apprenticeship opportunity is an excellent example of K-12, higher education, and industry partners strategically working together to help Hoosier students maximize their success,” said Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education. “Student-centered, future-focused partnerships like this are essential to helping students access quality work-based learning and earn postsecondary credentials while they’re still in high school.”

Today, at the inaugural Modern Apprenticeship Signing Day, both apprentices and employers signed a formal certificate of acceptance, signifying the beginning of their journey together. As part of this commitment, the employer will mentor and support the student as they navigate an in-demand role within the organization. Through their participation in Modern Apprenticeship, these employers demonstrate their commitment to being co-producers of talent alongside education partners.

“We’re excited to witness this program’s progress and evolution during its pilot year,” said Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett. “The City of Indianapolis is proud to be part of the first cohort of employers to hire an apprentice who, beginning this summer, will work part-time as a member of our staff.”

As employer demand for highly-skilled talent continues to grow, it is necessary to establish a system of career-connected learning that will create equitable opportunities for all Indianapolis students. EmployIndy and Ascend have partnered with regional and national career readiness initiatives to pilot a program that provides students with quality, integrated work experiences combined with classroom learning that will prepare young people for a successful transition to college and jobs of the future.

“As the economy continues to evolve due to automation and globalization, it is increasingly critical to ensure all students in Indianapolis have access to education and training that align with changing employer demand.” said Jason Kloth, president and CEO, Ascend Indiana. “Modern Apprenticeship is a responsive model that can be expanded to create work-based learning opportunities for youth across the state.”

Ascend Indiana and EmployIndy are continuing to partner closely to grow the program, increasing engaged schools, apprentices, and employer partners as they strategize for the 2022 cohort.

“EmployIndy is excited to celebrate our inaugural class of apprentices today,” said Marie Mackintosh, chief strategy officer, EmployIndy. “Our employer partners are thrilled to welcome the students into the workplace where they will add value while building skills on the job. As our economy continues to recover and demand for talent increases, we look forward to scaling the Modern Apprenticeship program in Central Indiana and creating more real-world experiences that benefit students, employers, and our community.”

Congratulations to the first cohort of Modern Apprenticeship students:

Akinwale Adesakin, George Washington High School – Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) Daniel Camacho, Ben Davis High School – Katz Sapper & Miller (KSM) Jordyn Collins, Pike High School – OneAmerica Ja’Kyra Cox, George Washington High School – Ivy Tech Community College Ramiro Delgado, Arsenal Technical High School – Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) Salematou Diaby, Pike High School – EmployIndy Aanaiah Evans, North Central High School – Roche Diagnostics Ruby Galvan, Ben Davis High School – City of Indianapolis Melanie Garcia, North Central High School – EmployIndy Isaiah Gebrekidan, Victory College Prep – Ivy Tech Community College Anthony Golden, North Central High School – TechPoint Nicholas Graves, Ben Davis High School – Indy Chamber Nyema Hillman, North Central High School – Ascension/St. Vincent Kinaya Hines, North Central High School – Roche Diagnostics Clarissa Hunt, Pike High School – Pepper Construction Sydney Johnson, North Central High School – Ascension/St. Vincent Virginia Martinez, North Central High School – Ascension/St. Vincent Evelyn Ogundare, Ben Davis High School – Roche Diagnostics Abigail Ortiz Amado, Ben Davis High School – AES Indiana Zion Peterson, North Central High School – OneAmerica Sophia Pimental, Pike High School – Ascension/St. Vincent Ariana Rodriguez Shinault, George Washington High School – Ascend Indiana Fatoumata Sylla, Pike High School – Skillful Indiana Jada Taylor, George Washington High School – Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) Will Valentine, North Central High School – Ascend Indiana Morgan Wilson, North Central High School – Indianapolis Airport Authority

*Participating Employers: AES Indiana, Ascend Indiana, Ascension St. Vincent, City of Indianapolis, EmployIndy, Katz Sapper & Miller, Indianapolis Airport Authority, Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS), Indy Chamber, Ivy Tech Community College, OneAmerica, Pepper Construction, Roche Diagnostics, Skillful Indiana, TechPoint, and The Heritage Group

Participating Indianapolis-area Township School Districts and Charter Schools: Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS), Phalen Leadership Academy, Pike High School, Victory College Prep, Washington Township, and Wayne Township

To learn more about Modern Apprenticeship (MAP), visit www.indymodernapprenticeship.c….