PHOTOS — Memorial students ready for career, work following Port Arthur CTE program
Published 3:49 pm Tuesday, May 21, 2024
Memorial High School senior Emanual Ruiz shows of his new work cooler and boots. (Mary Meaux/The News)
Jesse Kyle with Bechtel speaks to students about a future career. (Mary Meaux/The News)
Lazell Alpough looks through the newly acquired items. (Mary Meaux/The News)
DMarion Mitchell, left, Jaylon Reed, Lazell Alpough and Jose Valle look at the work-related items donated to them. (Mary Meaux/The News)
Parents and children line up for a photo. (Mary Meaux/The News)
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Grateful and excited are two words Emanuel Ruiz used when describing the job opportunity Bechtel gave to him and six other Memorial High School Career and Technology Education students.
DMarion Mitchell recalled how Bechtel’s donation of virtual reality welding equipment helped him hone his craft.
Dwayne Alpough, father of CTE student Lazell Alpough, said he is proud of his son and proud Bechtel came in to help the community and its high school students start off their future.
Bechtel representatives, proud parents, grandparents and smiling staff members gathered Tuesday in the common area of the CTE building, where Bechtel representatives made the presentation.
Besides offering the students employment as apprentice welders and pipefitters, the company presented them with lunch coolers, while Boot Barn stepped in and gave them safety boots.
Kane McIntosh, Bechtel’s project manager for Port Arthur LNG, said they are excited to offer jobs to the next generation of students who gained the craft skills needed to complete their curriculum and start their path on becoming skilled craft professionals.
Bechtel and Boot Barn made the same presentation for welding and pipefitting students at Nederland High School earlier Tuesday.
“PAISD remains proud of our phenomenal working relationship with Bechtel. This corporation takes a personal interest in our students beyond the classroom to mentor them as they navigate next steps from welding courses to starting their professional careers,” said Adrienne Lott, Port Arthur Independent School District’s Director of Communications.
“This is the exact guidance our students need. Today’s networking may very well lead to job offers or work opportunities in our graduates’ futures. What better way to partner in modeling one of our CTE slogans, ‘From Class to Career!’ Thank you, Bechtel, for going the extra mile for our students.”
Dr. Byron Prince, workforce development manager with Bechtel, called it a great opportunity to watch local youth grow up and go on to the next steps in their careers.
Prince explained he is the person who will monitor and track their progress.
He added special words for the students, saying before they start their journeys to make sure they thank themselves for their accomplishments they’ve done and to thank their parents for getting them to the right spot and get ready.
Dr. Lovette Martin-Davis, CTE Director, said the desire of the teachers is for the students to leave with a certification and be able to go out into the workforce with the skills to be successful.
READ MORE — Nederland students earn jobs at Bechtel before graduation
