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SJRCC Press Release
June 2009
Apprenticeship graduates give back to SJRCC
Eighteen students from St. Johns River Community College’s apprenticeship program recently participated in a graduation ceremony held by the Northeast Florida Builders Association. NEFBA Vice President of Training Keith Ward awarded certificates for completion of apprenticeship training in the electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, and carpentry fields. All graduates are now considered journeymen in their respective trades.
Three SJRCC students were recognized for outstanding achievement during the ceremony: Tommy “Joel” Ljungberg was honored for “Outstanding Electrical Apprentice,” and both Christopher “Paul” Niflis and Julie Elliott received awards for “Outstanding Carpentry Apprentice.”
Other SJRCC students who participated in the NEFBA graduation ceremony were: Gergely Acs, Curtis Arias, Phillip Bellaire, Daniel Benjumea, Benson Brown IV, Eric Egerman, Christopher Feller, Timothy Ferenchik, Daniel Frank, David Grant, Adam Harrell, Michael Howard, Gary Jacobus, John Sabiston and Ryan Stone.
The guest speaker for the ceremony, retired Florida Air National Guard Lieutenant Colonel Buck Burney, encouraged the graduates to give back to their communities – which is just what some of them did. Thomas May Construction Company carpenters Billy Ridgeway, Niflis and apprentice Jody Sewell, all graduates of or apprentices in the NEFBA apprenticeship program, gave back to the College as they refurbished the wooden boardwalk and bridge on SJRCC’s St. Augustine campus. Ridgeway also participated in constructing the gazebo on SJRCC’s Orange Park campus in 2004.
“It is always good when you can work on projects with your partners,” said Thomas May Construction and NEFBA training vice president Keith Ward. “The College has been a great training partner for the apprenticeship programs through the years, and we’re happy to be doing this project for them,” he said.
SJRCC offers several apprenticeship programs in the construction and building trades. Apprenticeship education combines paid full-time work experience in the construction industry with classroom-related instruction in the evenings. The program length varies from three to four years. For more information regarding apprenticeship programs offered by SJRCC, call (386) 312-4183 or visit online at www.sjrcc.edu/workforce/apprenticeship.html.
PHOTO CAPTIONS:
PHOTO ONE: Thomas May Construction carpenters refurbish the boardwalk at St. John River Community College’s St. Augustine campus. Pictured from left are carpenters Christopher “Paul” Niflis and Billy Ridgeway, Thomas May superintendent Jerry Burt and vice president Keith Ward, and apprentice Jody Sewell. Ridgeway and Niflis are graduates of SJRCC’s carpentry apprenticeship program; Sewell is currently enrolled in the program.
PHOTO TWO: Tommy “Joel” Ljungberg was honored as the “Outstanding Electrical Apprentice.”
PHOTO THREE: Julie Elliott received an award for “Outstanding Carpentry Apprentice.” Elliott is pictured with her husband Mike, (right) and Carpentry Committee Chairman Boyd Worsham (left).
PHOTO FOUR: Christopher “Paul” Niflis receives the “Outstanding Carpentry Apprentice” award from NEFBA training vice president Keith Ward. Both are employed by Thomas May Construction.
Return to SJRCC home page.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Susan Kessler
SJRCC Director of Public Relations and Publications
5001 St. Johns Avenue
Palatka, FL 32177
(386) 312-4020
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