At a glance
“We run this as an annual event cooperatively with the Career Development Center to offer opportunities for students to learn about career pathways,” said Electrical Trades Department Chair Jeff Stevens. “It shows our students the choices they have as graduates of Alfred State.”
Electrical workers from across the Southern Tier and beyond converged on the Wellsville campus recently to meet some of their future coworkers. By giving students the opportunity to meet members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), these young people are gaining an in-depth view of what it’s like on the job and may be making connections for finding an employer.
“We run this as an annual event cooperatively with the Career Development Center to offer opportunities for students to learn about career pathways,” said Electrical Trades Department Chair Jeff Stevens. “It shows our students the choices they have as graduates of Alfred State.”
Electrical workers came from several different local IBEW chapters, including: Local 106 Jamestown, Local 139 Elmira, Local 86 Rochester, Local 840 Geneva, and Local 241 Ithaca. Some of the visiting electrical workers are always looking for more talented electricians to add to their teams and they have the opportunity to find out more about each student.
“For about 45 minutes, the electrical workers met as a group and then individually met with interested students,” stated Stevens. “This is a tremendous opportunity that our Electrical Trades Department and the School of Applied Technology offers to our students. Students leave empowered, knowledgeable about the choices they have, and a future within the Skilled Trades.”
The IBEW members find this gathering so beneficial that they have come to meet Alfred State students each year. Plans are already underway for a meeting between another group of electrical professionals and students this spring.
