Harford County Electrical Contractors Association Electrical Apprenticeship Program Hosts 41st Annual Graduation
02 June 2022
The Harford County Electrical Apprenticeship (HCECA) Program’s 41st annual graduation took place on Friday, May 20, 2022 at the Amoss Center at Harford Technical High School. The graduation ceremony celebrated 73 graduates.
Rod Bourn, Owner of Down Set Lead, was the master of ceremonies and opening remarks were made by JeanMarie Makres, Executive Director of the program, and Ronald Blaney, Training Director. The event also included remarks from Christopher D. MacLarion, Director, and James Rzepkowski, Assistant Secretary, both of Apprenticeship and Training, Division of Workforce Development & Adult Learning, Maryland Department of Labor, who each commended the graduates for their hard work and accomplishments and spoke of the benefits of apprenticeships and a career in the trades. Dr. Theresa B. Felder, Harford Community College President, also spoke of the commitment required of these students who work full time and attend school twice a week in the evenings, requiring great dedication and sacrifice as well as the support of their families and friends. Former HCECA graduate Travis Anderson, currently a Site Safety Health Officer at Johnson Controls and part-time Adjunct Professor of Electrical Apprenticeship at Prince George's Community College, delivered the keynote address, encouraging the graduates to keep reaching for more in their careers, including continuing lifelong learning, and stressing that there are no limits to what they can achieve.
The apprenticeship school, which is housed at Harford Community College’s Edgewood Hall, typically graduates approximately 60 to 80 students each year. Since 1982, 2,001 apprentices have graduated from this program. They anticipate at least another 100+ new enrollments for the fall of 2022.
The Harford County Electrical Contractors Association was formed as an official group in 1941. In 1978, the organization was restructured and over the next few years it became one of the largest electrical apprenticeship programs in the state of Maryland. The Contractors Association organized their members, worked with local and state agencies, hired educational consultants, and formed a long-term academic partnership with Harford Community College, thus ensuring the stability and growth of the trade. With this partnership all graduates, upon completion of their apprenticeship with HCECA, are eligible to receive 21 college credits toward an A.A.S. degree in Technical/Professional Studies or 19 credit hours toward an A.A. degree in General Studies.
The apprenticeship program includes four years of classroom instruction, in accordance with state and federal regulations. The classes begin in September and run through April each year, which meets the required 144 hours of related classroom instruction per year. Students are thoroughly trained in residential, commercial and industrial wiring, and the National Electrical Code for a total of 576 classroom hours over the four years. In addition, apprentices must acquire 8,000 hours of on-the-job training. Upon completion, each student is issued a State of Maryland Certificate of Completion, identifying the student as a qualified journeyperson electrician.
The seventy-three 2022 HCECA graduates are Bryan M. Albrecht, Bailey R. Armour, Brian M. Billings, Nicholas A. Bosse, Ethan D. Bowlin, Caleb T. Bright, Denzell M. Brown, Brian A. Campbell, II, Justin R. Carr, Christopher E. Cataldo, Randall M.J. Cutlip, Michael T. Dawson, Joseph N. Dietrich III, Donta D. Dotson, Seth Dowell, Jared K. Edmondson, Brendan P. Fannon, Logan P. Flowers, Christopher E. Forbes, Arthur L. Forster, III, Daniel W. Gamble, John S. Gatza, Ryan C. Glassman, Phillip D. Good, Everett B. Goodin, Caleb T. Gordon, Matthew J. Gowers, Mitchell L. Hammond, Benjamin C. Hanke, Jack T. Herbert, Jacob A. Hess, Bradley K. Holbrook, Jr., Caleb P. Holmes, Jarrett L. Hornberger, Colin J. Kerner, Konner M. Kick, Colin W. Knapp, Zachary J. Krider, Scott K. Kuhn, James E. Ledlow, Dalton G. Locklear, Julio J. Martinez, Michael S. McCormack, John P. McGonigle, Colin R. McLean, Ryan J. Morton, Zachery B. Myrick, Cody T. Neiser, Joseph J. Nuetzel, Apostolos J. Ontatzis, Thomas D. Pacitti, Bryan K. Palacky, Christopher B. Parks, Griffin W. Pfarr, Nickolas J. Pursell, Kyle P. Raymond, Christopher W. Robinson, Cory A. Robson, Sean M. Rodriguez, Tyler S.J. Scheffsky, Ralph E. Schwarz, Jared M. Shepard, Mark A. Shifflett, John T. Simms, Briar S. Simon, Joseph G. Singer, Brandon J. Speights, Gregory S. Stevenson, Jr., Robert C. Valentine, Ezekiel J. Wills, Brian B. Wilson, Cody J. Witt, and Daniel C. Zentz.
The six graduates with the highest GPA were recognized for their academic achievement (from 1st through 6th place): John S. Gatza (99.725), Michael T. Dawson (98.762), Mark A. Shifflett (98.443), Randall M.J. Cutlip (97.836), Caleb T. Bright (97.315), and Michael S. McCormack (96.934). Also recognized for perfect attendance all four years were Caleb T. Bright, Jared K. Edmondson, John S. Gatza, and Everett B. Goodin. A new Outstanding Student Award, sponsored by the Electrical Contractors Association of Baltimore County, was also presented in honor of the memory of the apprenticeship program’s late instructor Lee Jolley. An award of $100 was given to one outstanding student in each of the 17 apprenticeship classes (1st through 4th years). The 4th year recipients were Ryan J. Morton, John S. Gatza, Bryan K. Palacky, and Everett B. Goodin.
Learn More
For more information on the Harford County Electrical Contractors Apprenticeship Program, please visit hcecamd.org, email hceca@harford.edu or call 443.412.2800.