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Employers and unions detail pay, credit and hiring pathways during Westinghouse CTE showcase
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Summary
UPMC, the Carpenters Union and local employers described paid co-ops, apprenticeship pipelines and college-credit partnerships at Pittsburgh Westinghouse Academy, with students reporting certifications and tentative job offers.
Students and employer and union partners at Pittsburgh Westinghouse Academy described how CTE partnerships translate into paid work, college credit and apprenticeship access.
Mr. Cofield of UPMC said the hospital system's partnership places seniors in a patient-and-family-concierge role that provides exposure to clinical teams while paying students about $19 an hour. "So they're making 19 an hour to come, directly and work with us temporarily," he said, and added UPMC offers tuition-reimbursement pathways for continuing education.
The district's carpentry pre-apprenticeship, run with the Carpenters Union, produced student Joshua Gaynor, who said he is in final steps to join a union apprenticeship after graduation. A union partner, Mr. Bender, described the pipeline and estimated a "total package" starting wage between $35 and $41 an hour depending on craft.
Culinary student Caleb said he has manager and ServSafe certifications and has been accepted to two culinary programs, including the Culinary Institute of America with a $40,000 offer. Steve Davis of Bible Center Church said Everyday Cafe hired a culinary student to train front-of-house skills, linking classroom experience to on-the-job customer-service roles.
Students also described industry-recognized credentials: an emergency-response student earned National Registry EMT certification and health-care students reported OSHA certifications and co-op placements at UPMC Shadyside.
District leaders said state grants and equipment funds covered tools, registration fees and boots for pre-apprenticeship students and that institutional partnerships allow students to leave high school with job-ready credentials and reduced college debt.
No formal hiring commitments beyond the employer statements were recorded as binding in this event; partners described tentative offers, co-op placements and program pathways rather than completed employment contracts.
