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Dublin City Schools panel spotlights apprenticeships and college‑credit pathways to skilled trades
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Summary
Panelists from unions, Columbus State Community College and a military transition program told Dublin City Schools students and families that registered apprenticeships and pre‑apprenticeship college programs can provide paid training, college credit and long‑term financial stability amid a regional shortage of skilled trades workers.
Kevin Patton, pathways counselor for Dublin City Schools, opened a community panel framing apprenticeships and trade programs as practical alternatives or complements to four‑year college for students exploring post‑high‑school options. "We're really to learn a lot about apprenticeships," Patton said, inviting students to hear from union trainers, college faculty and recent program graduates.
Mark Hunter, director of training for the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 189 apprenticeship program, described the registered apprenticeship roadmap and the competitive application process. He said the program is registered with the Ohio State Apprenticeship Council, uses a twice‑yearly entrance exam, advances the top candidates to interviews and awards college credit through an articulation agreement with Columbus State Community College. "Think of it as an entrance exam just like college," Hunter said, stressing that applicants need to be prepared and persistent.
Hunter and other panelists emphasized that apprenticeships deliver wages and benefits while students learn on the job. Hunter gave an example of journeyman compensation and fringe benefits to show how earnings plus benefits can improve long‑term finances compared with student debt. "You don't need to be a coder," he said in explaining employer demand for tradespeople.
Scott Laszlo, professor and coordinator at Columbus State Community College, outlined the college's pre‑apprenticeship pathways that introduce students to tools, terminology and manual‑dexterity testing used by trade sponsors. Laszlo said those classes do not guarantee an apprenticeship spot but help students become strong candidates for competitive programs. He highlighted partnerships with electrical, plumbing, sheet‑metal and operating engineers apprenticeship sponsors and urged experiential learning and early college credit via CCP to reduce college costs.
Panelists also focused on alternate entry routes. Riley Morris, a fifth‑year apprentice who trained in the military’s VIP (SkillBridge) program, described transitioning from the Marines into hands‑on welding work and said the program provided guaranteed placement into the apprenticeship path after service. Nolan Laszlo described completing significant college credits while still in high school and entering fabrication work before pursuing union opportunities.
The panel addressed practical details students asked about — application timing, testing volumes and employer expectations — and offered resources such as OhioMeansJobs and the Bureau of Labor Statistics for researching occupations and local registered partnerships. Panelists announced outreach events for families: an electrical trade center open house on April 22 (Local 683) and the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 189 open house on May 20. Scott Laszlo offered campus tours and contact information for parents and students.
The session closed with Patton thanking the panelists and encouraging attendees to follow up with questions or to explore campus experiences and apprenticeships further.
