On June 21, Insulators Local 19 Milwaukee hosted its first "Senior Signing Day" at their Training Center in Pewaukee, Wis.
Senior Signing Day is a spin on the traditional practice of honoring a high school athlete who accepts an athletic scholarship to a university or college with family, friends and school administrators in attendance.
Ivan Herrada, Local 19 Organizer, helped replicate this tradition and make it Local 19's own by celebrating the high school seniors who have chosen to pursue a lifelong career in the building trades, specifically with the Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers (HFIAW).
Herrada presented the idea of hosting Signing Day to Local 19 Business Manager Brett Large.
Local 19 welcomed three new apprentices at the event—Greenfield High School graduates James Allen and Jesse Witowski and Carmen High School graduate Juan Aviles.
"The event served as a catalyst for students who may have previously been uncertain about their post-graduating plans, encouraging them to consider viable alternatives that align with their interests and talents," Organzier Herrada said. "The signing day also facilitated networking opportunities with industry professionals, employers and Local Union representatives."
Milwaukee Building and Construction Trades Council President Dan Bukiewicz, Wisconsin Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards Representative Richard Badger and Executive Director of the Wisconsin Building Trades Council Emily Pritzkow were three of several trade leaders in attendance at the event.
"For the high school seniors, this signing day had a profound impact on their future," Herrada said. "It provided them with a sense of pride and accomplishment, validating their decision to enter the construction industry."
The event started with Local 19 leaders joining students in tech-ed classes at the school, which evolved into networking and relationship building with youth coordinators. This also allowed Local leaders to introduce registered apprenticeship programs to the students.
Liseo Aleman, Insulators Local 19 Training Coordinator, has noticed positive improvements in their apprenticeship recruitment over the years and believes Signing Day will help.
"In the past couple of years, Local 19 has tripled our number of apprentices," Aleman said. "We feel strongly that is the result of implementing many different recruiting practices and pivoting toward the ones that show positive results."
Youth Apprenticeship Coordinator of Southwest Milwaukee Consortium Tom Herman also attended and helped facilitate the recent graduates toward careers in mechanical insulation.
"Our efforts are paying off, but our team is still brainstorming ideas to have our recruitment remain as successful as possible," Aleman added.
The new apprentices signed with Local 19 signatory contractors at the event, including L&S Insulation, Insulation Industries Inc. and Express Insulation Inc.
"I reached out to industry leaders, government officials and community leaders," Herrada said.
Herrada was also able to attract sponsorships.
Milwaukee Tool sponsored the event and provided hard hats, tools and gear to the new Local 19 apprentices.
Next year, Local 19 plans to recruit students from at least 10 different high schools in the Milwaukee area.