Plumbing students who completed their four-year apprenticeship program at College of Western Idaho (CWI) gathered with friends and family to celebrate their accomplishments this past week at a dinner held in their honor. Cumulatively, the twenty-one graduating apprentices spent 576 total hours of classroom and lab education on their trade.
The evening, sponsored by the Treasure Valley Masters’ Plumbing Association (TVMPA) and participating local plumbing contractors, was hosted at Louie’s Restaurant in Meridian. Kenny Calkins, President of Cloverdale Plumbing and President of TVMPA , was on hand to congratulate the students and shake their hands for the hard work they put into the trade. TVMPA was additionally instrumental in gathering a completely outfitted tool bag donated by Ferguson’s, Silver Creek, Consolidated, and Robertson’s Plumbing Suppliers.
Allen Moore, co-owner of Meridian Plumbing and featured speaker, gave graduates perspective on the plumbing trade and inspiration on their careers going forward. He emphasized the importance of the plumbing profession and encouraged continued networking among the apprentices-soon-to-be-journeymen as they progress in their profession.
On behalf of the College, Plumbing Program Coordinator, Steve Bennett, and Plumbing Teacher, Ray Coon, presented each student with the Ferguson’s Tool bag, a year-four completion letter, and a program completion certificate honoring their hard work and content mastery of the Plumbing Apprenticeship program.
“We are extremely proud of the achievements of these plumbing apprentices and wish them success in their careers as plumbers in the Treasure Valley," commented Marc Swinney, Workforce Development’s Director of Business and Manufacturing programs. “They will go on to take their journeyman’s exam from the Idaho Department of Building Safety to become journeymen plumbers which includes a significant pay increase with their employers.”
