Central Alberta Collegiate Institute celebrates 31 high school students completing dual credit post-secondary course

Olds College of Agriculture & Technology’s Werklund School of Agriculture was filled with proud families and smiling graduates on Friday, June 13. The graduates are high school students who have completed post-secondary level training, receiving both college and high school credits.  The pre-employment programs in welding and heavy equipment technician (HET) were offered through the Central Alberta Collegiate Institute (CACI). 

Of the 31 high school students who completed the programs this year, 30 are currently eligible to write the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Exam. Students who pass the exam with 70 per cent or higher will be credited with a year of post-secondary training. Provincially, welding is a three year program and heavy equipment technician is a four year program. 

This is the fourth cohort of high school students to complete pre-employment training at Olds College.

“Having a year of post-secondary training complete before students graduate from high school gives them an advantage,” says Brianne Fletcher, Career Connections Coordinator, Chinook’s Edge School Division. “Not only are they well ahead of the industry average for entry age, but they are more confident in their training, and the training gives them a higher success level in their academic studies too.” 

Of the 31 students completing pre-employment programs at Olds College, 20 students are from Chinook’s Edge, four are from Wolf Creek Public Schools, five are from Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools, and two are from Red Deer Public Schools.

“I felt a bit nervous about entering the program,” says Wyatt Ayers, an HET student from Hugh Sutherland School in Carstairs, “but once I got to know everyone and started learning about all the different units I felt fine.” 

Kayly Watt, an HET student from Cremona School says she is thankful for her instructor. She says her aha moment was “when I realized that physics and math is actually useful after high school.” 

Kingston Waddel, an HET student from Notre Dame High School in Red Deer, says “I liked figuring out the electrical calculations and how the countless air brake valves work.” Waddel now plans to find a position and begin working on his hours for his apprenticeship.

Kale Horjus, a welding student from Iron Ridge Secondary Campus, says “I really enjoyed when instructors would share their stories from industry. I am thankful for all my instructors and my school division.” Horjus plans to complete the AIT exam, and then start working towards his apprenticeship hours. He has a long term goal to eventually own his own heavy duty equipment and welding shop.

Raiden Redekop, a welding student who also attends Lindsay Thurber High School in Red Deer, says “To be able to walk the stage of a post secondary before my high school diploma is finished is an amazing opportunity.”

CACI is a successful collaboration of four partnering school divisions (Red Deer Public Schools, Red Deer Catholic Regional School Division, Wolf Creek Public Schools and Chinook’s Edge School Division), two post-secondary institutions (Olds College of Agriculture & Technology and Red Deer Polytechnic) and CAREERS , a not-for-profit organization that collaborates with schools to connect youth with employers, providing valuable paid internship opportunities.

CACI partners collaborate to develop multiple career readiness pathways for students, providing opportunities for exploration, skill development and career coaching to help students transition directly into skilled trades careers.