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Three ATC/Graves High Grads Sign for Jobs

Three ATC/Graves High Grads Sign for Jobs
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By Paul Schaumburg, Graves County Schools
Jul. 14, 2019 | MAYFIELD
By Paul Schaumburg, Graves County Schools Jul. 14, 2019 | 07:18 PM | MAYFIELD
Three 2019 Graves County High School graduates recently participated in a signing ceremony, entering the workforce in the electrical trade directly after completing three years of course work at the Mayfield-Graves County Area Technology Center.

Alec Clark, Bryson Mullins, and Carter Owen each accepted jobs with firms that are members of the Associated General Contractors of western Kentucky. Joel Crider taught them the first year and Brad Tucker that past two years. Crider now works for the AGC and developed the signing ceremony idea.

Brad Tucker, electrical instructor at the Mayfield-Graves County ATC, said "I graduated high school in 1999 and started teaching there in 2017, when Joel Crider retired. Technical education definitely is something that more kids should look into for a career. There have been some kids who were put into the classes, not really signing up for them and they ended up saying it was their favorite class. That's the kind of thing that could change a career for somebody. I really want to thank the AGC for the signing day event. It's good for the parents, the kids, our school, and the contractors involved."

Alec Clark posed in his signing photo, flanked by his parents, Jacob and Sara Clark, as electricity teacher Brad Tucker and Kevin Rickman of Alec Clark's new employer, Automated Building Concepts, stood behind them.

Tucker said Alec Clark "is definitely a motivated young man. He's got a great work ethic, always wants to be busy, and really likes the accomplishment of getting something done."

Kevin Rickman of Automated Building Concepts said the company installs and maintains controls for heating and air conditioning systems, including many businesses and K-12 school systems.

"Over the past three or four years, we've picked up help from students at the vocational school. We look for electricians who know how to pull cable. So, the electrical background they get really helps. Alec knows a lot about computers and that's a big part of our work. We work with a lot of schools and our summer loads are heavy. That makes a great opportunity to start some of these students out with us. This signing ceremony shows how this vocational training is a good way to come out of trade school to make a good living, support a family, and live in western Kentucky."

Bryson Mullins also posed with his parents seated on either side of him in the photo. They are Dennis and Tonya Mullins. Standing, from left, are ATC teacher Brad Tucker and Nick Sanderson, representing Cape Electric, Bryson Mullins' new employer.

Tucker said of Bryson Mullins: "He's got a good work ethic, the desire to learn more, and he's just a good, respectful, young man." Sanderson added, "Brad Tucker, the teacher there was one of my customers when he worked for a contractor. Now, he's teaching there at the trade school. He said he had a young man looking for a job when he graduated. Bryson has a good level head on his shoulders and is knowledgeable about the electrical field. I think (the signing format) is great for the industry. It promotes the trades, which are in need of a strong workforce coming out of high school. It was a great opportunity and Cape Electric is very proud to be a part of it. We have over 200 employees and 17 locations in four states, working with contractors. Bryson is a very respectful young man, already doing a great job for us and it looks like he'll have a great career."

Carter Owen's photo includes mom Lori Owen to his left and dad Brad Owen to his right. Teacher Brad Tucker stands behind them at left and to the right is Adam Terry, representing Mott Electric, Carter Owen's new employer.

Tucker explained, "Mott Electric has been a good company about talking to the classes. Carter is a really good young man. He's a hard worker and he's got that desire to grow his knowledge in the trade. He'll be successful."

Terry noted, "Brad Tucker, asked us to come talk to some of the guys about not just taking the class, but even pursuing the electrical and construction fields after high school. Carter was in the class then. He filled out an application and expressed interest in learning more about it. There's a push now for the trades to grow the construction field. Being able to learn at school and going right into a trade is a real plus. This has been a good thing and we'll look at every year trying to get a good employee or two who want to continue learning and go into an apprenticeship program."

Joel Crider noted, "All the employers represented are members of the Associated General Contractors of western Kentucky. I noticed when I was organizing this event that I knew that some of the parents and employers, Brad and I were all alumni of the same program. Some other employees present are alumni as well, over a 40-year span."

Those ATC alumni posed for a group photo. Seated, from left, are Bryson Mullins, Carter Owen, and Alec Clark (2019 alumni). Standing alumni include, from left, Brad Tucker (1999), Nick Sanderson (2010), Dennis Mullins (1986), Trevor Terrell (2018), Brent Williams (1998), Kevin Rickman (1987), Jacob Clark (1998), Adam Terry (2000), and Joel Crider (1980)

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