PRINEVILLE — Apprenticeships are growing in popularity as a path to enter a highly skilled industry while earning a good living and avoiding costly student loan debt. Rosendin, the electrical contracting industry’s largest employee-owned firm with two offices in Oregon, is proud to recognize five apprentices who graduated from the Central Electrical Training Center.

These apprentices were accepted into the highly competitive training program less than five years ago, taking night classes while completing more than 8,000 hours of on-the-job training at Rosendin construction sites and regional offices. Today, all five are certified journeymen wiremen with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 280.

The graduates are:

Max Benton

• — Benton’s apprenticeship with Rosendin began at Facebook PRN3, the Prineville campus’ third data center, working with construction, prefabrication and sustaining crews. He is currently constructing a pre-engineering metal building and living in Bend.

Kevin DeWitt

• — DeWitt worked for Rosendin throughout his entire apprenticeship, helping to build and sustain Facebook PRN3. As a resident of Prineville, DeWitt is a valued member in all facets of being an inside wireman.

Patrick Kehoe

• — Kehoe began working as a material handler for the IBEW, where his hard work, determination, and positive attitude helped him excel in the apprenticeship program. “I became an apprentice because I wanted to insure a stable and prosperous future for myself and my family,” he said.

Nevadahs St. Clair

• — St. Clair’s apprenticeship with Rosendin began at the Dry Creek project in Prineville, and later at Facebook’s Data Centers and Oregon State University Cascades. St. Clair said, “Rosendin has given me many training opportunities and insight towards a future with the company and I feel truly blessed by the opportunity to be a IBEW journeyman wireman.”

Trevor Walton

• — After graduating high school, Walton attended college and worked in real estate before launching his career as an electrician. He is proud to have completed his apprenticeship and excelled on his journeyman test.

Apprentices pay about $5,000 for the training program, with additional funding coming from IBEW, NECA (National Electrical Contractors Association), and corporate partnerships.