Released on September 12, 2016
One hundred high school graduates from 66 Saskatchewan communities received Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship (SYA) Industry Scholarships in 2016.The $1,000 scholarship is unique because it can only be redeemed within two years of graduation after a recipient has demonstrated they are actively pursuing a career in the skilled trades—either by apprenticing with an employer and completing Level 1 technical training, or completing a pre-employment program.
The scholarship, launched in 2009-10, is administered and overseen by the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC), but the bulk of the funds are provided by industry partners and the Government of Saskatchewan.
“The skilled trades are an option for long, rewarding careers to build bright futures right here in Saskatchewan,” Economy Minister Jeremy Harrison said. “Skilled trade workers perform tangible, meaningful work, and the SYA Industry Scholarship is one way of encouraging young people to pursue that career path.”
High schools that participate in the SYA Program are asked every year to nominate at least one outstanding graduating student who has completed the SYA Program, and is working to build a career for themselves in the trades. Graduates of programs administered by Campus Regina Public, the Regina and District Industry Education Council, the Regina Trades and Skills Centre, and the Saskatoon Industry Education Council, also receive scholarships.
The SYA Program, an initiative started in 2006-07, encourages high school students to explore opportunities in the skilled trades through research and hands-on learning. To successfully complete the program, students must finish 12 challenges that range from taking a Practical and Applied Arts course to assembling a portfolio of work samples, to interviewing a journeyperson to attending a career fair.
Graduates who complete the program receive big benefits.
When they register as an apprentice with the SATCC, their registration fee and first level of technical training are waived, and they receive 300 trade time hours. They also have a chance at receiving an SYA Industry Scholarship. Currently, there are more than 300 schools registered in the SYA Program and almost 3,300 students participating.
In 2015-16, more than 620 students completed the program.
“The SYA Program is a great way to engage high school students and get them thinking about a possible future in the skilled trades,” SATCC Board Chair Doug Christie said. “The SYA Industry Scholarship rewards outstanding SYA graduates who are dedicated to pursuing careers in the skilled trades. For the past several years, we’ve been able to award about 100 scholarships annually, which reflects the strong support we’ve received from industry partners. This volume wouldn’t be possible without their generous donations.”
Since the SYA Program’s inception, nearly 5,900 students have completed it. Of those who completed, more than 1,000 have registered as apprentices and more than 300 have achieved journeyperson status. The scholarship is sustained largely through the support of industry partners. To date, 45 businesses, labour organizations and industry associations have contributed $670,000 to the scholarship.
The Government of Saskatchewan has also provided funding via the Saskatchewan Innovation and Opportunities Scholarship bringing the total contributions to the SYA Industry Scholarship fund to $1.2 million.
To learn more about the SYA Program, or to contribute to the SYA Industry Scholarship, please visit www.saskapprenticeship.ca or call 1-877-363-0536. You can also like us on Facebook (Sask Apprenticeship), or follow us on Twitter (@SKApprentice).
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For more information, contact:
Chelsea Coupal
Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0187
Email: chelsea.coupal@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-537-4692