West Virginia

Interest in apprenticeship programs on the rise statewide – WV MetroNews

Published

1 year ago

December 25, 2023

Interest in apprenticeship programs on the rise statewide – WV MetroNews

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Apprenticeship programs are growing in West Virginia.

West Virginia Affiliated Construction Trades (ACT) Director Justin Williams said their members move the dirt, build the bridges, mine the coal, repair the trucks, energize circuits, and build the hospitals that care for our families and they are training future workers.

The organization manages apprenticeship programs that have starting wages of $20 to $23 per hour, with some opportunities at the journeyman level to make $40 per hour plus benefits and retirement.

“There are 2,500 apprentices in West Virginia, and we represent about 24,000 construction workers,” Williams said recently on MetroNews “Talkline.” “It’s not a huge number but it’s people that get up and go to work every day, and they make a big impact on their communities and state.”

Williams said West Virginia is quickly becoming “ground zero” for a wide range of employment opportunities, from electric school bus manufacturing to aviation, aerospace, and, of course, the trades that build and maintain the facilities.

The training programs are available to residents, or residents of neighboring counties in other states, who are 18 years old, have a high school diploma or equivalent, have a driver’s license, and can pass a drug test.

“With the investments we’re seeing in these factories, these are 20, 30, 40-year-old or more careers that people coming out of high school now can have,” Williams said. “They’ll have a living wage, benefits, and a pension.”

Apprenticeship is the vehicle to train the next generation with a combination of classroom learning and on-the-job training with seasoned professionals. The system allows employers to prepare and develop their future workforce.

“You are learning from those professionals who have been doing this for 10, 20, 30, even 40 years, and you’re getting paid to do it,” Williams said. “So, instead of having to take out debt, you get the classes for free, and you get paid to learn the trade or skill.”

ACT works with programs that touch on all aspects of building construction, operation, and maintenance. Much of the demand is fueled by federal investment through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

“We’re seeing demand, and our apprenticeship programs are looking at ways that they’re prepared to have that workforce in place to not just build it but maintain those facilities for years to come,” Williams said.

Williams said people don’t have to go to college in the current market to get a job that will support a family. Many electricians, plumbers, pipe fitters, iron workers, truck drivers, and sheet metal workers are being trained and moving up the skill and compensation ladder right now.

“I think we’re coming back together as a community to make sure our friends and neighbors have good jobs, and that doesn’t always mean going to college,” Williams said. “We need the spectrum—the doctors and lawyers—but we also need the construction worker and the manufacturer.”

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West Virginia

No. 21 West Virginia vs. Colorado Computer Predictions

Published

6 hours ago

January 12, 2025

Press Room

No. 21 West Virginia vs. Colorado Computer Predictions

No. 21 West Virginia and Colorado face off in Boulder on Sunday at 3:0 p.m. EST. The Mountaineers are 2-1 in Big 12 play, while the Buffaloes are 0-3 in league play.

Computer models such as BartTorvik, BPI, and KenPom predict the matchup between both teams.

BPI — ESPN BPI gives West Virginia a 59.3 percent chance to win on Sunday. The Mountaineers are expected to win by 2.4 points. The Mountaineers are No. 44 in the BPI rankings while Colorado is No. 86.

BartTorvik — BartTorvik gives the Mountaineers a 65 percent chance to win the game. The projected final score is 67-63 in favor of West Virginia. WVU is No. 25 in the T-Rankings, and Colorado is No. 84.

KenPom — KenPom gives West Virginia a slight edge at a 51 percent chance to win the game. The projected final score is 67-66 in favor of the Mountaineers. WVU is ranked No. 47 by KenPom, while Colorado is ranked No. 81.

Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m. on Sunday and the game will be televised on ESPN+.

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West Virginia

West Virginia receives commitment from Wyoming defensive end Siders

Published

16 hours ago

January 12, 2025

Press Room

West Virginia receives commitment from Wyoming defensive end Siders

West Virginia has added another commitment from Wyoming defensive end transfer Braden Siders.

Siders, 6-foot-3, 252-pounds, spent four years with the Cowboys although he redshirted in his first with the football program. Over the past three seasons Siders appeared in 33 games and started a total of 26 of those.

The Colorado native is coming off a season where he recorded 21 tackles, 5 tackles for loss and 3 sacks but appeared in only a total of eight games. In 2022, Siders had 44 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 7 sacks.

Over the course of his three years on the field, Siders has 91 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss and 14 sacks.

Siders entered the transfer portal Dec. 6 and reported offers from UAB, Louisiana-Monroe, Tulsa, James Madison and Bowling Green.

Siders becomes the first defensive lineman to commit to West Virginia from the transfer portal and has one year of eligibility remaining in his career.

WVSports.com will have more with Siders in the near future.

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West Virginia

West Virginia Mountaineers: Commitment 101: Daveon Walker

Published

24 hours ago

January 11, 2025

Press Room

West Virginia Mountaineers: Commitment 101: Daveon Walker

West Virginia continues to add pieces to the roster and the latest was from the junior college ranks with a commitment from Butler C.C. Daveon Walker.

Walker, 6-foot-2, 200-pounds, grabbed an offer from the Mountaineers Jan. 4 and then took an official visit to Morgantown where he saw enough to commit to the program a few days later.

The talented wide receiver held offers from North Carolina, Samford and a number of others.

This past season at Butler he recorded a total of 19 catches for 331 yards.

Prior to that Walker was at Vanderbilt where he spent two seasons and played in just one game before transferring to Butler. The Georgia native played at Warer Robins High school where he caught 60 passes for 1,154 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Walker is the latest addition to the wide receiver room this off season joining four transfers in Jacksonville State transfer Cam Vaughn, Eastern Michgan transfer Oran Singleton, Youngstown State wide receiver Cyrus Traugh and Jacksonville State wide receiver Jarod Bowie.

WVSports.com breaks down the commitment of Walker and what it means to the West Virginia Mountaineers football program both now and in the future.

Skill set:

Walker is a wide receiver with good size that understands body positioning as well as how to go up and get the football when it’s in the air. He has the right combination of size to win in contested catch situations and the ability to win down the field.

Displays good body control to adjust to the football and is used primarily as an outside wide receiver during his lone season at Butler and there is likely where he ends up in Morgantown. Given his size, Walker also is a tough tackle once he catches the football and shows the ability to make people miss.

The Mountaineers have added a nice mixture of different skill sets for the wide receiver room so far this off-season and Walker has the versatility to fit several roles.

Fitting the program:

West Virginia offered Walker and was able to close the deal in a rather quick fashion. The Mountaineers will have 12 other scholarship wide receivers on the roster outside of Walker and he will have the chance to carve out a role given his experience throughout his career.

The Mountaineers needed to increase the talent level there and Walker certainly does that.

Walker has been to campus and should be able to adjust given his comfort level with the school as well as how the coaching staff prioritized him in his recruitment. He should have at least two years remaining as well which gives him time to make an impact.

Recruiting the position:

West Virginia is still in pursuit of wide receivers to add to the roster with Anderson (S.C.) Westside 2025 athlete Armoni Weaver and Fort Myers (Fla.) 2025 athlete Madrid Tucker being two high school prospecrs that the new coaching staff has extended offers to. Both plan to visit.

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