Marc Tremblay (left) and Nick Yu
Nick Yu took to the stage and accepted his Student of the Year award. He told the audience he plans to pursue the Red Seal Program as part of his career path.
Yu was one of 18 students who graduated from the Pre-apprenticeship Training for Auto Body Collision and Damage Repair program run by AYCE Employment Services, a division of Tropicana Community Services.
Family members, collision industry members and even some former students gathered at the Tropicana Community Services building in Scarborough, Ont. on August 28 to watch the class of 2015 graduate from the program.
Marc Tremblay, program coordinator, was proud to announce all 18 students who enrolled had graduated that evening.
It was also fitting that 85 people came to watch them graduate — the highest number ever and more than double the attendance of the first graduation event held three years ago.
“Where we started and where we are today, it really humbles me,” said Tremblay to the class of 2015.
Christopher Yee
Christopher Yee and Danny Martinez Morales were also award recipients for Most Improved Student and Student Leadership, respectively.
A Mentorship award went to the Brimell Group, who has been involved with AYCE for the past six years.
“Stay on course. Hard work pays off. Once you have the required skills, you can take them anywhere,” said Kelly Avery from the Brimell Group, to the students.
After students graduate from the 19 week long program, they are guaranteed a paid placement at a shop with a licensed technician who will oversee their apprenticeship, said Tremblay.
He said the program keeps in touch with many of the former students, who often go on to complete their second and third levels of apprenticeship.
“Anyone who’s ever done this program has never looked back and said, ‘I wish I never did it,’” said Tremblay.
Now that this class has graduated, it’s on to planning for 2016.
“We’re always looking at new ways of improving the program,” said Tremblay. “Two things we’re working on is really going to put this program to a whole new level.”
