Front row: Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Tim McNabb, IBEW 103 Business Agent Rich Antonellis, and Brayan Andrade.Middle row: Superintendent Mary Skipper and Tom Bent, Bent Electrical.Back row: SHS Headmaster Sebastian LaGambina, Guy Ando – SHS Electrical Instructor, SHS Associate Headmaster and CTE Director Leo DeSimone, Joe Marino – SHS Electrical instructor

Tim McNabb, Brayan Andrade enter apprentice program at Bent Electric

Class of 2018 Somerville High School (SHS) graduates Tim McNabb and Brayan Andrade entered a five-year apprentice program after each student earned an I.B.E.W. Local 103 scholarship for the pre-Apprentice Partnership Program at Bent Electrical Contractors, Inc. The apprenticeship program allows participating students to become members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.  I.B.E.W. Local 103 represents all of eastern Massachusetts.

Tim is a CTE National Technical Honor Society Member who excelled in classroom projects throughout his years in the Electrical Technologies program at SHS. He took the lead on projects at every opportunity as he worked to steadily advance toward his goal of joining the I.B.E.W.  Described by his instructors as “a conscientious student who is always diligent, on time, and focused,” Tim also demonstrated an eagerness to grow as an electrician, continuously working to take the next step toward his desired career.

Brayan joins the I.B.E.W. apprenticeship program with a significant amount of field experience after participating in the CTE co-op program, which allowed him to work in the field for a good portion of his senior year. During his time in the Electrical Technologies program at SHS, Brayan demonstrated an exceptional commitment to teamwork. He often took a leadership role in helping students from similar English learner backgrounds move forward in the program. He worked a summer at Harvard’s Refugee Youth Summer Enrichment program, helping teach English to recent immigrants.

Brayan was also involved with the Enroot program for the past two years. His senior year Enroot experience included weekly meetings with a tutor, participation in weekly leadership seminars, an internship placement at the Somerville Media Center, and occasional meetings with a mentor. His strong public speaking skills, thoughtful approach to his work, his love for his family, and his determination and focus in the face of challenges, stand out as some of the key characteristics he brought to the Enroot program. Brayan’s focus was evident in his final Enroot career presentation, in which he highlighted his goal of becoming an electrician.

“Throughout their time in the Somerville High School Electrical program, Tim and Brayan have both demonstrated a strong work ethic and a desire to continue growing in their field, both qualities that will help them be successful in their work and in life,” stated Leo DeSimone, Associate Headmaster and Director of the CTE program at Somerville High School. “I can’t say enough about what this partnership with Bent Electrical and I.B.E.W. Local 103 means to our students and to the Somerville community. We are incredibly thankful for their continued support.”

“Congratulations to Tim and Brayan for earning this outstanding opportunity. Their hard work in high school is opening doors to an exciting and bright future,” commented Superintendent of Schools Mary Skipper. “We are so fortunate to have partners like I.B.E.W. Local 103 and Bent Electrical, who are committed to helping our students pursue their dreams and in turn become leaders and contributing members of our community. We are very grateful for your support.”

“The dedication and determination these two young students is impressive and admirable, and it sets an inspiring example to us all. I congratulate and commend Tim and Brayan, and I’m so proud of both them and the community that stood behind them on their path to this next phase of their lives. So I also thank and congratulate their families, their excellent teachers, their inspiring mentors, and our visionary community partners IBEW Local 103 and Bent Electric, who all understand the value of offering our youth the opportunities they need to succeed,” said Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone.

Students in Somerville High School’s CTE Electrical program participate in hands-on training through a comprehensive curriculum that incorporates a wide range of opportunities for students entering the multi-faceted electrical industry. Student hours are calculated and recorded, and are applied towards Massachusetts licensing requirements, providing SHS students with a competitive advantage as they prepare to enter the workforce.

IBEW Local 103’s pre-Apprentice Partnership Program is a highly competitive and widely-recognized program that guarantees students a rigorous course load that includes 10,000 hours of on-the-job training and results in the completion of a Journeyman License.  Students earn competitive wages throughout their participation in the program.

“IBEW Local Union 103 is committed to serving their local communities,” commented Rich Antonellis, IBEW 103 Business Agent. “One of the ways we are able to do this is through the Pre-apprenticeship Scholarship Program. This scholarship allows us to take two electrical students each year and provide them with a state of the art apprenticeship program. Somerville High School continues to provide quality electrical apprentices through their Electrical Technologies Program. We look forward to continuing this partnership with Somerville into the future.”

“Bent Electrical Contractors Inc. has been a business partner with Somerville High School’s CTE program for over 20 years and has hired many students from the Electrical and Pre-Engineering programs during this time,” added Tom Bent, President of Bent Electrical Contractors, Inc. “For over the past 12 years we have partnered with Local 103 IBEW’s Pre-Apprentice program and have hired approximately 15 young men and women who have become members of the Bent Team and of the IBEW. Many of these former students have become licensed electricians, foremen, cad designers and project managers. We congratulate Tim and Brayan for being awarded the IBEW Local 103 Scholarships and are looking forward to them starting their careers with Bent Electrical Contractors Inc.”

About IBEW Local 103

The mission of the IBEW Local 103 is to provide the most skilled and productive workforce in the world, while protecting the rights and benefits of every worker.  IBEW 103 bases much of its success on training and developing workers who deliver on-time and on-budget projects, and who foster a safe working environment.  IBEW members and contractors have been lighting the skyline of Eastern Massachusetts for more than 100 years.  More recently, Local 103 has become the industry leader in emerging markets such as Wind Power and Solar energy.

— Somerville Public Schools