Student reaches youth apprenticeship milestone

GREEN BAY - A Green Bay student is receiving high praise for his work in the Youth Apprenticeship program.

Brandon Burton is a junior at Southwest High School. He recently reached his 500th hour on the job with the Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District.

Those in the program hope Burton's success will inspire other businesses to start apprenticeships of their own.

Brandon Burton may be new to the job but his boss says the young apprentice is doing excellent work.

"For someone that is 16 years old. Just, I'm amazed at what he does," said Bruce Bartel, Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District treatment manager.

"I take samples, run those, I check them for all the solids there are. Then I put it into a computer," said Brandon Burton, youth apprentice.

"Then I'll go off with an operator, my mentor, for the day," said Burton.

Burton is the first youth apprentice to work at the Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District. He works 10-12 hours a week for minimum wage, and juggles classes at Southwest High School, as well as NWTC.

"I'm taking pneumatics 1, hydraulics 2 and 3," said Burton.

"He's doing the work Helping out the operators that run this facility immensely with what he is doing. It's really tied into what he's learning at NWTC," said Bartel.

"This isn't a shovel business, this is a thinking business. This is a business of high technology. People who understand biology, who understand chemistry," said Dan Alesch, Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District president.

Burton was honored Tuesday for putting in 500 hours on the job.

"I like working with my hands and stuff. I like working hard, and showing everyone that I can do stuff," said Burton.

Program leaders are looking for other businesses to create their own apprenticeships.

"When you have an employer who is willing to spend the time with that student, and at the same time, you've got the education on the other side, you can do so much more," said Jeff Rafn, NWTC president.

Burton will be at the plant for another year, maybe more.

"I'd like to finish up my classes at NWTC, then head over to UWGB. Finish up my classes there, and hopefully work here," said Burton.

There are 73 students currently enrolled in Brown County's Youth Apprenticeship program.