A few simple pen strokes and a handful of photos is all it took. Those actions are routine for any high school student, but they’re now part of a unique memory for Mitchell Baumann and Sabrina Boyer. The Sheboygan-area students have signed on as the first members of a new Wisconsin Public Service youth apprenticeship program.

WPS employees marked the start of the program by hosting a recent Signing Day ceremony for Baumann, Boyer and their families. The incoming high school seniors officially registered as youth apprentices before putting on WPS hats and committing to a year of hands-on training in natural gas delivery and utility construction.

While many students their age are on summer break, Baumann and Boyer are working full time with WPS, learning how the company safely and reliably delivers natural gas to homes and businesses. WPS field operations employees will provide hands-on training with installing meters, maintaining infrastructure and working safely with natural gas.

Both students will work toward completing the apprenticeship program as part-time employees when the school year resumes in the fall. When they’re finished, Baumann and Boyer will have received at least 450 hours of training that will count toward a future career with WPS.