Hagerstown, MD (June 14, 2018) – WCPS Youth Apprenticeship Maryland Program held a check presentation event to celebrate the successful youth apprenticeship of Beacon Grace, LLC and the generosity of the FirstEnergy Foundation. Becky Willard, owner and CEO of Beacon Grace, LLC, a supply chain technical and professional consulting service located in Hagerstown Community College's Technical Innovation Center, has offered her apprentice, Casey Kelly, a 2018 Washington County Technical High Schoo graduate, and Hancock native, a permanent position at Beacon Grace once his apprenticeship ends in July.

FirstEnergy Foundation provided funding at the beginning of the program’s pilot and has continued to do so, allowing, in part, businesses like Beacon Grace to overcome the financial burden of taking on a youth apprentice. By investing in the program they have invested in the talent and skill of students in Washington County Public Schools (WCPS) and have been instrumental in helping to create opportunities that benefit not only WCPS students but the County and State economy, too.

The check presentation represented the second installment of the approved grant for Beacon Grace, LLC and the fulfillment of 200 apprenticeship hours worked. Representatives from FirstEnergy, Jim Sears, President of Maryland Operations, and Dave Kline, External Affairs, were in attendance to present the grant provided by the FirstEnergy Foundation on behalf of Potomac Edison.

The WCPS Youth Apprenticeship Maryland Program is looking for employers who want to train and retain employees by hiring talented and skilled WCPS students. Grant funding is still available. For more information, please visit http://wcpsmd.com/youth-apprenticeship-program-businesses or contact Wendy Moore, WCPS Youth Apprenticeship Coordinator at 301-766-2822 or [email protected].