BETHLEHEM, Pa. — As a senior at Allentown's Dieruff High School, Melody Rodriguez-Ventura would often find her career dreams zooming across the sky.
Future destinations beckoned: New York, London, Paris, Munich, so how could she possibly refuse it?
Yet she did.
But today, while a vocation as a commercial airline pilot never left the runway, her career is soaring above the clouds as an electrician.
Rodriguez-Ventura was among five honorees at the 2024 Pennsylvania Registered Apprenticeship & Registered Pre-Apprenticeship Awards held Wednesday at Northampton Community College.
Presented on National Apprenticeship Day, the awards recognize individuals and organizations that excel in registered pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs in the trades, such as building, plumbing, electrical and more.
The awards celebrate those who embrace the “earn-as-you-learn” model and contribute to workforce development and economic opportunity.
Students are afforded the opportunity to gain the required skills before taking on a full apprenticeship program.
'Honored to receive this award'
Rodriguez-Ventura is a pre-apprentice with International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 375 in Allentown.
“For me, it means it opens up a whole bunch of opportunities for people who may not have known those opportunities existed."Melody Rodriguez-Ventura, pre-apprenticeship award winner
She and Tabitha Oden, of Sheet Metal Local 12 in Pittsburgh, received the Outstanding Registered Pre-Apprentice Award from among three other candidates in that category throughout the commonwealth.
Rodriguez-Ventura became aware of the apprenticeship program during a presentation by IBEW Local 375 when she was a senior at Dieruff.
“I’m so honored to receive this award,” said Rodriguez-Ventura, 19, who was supported at the ceremony by her parents and boyfriend, who also is in the apprentice program.
“For me, it means it opens up a whole bunch of opportunities for people who may not have known those opportunities existed.
“I could play the game [of asking] where would I be if I wasn’t presented with the pre-apprenticeship in high school. There's a whole bunch of things — getting married, buying a house — which I’m nowhere near ready for yet.
"But to know I’m set in my job, set in my career and provide for my family.”
“These apprenticeship jobs are life changing. These programs matter and these programs work. These winners represent the best of the best.”Pennsylvania Secretary of Department of Labor & Industry Nancy A. Walker
Awards also were presented to German American Chamber of Commerce, Philadelphia Chapter, and Pittsburgh Roofers Union Local 12 as Outstanding Registered Apprenticeship Sponsors.
“Pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships lead not only to opportunities for jobs with family sustaining wages, but these are really career path opportunities,” state Secretary of Department of Labor & Industry Nancy A. Walker said.
“They also not only provide hands-on training and mentorship, but it doesn’t cost them anything to be in the program.
"You hear about people across Pennsylvania saddled with college debt, some costing more than a mortgage, more than they can handle.
“These apprenticeship jobs are life changing. These programs matter and these programs work. These winners represent the best of the best.”
'Feel truly amazing'
The event was organized by the Labor & Industry Apprenticeship and Training Office, in partnership with the German-American Chamber of Commerce, Philadelphia Chapter, and Northampton Community College.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration has shown a commitment to investing in workforce development.
“When I finish the school, I’d like to give back to IBEW. I want others to know you can go through this schooling and be OK."Melody Rodriguez-Ventura
Over his first two state budgets, Shapiro has increased funding for vo-tech, career and technical education and apprenticeships nearly $65 million, a 50% increase since he took office.
Shapiro’s 2025-26 budget proposal aims to build upon the investments, including with a dedicated $12.5 million Workforce and Economic Development Network appropriation, leveraging $10 million in existing funds and $2.5 million in new state funds to train additional workers.
As for Rodriguez-Ventura, she now works for Albarell Electric, Inc. of Bethlehem — .part of a crew working on the Moravian University Haupert Union Building renovation, including rewiring the building, installing lighting and setting up electrical panels.
When she completes her full apprenticeship of the five-year program, she said, she has plans to help others as she has been helped.
“When I finish the school, I’d like to give back to IBEW,” she said. “I want others to know you can go through this schooling and be OK. You will feel truly amazing.”
Almost like you can fly.
