Co-op program offers real world work experience
‘The experience is invaluable. Whether working alongside a dentist, electrician, engineer or pastry chef, collaboration provides critical skill development and increases achievement.’
— Monty Tech Coordinator of Cooperative Education and Placement Kim Curry
FITCHBURG » Junior and senior students at Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School can apply the skills they have learned to a real-world work environment through the Cooperative Education Program.
According to a press release, hands-on learning is a hallmark of vocational education. Cooperative education, also known as co- op, is popular at Monty Tech, with more than 180 students holding job placements at more than 85 area businesses this past school year.
“Our Cooperative Education Program allows our students to learn to develop pride in their workmanship,” said Monty Tech Coordinator of Cooperative Education and Placement Kim Curry. “In turn, the community that provided them with an education will also benefit as more achievementoriented young people commit to employment in Central Massachusetts.”
Monty Tech Community Outreach Specialist Julie Blazar echoed her sentiments, saying that “the co- op program really seems to help local businesses dealing with worker shortages.”
Through the program students earn competitive wages while gaining on-the-job training. Curry said the program has been offered for over 20 years and that the students have a variety of companies in the region to choose from to work for.
“The experience is invaluable,” Curry said. “Whether
working alongside a dentist, electrician, engineer or pastry chef, collaboration provides critical skill development and increases achievement.”
An Early Childhood Education student worked at Northwest Child Development in Leominster and “will attend Fitchburg State University to work on their career in education in the fall while continuing to work for Northwest Child Development,” Curry said.
Three Monty Tech students will stay on full time with Process Cooling in Leominster. Two of the students will stay on full time as pipe fitters and will continue their educational training through Process Cooling and a CAD Design student will stay on with Process Cooling full time “where they will continue to assist with blueprint designs and further their education,” Curry said.
Lorenzo Pirri, who graduated from Monty Tech’s plumbing shop this spring, is one of the students who worked at Process Cooling Systems for his co-op and is staying on full time.
“The best part of my co-op was being able to use my knowledge from shop to be productive out in the field,” he explained in the press release. He was also pleasantly surprised to find that his co-op coworkers were patient and eager to teach.
“I heard from a few of my peers that they’d rather enjoy school than have a job during senior year, but co- op is definitely worth it,” Pirri said. “I learned more by being exposed to how the trade really works.”
Other local companies that have employed Monty Tech students include Oliver Inc., Steel Fab and Community Health Connections.
According to the press release,
co- op placements have real benefits for employers, too. Brianna Scoggins, a human resources generalist at Process Cooling Systems, said, “In today’s job market it has become increasingly difficult to find help, and to be able to secure students before they even hit the job market puts you ahead of the game. Employers often are much more willing to hire a coop student who they can train to their specific skills needed … and bring to full-time employment after graduation.”
That co- op to full- time job pipeline proved successful at Process Cooling Systems this year with the company offering full-time positions to the three Monty Tech co- op students in addition to paying for post-graduation certifications. One of the students who received a job offer was Tyler Warner, a 2022 graduate of Monty Tech’s Cad/drafting & Design shop. Warner felt fortunate to learn so much at his co- op placement while also benefiting financially.
When asked what he’d tell other students considering coop jobs, he said “It’s definitely the best decision you could make.” He explained that he’d originally planned to attend college but that his co- op experience convinced him to enter the workforce upon graduation.
Recent Monty Tech veterinary science shop graduate Abby Schow’s co- op experience confirmed her plans for the future. Schow completed her co- op at Lunenburg Veterinary Hospital and said, “My co- op has only fueled my plans for after graduation.”
“Either I want to be a vet technician who specializes in a certain area, or I go all the way and become a veterinarian,” she said. “I am glad to say I will be working at Lunenburg Veterinary Hospital for a long time as I pursue my dream.”
Alex Flinkstrom, practice manager at Lunenburg Veterinary Hospital, is pleased that cooperative education creates a pathway for hiring.
“In this age where there is a shortage of veterinary technicians and assistants, it just makes sense to help do our part to bring up the next generation of team members,” he said. “Do your best to become a productive member of the team in offering the gold standard care and experience for the patients and clients, and your efforts will be appreciated.”
Monty Tech’s director of vocational programs, Ryan Rege, agrees with Flinkstrom’s advice.
“Our students develop incredible skills within their shops,” Rege said. “We encourage them to pair these talents with their strong work ethic to become valued team members at their co- op placements.”