The University of Virginia Facilities Management sponsored the Second Annual Apprentice Luncheon April 22. The event is designed to build camaraderie among apprentices and graduates, to educate interested applicants about the program, and to hear apprentices and graduates' ideas for improving the program. More than half of the 75 women and men who are enrolled or who have graduated from UVA's Apprentice Program are still at Facilities Management attended this event. They brought with them 16 guests who are interested in applying for six positions open this year.

Donna M. Barnes, Human Resources and Training Manager and Apprentice Program Manager, hosted the event; other speakers were Robert P. Dillman, Chief Facilities Officer (pictured); William Poats, Regional Apprentice Representative, and Operations Director Chris Willis. Special guest at this year's luncheon was Jennifer P. Nolen, Apprentice Program Director, Virginia Department of Labor and Industry. As is customary at this event, other speakers (and always a source of wisdom and entertainment) giving individual reflections and comments about the apprenticeship experience were James Copeland, Journeyman Electrician, 1986 and James (J.J.) Jefferson, Electronics Tech, 1997.

For information on UVA's registered apprenticeship program, visit http://fmweb.virginia.edu/FMHome/departments/human/ApprenticeshipProgram.htm.