PM meets Wintec Modern Apprentice

MEDIA RELEASE

February 5 2008

Prime Minister Helen Clark visited the Wintec Avalon Campus on Friday to meet with one of the country’s top modern apprentices, Regan Hopkins.

Seventeen year old Regan started working with Cunningham Builders after leaving school at the end of 2006. He also took up a BCITO Training Agreement and a Modern apprentice agreement through Job Finders.

Regan attended the BCITO First Year Carpentry Night Class run by Wintec (Waikato Institute of Technology) from July to November 2007, passing all theory units and receiving 97% for the practical component. He will continue at Wintec this year.

BCITO Training Adviser Greg Kelly said he visits Regan every three months on site to check up on his learning and the record of all the skills gained from the jobs he has worked on. While boss Wayne Cunningham assesses the units the ITO records the competent units on to his Record of learning which in turn is sent to NZQA.

“I must say this young man is very disciplined in his recording, with entries being made every two days. He has a mature outlook and I would rate him as one of the best first year students that I have contact with.

“Even though Regan is a Modern Apprentice and has many services available to him through that avenue, he has shown that with dedication and a willing to learn he is working towards achieving his goal of a "National Certificate in Carpentry" on his own but knows help is just there if needed,” Kelly said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media