AIKEN, S.C. – The Savannah River Site (SRS) recently welcomed six high school students from Aiken, Columbia, and Richmond counties into the 2025 Youth Apprenticeship Program, an integral part of the SRS Apprenticeship School, which includes 29 registered apprenticeships.
“To modernize the nation’s nuclear deterrent, we need a strong and diverse base of national expertise and educational opportunities in specialized technical areas that contribute to this mission,” said Sean Alford, Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer for Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS), the Site’s managing and operations contractor. “Our program is designed to support STEM disciplines that are critical to the Nuclear Security Enterprise and the Department of Energy, such as nuclear operations and other technical areas.”
Since its expansion sitewide in 2020, the SRS Apprenticeship School has graduated over 800 apprentices, with 91% successfully securing full-time positions at the Site.
This strategic initiative fosters a resilient workforce to meet the Site’s evolving needs,” said Abigail Bowman, SRNS College Partner, Curriculum, and Pipeline Development Lead. “Through various partnerships, the program provides hands-on training, job-specific education, and professional development across three models: Key-Skilled Technician, Professional/Degree-Based, and Youth Apprenticeships.”
The 24-month Youth Apprenticeship Program is tailored for high school juniors and seniors. Participants earn their diplomas while acquiring practical experience at SRS. As limited-service employees, youth apprentices earn wages and can also receive work-based learning credits. This year, the program introduced two new roles: Junior Project Controls Engineer and Junior Business Analyst, increasing the total number of youth apprenticeship options to five.
“These apprentices are eager to learn, quick to adapt, and excelling in their new roles,” said Kaci Prouty, SRNS Project Controls Administrative Assistant. “By beginning their careers while still in high school, they are setting a high standard for future program participants.”
This year’s participants include Junior Project Controls Engineers Maya Deskevich and Cohen Harrison; IT Youth Apprentices Carson Williams and Steven Cook; and Business Analyst Youth Apprentices McKayla Smith and Lillian Garner.
“My family has a long history of working at SRS, spanning four generations,” said Smith, a senior from Midland Valley High School. “I applied for the apprenticeship program to further my knowledge in business and accounting. In my current role in Accounts Payable, I handle invoices and vouchers, organize basic invoicing, contribute to the Chief Financial Officer monthly newsletter, and will eventually rotate through the department.”
“My computer repair class, mock interviews, and resume writing exercises prepared me for this opportunity,” said Williams, a senior from North Augusta High School. “My daily work involves computer repair and cybersecurity, and I am currently pursuing my CompTIA Cloud+ certification. I hope to work in cybersecurity or computer engineering, and this experience is a crucial step toward achieving that.”
Oscar Rushton, Aiken County Public School District Work-Based Learning Coordinator, said, “The SRS Apprenticeship School is a perfect example of the positive outcomes that occur when education and industry work shoulder-to-shoulder: lives change, families gain stability, and our community grows stronger. We are investing in clear, decisive opportunities to enable students to step into meaningful roles, while local businesses benefit from hiring homegrown talent. This is how you build a reliable workforce.”
The SRS Apprenticeship School benefits from a strong network of external and internal stakeholders that provide resources, expertise and funding support. Click here for more information on the Youth Apprenticeship program.
Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, a Fluor and HII partnership company, is responsible for the management and operations of the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site, located near Aiken, South Carolina.
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