Napavine and Onalaska seniors complete apprenticeships as another student begins

May 29-Back in August 2025, Napavine High School senior Kaitlyn Aschenbrenner and Onalaska High School senior Hope Slaven both began their water operator apprenticeships with the help of Evergreen Rural Water of Washington.

Aschenbrenner conducted her training with the Napavine Public Works Department and Slaven with Lewis County Water District 2 in Onalaska.

On Wednesday, May 27, Aschenbrenner and Slaven were both honored for completing their apprenticeships inside the Napavine High School library by Evergreen Rural Water's Executive Director Tracey Hunter and Apprenticeship Supervisor Ernie Klimek as well as Napavine School District Career and Technical Education (CTE) Director David Rutherford.

Family and friends filled the library for the graduating seniors' ceremony.

"I know they didn't know what they were getting into. I'll be honest, I didn't know either," Klimek said. "I knew where we wanted to go and where I needed to get them to be so that they would be eligible to take a state exam. That's the push and the goal. We work them toward a certification as a water distribution manager in training."

Slaven and Aschenbrenner both completed over 90 hours of classes with Evergreen Rural Water on top of their on-the-job training with their local water utility providers. Now, all they need to do is complete the state-required amount of work hours to get a state Level 1 Waterworks Operator certification. They have already passed the test for it.

"They just need more time in the chair," Klimek said.

Evergreen Rural Water has recently grown as it has merged both its apprenticeship and prep programs.

"We got it done in January, officially, when we became a recognized apprenticeship preparation program for water and wastewater," Hunter added.

Both Slaven and Aschenbrenner plan on pursuing careers in water system management.

"I'm hopefully gonna get on with another city and continue my training and all that," Aschenbrenner said.

Slaven plans to attend North Idaho College and pursue an associate's in science degree, but hopes to work for a Spokane Water District while studying.

And while Aschenbrenner and Slaven both celebrated completing Evergreen Rural Water's apprenticeship program, Napavine High School junior Logan Hansen began his own apprenticeship, following in Aschenbrenner and Slaven's footsteps.

With college tuition prices continuing to rise - as average in-state tuition this year at four-year public universities is $11,950, according to collegeboard.org research, rising from $11,610 last fall - many high school students around the country have been pursuing other career options, including trade apprenticeships. Nationally, the average water system operator earns roughly $30.94 an hour, according to ZipRecruiter.

According to Rutherford, there's now an additional career opportunity he can offer interested students through the Napavine CTE program with certified auto mechanic apprenticeships with I-5 Cars through the AJAC Manufacturing Youth Apprenticeship program.

"I-5 Cars is looking for four quality students that are serious about entering the automotive service industry. They will be placed in each of I-5 Car's four service centers," Rutherford said.

At those service centers, each apprentice will be mentored by certified mechanics and get 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training.

These apprenticeships are available to juniors at high schools throughout Lewis County, not just Napavine. To be eligible, students must have at least a 2.0 grade point average, a clean driving record and satisfactory school attendance record and complete interviews with both Rutherford and an I-5 Cars representative.

If selected, students will work full time during the summer and a maximum of 28 hours a week during the school year. They will still be required to attend class to graduate. During their training, they will also receive 15 credit hours from Tacoma's Bates Technical College for completing classes in print reading, maintenance welding and fluid power.

Upon completion of the apprenticeship program, students will receive their Automation Technician Journeyman cards. Depending on experience, holders of these cards can earn between $31 and $45 an hour on average nationally.

For more information or to apply, email Rutherford at drutherford@napavineschools.org.

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This story was originally published May 30, 2026 at 11:23 AM.