CVIT: CREATING OPPORTUNITIES – BUILDING FUTURES
June 2020
WELCOME
CVIT is the Copper Corridor’s public Career & Technical Education School District providing local students with the knowledge & technical skills for tomorrow’s workforce.
Meet the Instructors for Our New Programs in Precision Machining And Industrial Electrician DARREL YERKOVICH Precision Machining and Fabricating Instructor Darrel Yerkovich’s interest in machining started about 10 years ago when he was working at a research facility in Buffalo, New York. He’d been tasked with building a piece of equipment, beginning with developing the concept, then coming up with the basic processes for accomplishing the task. Yerkovich recalls, “I had to work with a lot of machinists to make all these different things. That’s what really exposed me to machines. And I learned from them how to design parts better, so it was easier for them in the machining process.” When Yerkovich moved back to Arizona in 2014, he learned of the high school robotics team in the Globe-Miami area and started mentoring them. Over the last six years, he’s taken them from having practically nothing as far as tools go, to being recognized as one of the most well-equipped teams in the state. Much of their equipment – including a small mill, a small lathe, and a CNC router – came through a grant they received from Arizona-based Resolution Copper. When Yerkovich heard that the college had bought a CNC mill, he contacted them to see about running the equipment or developing a program that teaches students to run it. So this fall and next spring, he’ll be teaching three classes: Materials for Industry, Machining and Fabrication, and FAB LAB Workshop. The ultimate goal of these classes is to get students to where, in Yerkovich’s words, they “have a strong enough understanding of the process to successfully operate the Haas Mini Mill that the college bought last year. It is a large machine, and it can seem like a daunting task to figure out how to run, but I try to break it into small manageable tasks that are much easier to master.” Compared to manual machining, CNC machining and modern manufacturing have a heavy focus on speed and efficiency. “So beyond just learning how to use the machine, I introduce the students to standard practices to make parts faster, communicate effectively, and build a vocabulary of technology used in industry,” Yerkovich says. Graduates from this program could expect to earn anywhere between $40,000 and $60,000 a year.
MIKE MOSS Electrical and Instrumentation Technician Program Beginning this fall, the Cobre Valley Institute of Technology (CVIT) will offer an Electrical and Instrumentation Technician program. This program will prepare students for a position in the electrical trades. “Electricians have always been in demand by construction and industrial companies. As our economy rebounds to its previous levels, the need for electrical technicians will continue to rise all over the country,” says instructor Mike Moss. “There are companies in Arizona who have hired students who have completed electrical programs similar to CVIT immediately after graduation.” Moss certainly knows of what he speaks. He spent most of his career in engineering management, dealing with all the engineering disciplines – from process engineering and civil engineering to structural, mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation engineering. He has worked both in the office and out in the field on major construction projects. He eventually went to work with a mining company in the Globe-Miami area. He says graduates from this program could do the same. “Because of the demands for electrical and instrumentation techs in the Globe-Miami area, the job outlook here is very good. There is a possibility that the local mines would consider bringing them on in an entry-level position. And they could continue with their instruction to eventually bring themselves up to a journeyman level craftsman.” The Electrical and Instrumentation Technician course will provide students with a background in the properties and applications of electricity, maintenance of electrical systems, and technical problem-solving. “There’s such a demand for technicians, and it was important for this trade to be taught here,” Moss says. “There’s a lot of smart kids here who don’t necessarily want to go to college. This is a trade they could learn and be able to make a decent living at.” According to Moss, starting pay for an entry-level electrical technician can range from $35,000 to $45,000 per year. “It’s an exciting, but demanding trade, but once you learn the basics and understand the simple physics around electricity, the field opens up dramatically. This trade can provide a lifelong income, something where they can support themselves and their families.”
START YOUR CAREER MOVES WITH US! WE NOW OFFER PROGRAMS IN: • Cosmetology • Dental Assistant
• Fire Science • Industrial Electrician
• Medical Assistant • Nursing Assistant
• Precision Machining • Welding
High school graduates should submit their applications and other required documents to their high school counselor. Home school and online students may contact Mike O’neal at 928-242-1907 or mo’neal@cvit81.org. Cobre Valley Institute of Technology serves students from Superior, Miami, Globe, San Carlos, Hayden-Winkelman and Kearny including home school and charter students. Our career and technical education programs are approved by the Arizona Department of Education and supported by our community partners including Eastern Arizona College Gila Pueblo Campus and Central Arizona College Aravaipa Campus.
Schools served:
Cobre Valley Institute of Technology 501 Ash Street • Globe, AZ 85501 Call (928)242-1907 | Email mo’neal@cvit81.org www.cvit81.org
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