When Adam West (O43) applied to The Apprentice School in 2012, he wasn’t accepted. It took another eight years before he would try again and be successful.

As it turned out, his timing was perfect.

West entered the school in the summer of 2020, the same week it began offering associate degrees of applied science in maritime technology to students who complete required coursework and skills training.

On Saturday, March 23, he will be the first Apprentice School student to receive that degree when he walks across the stage during the Class of 2023’s graduation ceremony at Liberty Live Church in Hampton.

West took it in stride when he wasn’t accepted in 2012 because The Apprentice School has a strict acceptance rate comparable to Ivy League schools. His father and Master Shipbuilder Jay Hodge (X67) had encouraged him to try.

Six years later, West was hired at Newport News Shipbuilding as a maintenance mechanic. It wasn’t long before he was encouraged to apply to the school again, this time by a supervisor whom he admired.

“My supervisor at the time really pushed for me to apply,” he recalled. “I didn’t know anything about the associate degree program, but I thought it was time to try again. It was like my dad was pushing me.”

He chose welding equipment repair for his apprenticeship, and it hasn’t disappointed. Through his shipyard work and classroom study, he was able to expand his scope of skills – and he’s still learning.

“It is always changing. I’m never bored,” he said. “There is a satisfaction in fixing something that wasn’t working.”

The Apprentice School has been accredited since 1982. Students can earn academic degrees through its partnerships with institutions of higher education. Certification to grant associate degrees and confer degrees on its own came in July 2020, after the school was approved by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to operate as a postsecondary institution.

“Awarding associate degrees is the next chapter of The Apprentice School’s evolution,” said Dr. Latitia McCane, director of education. “Earning an associate degree can include higher earning potential, better job security and opportunity, as well as advancement. We are proud that Mr. West will be the first person to be awarded our AAS degree.”

While West has found his apprenticeship rewarding, his close-knit crew has made it all the more worthwhile.

“It all comes down to who you’re with,” he said. “If you think about it, the shipyard built you a family. Building that relationship is probably the best thing that could have happened to me.”

All told, more than 130 will graduate from The Apprentice School on March 23. Thomasina Wright, vice president of Fleet Support Programs and a 1986 Appreciate School graduate, will be the commencement speaker. Among the notable graduates will be Scott Sinowitz, the recipient of the Homer L. Ferguson Award, who currently serves as an electrician on the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74).

The ceremony will be livestreamed at https://hii.com/events/apprentice-school-graduation/ beginning at 10 a.m. on March 23.