A crowd of mechanics, teachers, family members and well-dressed state officials gathered in the body shop of Gastorf Chevrolet May 28 to celebrate the first Wright City student to complete the nationally recognized Registered Youth Apprenticeship program.

Shane Sargent, a Wright City High School senior and apprentice at the body repair shop, was presented his U.S. Department of Labor certificate of completion at the Friday celebration and luncheon. Sargent performed the apprenticeship as part of studies at Four Rivers Career Center based in Washington.

Four Rivers apprenticeship coordinator Cynthia Walker said completing the program is a chance for Sargent and others to show what they’re capable of when given the tools for success.

“People really underestimate the abilities and the talents these teenagers bring to the table,” Walker commented.

Not much for words himself, Sargent provided some short comments about how valuable it was to get real-world experience as part of his education. Having to adapt to unpredictable repair needs was a learning opportunity he said he couldn’t get in a class setting.

“There’s a lot of cars that come in, and they’re all different. In school ... you weren’t having to take apart things while worrying about not breaking other things that you’re not replacing or that the insurance company won’t pay for,” Sargent explained. He said after completing the apprenticeship program, he feels like he can go get a job anywhere – although permanent work at Gastorf is a strong possibility.

Sargent’s mentors at both Four Rivers and Gastorf had high praise for his work, saying Sargent had set an example for other students who can come after him.

“We don’t take it lightly when we give (students) an apprenticeship opportunity,” said Four Rivers instructor Rob Schulze. “We had two students this year that I would put my name on to do an apprenticeship. ... Shane met that with flying colors. I was actually sad to see him go, because it’s rare to have a student who can also help you instruct (others).”

Scottie Russell, the manager of the Gastorf body shop, said Sargent had been eager to learn and showed he had what it took for the job. It was only after Sargent was accepted that Russell remembered Sargent had once visited the body shop as a child when a family member’s vehicle had been brought in for repairs.

“I was out here working, and I see this little kid staring in the window. I went over and opened the door and said ‘You wanna come have a look?’ And he said yeah,” Russell recalled, saying that memories like that stick with him. “I didn’t know when Shane started that it was him.”

Gastorf General Manager Ricky Gastorf said the business agreed to participate in the apprenticeship program in search of new young talent to be the successors for aging tradesmen. 

“There’s a big push on technical training (in education), and we’ve got to harness that,” Gastorf commented. He said Sargent is the first apprentice the dealership has had in years, and the experience was such that he would love to hire more local apprentices through the same program.