What’s been going on in Apprenticeship:
We had our second apprentice graduation!! Richard Prouse, a Berlin apprentice, graduated on Jan 1. 2026. He was surprised as we recognized his accomplishment at the Berlin town meeting on Jan 12, 2026. Left to right in the photo: Dave Bassett (mentor), Jamey Latchum (Director Water Resources Department, Berlin), Jake Tindall (Mayor of Berlin), Rick Prouse, Patty Shreves (MRWA Apprentice Coord) and Carol Rose (representative from office of Senator MaryBeth Carozza)
Cohort 6 officially kicked off in January 2026, and we’re excited to share that seven apprentices joined the program! This cohort is especially meaningful as it marks the enrollment of our first wastewater apprentices, representing communities in Chesapeake Beach, Berlin, and Oxford. We also welcomed two water apprentices from Oxford.
Please join us in welcoming our newest apprentices: Jason, Carlos, Cody, Chris, Mike, Michael, and Caleb. We’re looking forward to supporting them as they begin their journey and build the skills that keep our water systems running safely and reliably. Here’s to a great start for Cohort 6!
Grants and Scholarships:
We still have funding available to cover the cost of related instruction for up to four additional apprentices. However, this funding is only guaranteed for registrations completed in April.
Eligible Applicants Ready to Work in Your Region
If your utility is looking to hire or expand your team, reach out to patty.shreves@md-rwa.org! We can help match you with a qualified apprentice and connect you with available funding opportunities. We currently have eligible applicants in Fruitland, Bowie, Newburg and Waldorf. You can also enroll an incumbent worker as an apprentice.
On the Road with MRWA — Apprenticeship Events Near You
- February 2026—-Charles County Career Fair
- March 2026— Career Day at Easton High School, Kent County High School Mock Interviews and South Dorchester School Career Fair
Mark your calendars for National Apprenticeship Week, April 26–May 2, 2026 (more details coming soon!)