By Aunie Edwards
Special to The Toronto Sun

	Former OYAP student Andrew Hyrtle (left), seen here with Kenworth Toronto East Trucks shop foreman Jim Murphy, is now working full-time for the company and pursuing his truck and coach licence.

Andrew Hyrtle has it all -- he's a well-respected, college educated, financially independent man with a substantial resume and glowing references. A significant catalog of accomplishments, but at 20 years old, it warrants a second look.

Hyrtle is a recent graduate of the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) -- a fully funded college co-op that provides career focus for students as early as Grade 11.

In fact, Hyrtle was a Grade 11 student at Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute when he began his apprenticeship. Under the guidance of an intuitive educator, he realized this was an opportunity to channel his natural ability and secure his future.

"I really enjoyed auto shop and my teacher, Mr. Gandu, encouraged me to apply for a spot in the Citi Motive program," Hyrtle says. "He thought that a truck and coach technician apprenticeship was a good fit for me -- it turns out he was right!"

As a student registered with OYAP, Hyrtle received instruction at Centennial College in the five areas of Citi Motive called common core. He also took a three-week pre-placement course to prepare him for the work component of the program.

"Andrew stood out as a guy who was motivated to take full advantage of the opportunities that OYAP presented to him," says Dave Williams, pre-placement teacher for the program.

"I was 16 years old when I started working full time at Kenworth Toronto East Trucks. They were taking a chance on me because I was so young and I guess that motivated me even more," Hyrtle says.

"Normally, these kids work strictly for high school credits and hours toward their college apprenticeship -- but Kenworth decided to pay Andrew as well," Williams says. "It's a strong testament to his commitment and ability."

	Former OYAP student Andrew Hyrtle is now working full-time for Kenworth Toronto East Trucks.

By the time Hyrtle graduated from high school in June '99, he had also completed the first level of college training toward his truck and coach technician license. In November of the same year, he returned to Centennial College for another eight-week course. He maintained his practical exposure by working nights at Kenworth.

"I chose to take the course in eight-week increments while still working -- that way I could apply my theory to its practical uses on a continuous basis," says Hyrtle. A sound logic that kept Hyrtle's 'eye on the prize' and maintained a solid connection with his employer.

"This excellent program provides floor experience right away so a kid knows exactly what to expect. The only problem with straight college is that a student learns all about the work without ever having tasted it, and let's face it -- the shops are dirtier than the classrooms," says Sherri Forster-French, who has been Hyrtle's supervisor at Kenworth from the start.

Between classroom and workplace, Hyrtle completed his intermediate level of training and was awarded a new placement at Volvo Trucks of Pickering. "I enjoyed this job too -- I learned a lot and I also finished my third phase at college."

Hyrtle recently accepted an invitation to return to Kenworth Toronto East Trucks as a full-time employee. From a job placement that began with cleanup and basic maintenance, Hyrtle has come a very long way in a very short time.

"I'm now tearing down and re-building engines," says Hyrtle, who will soon write his truck and coach licence exam. "This job has been really great from the start. They see that you want to learn and they let you jump right in."



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