Seminole Ridge High School’s Weitz Academy of Construction recently announced its newest business sponsor, the University of South Florida OSHA Training Institute Education Center (USF OTIEC). USF OTIEC is a nonprofit organization authorized by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to deliver occupational safety and health training to public and private sector workers, supervisors and employers.
For the past decade, the construction academy has led its students through the OSHA 10-hour and 30-hour outreach programs. Those students are then able to graduate with OSHA safety training certificates.
“The OSHA curriculum benefits my students in numerous ways,” said Rick Terkovich, construction academy teacher. “The OSHA programs teach teenagers how to work safely, and in the 10 years that we’ve been teaching academy students, I’ve had many employers tell me that one of the reasons they hire our kids is because they have OSHA training.”
This partnership will take the OSHA training experience to the next level. USF OTIEC plans to be present at the academy to teach a number of advanced construction safety classes. SRHS students will receive an official certificate from USF OTIEC upon successful completion of the program.
“It is a known fact that, primarily due to lack of training and knowledge, young workers are especially at risk of becoming injured on the job,” USF OTIEC Assistant Director Keila Ashman said. “Workplace safety begins with educating our youth. The USF OTIEC recognizes the importance of keeping them safe by providing them the resources, skills and knowledge necessary to avoid workplace hazards while also preparing them for the workforce.”
Three Wrestlers Advance to States — Hawk wrestlers took part March 7 in the FHSAA Region 3 wrestling tournament, finishing ninth as a team. Three Hawks placed among the top four in their weight classes and will advance to state competition: Cisco Farr (second place, 120 lbs), Jarrod Smiley (third place, 138 lbs) and Liam LaPeter (fourth place, 160 lbs).
Choral Groups Earn High Ratings — The SRHS choral program participated in the 2015 Florida Vocal Association’s district concert music performance assessments March 6, with several Hawk groups earning high ratings. The Euterpe beginning women’s chorus and the Philammonus men’s chorus received overall Excellent ratings. The combined women’s chorus, the Thamyris mixed chorale and the Musagetes chamber choir received straight or overall Superior ratings.
