Ayear ago Dustin Snyder was a student at Everett High School and the Bedford County Technical Center in the Building Construction Trades curriculum. While still in school he was given the opportunity to learn his craft on the job through a cooperative education placement with D&D Enterprises, a general construction company that specializes in remodeling and additions. "I got the basics in school - even won the Outstanding Senior Award which was $500 in tools - but I think I learned the most in my coop coming to work everyday and doing a job. It was great." Dustin, who plans to continue his education in a post-secondary vocational program in the future and eventually work his way up to foreman on a construction crew, turned his coop experience into a full-time job when he graduated in June. "I wanted to save some money for school and also felt I could learn a lot more working for a while," Dustin said.

His duties at D&D run the gambit - helping in framing, finishing, roofing, decking, painting, cabinet making, rough construction. "The best part of the job is being out with the guys and seeing what we've accomplished." D&D's owner, Dennis Dibert, says that Dustin is a "ball of energy and works very hard. I'm confident that we can turn him loose and he'll do a good job for us." Dennis says Dustin came to him knowing a lot and being comfortable and safe around power tools, which is a big plus. Dennis sees the Tech Center's coop program as "a great way to learn if you really want to pursue your chosen career while getting some good on-the-job training. So many kids don't really know what they want to do until they can get out and do it everyday. A coop gives them a chance to find out if they enjoy the work and gives them a lot of workplace skills that will benefit them for years in the future."

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