Whether he’s on the baseball diamond or on the basketball court, Braxton Davenport understands the importance of staying in the moment.
It’s that same trait that he’s putting to work as a student enrolled in the Electrician’s Assistant program at Indian Capital Technology Center in Tahlequah.
“During every moment in a game, analyze the situation and know what’s going on,” said Braxton, who plays second base for the Keys Cougars. “The same thing is important when you’re working with electricity and completing a wiring job. If I do or don’t do this then this will happen. It’s an error you can’t afford to make.”
Davenport’s desire to do more than just the assignment is something that gets the attention from his instructor in the electrical shop at ICTC.
“Braxton wants to get the job done right the first time,” said program instructor Jesse Stillwell. “You don’t have to push him to do his work, Braxton is here to win it.”
Davenport admits that learning the codes is a challenge, but it’s a requirement to do the job right.
“You have to know how to hook it up right and know the limits of the wiring,” replied the senior at Keys. “You really have to use your head. It’s a challenge that forces you to think. But the long-term opportunities are endless. I’m glad that I chose ICTC.”
“Coach” Stillwell complimented Braxton for his willingness to be a team player.
“He’s been in the program for just six months but is already doing the things of a second-year student,” Stillwell said. “Braxton is a team player, someone that’s always willing to lend a helping hand to me, as well as other students in the class.”
The two-year program at ICT offers students more than just the basics to a career as an electrician, according to Stillwell.
“Students who complete this course will have everything they need to go right to work and make really good wages,” said Stillwell, himself a 20-year veteran as an electrical journeyman. “They learn safety, plus all the theory and basic skills needed for residential, industrial and commercial electrical work. They will also have certifications and licensing to become an electrical apprentice, making them prime candidates for high dollar earnings in a field where there’s a high demand. Last year, I had eight students graduate with jobs waiting for them on day one.”
The electrician’s assistant program is one more reason that students enrolled at Indian Capital Technology Center can unlock the door to the future with training that will give them skills that not only provide job opportunities, but also train them to help make a better tomorrow for everyone.
