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Alec Severins, 29, formerly of Gifford, dropped out of school in the ninth grade and did a number of odd jobs, including playing high-stakes poker, “to put food on the table.”
He knew he needed something more in the way of a profession.
Damario Williams, 37, of Urbana, was a cross-country trucker and single father. He longed for a better career to be home for his children and plan for his future.
The two are among a group of 10 area residents who recently graduated from a statewide pre-apprentice program to help them begin careers with area unions.
The statewide Climate Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program is managed locally by the building trades in partnership with HIRE 360. For 16 hours a week the pre-apprentices are paid a stipend as they learn hands-on skills and test preparation while meeting union leaders and visiting job sites such as wind farms, solar farms and other clean-energy construction jobs.
Steve Patterson, building trades spokesman, said anyone 17 1/2 or older who comes from a disadvantaged community “or maybe has been through the foster-care system, even been incarcerated, who is committed to turning things around” could be eligible for the program.
“Objectively,” Patterson said, “it’s been neat to see some of the young people coming through. Maybe they’re working at a warehouse or they’re working at a store, just getting by, and there’s a light bulb moment and they come into this program, and within a few weeks a half dozen of them are in union jobs making good wages with full benefits and an early-retirement plan.”
The individuals get to select which union they are interested in.
Classes are held in Champaign and Danville.
Severins, who now lives in Georgetown, is specializing in insulation and is working out of Veedersburg, Ind., wrapping ducts and installing pipe covering.
“I love it,” he said, adding he’s not putting down driving a truck, which he calls “honest work.”
“I love that these people gave me a chance, but it was not a career.”
He called his co-workers “amazing.”
“When you drive a semi you’re solo by yourself. Truck driving can be pretty lonely. Working with insulation, you’re generally around a lot of people.”
He said he was raised to work hard, but school wasn’t for him. Still, he went back and got his GED.
“It was better to leave school and do something that was going to help my family,” Severins said.
His family had blue-collar jobs, which don’t always pay the best.
“In the 2010 era, the jobs around here were not paying that high,” Severins said. “People were barely getting by. This was just after the 2008 recession.
“I wasn’t a silver-spoon kid. I was taught you need to work for it.”
He got his license to drive commercial trucks for farmers in Vermilion County, including hopper bottoms, dump trailers and fertilizer trailers.
Severins said he still plays high-stakes poker and recently won $3,300 in the Central Illinois Charitable Games event in Mattoon.
“I love it,” he said of his job in the union, which he calls “like a second-chance program, which is grant-funded by the state of Illinois.”
Those enrolled in the program are on a year’s probation, after which they will remain an apprentice until they complete four years.
“Every year you earn more money until you’re a journeyman,” Severins said.
Williams said he was a troubled youth whose mother was at work much of the time and whose father wasn’t living with them.
“When you don’t have a male figure in your life, you’ve kind of got to figure it out yourself,” Williams said, noting he was a little timid and took a number of low-level jobs, none of which stuck.
“I was a dishwasher at a nursing home, living by the seat of my pants.”
His work also included driving a truck, which kept him away from his children, and burying cable lines.
“It was to the point my kids were being raised and me not being there,” Williams said. “I cannot be out there knowing I have kids and not being with them.”
Williams decided to sign with the pre-apprentice program. He sounds like a man with a new lease on life.
He loves the patience his bosses and co-workers exhibit and the concrete work he does.
Work has included curbing in Monticello, deck work on the new Champaign overpass and shoulder work, all under the tutelage of his bosses.
“I’m super green,” he said. “I’ve never done any of this in my life. I love it. It’s the best job I’ve had in my life.
“From the rise in pay to always being busy working with a couple of brothers who’ve always got your back, I couldn’t appreciate it more.
“You just don’t deal with the normal stuff on the job. It’s not about politics. It’s about getting the job done. I don’t have to compete with anybody and jockey for position. Everybody wants to get the job done and do it right.”
He also likes that each day brings a new job, a new technique to learn.
“I’ve got a great journeyman showing me the ropes, a pretty cool guy (Carlos Chavez). “I’m just blessed that I found it. I haven’t felt this blessed my whole life.”
Champaign Central students, from left, Ruhan Rajmanem Matthew Philip and Sohum Gurrapu, who received seventh place in Partnership with a Business Project at the Future Business Leader of America’s national leadership conference in Anaheim, Calif.
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Champaign Central students Hannah Libman, left, and Aanya Rangaiahgari, who received a third place in the event Introduction to Social Media Strategy at Future Business Leader of America’s national leadership conference in Anaheim, Calif.
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Champaign Central students took home third place and seventh place at Future Business Leader of America’s national leadership conference in Anaheim, Calif.
Aanya Rangaiahgari and Hannah Libman received a third place in the event Introduction to Social Media Strategy (their second time in the top 10).
Sohum Gurrapu, Matthew Philip and Ruhan Rajmane received seventh place in Partnership with a Business Project.
They were among 13 students from Central and nine from Centennial who attended the conference, which attracted more than 15,000 middle school and high school students, educators and volunteers from across the country.
Other Central students who qualified for the conference were Joanna Linn, Tode Wilson, Urvi Banerjee, Taylor Thomassie, Vyom Mehta, Aryan Patel, Nil Patel and Simon Aiuvalasit.
Qualifiers from Centennial who attended were Priyam Banerjee, Averee Springer, Natalya Del Mastro, Inaaya Takhar, Nathalee Abad, Safa Thameem, Rebekah Kim, Riti Bhosale and Kennedy Borden.
The PBL High School cheerleading squad that participated in a National Cheerleaders Association cheer camp at Lindenwood University, St. Charles, Mo.
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Lackey
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The Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School cheerleading squad participated in a National Cheerleaders Association cheer camp at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo., and one of its members was named an All-American.
Payton Lackey, who will be a junior this fall, was selected for the recognition.
The 20-member squad was among more than 400 cheerleaders from 15 participating schools.
Every member of the team was nominated for All-American status, the only squad present so nominated.
Categories for nomination included jumps, motions, stunting and leadership.
Nine of the Panthers completed the tryout proces.
Lackey also received the Pin-It Foward award from a staff member for her leadership and positive attitude.
MOORE CROWNED FISHER FAIR QUEEN Natalie Moore was crowned 2025 Miss Fisher Fair 2025. She is shown with Junior Miss McKinlee Robison, right, and Little Miss Victoria Perez.
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Natalie Moore was crowned 2025 Miss Fisher Fair 2025. She is shown with Junior Miss McKinlee Robison and Little Miss Victoria Perez.
HONOR ROLL
On Mondays, we tip our hats to academic award-winners from our area.
DEANS LIST
Eastern Illinois University (Charleston) — Halie Selsor, East Lynn; Tyler Row, Kendyl Wright, Ella Brake, Gibson City; Allison Pickett, Hoopeston; Amaya Withers, Paxton; Maria Provo, Sheldon; Haven Barrett, Hope Aaron, Watseka; Emily Wilson, Clinton; Matthew Williamson, LeRoy; Faith Young, Sheldon Turner, Amari Johnson, Charlotte Westcott, Destiny Coffey, Shamera Moore, Urbana;
Also, Grace Omundson, Bismark; Gage Conner, Addison O’Brien, Rebecca Rogers, Catlin; Gen Martin, Emily Schacht, Benitra Ayres, Brooklynne Penny, Ryan Vasey, Elisha Capili, David Tuala, Mana Lee, Jenna Mukuna, Nathan Hart, Sophie Ames, Leah Burns, Ellen Kaper, Kyla Canales, Corbin Cox, Heather Berbaum, ChampaignMersadeez Barrett, TaNea Brigham, Faith Sherman, Jonasiah Glover, Alexis Ray, Rebecca Feuerborn, Kijana Woods, Danville.
Also, Emily Ritter, Rin Quick, DeLand; Shelby Zahnd, Max Bruggman, Fisher; Madisen Nelson, Jami Merriott, Emily Hale, Isabelle Leyhe, Sarah Dix, Mahomet; Hannah Cole, Mansfield; Joshua Simnick, Jackson Mortland, Emily Kuetemeyer, Joey Walker, Rachel Koon, Joey Sprinkle, Grace Bonds, Ken Merriman, Lily Lawrence, Ethan Brown, Monticello; Amber Millburg, Penfield; Macie Knudsen, Nolan Miller, Philo; Tracie Howei, Potomac; Marguerite Bailey, Amairany Benitez, Eli Wilhelm, Raven Morrison, Rantoul; Gentry Howard, Rige Farm; Cole Franzen, Royal; Ava Northern, Shanice Edwards, Madigan Loman, St. Joseph.
Also, Ilham Sadez, Savoy; John Murphy, Seymour; Carli Keller, Andrew Mowrer, Logan Siuts, Grace Renfrow, Harper Hancock, Tolono; Chloe Becker, Weldon; Calbe Brasker, Westville; Cody Kerner, Reynol Oyervides, Alexia Guajardo, James Vandeveer, Ariana Warren, Ellen Garza, Cecilia Hardin, Bailey Good, Zach Butler, Avery Kessler, Kyla Hutton, Luther Yoder, Keira Hohlbauch, Alisha Frederick, Brooklyn Matheny, Arcola; Morgan Lighty, Jeryn Bennett, Cmargo; Peyton Reasor, Chrisman; Luke Waelde, Aaron Garvey, Will Dawkins, Kamryn Spence, Bella Harden, Ruth Taylor, Sullivan.
Also, Brianne Voyles, Lexie Saathoff, Crystal Beyers, Cela Kupferer, Julianne Harper, Dominik Cloud, Luna Corapi, Sam Pickett, Jessica Ervin, Sage Stahler, Patrick Pierce, Mackenzie Bowles, Karina Warfel, Dylan Brown, Haven Hatfield, Tuscola; Will Tibbetts, Ashlynn Smith, Lydia Howard, Mark Boyde, Mackenzie Ewing, Villa Grove.