He’s the first to complete the Apprenticeships Reaching Career Horizons program.

For that, Carter Lacey was recognized Wednesday at the Ripon High Multi-Purpose Room.

In attendance at this special event honoring the Ripon High product were San Joaquin County Office of Education Superintendent of Schools Troy Brown, state Assemblyman Heath Flora, Sen. Susan Talamantes Eggman, Supervisor Robert Rickman, and Ripon Unified Superintendent Ziggy Robeson, to name a few.

ARCH is a first-of-its-kind program of the San Joaquin Office of Education. Students can earn college credits and receive on-the-job-training in paid positions as a state-registered apprentice.

Lacey, who currently attends Stanislaus State, was a junior at RHS when he first entered the program in 2020. He completed his required apprenticeship courses at Delta College, receiving his associate degree from Modesto Junior College.

“At the ceremony, Lacey received praise from a wide range of agencies and officials (for his accomplishments), including the U.S. Department of Labor, California Division of Apprenticeship Standards, and Delta College,” according to SJCOE via social media.

Along the way, Lacey completed the required 144 hours of coursework related to his occupation.

As a state-registered apprentice, he can now earn a wage while learning on the job with industry professionals.

ARCH is coordinated by SJCOE’s College Readiness department, and made possible through a California Apprenticeship Initiative grant from the California Community College Chancellor’s office.

Prior to this program, state-registered apprenticeship programs were not available in high schools, according to SJCOE.