Noah Paulson, Bay Port 2019, wasn’t certain what he wanted to do after graduation, but he knew he liked working with his hands. While in high school, Bay Port Technology Education Teacher Adam Cochart asked Noah if he would be interested in a career path that allowed him to join the workforce while still in school. Noah became the first Youth Apprentice to work for Hurckman Mechanical in the pipe trades. “I owe so much to Mr. Cochart for seeing something in me that I didn’t see in myself,” said Noah. “He and many other members of the faculty at Bay Port supported me along my way.” 

Fast forward to 2025, Noah is a Pipe Fabricator Journeyman of the UA400. After high school graduation, he began working as a pre-apprentice at Hurckman, and was then offered an apprenticeship. As part of his apprenticeship, Noah would have a day-school class every other Friday. “Those class days consisted of studying blueprints, advanced trigonometry of pipe and tanks, layouts of a welder, and skilled welding,” recalled Noah. “Every week I would also have night school courses in order to move on to my next year as an apprentice. Lots of math, CPR training, pipe rigging and crane signals, copper soldering, on top of more welding classes. In total I had to take 60 weld comp tests leading up to taking my two weld certifications that I need for my day to day workload.”

After all his hard work and dedication, Noah finds it rewarding to help younger apprentices learn and grow from their mistakes and help guide them to becoming a Journeyman of the Trade. He considers going into the trades after high school “the greatest decision I’ve made.”