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L-83 apprentices get ‘in on the act,’ build staircase for school play

APPRENTICES AT LOCAL 83 (Kansas City, Missouri) participated in the play “Eurydice” without ever setting foot on stage. Twenty apprentices, working in groups of five to eight, fabricated an elaborate staircase for the set of Olathe West High School’s fall play. Local 83’s BM-ST Scot Albertson said the 150-hour project was a real-life lesson in fabrication, because apprentices had to look at the drawing of the staircase, then build it.

“You read a lot of blueprints in the field and have to fabricate in real time,” said Albertson, noting that the community service project provided excellent, hands-on practice while also giving back to the community.

In addition, when students arrived to get the staircase, apprentice Jordan Gardner gave them a welding lesson.

Pictured with Olathe West drama students are L-83 apprentices on the staircase, l. to r., Lance Pfeifer, John Stephenson, Gardner, Josh Dorrell and Mitch Renouf.

Flanking the high school students are at left, Albertson and at right, apprenticeship instructor Chris Knox.