Happy National Apprenticeship Week!

At Summer Search, we are excited to celebrate the power of apprenticeships in fostering talent and creative alternative pathways for individuals to thrive in their careers.

Summer Search has been privileged to partner with Aon since 2019 to expand the impact of our mentoring expertise by mentoring apprentices based at Aon offices in New York, San Franscisco and the Greater Philadelphia region. These apprentices are concurrently pursuing an Associates degree at a local community college and working full-time at Aon.

Naralin Dilone, a Summer Search alumna and former apprentice who now works full-time at Aon, shared “Summer Search’s impact on my Aon apprenticeship journey has been remarkable. Throughout the two-year program, I not only met all competency reviews and performed well academically, but also navigated personal milestones such as becoming a parent and buying a house.”​

Aon has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor and The White House for their work as an Apprenticeship Ambassador alongside 137 other companies. They have been a cutting-edge innovator in advocating for the power of apprenticeships to bridge the skills gap, promote inclusivity and empower the next generation of leaders.

One such leader is Jahniya Knox, a Summer Search participant and Aon apprentice who was recently recognized by the Philadelphia Apprentice Network (PAN) on the November 12th Kickoff:” Building Futures Together” for National Apprenticeship Week! Jahniya won the Rising Star Apprentice of the Year Award.

By investing in apprenticeship programs, we unlock the potential of our future workforce, fostering innovation, and creating a skilled talent pool that drives our industries forward. Summer Search is proud of the critical mentoring work we bring to this space.

We are honored to partner alongside Aon to promote the power of apprenticeships in the workforce. To our apprentices, we are so proud of each and every one of you! Thank you for your hard work, commitment and immense talent you bring every day.

This blog was written by Dr. Gretchen Mielke, Summer Search Philadelphia Post-Secondary Director.