Ethan Pilgert, Electrical Occupations student and Kutztown Area High School senior, is turning classroom skills into real-world experience—and already building a path toward a career in commercial and industrial electrical work.
For Ethan, his time at BCTC has been about much more than learning about a trade. It has helped him discover what he wants to do after high school and given him the opportunity to begin gaining valuable industry experience before graduation.
Ethan completed the required work in his Electrical Occupations program early last spring, allowing him to begin a cooperative education (co-op) experience in the electrical industry. Since mid-April, he has been working at Diefenderfer Electrical, where he has continued developing the skills he learned at BCTC. His responsibilities include threading rigid metallic conduit (RMC), bending conduit, installing offsets, saddles and stub 90s, and working with large hydraulic benders capable of bending four- and five-inch conduits.
“I've always excelled at math,” Ethan explained. “It was my strong suit. But there are a lot of different things in this trade with math that you wouldn't even expect—like geometry, angles and measurements.” That math has become especially important as Ethan works on large-scale commercial projects. One current project involves three Amazon warehouses, including a facility in Breinigsville. Ethan has helped fabricate and install extensive underground conduit systems connecting the warehouses with transformers and main breaker panels.
The work requires careful planning, blueprint reading, precise measurements, and teamwork. Some conduit runs stretch thousands of feet, and the pieces must be spaced and positioned correctly before being welded into place. “This was my first project by myself,” Ethan stated. “Normally I have my boss help me out, but he was out of town, so I did it all by myself.”
Ethan’s hard work and commitment to his co-op experience recently earned him the Berks Business and Education Coalition Co-op Excellence Award, representing BCTC. The recognition celebrates outstanding cooperative education students and gives Ethan the opportunity to represent BCTC among co-op students and employers throughout the region.
Ethan said he was surprised when he first learned he had been selected. “I was at work one day, and Miss Harris texted me. I didn't really know what it was at first, and then she called me and told me more about it,” he recalled. After talking with his vice president and mentor at work, Ethan began to understand the significance of the award and the broader impact of his co-op experience. “It shows how big it is for the industry,” Ethan said. “It kind of highlights what we do for the community and how we help advance around the world.”
The award is a reflection not only of Ethan’s individual accomplishments, but also of the value of partnerships between students, schools, and local businesses. Through his co-op, Ethan is gaining technical skills, workplace experience and professional relationships that are helping prepare him for a successful career.
That experience has also given Ethan the opportunity to help train others. He recently worked alongside a newer full-time employee who had graduated high school the previous year and was interested in entering an electrical apprenticeship. “It’s definitely different,” Ethan said about teaching someone else. “It’s a lot of responsibility.”
Ethan's co-op experience has exposed him to a wide variety of projects. He has helped prepare lighting fixtures and electrical systems for a multimillion-dollar Lutron Electronics trade show display that will travel to Denver, Colorado. The project features modern smart lighting technology, accent lighting, transformers, and processors.
He has also worked on lighting projects in Allentown, preparing new light poles equipped with photocells and GFCI outlets. Seeing those projects completed has been one of the most rewarding parts of his experience. “It’s cool seeing what you work on come to completion and people use it,” Ethan said.
During his senior year, Ethan plans to continue his co-op experience four days a week, working approximately 32 hours Tuesday through Friday while completing his remaining high school coursework online.
His long-term goal is to pursue commercial and industrial electrical work through the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). Ethan plans to take the IBEW aptitude test in April and hopes the approximately 2,000 hours of field experience he is gaining through his co-op will allow him to enter the apprenticeship program with advanced standing.
Ethan's interest in the electrical field began at home. His father works as an HVAC technician, so Ethan grew up around the skilled trades. “I always knew I wanted to do a trade. I just didn’t know what,” he said.
Electrical Occupations stood out because of the variety of career opportunities available. “You can go lineman, commercial, telecommunications, residential. You have any possibility to go into, and you can work with anything,” Ethan explained. “I knew there would be the most options for me, so I picked this and then I started here, loved it, and didn't turn back.”
Ethan has also made the most of opportunities beyond the classroom. As a member of SkillsUSA, he competed in TeamWorks with students from Carpentry, Plumbing, and Masonry programs at BCTC’s East Campus. The team advanced through the state competition and competed at the national level, giving Ethan the opportunity to collaborate with students from different programs and campuses. “It was really fun,” he said. “You make really good friends. I’m still in contact with my teammates. We hang out all the time. It’s just an awesome experience.” Ethan plans to compete again this year and hopes his team can make another run toward the national competition.
His advice to younger students considering BCTC is simple: take advantage of every opportunity. “Explore your options, and especially while you're here, take whatever you can out of this,” Ethan said. “Take your time seriously here. It’s a great experience.”
For Ethan, that experience has already been translated into real skills, valuable industry connections, competitive experience, and a clear vision for his future. And as a senior, he isn't waiting until graduation to begin his career—he's already building it.