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CIVIT: Celebrating Student Success:Christian Napolitano

Christian Napolitano not only earned money as a class assistant in the welding program but also found a great job after graduation. Photo by David Abbott.

Christian Napolitano graduated from Cobre Valley Institute of Technology in 2018 and is now working at Capstone making a good hourly wage with great benefits.
Born in Globe, Napolitano moved around the state in his youth, but returned, attending Globe High School for his final two years.

Current CVIT Director Mike O’Neill was Globe’s vice-principal at the time and told Christian about the CVIT welding program, so he decided to enroll to help improve his job prospects after graduation.

He appreciated the learning atmosphere created by instructor Charlie Valencia.
“Charlie really pushed us to get our certifications,” Christian says. “As teenagers, our heads weren’t always in the program, but Charlie helped us stay focused.”

After he graduated from GHS and received his certificate, Christian took two months off, but was then recruited to be a paid teacher’s aide.

That was short-lived though, as within three months, Capstone called and offered Christian a job at Pinto Valley Mine as a boilermaker and mechanic/welder making $28 an hour with full benefits.

Although he works on the primary crusher as a mechanic, his job is varied and interesting.

“It’s a great program and they gave me the tools I needed to find a great job,” he says.

 

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