Apprenticeship graduation
Six skilled tradespeople celebrate the completion of the UVA Facilities Management Registered Apprenticeship Program
The UVA Apprenticeship Program celebrated the graduation of six employees during a ceremony on Thursday, April 30.
“This program exists to prepare individuals not only to do the work well, but to do it in service of the University and the broader community it serves,” said Marcus Klaton, a 2019 apprenticeship alumnus who now works as Utilities supervisor and served as master of ceremonies for the event.
The graduating Class of 2026 included the following individuals:
- Robert Bailey, HVAC
- Bryan Ferguson, carpentry
- Samantha Manning, plumbing
- Cody Taylor, HVAC
- Freddy Ntamulenga, electrical
- Walter Sabwa, electrical
This year's graduating class was the first to complete a newly structured version of the program. Apprentices hired in 2021 and 2022 entered with the goal of completing two registered apprenticeships within four years: the multicraft maintenance mechanic program and a chosen trade specialty.
Speakers at the event included Nicholas Toth, deputy commissioner for Virginia Works; Lois Stanley, senior vice president for operations; and Don Sundgren, vice president and chief facilities officer.
During the ceremony, Walter Sabwa was named the recipient of the 2026 Ed Ford Outstanding Graduate Award, which was established in 2016 by Kathleen Ford in memory of her father, Edward R. Ford. The award honors an apprentice who demonstrates excellence, dedication to their trade, and inspirational qualities as a teammate and role model.
Sabwa was recognized through multiple supervisory nominations, which described him as an eager and studious learner, someone widely known by his teams for strong self-motivation and a clear commitment to excellence. In his nomination, the candidate shared that his journey has included overcoming the challenges of immigrating to the United States while balancing the demands of work, classroom instruction, and caring for a neurodivergent child — experiences that have shaped both his resilience and perspective. He also noted in his nomination that, if selected for this award, he would dedicate it to his daughter, who he describes as “tough—having endured two surgeries and still standing strong.”
A total of 250 tradespeople have graduated from the Apprenticeship Program since its inception in 1982.
See photos from the 2026 Apprenticeship graduation.