[Jayschwa]

I don't think "apprenticeship" is a fitting label. It implies that participants are newbies (some are, some aren't) or that there is some kind of structure or training.

[bertil]

I was about to suggest ‘apprentice’ as a reference to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compagnons_du_Tour_de_France but then again, I realised I had little idea how Hacker school approaches their role. A similar binomial role is found at the same period (i.e. early Middle-ages until now) among some monks, generally travelling ones: the younger ones are ‘novice’.

(For geeky reference: either presumably inspired the Jedi/Padawan structure.)

[funthree]

Calling the whole thing an apprenticeship is humbling, as there are obviously journeymen/fellows and masters involved which would be given titles according to merit as you said.