Apprenticeship Randolph honors 12 graduates, signs 17 more

Local administrators and community leaders, along with faculty and staff from Randolph Community College, the Randolph County School System, Asheboro City Schools, Uwharrie Charter Academy, Faith Christian School, and homeschool; family, and friends gathered on RCC’s Asheboro Campus Tuesday, Aug. 9, to both celebrate Apprenticeship Randolph’s second graduating class and witness 17 more apprentices signed to the program.

The evening started with a celebratory dinner for the 12 graduates in the Armadillo Café. Terence Franklin, Apprenticeship Randolph (AR) Vice Chairman and Maintenance Reliability Manager for Post Consumer Brands, opened the dinner by welcoming everyone in attendance and introducing notable attendees and the graduates.

“Over their four years in the program, we’ve witnessed great collaboration [among] the schools, the community, and company partners,” he said. “We’re all collectively excited to watch these 12 get to the finish line. Thank you to the apprentices, family members, mentors, employers, community, and educational supporters that have helped us to reach this point.”

After 2022 graduate and Maintenance Technician for Post Keshon Coleman gave the invocation and attendees ate dinner, Hubbell Industrial Controls Plant Manager Jason Nguyen introduced guest speaker Jesse Osborne.

Osborne, a 2022 graduate and Electrical Test Technician for Hubbell, noted that his most memorable RCC courses were in Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs).

“I sure am glad we worked with simulators before actually controlling anything physical with a PLC,” he said. “All of us had many PLC programs that did not work as expected the first time we tried them out. Conveyors malfunctioned, bottles were broken, silos were overfilled, pumps overheated. We were all frustrated at one point or another when something did not work the way we expected it to, but we worked through it, with help when needed. We learned how to troubleshoot our programs, we learned better ways to implement processes, how to comment so we could understand what we were doing when we came back to class a week later. Now that the apprenticeship program is over, we will no longer be taking classes with each other, but I pray that none of us ever stop learning.”

Franklin introduced the keynote speaker, Misty Wolfe, Curriculum & Instructional Management Consultant for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Division, who spent 20 years in the Randolph County School System before her current position.

“In CTE, our mission is to empower all students to be successful citizens, workers, and leaders in the global economy,” she said. “We believe CTE gives purpose to learning by emphasizing real-world skills and practical knowledge. Much of what we do in CTE is centered around work-based learning experiences. No one understands and appreciates the tremendous work of Apprenticeship Randolph quite like we do.

“Apprenticeship Randolph was by far the most gratifying project I worked on during my time [in the RCSS]. Seeing our students engaged in such an impactful learning experience and improving their lives and the life of our community through this opportunity is not only rewarding, but it brings a true sense of joy to this educator’s heart. You, the students, are the reason we do what we do.”

RCC Director of Apprenticeships and Pathways Stacey Miller gave the closing remarks, reading an email from RCC Industrial Programs Department Head Wesley Moore from July 26, 2021: “I had this same group of students early in the apprenticeship program in year one. I can say they have matured greatly, and this was one of the most enjoyable classes I have taught. It’s been truly refreshing to have students with a desire to learn and an attitude that matches. I’m very proud of this group.”

“I knew from the moment I met each of you at Orientation Week that you would hold a special place in my heart,” Miller continued. “Many of you have gone through situations that have made me sad and mad, happy, and glad; lots of you have lost some very special family members whom I know you wish were here to celebrate with you tonight; many of you have bought new vehicles, got your own place to live, and at least one of you has gotten married. If that’s not maturity, I don’t know what is.”

The celebration then moved to the R. Alton Cox Learning Resources Center Auditorium for the graduation and signing ceremony. Franklin gave the welcome, acknowledging special guests in attendance.

“The students you will see tonight have shown grit, determination, and perseverance — all of what today’s employers are looking for,” he said.

Then, Franklin played a video message from AR Chairwoman and Director of Quality-HES Segment for Hubbell Diane James, who was unable to attend.

“This is a momentous occasion for these graduates,” she said. “They’ve worked very hard during the last four years to achieve this milestone. … Best of all, they have no educational debt. All of them have bright career paths in front of them. This is just the beginning.”

Franklin introduced the keynote speaker, Wolfe, who was a part of AR’s beginnings.

“When we first started talking with our founding Apprenticeship Randolph partners about their needs to fill their talent pipeline, they didn’t talk about specific skill sets, they didn’t talk about talents or grades or even IQ. One word kept rising to the surface — grit. … Simply put: Successful people know how to course-correct, and they never quit. They’re gritty.”

Kevin Cox, Tooling Engineer, and Tool Shop Manager for EG Industries, introduced the 2026 class speaker, Chris Gordon, who signed with EG as a Tooling Technician Apprentice.

“Before I heard about Apprenticeship Randolph, I honestly didn’t know what I was going to do after high school,” Gordon said. “I thought about joining the Air Force. I thought about just getting a stable job and going to college and hoping I could pay for it. But, junior year of high school, I got pulled into the library where teachers talked about Apprenticeship Randolph and how it could change my life. At first, I didn’t think anything of it, but the more I learned about the program and the more I did my research, I knew I had to do everything in my power to get in this program.

“I look forward to this journey, learning more at RCC, learning more on the job in this career field, and making great friends along the way. Congratulations to my fellow signers tonight and to the graduates who have completed this journey. Thank you to the companies for taking a chance on all of us. We won’t let you down.”

Apprenticeship Regional Coordinator for ApprenticeshipNC Tiffany Jacobs presided over the signing ceremony as the 17 pre-apprentices each came up onstage to sign their apprenticeship contracts with company partner representatives.

After congratulating the new apprentices, Nguyen introduced the graduation speaker, Osborne, who thanked the instructors, family members, and friends who helped the graduates get to where they are.

“You have all been there through the good and bad — when some of us wanted to give up, sleep in, call in sick, drop out of the program or whatever … you told us to hang in there – that tomorrow is a new day. One thing that has been reiterated to us as we have progressed through the program is ‘you get out what you put in.’ We did not give up, we did not walk away from this opportunity of a lifetime — and for that, we will always be in demand, in a highly skilled labor market — we will always have a career path, and we will always be nicely compensated. And, best of all, we will move forward without college debt.

We are the second group to finish the apprenticeship program, and I hope many more students are given the same opportunity we were given. I know for me, it was the opportunity to figure out what I want to do with my life.”

RCC Vice President for Instructional Services Suzanne Rohrbaugh, N.C. Community College System (NCCCS) Vice President of Economic Development Dr. Bruce Mack, and Miller presided over the graduation ceremony, during which each graduate was introduced and received their Associate of Applied Science in Manufacturing Technology, a Certificate in Manufacturing Technology, a State Apprenticeship Certificate, and a National Journey Worker Credential. The 12 graduates each left parting advice for future apprentices along with a message of thanks.

Mack then gave some remarks from the NCCCS, first recognizing AR’s recently being named an Ambassador by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship.

“Thank you for allowing us to be here for this historical event,” he said. “Your commitment to training and preparing our students for a future in advanced manufacturing is necessary in this age. This investment is critical to the workforce in North Carolina, especially in Randolph County. … [Apprentices], remember you were hand-picked by these employers. They saw something special in you. Take advantage each day to learn, to grow, and to develop into a future leader within your company and within this region of the state — a region that desperately needs young talent like you to stay closer to home and become future leaders.”

Rohrbaugh closed the ceremony, presenting the graduates as they turned their tassels.

“Tonight, this is about you — all about recognizing the commitment you’re making, and the commitment that you made,” she said. “The apprenticeship track is an extreme commitment. You think about years ago at the ages of 16, 17, and even 18 — did you know what you really wanted to do when you graduated high school? These young men have proved that they know what it takes to reach the finish line."

Apprenticeship Randolph began in June 2016 as a collaboration among Randolph Community College, the Randolph County School System, Asheboro City Schools, the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce, and local manufacturers. The goal was to bridge both the interest and skill gaps in modern manufacturing and provide a vehicle for expanding the workforce pool for advanced manufacturing in the county. With tuition funded through Career and College Promise and the N.C. Youth Apprenticeship Tuition Waiver Program and books paid for by the school systems and the participating companies, Apprenticeship Randolph produces an educated, skilled, debt-free workforce.

The program, which is for high school juniors and seniors, begins with a six-week, pre-apprenticeship summer program that consists of RCC classes and 40 hours per week of on-the-job training. Once a business selects its apprentice after this trial period, the program is spread over four years with students receiving paid, on-the-job training while earning an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Manufacturing Technology, Automotive Systems Technology, or Information Technology through RCC and a Journey Worker Certificate from the N.C. Community College System and U.S. Department of Labor.

For more information, contact Miller at 336-318-4958 or email apprenticeships@randolph.edu.