Apprenticeship Randolph welcomes 21 new pre-apprentices

Twenty-one area high school students have been chosen by Apprenticeship Randolph (AR) employer partners for a summer pre-apprenticeship. These pre-apprentices — 10 in the Computer-Integrated Machining pathway, nine in the Industrial Systems Technology-Mechatronics pathway, and two in the Information Technology pathway — are currently taking summer classes at Randolph Community College through July 22 and working with their AR employer through July 26. At the end of the pre-apprenticeship, employers and pre-apprentices will decide if it is a good fit. Those that agree will be given a full apprenticeship with the eighth Signing Ceremony, slated for Aug. 6 at RCC. 

“This opportunity not only underscores the students’ hard work and dedication but also highlights the importance of bridging education and industry,” RCC President/CEO Dr. Shah Ardalan said. “These pre-apprenticeships will provide invaluable hands-on experience, preparing our students for successful careers in high-demand fields. Thanks to partnerships like the one with Apprenticeship Randolph, RCC is successfully achieving its mission by addressing both the current and future workforce needs of the industry. Our college is committed to supporting initiatives that enhance our students’ skills and open doors to promising futures. I want to extend my congratulations to our RCC team and express my gratitude to our community partners for fostering this initiative. Congratulations to all the students selected – your journey is just beginning, and we are excited to see all you will achieve.” 

This year’s pre-apprentices (with high school) and industry partners are as follows: 

• Accuchrome — Aaron Sams (Mount Calvary Christian School), 

• Atalys — Brandon Lopez (Southwestern Randolph High School), 

• DARRAN Furniture — Kolby Garner (Randleman High School), Tyler Kassebaum (Asheboro High School), Eric Lawson (Trinity High School), 

• Energizer — Guillermo Santos Espinoza (Asheboro High School), 

• Hubbell Industrial Controls — Ian Moore (Eastern Randolph High School), 

• Jowat Corporation — Joseph Nance (Trinity High School), 

• Mohawk Industries — Ethan Scott (Trinity High School), Coy Watford (Randleman High School), 

• Oliver Rubber-Michelin — Cameron Bunting (Providence Grove High School), Ismael Tejada Fuentes (Southwestern Randolph High School), Micah Wilson (Uwharrie Charter Academy), 

• PEMMCO Manufacturing — Justin Hutchens (Wheatmore High School), Ashleigh Wayne (Randleman High School), 

• Post Consumer Brands — Adrian Carmona Hernandez (Asheboro High School), Hailey Sattenfield (Uwharrie Charter Academy), 

• Technimark — Fabian Munoz (Montgomery Central High School), 

• United Brass Works — Cottrell Davis (Randleman High School), Daegon Kinton (Eastern Randolph High School), Aiden Pritchard (Southwestern Randolph High School). 

AR 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, AR 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 on-the-job training. Once a business selects its apprentice after this trial period, the program is spread over three years with students receiving paid, on-the-job training while earning an associate degree through RCC and a Journeyworker Certificate from the N.C. Community College System and U.S. Department of Labor. 

For more information, companies, students, and parents should visit the Apprenticeship Randolph website; contact RCC Director of Apprenticeships and Pathways Stacey Miller at 336-318-4958, or email apprenticeships@gmail.com. 

Randolph Community College (RCC), under the leadership of President/CEO Dr. Shah Ardalan, is committed to providing relevant career training and educational opportunities. Affordable degrees and short-term certificate programs start throughout the year, both in person and online. For more information, call 336-633-0200 or visit www.randolph.edu and expect to engage with the most competent and compassionate team of faculty and staff.