RCC kicks off inaugural Youth Apprenticeship Week with proclamation
Apprenticeship Randolph (AR) Vice Chair Kevin Cox, several AR apprentices, and Randolph Community College leadership and staff gathered in the College’s McCrary Boardroom on Thursday, May 2, as RCC President/CEO Dr. Shah Ardalan signed a Youth Apprenticeship Week (YAW) proclamation. The inaugural week began Monday, May 6, and is a nationwide celebration that highlights the benefits and value of Registered Apprenticeship program opportunities for youth ages 16-24.
“I’m excited to sign this proclamation recognizing Youth Apprenticeship Week,” Ardalan said. “Apprenticeships are a powerful bridge between education and the workforce, offering invaluable hands-on experience and skills development. Our institution is proud to support initiatives that provide pathways to success for our youth, equipping them with the tools they need to thrive in the evolving job market. Together, let’s celebrate the importance of apprenticeships in shaping the future of our workforce and economy.”
Apprenticeship Randolph (AR), a program 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 three years with students receiving paid, on-the-job training while earning an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Computer-Integrated Machining, Industrial Systems Technology-Mechatronics, or Information Technology through RCC and a Journey Worker Certificate from the N.C. Community College System and U.S. Department of Labor.
“When high school students go into apprenticeships with local companies and their community college, they gain so much more than a paycheck, college degree, and on-the-job training,” said Stacey Miller, RCC Director of Apprenticeships and Pathways. “Apprentices gain self-confidence, technical competence, problem-solving and critical thinking skills. They find value in being a part of a team, which develops their communication skills and work ethic. Apprenticeships give students a sense of belonging, and purpose and are a win-win for the entire community.”
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.
For more information, contact Miller at 336-318-4958 or email apprenticeships@randolph.edu.
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.