GRAHAM, N.C. – Four Alamance County students will sign agreements on Aug. 13 to begin four-year apprenticeships under the Career Accelerator Program.

Students, their parents and company representatives will convene at 6 p.m. at Alamance Community College to celebrate the new apprentices and business partners. Due to the pandemic, the ceremony will not be open to the public, but a recording will be shared on CAP’s social media after the ceremony.

Three students were selected after a thorough application and evaluation process. One additional student completed his pre-apprenticeship in 2019 and was offered an apprenticeship earlier this year.

The Class of 2020 Career Accelerator Program apprentices and their partner companies are:

• Nathan Huffines, Southern Alamance High School, GKN
• Ezekiel Peyton, Western Alamance High School, Engineered Controls International
• Austin Wesson, Southern Alamance High School, Indulor
• Wyatt Willard, Eastern Alamance High School, GKN

A CAP apprenticeship provides each selected individual the opportunity to earn while they learn. High school juniors and seniors can apply. The companies benefit by training and developing an employee to meet specific needs of their workforce. After the signing ceremony, apprentices will begin work at their company and attend classes at Alamance Community College.

Apprentices are paid for their time at work as well as their time spent in class at ACC. Tuition is waived by the state, and books are paid for by the company. At the end of the four years, an apprentice will have an Associate in Applied Science degree in mechatronics engineering technology, computer-integrated machining technology or industrial systems technology; a journeyworker certificate from the NC Community College System; four years (6,400 hours) of on-the-job training; a guaranteed career with the company; no school debt, and other benefits offered by their employer.

The CAP apprenticeship program now includes a total of 33 apprentices at nine local companies: AKG, Engineered Controls International, Fairystone Fabrics, GKN Driveline, Glen Raven, Indulor America LP, Sandvik Coromant, Shawmut and IntraPac (formerly known as Technical Precision Plastics).

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