Manufacturing Works Graduates DSC 0008

Press Release                                                                                        
Date:
March 17, 2023
Contact:
Karen Potter, TCTC, kpotter2@tctc.edu


Seventeen Anderson County high school students complete new
pre-apprenticeship program at Tri-County Technical College


Pendleton, S.C. – Seventeen students representing five Anderson County high schools graduated from Tri-County Technical College’s new registered pre-apprenticeship program today (March 17). The program, called Manufacturing Works, is for high school seniors in Anderson County who don’t have an identified path after graduation. It is custom-designed to align with skills sought by local employers and high-quality apprenticeship programs in the region.

Students enrolled in Manufacturing Works attend weekly classes at Tri-County’s Anderson Campus. As part of the program, they have the opportunity to earn one or more industry-recognized credentials, such as an OSHA-10 completion card and Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt. They also have the opportunity to develop both technical and employability skills through hands-on activities with simulated lab experiences and/or through employer partner opportunities. By demonstrating employability skills in a simulated workplace environment, students can earn a stipend of up to $600. The stipend is made possible by funding provided by the Development Corporation of Anderson County. Upon completion of the program, students are eligible for registered apprenticeship programs at companies like Arthrex and First Quality.

“Apprenticeships are one of the most productive workforce development tools for our region and one of the many ways Tri-County prepares students for a rewarding career with business and industry,” said Grayson Kelly, vice president of institutional advancement and business relations at Tri-County. “We are proud to partner with Apprenticeship Carolina, Arthrex, First Quality, the Development Corporation of Anderson County, and the Department of Commerce on this important program and to help young talent in our region begin their journey to a rewarding career.”

Manufacturing Works was first piloted with seven students in spring of 2022. Upon completion of the program, one student went on to a four-year university, three enrolled at Tri-County and three joined the workforce.

Eighteen-year-old Prilliyah Rinnix of Iva was one of the three students who enrolled at Tri-County. While she was in Manufacturing Works, she was a student at Crescent High School and was taking dual enrollment courses in Mechatronics through Tri-County.

“I enrolled in the Manufacturing Works program because I wanted to gain a foundation for a job path,” said Rinnix. “Through the program I was able to earn my OHSA 10 completion card and participate in mock interviews with companies like First Quality and Arthrex.”

Rinnix will graduate from Tri-County this summer with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Mechatronics and plans to seek a registered apprenticeship.

“Manufacturing Works is a great way for students like Prilliyah to confirm their desired career path and for others to explore the various manufacturing educational and career pathways available in the Anderson County area,” said Jennifer Hulehan, dean of Academic and Career Foundations at Tri-County.

To learn more about Manufacturing Works, visit tctc.edu/manufacturingworks.

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About Tri-County Technical College

Tri-County Technical College, a public two-year community and technical college serving Anderson, Oconee and Pickens Counties in South Carolina, enrolls more than 9,000 students annually and offers more than 70 major fields of study, including computer technology, industrial electronics, mechatronics, nursing, and university transfer programs. Tri-County boasts the highest student success rate among two-year colleges in the state and ranks in the top one percent nationally for successful student transfers to four-year colleges and universities. To learn more, visit tctc.edu.