The Mississippi Apprenticeship Program (MAP), housed at the Mississippi Community College Board (MCCB) joined Winston Plywood and Veneer at Winston-Louisville Career & Technology Center on the Louisville High School campus on Wednesday morning, November 13 to announce a unique new pre-apprenticeship initiative that will provide high school students with work opportunities while exposing them to the many benefits of a career in advanced manufacturing. The students, who will receive on-the-job training at WPV’s facility, will also receive in-class instruction at East Central Community College. The classroom work at ECCC will include critical safety training and soft skills development at no cost to the students.
The program was developed and advanced by Winston Plywood & Veneer with the strong support and engagement from state officials, ECCC, Louisville Municipal School Superintendent Dr. Randy Grierson, Louisville High School Principal Hilute Hudson, and Mayor Will Hill.
Initially, nine seniors from the various schools around Winston County have been chosen for the pre-apprenticeship program beginning in January 2020. The students time will be divided between school and WPV where they will receive on the job training and mentorship. ECCC will provide soft skill, safety and technical training. And at the completion of the program one student will be awarded a $1.5K scholarship based on attendance, on-the-job training performance, ECCC participation and a written essay.
Mayor Hill stated that it is important to have programs such as this which bridge a gap and provide a conduit from high school, through community colleges to the workforce. He added that small towns around the country are declining, but Louisville is not and is poised for growth through opportunities for its youth.
Dr. Andrea Mayfield, Executive Director of the Mississippi Community College Board, spoke of creating customized models through apprenticeship and a connection to the workplace which has proved to help businesses retain employees.
LMSD Superintendent, Dr. Randy Grierson, stated that he is very selfish with the youth of Winston County and would like to see local industry hire their entire workforce locally. But it is necessary to provide dual credit for career & technical training which allows young people to develop the necessary skills to move into the workforce, and this is an initiative that he has been working on, with many others, for some time.
Chasta Rauccio of WPV added that they have worked very hard with Grierson and the State to develop what she referred to as the ‘Winston Model’ of apprenticeship
opportunity. She stated that it can be difficult for a company to recruit from outside, but what a benefit it is to draw from those who have grown up and lived in this community, and WPV wants to be the employer of choice and to be a part of Winston County for generations to come.
Rauccio added that the partnership with ECCC is essential, and without their resources and funding this apprenticeship program would be almost impossible.
Winston Academy senior Joshua McGinnis said that he is excited about the opportunity for work experience, to see what companies have to offer, and to find out what he enjoys doing.
LHS senior Jamarvis Hudson stated that the workplace experience is important and offers an opportunity for young people to go into the workforce or to continue on to college.
