First students tapped for new work-based machining program at Gadsden State

The first 14 students have been selected for Gadsden State Community College's new Consortium of Machining Education Training.

A signing event was held July 9 at the college's Beck Conference Center, according to a news release, for the hybrid work-based apprenticeship program that will allow students to earn at least $15 per hour from an employer during five semesters of training.

And as Andy Robertson, GSCC's workforce development coordinator, noted during the event, “This will be the least amount of money you will ever make for the rest of your life. You will make more and more money as you progress through your training and your career. Your salary will increase as you gain experience.”

CoMeT was developed last year, according to the release, to address the needs of the machining industry.

“Gadsden State is teaming up with companies that need us to provide training to students who will go into their workforce,” said Alan Smith, GSCC's dean of workforce development. “We are providing a pipeline of skilled, highly trained precision machinists who are sure to be excellent employees.”

Students in the program will be in class two days a week at Gadsden State (classes are offered at the new Advanced Manufacturing and Workforce Skills Training Center on the East Broad Campus and the Precision Machining Building on the Ayers Campus in Anniston), and will work three days a week for one of seven industry partners.

They will complete 1,776 hours in work-based learning and five required projects. Daniel Anderson and Peyton Amberson are the instructors.

Smith said attending school and working at the same time is difficult, and the setup will allow students to do that “while having a healthy work-life balance.”

Those who complete the program will receive an Associate in Applied Science degree in precision machining. Smith said that will give them the potential to step right into jobs with a $50,000 starting salary, adding, “Because they’ll have a valuable credential and two years of industry-verified experience, our graduates will be head-and-shoulders above everyone else.”

The industry partners and students are:

• Gadsden Tool Inc.: Jonathan Laughlin, Wilsonville; Tyree Street, Anniston

• General Dynamics: Champton Goss, Centre; Dalton Johnson, Pisgah; Jakarian Jackson, Anniston

• GH Metal Solutions: Kendra Perego, Valley Head

• Lee Brass: Derrick Montgomery and Jacauri Whitfield, Anniston

• Prince Metal Stamping: Eric Danini, Attalla; Tytan Rich, Rainbow City

• Stamped Products: Dillon Owens, Boaz; Lucas Renfrow, Attalla

• XYZ Controls: Matthew Williams, Glencoe

• Alternate: Daronte Collins, Anniston

Visit www.gadsdenstate.edu/comet for more information about the program.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: First students tapped for new work-based machining program at Gadsden State