Special to Iredell Free News

Mitchell Community College recently welcomed new companies and new apprentices to its program, Apprenticeship Iredell, which offers apprentices a chance to be hired by an industry partner and receive paid on-the-job training while attending the college to earn a selected credential.

A large crowd of college faculty and staff, parents and industry representatives were in attendance to celebrate the newly appointed apprentices. Tim Brewer, president of Mitchell Community College, and Eric Tillmon, ApprenticeshipNC Consultant of the N.C. Community College System, both shared words of wisdom with the apprentices at the opening of the ceremony.

Apprenticeship Coodinator Hannah Tuthill welcomed two new companies to Apprenticeship Iredell: Bruning-Federle, represented by Robin Bolick, sales manager/VP; and Helping Is Simply Caring, represented by Kelly Shorts, administrator.

The Apprenticeship Iredell program has seen tremendous support from industry partners like Doosan, represented by Kevin Smith, site operations manager, and Piedmont HealthCare, represented by Jeff Taylor, director of operations and human resources.

Signified by the official signing of their apprenticeship with an industry representative and the president of the college, Apprenticeship Iredell welcomed eight new apprentices to the program:

♦ Chance Caudill, Doosan Apprentice, Mechatronics;
♦ Kollin Smith, Doosan Apprentice, Mechatronics;
♦ Sarah Brown, Piedmont HealthCare Apprentice, Nursing;
♦ Kyler Carrigan, Piedmont HealthCare Apprentice, Nursing;
♦ Cateria Redmon, Piedmont HealthCare Apprentice, Healthcare Management;
♦ Victor Restrepo, Piedmont HealthCare Apprentice, Nursing;
♦ Shamyah Shears, Piedmont HealthCare Apprentice, Nursing; and
♦ Morgan VanWinkle, Piedmont HealthCare Apprentice, Nursing