Pre-apprenticeship grads advance on pathways to manufacturing

Published 05.22.2023

Photos by Tom Wilson, writer/editor-PCToday

News

Workforce Development

Industrious students from nine schools graduated Friday morning from Penn College's Advanced Manufacturing Pre-Apprenticeship program during a brief ceremony in the Bush Campus Center. A number of the young adults, accompanied by family and instructors, also enjoyed informal access to representatives from four of the college's corporate partners.

Ross A. Berger, AMP program coordinator and manager of the MIDAS grant that funds the college's pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship offerings, presented 19 students with certificates of AMP completion; 13 of them also earned Certified Manufacturing Associate status from the Society for Manufacturing Engineers. This year's graduates hail from Commonwealth Charter Academy, Executive Education Academy Charter School, Greater Johnstown Area High School, Hatboro Horsham High School, Insight PA Cyber Charter School, Louis Dieruff High School, North Penn High School, Oley Valley High School and PA Virtual Charter School.

The Penn's Inn event was followed by Industry Day, facilitating the graduates' small-group interaction with representatives of E-Tech, First Quality, Kellogg's and West Pharmaceutical Services.

Berger welcomes graduates and their well-wishers to Penn's Inn, recounting the students' hard work in gaining knowledge and hands-on skills essential to entry-level employment in manufacturing.

Wilmarlyn Uribe Polanco, from Allentown's Executive Education Academy Charter School, was among the students who completed both the AMP program and earned Certified Manufacturing Associate recognition from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers ...

... as was her classmate, Bryan Rodriguez. Assisting the presentation at right is Beth M. Bittenbender, Workforce Development's executive director of operations/special projects.

The morning included a presentation from Michele R. Alexander, a counselor in the college's Admissions Office.

John M. Estep (right), president of E-Tech and an award-winning Williamsport Area Community College alumnus, talks with students about opportunities at his Troy business – one of only a handful that maufactures precision power-tool attachments for the aerospace and automotive industries. Approximately 75% of E-Tech's employees have been through degree programs, apprenticeship programs or continuing education programs at the college. A participant in the Corporate Tomorrow Makers program, Estep was joined by co-worker Adam C. Stellfox (left), who holds Penn College degrees in mass media communication (2006) and information technology: information assurance & security concentration (2015).

One of the first to embrace Workforce Development's apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs is First Quality, a leader in personal health care products and a longtime corporate partner of Penn College, with two locations in Clinton County among its worldwide reach. Meeting with students in a round-robin rotation are (from left) Karen Wertz, Renee Yarborough and Kendell Smith.

Displaying a very familiar logo, as well as samples of one of Kellogg's most popular brands, Julie Smith talks with students about opportunities at the company's Muncy plant. Among the world's leading producers of cereal and convenience foods, Kellogg's is another of Penn College's Corporate Tomorrow Makers.

West Pharmaceutical Services' Ronald Long and Heather Allison provide an overview of the company, a longtime partner of Penn College – also a Corporate Tomorrow Maker – and another early advocate apprenticeship training. Not pictured is Karen Daugherty, a West representative who was also on hand for Industry Day. Long is a 2011 Penn College alumnus, with degrees in electrical technology and electromechanical maintenance technology.