Wiregrass student becomes apprentice | News

VALDOSTA — Third-generation technical school scholar Garyson Scheller signed a registered apprenticeship settlement with Whidden Gunworks.

Scheller is a precision machining and manufacturing scholar on Wiregrass Georgia Technical College’s Valdosta campus, school officers mentioned in a press release.

He started working at Whidden Gunworks as a Berrien Excessive College work-based studying scholar.

“Work-based studying is a good pathway into the registered apprenticeship coaching mannequin. We’re a proud that Garyson selected Wiregrass Tech to proceed his household’s technical school legacy,” mentioned Nicole West, Wiregrass director of apprenticeships.

Scheller’s household legacy contains his grandmother, Susan Nelms, clerical/workplace assistant program graduate, his mom, Ashley Scheller, laptop purposes program graduate, and his father, Johnathan Scheller, industrial electrical program graduate.

Registered apprenticeship is a partnership between native trade and the technical school to supply real-world coaching alongside a technical training, school officers mentioned. Scheller is apprenticing at Whidden Gunworks as a machine operator.

After his apprenticeship, Scheller shall be awarded a nationwide Certificates of Completion of Apprenticeship from the U.S. Division of Labor in addition to a precision machining and manufacturing diploma from Wiregrass.

John Whidden, proprietor of Whidden Gunworks, mentioned, “Garyson started employment with us whereas he was in highschool. It’s been an important pleasure to see him be taught and mature in his skills. The apprenticeship program at Wiregrass is a superb match for all of us and we couldn’t be happier to be on a workforce with Garyson and Wiregrass. I encourage anybody who’s trying to develop their expertise to think about an apprenticeship like this.”

Whidden Gunworks manufactures a number of the “most progressive and artistic precision merchandise for the world of aggressive and leisure capturing,” school officers mentioned. “Developed to fulfill the wants of repeated nationwide champions and world document holders, all of their choices are precision capturing merchandise.”

Wiregrass companions with 32 native companies to sponsor apprentices for open employment alternatives. The faculty has 32 energetic scholar apprentices. Moreover, 22 college students have accomplished their registered apprenticeship program and acquired a nationwide certificates of completion, school officers mentioned. This system has confirmed to learn companies and industries in recruiting, coaching and retaining extremely expert employees.

Partnering with the faculty in hiring college students by way of the apprenticeship program has additionally proven a discount in turnover prices, a better productiveness charge and a extra various workforce.

If a enterprise want to be taught extra concerning the apprenticeship program, contact Nicole West at nicole.west@wiregrass.edu or by calling (229) 333-2100, ext. 4837. To be taught extra about Wiregrass Tech, go to any campus or on-line at Wiregrass.edu.