OEA and Hamilton Career Center Celebrate NOW Graduates
SENECA, S.C. – Nurturing Oconee’s Workforce, NOW, is a unique program designed collaboratively by the Oconee Economic Alliance and the School District of Oconee County. With manufacturing as the back bone of Oconee County, serving as the home to over 60 diverse industries, this innovative program was created to ensure students enter the workforce prepared with a skill set that provides them a competitive edge over their peers. The skill-sets learned today by the students of Oconee prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow, as well as give Oconee County a competitive economic development edge. This is what makes this program a win-win for everyone involved.
The NOW Program is manufacturing focused and began in the fall of 2016. Principals and guidance counselors selected 30 students, 10 from each local high school, to be a part of the inaugural class. Participants attended monthly off-campus meetings that address advanced employment skills as well as learned about programs and careers surrounding machining, welding, maintenance, and engineering. Students were also provided opportunities for industry exposure and networking, sometimes one-on-one, with Oconee County’s top manufacturing employers and partners including: BorgWarner, ITT, I Tech South, Just Aircraft, Sandvik, Itron, Koyo Bearings, Clemson University and Tri-County Technical College. As a result of the networking, many students have and will take part in paid summer internships while others plan on working full-time in their respective field beginning this fall.
The accomplishments of the inaugural class of the NOW students was celebrated at the Hamilton Career Center’s yearly Skills & Scholars Awards Ceremony held on Thursday May, 8th. In attendance were friends, proud parents, extended family, and business leaders eager to celebrate the accomplishments of the students. Also in attendance were key figures who helped orchestrate the creation of the NOW program including: Chad Lusk, Director of the Hamilton Career Center, and Richard Blackwell, Executive Director of the Oconee Economic Alliance.
While several students were recognized as NOW scholars, some students also received college scholarships, paired with industry employment. That is correct; there were students who walked away from the awards ceremony with college scholarships and a job before graduating from high school. That is what we call developing a competitive and viable workforce. One student in particular who received a $3,000 scholarship was Colin Keylon. Colin received the RBC Scholar Award, which will aid in his continued education at Tri-County Technical College in the fall. This is just one of many examples of the support and collaboration between the School District of Oconee County and Oconee County industry, as groups continue to work together to address the issues of workforce development.
As these students step into their futures, we hope they recognize the jump-start they received from being a part of the NOW program. The goal is to continue to foster an environment of collaboration between Oconee County schools and businesses in order to nurture Oconee’s workforce, present and future. Here are the 18 student graduates of the inaugural class of the NOW program and their accomplishments:
Lake Alexander:
High School: West Oak High School Senior
Future Plans: Attend Tri-County Tech in the fall
Course Focus: Mechatronics
NOW Accomplishments: Intern for Sandvik in fall 2017
Ryan Butts:
High School: West Oak High School Senior
Future Plans: Attend Tri-County Tech in the fall
Course Focus: Mechatronics
NOW Accomplishments: Employed by Feltman Brothers in fall 2017
Alex Galvez:
High School: Walhalla High School Senior
Course Focus: PLTW/Engineering
NOW Accomplishments: Intern for PVS Sensors in summer 2017
Olivia Grant:
High School: Walhalla High School Senior
Future Plans: Attend Tri-County Tech to pursue a degree in welding
Course Focus: Welding Engineer
NOW Accomplishments: Intern for Sandvik in summer 2017, Intern for Lift-Tek in summer 2018
Sam Harbin:
High School: West Oak High School Senior
Future Plans: Attend Tri-County Tech Bridge Program in the fall
Course Focus: Agriculture Mechanization
NOW Accomplishments: Intern for ITT in summer 2017, Current Co-op at Baxter/Hi Tech Mold
Tabitha Jiminez:
High School: West Oak High School Senior
Future Plans: Attend Johnson and Wales in the fall on scholarship
Course Focus: Culinary Arts
NOW Accomplishments: Recommended by Culinary Arts Program and took part in all tours
Colin Keylon:
High School: Walhalla High School Senior
Future Plans: Attend Tri-County Tech to pursue a degree in welding
Course Focus: Machine Tool Technology/ Welding
NOW Accomplishments: Recipient of the RBC Scholar Award, Currently employed by Triple J Machining, Intern for Koyo Bearings in summer 2017
Jordan Lee:
High School: West Oak High School Senior
Future Plans: Attend Truett McConnel University in the fall
NOW Accomplishments: Intern for School District of Oconee County in summer/fall 2017
Danny (Trey) Marcengill:
High School: Walhalla High School Senior
Future Plans: Attend Tri-County Tech in the fall
Course Focus: PLTW/Mechatronics
NOW Accomplishments: Intern for US Engine Valve in summer 2017, First student intern for Schneider Electric summer/fall 2018
Adam Moore:
High School: Walhalla High School Senior
Future Plans: Attend Tri-County Tech in the fall
Course Focus: Mechatronics
NOW Accomplishments: Intern for Sandvik in summer 2017
Aaron Moran:
High School: Walhalla High School Senior
Future Plans: Attend Tri-County Tech in the fall
Course Focus: Automotive Technology/ Business Management
NOW Accomplishments: Currently employed by Lake Keowee Chrysler Dodge.
Jesse Murphy:
High School: Walhalla High School Senior
Future Plans: Attend Tri-County Tech in the fall
Course Focus: Machine Tool Technology/ CNC Programing
NOW Accomplishments: Intern for ITT
Logan Richardson:
High School: Seneca High School Senior
Future Plans: Attend Tri-County Tech in the fall
Course Focus: Automotive Technology
NOW Accomplishments: Intern for Brown CNC in summer 2017, Currently employed by Automotive Express
Noah Sheriff:
High School: West Oak High School Senior
Future Plans: Attend Tri-County Tech in the fall
Course Focus: Mechanical Engineering
NOW Accomplishments: Project Lead the Way, Currently employed by Sandvik
Wesley Smith:
High School: Walhalla High School Senior
Future Plans: Attend Tri-County Tech in the fall
Course Focus: Mechatronics/ Engineering
NOW Accomplishments: Completed HCC Mechatronics Program
Ethan Surrat:
High School: West Oak High School Senior
Course Focus: Welding
NOW Accomplishments: Currently employed by Lift-Tek
James Walls:
High School: West Oak High School Senior
Future Plans: Enlisted in the US Army and will report to Fort Hill, OK in July
Paul Wilson:
High School: West Oak High School Senior
Future Plans: Attend Tri-County Tech in the fall
Course Focus: Welding/ Metal Manufacturing
NOW Accomplishments: Current Co-op at Lift-Tek
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Hamilton Career Center
The mission of the Fred P. Hamilton Career Center, in partnership with the home and community, is to enable students to become socially responsible citizens and lifelong learners in a global society. To learn more, please call 864-886-4425.