"(Winston-Salem, NC) – On June 30, 2015, the U.S. Secretary of
Labor, Thomas E. Perez, and Representative Virginia A. Foxx visited two of Forsyth
Tech’s state-of-the-art facilities. The purpose of the visit was to observe
first-hand the leadership role the college is playing in creating unique apprenticeship
opportunities for students with regional industry partners and supporting regional
workforce development through innovative training programs.
The first
stop for Perez and Foxx was the Forsyth Electrical Lineman Pre-Apprenticeship
program located at the Northwest Forsyth Center in King, NC. Students enrolled
in this program acquire academic and hands-on experience in the utility
industry. Top regional employers, including Pike Electric and Duke Energy, recruit
program graduates to participate in a paid apprenticeship program.
The
Secretary and Congresswoman observed multiple student demonstrations modeling
general and emergency procedures on the electrical poles, which highlighted the
students’ advanced technical capabilities.
In a
conversation with some of the students, Perez said, “You all have a really
bright future ahead; the sky is truly the limit.”
Perez and
Foxx also visited the Oak Grove Center on Forsyth Tech’s Main Campus in
Winston-Salem to view the college’s new, high-tech Science Skills Lab, which is
utilized by biology, chemistry and biotech students.
The lab was
funded by a $15 million Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and
Career Training (TAACCT) grant awarded to Forsyth Tech by the U.S. Department
of Labor in the fall of 2012. Forsyth Tech’s bioscience programs have produced
highly skilled workers who are now employed by top area companies including
Herbalife, Carolina Liquid Chemistries and the Wake Forest Institute for
Regenerative Medicine.
In their
conversation with Perez and Foxx, bioscience students expressed appreciation
for the lab’s flexible hours. Currently, the lab is open and staffed from 7 am-10
pm. Beginning in fall 2015, the lab will also be open on weekends to
accommodate student schedules. Students also spoke highly of the relevance and practicality
of the experiments conducted and the specialized skills they are developing.
Dr. Gary
Green, president of Forsyth Tech, explained how the bioscience programs meet students
where they are, working with their schedules and making their education
possible.
Following
the lab tour, Perez and Foxx met with top area employers for a roundtable
discussion of Forsyth Tech’s current momentum and future. Some of the local
employers who participated included Nanotech Labs, Inc., NC Biotechnology Center,
Herbalife, and Wake Forest Innovations. Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines was also in
attendance.
Foxx, a
former community college president herself, commented, “Forsyth Tech has been a
vital part of the community since it began, leading in innovation for the state
and the country.”
At the conclusion
of the roundtable discussion, Perez commended participants saying, “You have
built culture in your collaborations.”
Forsyth Tech provides students
with flexible educational pathways to a competitive workforce for the community
and global economy. The college offers associate degrees, diplomas, and
certificates in more than 200 programs of study, including programs that
promote personal and professional development through non-credit courses and
seminars, as well as customized training for business and industry. Forsyth
Tech is the sixth largest community college in North Carolina and serves more
than 35,000 students with approximately 1,500 full and part-time faculty and
staff."
- A Press Release
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