GTCC and the Federation of Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME) sign 29 students for the class of 2026

At host school Guilford Technical Community College, the North Carolina Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (NC FAME), The First in Flight Chapter, second class is made up of 29 student recruits.

JAMESTOWN, N.C. (June 13, 2023) –  Guilford Technical Community College and the North Carolina Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (NC FAME), The First in Flight Chapter, recently signed its second class of 29 student recruits.

Six of the seven NC FAME companies signed students for the class of 2026. Those companies include ABCO Automation, Jowat Corporation, MasterBrand Cabinets, Proctor & Gamble, Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina, and WestRock.

The FAME program is designed for those interested in pursuing a career in STEM-related fields in manufacturing and provides a two-year, debt-free associate degree to equip students with the skills required for a rapidly evolving manufacturing landscape. NC FAME, The First in Flight Chapter, will work with GTCC to educate students in a college setting, while also providing on-the-job training with one of the NC FAME sponsor companies.

"NC FAME is not just a pathway to individual success, it is the start of vital threads weaving through the fabric of communities, fostering skill, knowledge, and prosperity for generations to come,” said Hillary Walser, president of NC FAME, First in Flight Chapter.

FAME was created by Toyota and moved to the Manufacturing Institute for national scaling in 2019. Today, the Manufacturing Institute, as the workforce development and education partner of the National Association of Manufacturers, supports FAME USA, which has grown to include over 40 chapters supported by more than 425 company partners across 16 states.

“We’re excited to welcome our new class to the NC FAME – The First in Flight Chapter,” said GTCC President, Anthony Clarke, Ph.D. “As we’ve worked with and gotten to know the current FAME class, we’ve already seen their growth and excitement for the program. It will be extremely beneficial to have those students share and support the next class as they all work toward a high-paying job right here in the Triad.”

Students selected for the program will have a paid position three days a week with a sponsor employer and attend classes at GTCC the other two days. After receiving 1,800 hours of on-the-ground experience, 85% of graduates proceed to direct employment with a sponsoring company and earn wages that are, on average, 25% more than non-FAME graduates. FAME graduates are also able to transfer their credits to a four-year university to pursue a variety of STEM programs.

The First in Flight Chapter includes seven employers: Jowat Corporation in Archdale, MasterBrand Cabinets in Lexington, Proctor & Gamble in Greensboro, Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina in Liberty, ZIEHL-ABEGG in Greensboro, ABCO Automation in Browns Summit, and WestRock in Winston Salem.

For more information on the NC FAME, The First in Flight Chapter at GTCC, visit gtcc.edu/gtccfame/.

The Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME) network is comprised of employer-led chapters sponsoring students through a work/learn model over five semesters in conjunction with a college partner. The Advanced Manufacturing Technician (AMT) program, a FAME co-op, produces global-best, entry-level multiskilled maintenance technicians to excel in today’s advanced manufacturing environments. The FAME USA network is managed and supported by The Manufacturing Institute; learn more at FAME-USA.com.