GTCC, NC FAME’s First in Flight chapter graduates 26 in 2026 cohort
Published on: May 11, 2026
Guilford Technical Community College and the North Carolina Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (NC FAME), The First in Flight Chapter, recently graduated its second cohort of 26 student recruits.
Six of the 11 NC FAME partnering manufacturers sponsored students in the graduating class of 2026, with Procter & Gamble and ABCO Automation each sponsoring two students; MasterBrand Cabinets, Smurfit Westrock, and Ziehl-Abegg sponsoring one student each; and Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina sponsoring 19 students.
The 2026 GTCC, NC FAME class includes:
- Timothy Bell – Toyota
- Charley Crowther – Smurfit Westrock
- Jacob Dallas – Toyota
- Kanyon Fleenor – Toyota
- Marielou Garrard – Toyota
- Zack Guill – Toyota
- Gaige Hall – Toyota
- Khniya Hames – Toyota
- Hayley Hart – Toyota
- Josalyn Hernandez Rodriguez – Toyota
- Arlen Hurne – ABCO Automation
- Luke Johnson – Toyota
- Morgan Loman – Toyota
- Jalen McNairy – Toyota
- Monica Molina Palao – Toyota
- Rosa Nie Brit – Ziehl-Abegg
- Joaquin Ortiz – Toyota
- Valeria Perdomo Osorio – Procter & Gamble
- Jacob Poe – Toyota
- Jackson Pollock – ABCO Automation
- Darien Shaw – MasterBrand Cabinets
- Daniel Soto-Monter – Toyota
- Fernando Soto-Monter – Toyota
- Antonio Tamayo-Fryar – Toyota
- Parker Thomas – Procter & Gamble
- Evan Willien – Toyota
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 with the goal of equipping students with the skills required for a rapidly evolving manufacturing landscape. NC FAME, The First in Flight Chapter, works with GTCC to educate students in a college setting while also providing on-the-job training with sponsoring manufacturers.
“NC FAME is a vital bridge that connects talented young minds with leading employers in North Carolina,” said Hillary Walser, president of NC FAME, First in Flight Chapter. “We are creating pathways to rewarding careers, strengthening our local economies, and ensuring North Carolina remains competitive in the global marketplace. NC FAME students are leading their companies into the future by combining strong, skilled-trade education with real-world work experience that delivers immediate value to the workforce."
NC FAME graduates work three days a week with their sponsoring employer and attend classes at GTCC the other two days, and they are paid for 40 hours each week. After earning an average of 1,800 hours of on-the-job experience, 85% of graduates proceed to direct employment with a sponsoring company. NC FAME graduates can also transfer their credits to a four-year university to pursue a variety of STEM programs.
“The past two years have been exciting,” said GTCC President Anthony Clarke, Ph.D. “As we celebrate our second graduating cohort, these students have played a vital role in shaping the NC FAME program at GTCC into what it is today. We are proud to honor their accomplishments and look forward to seeing the impact they will make as they enter our local workforce.”
The First in Flight Chapter includes 11 employers: Cascade Die Castings Group in High Point; Jowat Corporation in Archdale; Karl Mayer in Greensboro; MasterBrand Cabinets in Lexington; Ontex in Stokesdale; Procter & Gamble in Greensboro; Thomas Built Buses in High Point; Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina in Liberty; Ziehl-Abegg in Greensboro; ABCO Automation in Browns Summit; and Smurfit Westrock in Winston-Salem.
For more information on the NC FAME, The First in Flight Chapter at GTCC, visit gtcc.edu/gtccfame/.
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