Home News Richland Two holds signing day for student apprentices

Richland Two holds signing day for student apprentices

8/29/2018

Richland School District Two held a signing day on Wednesday, August 29 for two students who have been selected to participate in the Youth Apprenticeship Program.

The event was held at the site of the district’s first Youth Apprenticeship program partner, RAM Clutches, a local family-owned manufacturer of race car clutches. The Richland County Economic Development Office and Apprenticeship Carolina partnered with the school district to launch the apprenticeship program in Richland Two.

The student apprentices are Ridge View High School junior Logan Zeis and Blythewood High School senior Alan Deogracias. Both students worked through the summer at RAM Clutches, but this event marked the official start of the program in Richland Two. District officials, along with the students’ work based learning teachers, parents and the company owners were on hand to support the students as they embark on this new endeavor. RAM Clutches and the two boys are ‘pioneers’ in the apprenticeship program and are helping to blaze the way for others as the program grows.

This program is the first of its kind in the midlands and offers value to both students and local businesses. Students receive invaluable work experience and get paid. For businesses, it’s a workforce development opportunity. There are three components to the apprenticeship program. Each student must receive education pertaining to their work, they must work approximately 2000 hours over the course of two years and receive a scalable wage that grows to reflect their experience and expertise during the time they are with the company.

“Whatever our students decide to do upon graduation from high school, our objective is to make sure they are prepared to lead and excel in their chosen pathways,” said Dr. Baron R. Davis, superintendent. “We established a healthy partnership with RAM Clutches to provide these students with this opportunity. We are honored to be at the forefront of this endeavor of apprenticeships in the Midlands.”

Both Zeis and Deogracias went through an interview process by RAM Clutches prior to being selected for the apprenticeships. The district is working to expand the youth apprenticeship program.

Click here to see photographs from the signing.
Click here to watch a video from the signing.

For more information on the youth apprenticeship program, please contact Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships, Martha Jones, at 803.787.1910 or via email at martjones@richland2.org.