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RAYMOND – Four ��«Ӱҵ students signed apprenticeship agreements with Continental Tire as part of National Apprenticeship Week Nov. 13-19.

The four are Jaylen McGriggs of Clinton, Bryce Rebert of Bovina, Ashley West of Bolton and Quentin Nelson of Jackson.

Continental Tire pays for tuition, books and tools for apprentices in the Production Technologist registered apprenticeship program, which is sponsored by ��«Ӱҵ. Apprentices work full-time at Continental Tire while enrolled in the Electro-Mechanical Technology program.

“Students like these are a step ahead because people have to have this degree for Maintenance Technician to get into our maintenance department,” said Marnise Webb, manager for CT’s Organizational Design team. She was among five Continental Tire representatives who attended the signing ceremony.

She said students will have their Maintenance Technician degree at the end of the apprenticeship, and this accomplishment will open more doors for them.

“These students will have a unique opportunity. They can take advantage of our tuition reimbursement program and our partnership with Mississippi State, and they can go on to become an engineer, if that’s what they want to do,” Webb said.

Josh Bower, ��«Ӱҵ Dean of Agriculture and Transportation and the Director of Talent, Workforce & Economic Development, said that Continental Tire is a huge part of what makes the Electro-Mechanical pathway a wise choice.

“Over the years, it has been exciting to see apprentices move into bigger roles at the Clinton plant,” Bower said, “We have a student now who came through here and worked at Continental and now Continental is paying for them to go to a four-year university. To be mentored at a world-class company like Continental signifies excellence.”

Another apprenticeship partner is Clinton Public Schools. McGriggs, a Clinton High graduate, successfully completed dual enrollment courses in the Electro-Mechanical Technology program while still in high school

“We work really hard to help students understand what’s out there, no matter what their plans are,” said Dr. Bill Hardin, CTE Director for Clinton Public Schools. “But Continental Tire and Clinton Schools have a partnership, and we have a partnership with ��«Ӱҵ. This program is a culmination of all of us coming together.”

Also during the ceremony, Gage Treubel of Vicksburg was recognized for completing his Production Technologist apprenticeship. He received a certificate of completion from the U.S. Department of Labor.

��«Ӱҵ has a Mississippi Apprenticeship Program grant through the Mississippi Department of Employment Security and the U.S. Department of Labor. The grant has helped support registered apprenticeship programs like the one at ��«Ӱҵ.