JWCC-FAME signing ceremony sees 10 student sign with six regional manufacturers

QUINCY — John Wood Community College held a signing ceremony for 10 students selected to join the Great River chapter of the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME) on Wednesday, June 11 in the main lobby of the JWCC Workforce Development Center, 2710 N. 42nd.

Great River FAME is a local chapter of FAME USA, a national workforce development program designed to build a pipeline of highly skilled technicians for the manufacturing industry. The program is a partnership between JWCC, FAME USA, the Great River Economic Development Foundation (GREDF), and six area manufacturers: ADM, DOT Foods, Gardner Denver, General Mills, Knapheide and Titan International.

FAME students earn an associate’s degree in applied science in advanced manufacturing technology while working three days per week with a sponsoring employer and attending JWCC two days per week for hands-on technical instruction. The program emphasizes professional competencies, safety and lean manufacturing practices.

Students signed letters of intent with the following employer sponsors:

• Shane Alberts – Gardner Denver (Quincy)
• David Goerlich – DOT Foods (Quincy)
• Jaren Henry – Gardner Denver (Bowen)
• Garrett Tunget – Knapheide (Quincy)
• Treyton Clements – Titan International (New London, Mo.)
• Nathan Sparks – ADM (Lewistown, Mo.)
• Christopher Alspaw – General Mills (Canton, Mo.)
• Aaron Clevenger – Knapheide (Camp Point)
• Matthew Torres – General Mills (Quincy)
• Rex Toliver – Titan International (Durham, Mo.)

The event featured remarks from JWCC’s Josh Welker, dean of business services and institutional effectiveness and an introduction by program coordinator Dave Hetzler, with Cole Schwartz, director of workforce and community development at GREDF, serving as emcee. Representatives from each partnering company co-signed official documents with their respective student signees. Family members, faculty, peers and industry partners attended to support and celebrate the students.

For more information on the Great River FAME program, visit jwcc.edu/FAME or contact Gavin Ideus at gideus@jwcc.edu.