Some Rhodes State College students are being honored for their hard work on the job and in the classroom.
In honor of National Apprenticeship Week, GROB Systems in Bluffton presented journeyperson certificates to 4th-year Rhodes students who are part of their apprenticeship program. Students receive on the job learning and training at GROB, and the company pays for their tuition at Rhodes. After they get their associate's degree, students will then dive into a more specialized program to complete their apprenticeship.
"It's hard to get people who want to come and do what we're doing, and overcoming the stigma of working in manufacturing versus going to a four-year education university or whatever else. They get to earn money while they're working, while they're learning going to school, and we are able to get some very highly qualified applicants in our program," said Mark Reed, apprenticeship supervisor.
"Pretty much when I started it, I didn't know anything about machining, and now, I'm nowhere near an expert, but I'm still learning. Still, keep trying to achieve and get better," said Jared Rieman, apprenticeship student.
Reed says that 367 students have been through the program in its thirty years of operation, and 221 of those students remain with the GROB to this day.
