As Washtenaw Community College prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary, we recognize
the thousands of alumni who turned opportunity into achievement. For six decades,
WCC has opened doors to education, careers and brighter futures — and these 60 Stories that will be compiled over the year reflect that enduring mission.
Employment research indicates that up to 90 percent of apprentices retain employment after completing their program, often with the same employer who invested in their training.
Andrew Matthews is proudly part of that 90 percent.
Matthews, 33, attended Washtenaw Community College for two years, starting in the winter of 2023, while enrolled in the Magna Apprenticeship Program which he completed with a Robotics Technician certificate and apprentice certification.
He admits the experience was challenging, but certainly helped prepare him for the present and future in a growing and demanding field.
“It was a rough time, balancing the work hours from Magna and learning as much as possible from the courses I took to apply what I learned at work,” said Matthews. “The program very much helped my understanding of robotics and welding, which helped me perform exceptionally well as an apprentice.”
Magna, located in 28 countries, engineers and manufactures automotive parts and systems. Matthews landed a job at one of the company's assembly plants in New Hudson.
Magna started its apprenticeship program in 2019, providing opportunities in the positions of Tool and Die Maker and Mechatronics Technician. WCC is the company's only education partner.
“We love working with WCC,” said Toni Jackson, Senior HR Generalist with Magna. “They have customized the classroom training to fit our needs, they are very easy to work with and are always responsive and supportive of our students.”
Mattews said the program was recommended to him by other weld technicians and contractors at Magna. Since completing the program, he has been hired as a full-time Robotic Weld Technician.
“My experience at WCC was great, especially for someone who had next to no experience with robotics or mechatronics,” said Matthews. “I would highly recommend WCC to people wanting to further their education.”
---
This story can be found in the Summer 2026 edition of Launch magazine. Read the full publication.
Tags: 60 Stories, Alumni Profile, Apprenticeship Programs, Apprenticeships, Launch Summer 2026, Robotics