Washtenaw Community College continues to strengthen the state’s advanced manufacturing workforce through its partnership with the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME).
The college welcomed its fourth cohort of 14 students to the MI FAME Mitten Chapter during a special Signing Day event on Monday, June 15. The chapter is Michigan’s only affiliate of the nationally recognized FAME program, which is administered by the Manufacturing Institute. There are more than 40 FAME chapters operating across 16 states.
“Congratulations on making this very ambitious choice,” Meg Wallace, a Senior Engineer at Toyota Research & Development North America and MI FAME chapter president, said in her address to the students. “It’ll be hard work, but it will pay off. … Education is always a wise investment and I’m so glad that you’re taking advantage of it.”
The FAME program combines classroom instruction with paid industry experience, allowing students to earn a Mechatronics-Robotics and Automated Systems associate degree while building the technical and professional skills sought by advanced manufacturing employers. The five-semester program includes three days a week at the workplace — where students complete more than 1,800 hours of paid, hands-on training — and two days of classes at WCC.
Interest in the program continues to grow. More than 40 applicants competed for the available positions in this year’s cohort.
Eleven employer partners are participating in the program, either by welcoming new apprentices or continuing to mentor students from previous cohorts. The eight employers sponsoring new members of the incoming class include:
- EDJY – Wyatt Ternes
- Guardian Glass: Noah Ivey
- Moeller Aerospace: Gunnar Carpenter
- MTS Systems: Jacob Taljonick
- Novi Precision: Michael Niles and John Allen
- Orbitform: Bryce Hildebrandt
- Toyota Research & Development North America: Daniel Damitio, Dylan Presley and Logan Meyers
- VRSI: Alexandra Hegeman
In addition, three individuals were selected as “shadow students,” allowing them to participate in the academic component of the program while remaining available to fill openings should a cohort member leave the program. The shadow students are Landen Garland, Miles Milliken and Braezon Wooley.
Employer sponsors provide students with paid work experience, mentorship and on-the-job training throughout the program, helping bridge the gap between classroom learning and career success while supporting the state’s growing demand for highly skilled manufacturing talent.
Tags: Advanced Manufacturing, Apprenticeships, FAME, MI FAME