Continental signs first mechatronics technician registered apprentices at Hinds
Pictured (l to r) are, front row: apprentice Jaylen McGriggs, Ken Strader, Augusto Medeiros and apprentice Ashley West; and, back row: Bryce Rebert, Carolyn Bratton, Jeffery Hoovler, Frederick Jefferson, Yevette Davis, Darryl Jenkins and Gage Treubel.
Hinds Community College recently hosted a ceremony for Continental Tire to sign their first Mechatronics Technician registered apprentices during National Apprenticeship Week.
Ashley West of Bolton and Jaylen McGriggs of Clinton are the first apprentices to be promoted into the mechatronics technician registered apprenticeship program. West and McGriggs worked full-time as production technologist apprentices over the past year while completing the required Hinds electro-mechanical technology courses.
“It’s rare to get this type of opportunity,” West said. “As a young lady, I was nervous coming into the apprenticeship program, but I had mentors to guide me in order to succeed. I’m looking forward to this next step in my career with Continental.”
Their strong work ethic and ability to demonstrate the necessary skills check offs allowed them to advance into the mechatronics technician apprenticeship.
“It’s great to see all the hard work is paying off,” McGiggs said. “I’ve moved up in pay and to a new position. My goal is to eventually go to engineering school and grow my career at Continental Tire.”
Continental Tire plans to continue promoting the Hinds-sponsored production technologist and mechatronics technician registered apprenticeship programs.
“Partnering with Hinds has been beneficial for Continental as well as the students,” said Continental Talent Acquisition Manager Yevette Davis. “It gives us an opportunity to build our workforce pipeline and provides the apprentices with practical hands-on experience to compliment the classroom knowledge.”
The Mechatronics Technician signing ceremony also served as a recruitment event for the next round of production technologist apprentices. Hinds Community College electro-mechanical technology students attended the event to learn more about apprenticeship opportunities at Continental.
Gage Treubel of Vicksburg and Bryce Rebert of Bovina, who previously completed the production technologist apprenticeship program, attended the ceremony to celebrate West and McGriggs’ accomplishments and shared about their experiences as apprentices with the Hinds students.
Josh Bower, who serves as Hinds Community College’s Dean of Agriculture and Transportation and Director of Talent, Workforce and Economic Development, collaborated with Continental Tire and the U.S. Department of Labor to establish the two apprenticeship programs.
“It is fantastic to see the positive impact the Continental apprenticeship programs have on our community,” Bower said. “Our students have the unique opportunity to build an incredible career while accumulating no college debt. Continental pays for tuition, books and tools. These apprenticeship programs are life changing.”
