INA, Ill. (November 19, 2024)— This week, Rend Lake College is joining Apprenticeship.gov in celebrating National Apprenticeship Week (NAW). The 10th anniversary of NAW highlights the significance of apprenticeships in the workforce and the community with the theme "10 Years of Engagement, Expansion and Innovation."
The weeklong celebration is an opportunity for schools, organizations, employers, sponsors, grantees, Apprenticeship Specialists and Intermediaries to showcase programs, facilities and apprentices while spotlighting the benefits of learning and earning.
NAW showcases the benefits of apprenticeship programs by bringing together businesses, labor leaders, educational institutions, government agencies, workforce partners, community organizations and career seekers.
Registered Apprenticeship programs enable employers to develop and train their future workforce while offering career seeking students affordable pathways to high-paying, good, quality jobs.
Rend Lake College recognizes the urgent need to prepare students for workforce challenges such as rebuilding our country’s infrastructure, supporting a clean energy workforce, modernizing cybersecurity response and responding to care economy issues.
RLC's Apprenticeship Program is an employer-driven 'learn while you earn' model that provides flexible credit curriculum combined with mentored on-the-job learning experiences. It is our goal to partner and collaborate with area businesses and industries to provide opportunities to receive advanced skill sets meeting industry standards for the long-term careers in our area, and to prepare our students workforce challenges.
Please visit, rlc.edu/apprenticeships, to learn more about the Apprenticeship Program and how to get started!
WHEREAS, National Apprenticeship Week is celebrating its 10th anniversary of raising awareness of the vital role Registered Apprenticeship plays as a proven and industry-driven training model and as a key strategy to improving job quality, and creating access to good-paying, family-sustaining jobs for all, starting with youth and young adults; and
WHEREAS, Rend Lake College recognizes the urgent need to prepare our students to address some of our nation’s pressing workforce challenges such as rebuilding our country’s infrastructure, addressing critical supply chain demands, supporting a clean energy workforce, modernizing our cybersecurity response, and responding to care economy issues; and
WHEREAS, Registered Apprenticeship programs enable employers to develop and train their future workforce while offering career seeking students affordable pathways to high-paying, good, quality jobs; and
WHEREAS, Rend Lake College recognizes the role of Registered Apprenticeship in expanding opportunities in our workforce that are inclusive of individuals who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality, thus providing a path for all qualified individuals, including women, youth, people of color, rural and tribal communities, justice-involved individuals and individuals with disabilities, to become apprentices and contribute to America’s industries; and
WHEREAS, Rend Lake College recognizes the pivotal role educators, school counselors, and educational institutions serve in not only bringing awareness of Registered Apprenticeship opportunities to students and parents, but also serving as training providers, sponsors, and intermediaries.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Maggie Ervin, Director of Workforce Development at Rend Lake College; and, I, Terry Wilkerson, President at Rend Lake College call upon educators and local industry partners to recognize the value of Registered Apprenticeship, and to promote industry awareness and expansion during the 10th anniversary of National Apprenticeship Week: November 17, 2024, through November 23, 2024.
IN SUPPORT,
Maggie Ervin, Director of Workforce Development Terry Wilkerson, President
Rend Lake College Rend Lake College
468 N. Ken Gray Parkway 468 N. Ken Gray Parkway
Ina, IL 62846 Ina, IL 62846