INA, Ill. (April 30, 2025) — For National Apprenticeship Day, Rend Lake College proudly celebrates a groundbreaking milestone with the graduation of the inaugural class from the Southern Illinois Manufacturing Academy (SIMA).
SIMA provides a unique learning experience, allowing students to create and maintain a fully operational production line with working robots and programmable logic controllers. The facility also includes dedicated spaces for lectures and traditional coursework, creating a well-rounded educational atmosphere that bridges classroom learning with practical industry experience.
Among SIMA’s inaugural graduates are seven apprentices from the Continental Tire ICATT apprenticeship program, a 3-year program specializing in industrial electronics and maintenance. Starting their education on the Ina campus in 2022, this cohort transitioned to studying full-time at SIMA by the Fall 2024 semester. Their hard work and determination have culminated in a significant achievement both for themselves and for the region.
Three of the graduating apprentices—Aaron Webb (McLeansboro), Benjamin Lequerica (Mt. Vernon) and Nicholas Jeffers (Mt. Vernon)—shared their unique experiences and reflections on the program.
Webb shared that he discovered the apprenticeship program through his high school guidance counselor at Hamilton County Senior High School. For Lequerica, the opportunity came through a chance encounter at a hiring event, where he almost went to interview to be a tire builder on accident. Jeffers found the position through a job posting on Indeed, originally not realizing that the apprenticeship offered free schooling along with the potential for a full-time, higher-paying position.
For incoming apprentices, Lequerica offered this advice, “Ask questions. Make sure you know all the expectations of the apprenticeship, what you need to do to complete the program, your wage schedule and the classes you’ll be taking.”
The apprenticeship class of 2025 has set a high standard, laying a foundation not only for their own future careers, but also for the students who will follow in their footsteps. Their success highlights the unique opportunities offered by SIMA and underscores the program’s mission to prepare students for real-world challenges in manufacturing and beyond.
Congratulations to the SIMA Class of 2025 apprentices and kudos to the staff and community whose support has made this achievement possible. Rend Lake College invites prospective students and community members to visit the Southern Illinois Manufacturing Academy and learn more about how it can shape their future.
For more information about the apprenticeship program, visit rlc.edu/apprenticeship, or email Brody Wilson, Coordinator of Industry & Apprenticeship, at wilsonb@rlc.edu.
For more information about SIMA, visit rlc.edu/southern-illinois-manufacturing-academy, or email Chris Sink, Director of Southern Illinois Manufacturing Academy, at sink@rlc.edu.
