FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
INA, Ill. (July 5, 2023) — Rend Lake College recently welcomed high school students for the college's Pre-Apprenticeship Manufacturing class.
During this three-week-long course, students received instruction in areas related to industrial electronics and maintenance, and job site safety. In addition, students will receive training in basic employability skills, designed to enhance the pre-apprenticeship participant’s value as a future employee. Students gained exposure to different career paths in the industrial electronics and maintenance field through industry visits and engaged with in-district employers to become more aware of employment opportunities that exist within our local economy.
Supported by the Innovative Bridge and Transition Program grant provided by the Illinois Community College Board, the pre-apprenticeship project was offered free of charge to high school juniors and seniors.
After the program, students left with a better understanding of advanced manufacturing principles and techniques that will benefit them in college and beyond. By completing this course, they have taken an important step forward in their educational journey to pursue careers in high-tech manufacturing occupations.
"Rend Lake College is proud to offer these types of programs that help local high school students develop skills that will help them transition successfully into higher education and beyond," said Kim Wilkerson, Associate Vice President of Career Technical Education and Student Support at RLC. "We hope these experiences encouraged them and gave them the confidence needed to pursue a strong career in advanced manufacturing."
Last June, RLC was awarded a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) to construct the new Southern Illinois Manufacturing Academy. SIMA will be a state-of-the-art manufacturing training center located at the RLC MarketPlace in Mt. Vernon. Read more about SIMA here.
