HUNTSVILLE, Ala — J.F. Drake State Community & Technical College students became trailblazers and the faces of a brand new program that allows them to work with Mazda Toyota Manufacturing on Wednesday.
The school held a signing day event to celebrate.
A year and a half later, what started as an idea has come to fruition. Two students picking up a pen and signing on to a brand new program, taking a big step toward a promising future.
We spoke with Darise Andrews, one of the new Drake State apprenticeship students. Andrews says, “Right now, I’m overwhelmed with excitement. Ready to start working.”
Darise Andrews and Jack Crowley are now the first two students in the school’s history to sign on to this new apprenticeship program with Mazda Toyota.
Darise says he’s one step closer to living his dream. He adds, “I was talking to my dad and we talked about working for Toyota and I heard they were coming to town. So, I was like ‘Maybe, I could give it a shot.’ not knowing that they would be coming to my school and interviewing me so I’m very glad for the opportunity… I’m just ready to get to it.”
These students will be working hard. We spoke with Scott Russo, Manager of HR development with Mazda Toyota. She says, “It’s work based learning. So, what they do is they’ll go to school two days a week. Then they’ll come to my plant and work three days a week and we assign mentors. So, we’re with them every day of the week, whether it’s here or in our plant and we’re teaching them.”
This program could help more than just the students.
Russo adds, “You can use it for current employees. Or, we can actually sponsor students and expand this to any company in the region.”
A representative of Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association says auto industry opportunities are growing in North Alabama. We spoke with Lynn Lane, the Vice President of Workforce Development with Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association. She says, “The number of advanced manufacturing career opportunities and growth opportunities here is tremendous.”
The program will take two years to complete. Mazda Toyota says they’ll accept new students similarly to college enrollment practices. So, more interviews could be held next summer.