With industry a growing sector in western Kentucky, programs like Hopkinsville Community College’s HopFAME are becoming very competitive. More than two dozen individuals applied for the industrial maintenance technician program last year.
Instructor, Josey Slaton says students are in class 2 days a week and working 3 days a week, applying their new skills.
He adds the program provides a well-rounded education.
Student, Piper Krohn says she learned about the program from recruiters while in high school.
Krohn works at Novelis through the program and says she indeed does use her newly acquired skills every day.
She encourages even though without the knowledge to consider applying to the program because even if you decide not to pursue it, it is a great stepping stone to pursue engineering. Slaton adds the program is not just a two-year degree or two years part-time employment.
Krohn will graduate in May. The application deadline for the August semester is April 1st. Prospective students must apply to both HCC and the program. Currently, there are 20 business partners who participate in the program.
