Release:
VALDOSTA, Ga. – Wiregrass Georgia Technical College and Wild Adventures are partnering to provide an apprenticeship opportunity for Wild Adventures employees receiving training through Wiregrass’ Economic Development. The apprenticeship program is a method of training individuals in a trade using a combination of on-the-job skills development and classroom/lab related instruction.
John Hall, Chris Longstreet, and Micheal Torres are part of the custom-designed maintenance technician apprenticeship program at Wiregrass and Wild Adventures is providing positions as Industrial Maintenance Mechanics. This custom program was possible thanks to an American Apprenticeship Initiative (AAI) Grant that allows technical colleges like Wiregrass to train workers in field. These funds are being used for apprenticeship enhancement opportunities related to ten approved programs of study that are covered under the Georgia HOPE Career Grant. The AAI grant funding is being used to work with area businesses like Wild Adventures to train current employees who register as apprentices through Wiregrass. The Wild Adventures apprentices will receive training in Industrial Maintenance by way of a non-credit, contract training agreement between Wiregrass Economic Development and Wild Adventures.
The apprenticeship program has proven to benefit business and industry in recruiting, training, and retaining highly skilled workers. Partnering with the college in hiring students through the apprenticeship program has also shown a reduction in turnover costs, higher productivity, and a more diverse workforce.
If your business would like to learn more about the apprenticeship program, please contact Nicole West, Executive Director of Departmental Affairs. She can be reached at nicole.west@wiregrass.edu, or by calling 229-249-4837.
There are over seven majors that qualify for the HOPE Career Grant, and several of those programs are on the approved apprenticeship list. Eligible students could have their college tuition and fees completely covered by the HOPE Grant and the HOPE Career Grant! Visit www.wiregrass.edu to learn more about the programs Wiregrass offers. The college is accepting new students for Fall Express term, classes start September 23.
Wild Adventures Theme Park is located at the halfway point between Atlanta, Ga. and Orlando, Fla. off Interstate 75 and is home to more than 40 family and thrill rides, hundreds of exotic animals, dozens of concerts and special events each year and Splash Island Waterpark, named in 2018 as one of the “Top 30 Waterparks” in the country by U.S. News and World Report. Wild Adventures is ranked as the Fifth Most Affordable Theme Park in America in the Theme Park Price Index published by HomeToGo.
