By Jessica Dillon
Patrick & Henry Community College, on March 23 recognized a new apprenticeship agreement with Nilit, highlighting a partnership aimed at connecting students directly to the workforce.
Representatives from NILIT, Martinsville Henry County Chamber of Commerce, Minority Business Consortium, and Virginia Career Works joined P&HCC staff in celebrating the commitments of Cole Burgess, Laura Sutphin, and Jacob Wynn as they begin their path as journeymen.
“Dr. Hodges is big on what we call the JOB degree,” said Terrance Strickland, coordinator of technical programs. “Our purpose here at Patrick & Henry Community College is to make sure students leave our walls with jobs. That’s really what we’re here for. Our walls and our doors are open, because most students can be successful. And we need partnerships with companies like Nilit.”
College President Greg Hodges emphasized the same goal.
“We award credentials with lots of fancy acronyms, but in fact, what we award is the JOB degree,” Hodges said. “We could not be more thrilled today to sign up for our first three registered apprenticeships. Thank you to our faculty and to Nilit for the confidence in us to be able to partner with you all. We believe this is a partnership that will pay dividends for our students, for our companies, and for our community at large.”
Nilit officials said the program was developed in response to ongoing challenges in hiring skilled workers. The company had spent more than a year searching for a journeyman electrician, bringing in candidates who ultimately did not remain with the company.
That led the company to take a different approach by investing in students early.
Under the program, students begin as interns while completing their education, with an emphasis on ensuring their schooling is not disrupted. After graduation, the internships transition into apprenticeships.
The apprenticeship program was developed with support from the Expanding Talent through Registered Apprenticeship (ExTRA) initiative, which is designed by IALR to help employers across Southern Virginia create and implement state-registered apprenticeship programs. Apprenticeships provide on-the-job training, related technical instruction (which is classroom instruction), and paid employment. As the “pinnacle” of work-based learning, registered apprenticeships equip participants with the skills needed to succeed in high-demand industries.
IALR’s ExTRA program is increasing apprenticeship opportunities across multiple sectors, initially focusing on construction, healthcare, early childhood education, manufacturing, and information technology. Since 2022, ExTRA has helped register 170 apprentices and has established 45 apprenticeship programs with 26 different employers. With many more programs in development, ExTRA continues to expand its impact in the region.
“This apprenticeship program is part of a larger effort to provide young people with opportunities to gain valuable skills while addressing workforce needs in key industries,” said Natori Neal, Apprenticeship Coordinator at IALR. “By helping employers implement these programs, we ensure that students not only receive high-quality training but are also able to contribute to the local economy as skilled workers.”
Burgess has been in the program for nearly a year, while Wynn has participated for six months and Sutphin for three months.
Businesses that are interested in learning about apprenticeships can visit the ExTRA website and contact Natori Neal.
