Eighteen high school students completed Wayne Community College’s inaugural electrical wiring pre-apprenticeship program this summer, spending eight weeks gaining valuable workforce and employability skills.
The Careers Electric Summer Academy provided students with hands-on training, industry-valued credentials, and real-world experience as they learned basic wiring, safety practices, and proper tool usage. Participants were able to connect with local employers and professionals as they explored career pathways in the electrical industry.
WCC partnered with Pitt Electric to offer the program, helping students discover how to pursue apprenticeships and entry-level career opportunities.
Students received a stipend and tool kit upon completing the program.
Isaias Hernandez Roman graduated from Spring Creek High School this year and has spent the last several weeks growing his skillset through WCC’s Careers Electric Summer Academy. “I worked in construction, and I didn’t know anything about electrical work, so I decided to get more experience that would hopefully lead me to a career as an electrician,” he said. “It was a wonderful experience. I want to continue to do electrical work.”
Aiden Fedak is also a recent high school graduate who is grateful to have joined the program. “That was probably one of the greatest decisions I’ve made so far in my life,” he said. “The program was incredible. I recommend it to anybody who is looking into electrical work in general.” Fedak is now interested in working within the residential side of the electrical field.
Careers Electric is an initiative of the Siemens Foundation and was launched in the state by the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE). The goal of the initiative is to expand access to high-quality electrical training and create clear pathways to well-paying, in-demand electrical careers, meeting the nation’s growing electrification needs.
WCC Apprenticeship and Work-Based Learning Specialist Kaelyn Kornegay said she was proud of the College’s pre-apprentices and thankful to the NCBCE and the Siemens Foundation for allowing WCC to offer the program.
“We have a strong electrical apprenticeship program here at WCC, so to provide high school students with the opportunity to explore this career field and funnel straight into a registered apprenticeship program is huge,” Kornegay said. “These students are not only walking away with an OSHA certification and tangible electrical skills; they’re also now able to walk right into an apprenticeship opportunity with some of our employer partners.”
WCC was one of 12 community colleges in NC to host a summer electrical academy.
“North Carolina’s greatest strength is its people, and the state’s continued growth starts with an investment in our future workforce,” Governor Josh Stein said in a press release about the academies. “These electrical academies will prepare the next generation of electrical professionals, create opportunities for students, and support the long-term growth of our economy.”
The students who completed the Careers Electric Summer Academy at WCC are:
Umarja Anderson – Wayne Preparatory Academy
Jessie Carrillo – Faith Christian Academy
Josuhar Castro – Spring Creek High School
Milton Cruz Parada – Spring Creek High School
Laken Faulk – North Duplin High School
Aiden Fedak – Homeschool
Jordan Flora – Southern Wayne High School
Sawyer Grainger – Southern Wayne High School
Angel Gurrola Garcia – Spring Creek High School
Anthony Hargrave – Acellus
Isaias Hernandez Roman – Spring Creek High School
Erich Hoffman – Charles B. Aycock High School
Hayden Parrish – Wayne Christian School
Elisha Powell – Faith Christian Academy
Kenneth Terrell – Spring Creek High School
Luis Trejo – Greene Central High School
Noah Whitley – Rosewood High School
Tajaun Wilson – Rolesville High School
About Wayne Community College
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves around 10,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 150 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.