Wayne Community College’s Apprenticeship Wayne program has officially welcomed 94 new students who are starting an apprenticeship this fall.
Several students and their employers attended a signing ceremony held at WCC to mark the beginning of their apprenticeship journey.
Established in 2019, Apprenticeship Wayne is registered with ApprenticeshipNC and the U.S. Department of Labor. Since its inception, it has supported over 100 apprentices in a wide range of industries, including automotive, advanced manufacturing, HVAC, machining, education, and healthcare.
The apprentices earn credentials and learn specialized skills through a combination of classroom instruction and on-the-job training, receiving a paid work-based learning experience.
“Apprenticeships are not just training; they are a launching pad into your future,” WCC President Patty Pfeiffer told the students at the signing ceremony.
This year, individuals in four different occupations will gain skills through Apprenticeship Wayne. The 10 employers with new apprentices are:
Allegiance Industries: eight electricians
Eastern Electrical Corporation: 11 electricians
Electrical Technologies, Inc.: three electricians
Flowers Foods: two industrial maintenance technicians
Lewis Electric of Oxford, Inc.: three electricians
Pitt Electric: 21 electricians
Triple-R Electric: 29 electricians
UNC Health Wayne: five medical lab technicians
Via Electric: five electricians
Wayne County Public Schools: seven K–12 teachers
WCC’s apprenticeship model has received statewide and national recognition. Through Apprenticeship Wayne, WCC and Wayne County Public Schools made history in May of 2025 by graduating the first K–12 teacher apprentice in North Carolina.
Dr. Marc Whichard, superintendent of Wayne County Public Schools, said he believes apprenticeships drive economic development as they allow individuals to stay local and become productive members in the community. “Here in Wayne County, the apprenticeship program is not only alive and well; it is thriving,” he said.
At the signing ceremony, Pfeiffer told the employer partners that they are making a powerful statement by investing in students’ lives. “You are not just offering jobs,” she said. “You are shaping futures, strengthening our workforce, and making a real impact in the lives of these young professionals and in our community as a whole.”
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.