AdvanceSC Grant Supports Welding Training at the Union County Advanced Technology Center
May 16, 2012
SPARTANBURG, SC – May 16, 2012 – AdvanceSC has renewed a $15,000 grant that provides students attending Union County High School’s Career & Technology Center the opportunity to enroll in Spartanburg Community College’s (SCC) dual-credit welding program offered at the Union County Advanced Technology Center (UCATC).
The AdvanceSC grant, funded by Duke Energy, will allow eight high school students to enroll and begin taking classes in SCC’s welding program during their senior year in high school. Upon graduation, these students can seamlessly continue the welding program as full-time SCC students.
“Not only is this an excellent opportunity for students who are seeking a high-tech and high-paying career in welding, but this is also a great time to get into the industry,” said Kathy Jo Lancaster, interim director of SCC’s UCATC.
With several nuclear construction projects in the works in the southeast, demand for skilled welders has increased and will continue to do so in the near future. The AdvanceSC grant will provide students the skills required to compete for, and fill, these positions. While this grant paves the way for students to begin welding careers, it also fosters economic development by helping to meet the growing industry demand for technologically skilled employees in the Upstate and southeast.
“The focus of the grant is to bring together government, industry and educational partners to provide training and activities aimed at creating a pipeline of students ready for, and interested in, technical careers,” explains Lancaster. “These partnerships will streamline education requirements and expectations by creating a coherent pathway linking education to industry in the development of a highly-trained workforce in Union County and beyond.”
This is the third consecutive year that AdvanceSC has awarded the grant to Union County High School.
“We are so pleased to receive this AdvanceSC grant,” said Dr. Kristi Woodall, Union County School District superintendent. “It gives our students the opportunity to learn skills that will help them compete in the workforce after graduation.”
SCC’s UCATC offers beginner and advanced welding courses that start each term. These credits apply towards SCC’s welding associate degree, diploma and certificate programs. Plans are in the approval stage for a welding certificate to be offered at the UCATC in 2013 – providing Union residents the convenience of earning this certificate close to home.
For more information about SCC’s welding programs visit www.sccsc.edu. To inquire about the welding classes offered at the UCATC, call (864) 466-1060.
To view or download a photo of an SCC welding student:
Registration for SCC’s summer and fall classes is going on now. Individuals interested in registering for the summer and/or fall classes can apply online at www.sccsc.edu, or contact any of the following SCC locations for assistance:
- Central Campus, Spartanburg – (864) 592-4800 or toll free (866) 591-3700
- Cherokee County Campus, Gaffney – (864) 206-2700 of toll free (800) 922-3679
- Tyger River Campus, Duncan – (864) 592-6200
- Union County Advanced Technology Center, Union – (864) 466-1060
About Spartanburg Community College
Named one of the fastest-growing colleges in the nation according to Community College Week, SCC offers more than 100 academic programs of study including associate degrees, diplomas and certificates, plus University Transfer opportunities to four-year colleges and universities. SCC provides flexible class scheduling including day, evening, weekend and classes with multiple start dates as well as more than 100 online classes through SCCOnline. Offering the lowest tuition in the region, convenient locations, and regional/national accreditations, SCC offers educational opportunities leading to high-growth, high-demand jobs. The SCC Corporate & Community Education Division provides job and career enhancement, workforce development and personal enrichment courses and training programs. For more information, visit www.sccsc.edu
About AdvanceSC
AdvanceSC is a limited liability company established by Duke Energy in 2004 to support communities in Duke Energy’s South Carolina service area through grants for public assistance and economic development programs. In general, AdvanceSC concentrates on advancing education to support industry, assisting other economic development organizations to attract and retain industries in Duke Energy’s service territory and enhancing the competitive position of manufacturers in Duke Energy’s service territory. For more information, visit www.advancesc.org.
