Midlands Technical College celebrates Youth Apprenticeship Signing Day

This summer, six Midlands Technical College (MTC) dual enrollment students from Richland School District Two were selected to be youth apprentices with Prisma Health. These students will be working at Prisma Health, earning paychecks as nursing support apprentices, while finishing their junior and senior years of high school.

This year marks the third cohort of students to sign an apprenticeship with Prisma Health. The six students in this year’s cohort are: Gabrielle Davis, Amaya Gardner, Kyra Hicks, Betty Lawer, Taylor Macon, and Teresia Massawe. They were carefully selected for the program, navigating a thorough selection process that entailed creating resumes, writing cover letters, finding references, and participating in interviews.

The program – a partnership between Prisma Health, Apprenticeship Carolina, Richland School District Two, and Midlands Technical College – gives pre-nursing pathway students real-life experience and hands-on learning as they work toward high-demand careers. This very rigorous apprenticeship includes being concurrently enrolled in MTC classes and high school classes, as well as working at Prisma Health.

At the signing day, several key partners addressed the students and audience. Following are some of the highlights.

• Chelsea Chestnut, Prisma Health’s Nursing Academic Services Manager, said, “The students will learn how to interact with patients, support the care team, and develop foundational patient care skills. They also gain valuable soft skills that extend far beyond the clinical setting.”
• Kirsten Pratt, Associate Vice President at Apprenticeship Carolina, “Youth apprenticeship programs give students the experience, skills, and confidence they need to succeed. Combining high school curriculum with critical on-the-job training from a local employer, these students receive education and skills while also earning a paycheck.”
• “Together we’re helping bridge the gap between the classroom and workplace, and ensuring that our students graduate, but not only with knowledge, but meaningful experiences,” said Jenniferr Cain, Director of College and Career Initiatives at Richland School District Two.
• MTC Provost Dr. Barrie Kirk said, “You’re not just thinking about your dreams, you’re taking action on them.”

Learn more about Apprenticeship Carolina, Dual Enrollment at MTC, Prisma Health, and Richland School District Two.