From left, VGCC Director of Occupational Extension Jean Blaine, Tranita Brown of Henderson and VGCC President Dr. Stelfanie Williams are seen here in the Biotech lab on the college’s Main Campus. Brown is one of the first three students to receive a Pre-Apprenticeship certification in BioWork at VGCC, and the most recent. (VGCC photo)
Three local residents were recently recognized as the first Vance-Granville Community College students to earn pre-apprenticeship certifications through the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the NCWorks initiative.
Tranita Brown, Keith Perry and Cheryl Reddrick, all of Henderson, received certificates after completing the BioWork Process Technician program, a training course that prepares individuals for employment within bioprocess, pharmaceutical, or chemical manufacturing companies.
Brown has also completed the Certified Production Technician program at VGCC.
Pre-apprenticeship programs offer short-term training, allowing participants opportunities to explore a particular industry — in this case, biotechnology manufacturing. Participants also earn credit that can carry over to apprenticeship training in the same field.
NCWorks is a partnership involving the Department of Commerce Division of Workforce Solutions, the North Carolina Commission on Workforce Development and the North Carolina Community College System.
According to VGCC Director of Occupational Extension Jean Blaine, one of the benefits of a state-approved pre-apprenticeship program is that NCWorks specialists at the state level, as well as college staff, will help recipients find employment in their chosen fields.
For more information on BioWork or pre-apprenticeship, contact VGCC at oex@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3324.