Front – Shaheem Freeney, Lane White, Jomar Medero Montanez, Carlos Soto, Christopher Calladine, Jonathan White-Smith. Back – William McArthur, Thorne Springstead, Jacob Wasberg, Eric Witherow, Abigail DeGolier, Anna North, Bailey Steenburn.

JAMESTOWN – Jamestown Community College held a signing day for the first recipients of the Workforce Readiness Scholarship at the Jamestown Campus.

The students, who will graduate from high school this month, signed a letter of intent to enroll in Manufacturing Technology Institute programs at JCC, beginning this fall.

Recipients include Christopher Alladine, Abigail DeGolier, Shaheem Freeney, William McArthur, Jomar Medero Montanez, Anna North, Carlos Soto, Thorne Springstead, Bailey Steenburn, Alexander Tremblay, Jacob Wasberg, Lane White, Jonathan White-Smith, and Eric Witherow.

The scholarship is available to qualified high school graduates in Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany, Warren, Forest, Potter, McKean, Elk, and Cameron counties and in Corry and North East.

“The Workforce Readiness Scholarship was designed for high school students, especially those at BOCES centers or technology academies, who want to join the workforce immediately after college,” said JCC President Daniel DeMarte.

Workforce Readiness Scholarship recipients will benefit from exposure to state-of-the-art, high-speed, high-tech work environments and more paid hands-on experiences.

The Workforce Readiness Scholarship covers in-state tuition, fees, books, and program supplies to students enrolled in programs offered at JCC’s Manufacturing Technology Institute, including the industrial equipment technology, machine tool technology, welding technology, and CAD/CNC certificate programs and the welding technology and mechanical technology degree programs.

To maintain eligibility, students must be matriculated in and pursuing full-time coursework associated with one of the specified degrees or certificates and complete at least 12 credits per semester with a minimum 2.0 semester and cumulative GPA.

Scholarship recipients are matched with an employer who will provide either part-time employment, a paid internship, or an apprenticeship.

The Manufacturing Technology Institute, located on JCC’s Jamestown and Cattaraugus County campuses, offers manufacturing and manufacturing-related programs in partnership with MAST. MTI programs are establishing work readiness pathways for students with local manufacturers while providing employers with a skilled workforce.