Northwest-Shoals Community College hosted the 2021-2022 Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education Signing Day for 18 students on the Shoals campus July 29, and the event included three students from Franklin County.

The FAME program is a pathway to a challenging and well-paying career as a multi-skilled technician, according to coordinators. Students will attend classes two full days per week, 16-20 hours per week, while working three full days a week, 24-plus hours, with a sponsoring company.

Each student will be sponsored by local business or industry.

FAME students earn a competitive wage while attending college and gain work experience. The first FAME class graduated from NW-SCC in May 2021 with 100 percent job placement.

“This group has been working all summer and taking a summer class, and they’ve done really well so far,” said Allison Mefford, FAME signing coordinator. “I think it’s an exciting group, and they have lots of potential to excel in the program.”

The 2020-2021 Alabama FAME Advanced Manufacturing Technician program at NW-SCC has 13 students. The new class will bring the two-year program’s capacity to 31.

Three Franklin County students signed onto the program Thursday:

• Dilan Blake Saint, of Russellville, will be working at North American Lighting
• Josue Miguel Sop, of Russellville, will be working at G&G Steel
• Shawn Anthony Shackleford, of Russellville, will be working at Constellium

“My dream is to work in the field of robotics and machinery,” said Saint, a 2018 graduate of Russellville High School. “I want to become a multi-craft maintenance technician. I have a strong passion for this field.”

Sop, another graduate of Russellville High, said he sees FAME as “an amazing opportunity.”

“I plan to take full advantage of what it offers,” said Sop, who is a first-generation college student.

NW-SCC has formed FAME partnerships with 17 local businesses. The FAME class consists of 18 students selected by the following companies: Constellium, Essity, Forsythe and Long Engineering, G&G Steel, Jack Daniel’s Cooperage, Kith Kitchens, McVantage, North American Lighting and Southwire.

“The FAME program will provide me with the fundamentals to become an outstanding industrial technician,” said Shackleford, another recent graduate of Russellville High School. “The experiences I will gain from working through this program will bound the foundation for me to become successful.”

“I think it’s a fantastic opportunity not only for high school students, but also for anyone since there’s not an age limit on the program,” Mefford added. “Anybody who is interested can interview and apply to be a part of it.”