On Thursday, Feb. 24 at 6 p.m., Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College’s SKY FAME program will host a recruitment night for anyone interested in learning more about this work-and-learn program.

The Southcentral Kentucky Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (SKY FAME) is a partnership of regional manufacturers whose purpose is to implement a work-and-learn style program that will create a pipeline of highly skilled workers.

Seven of the 12 members of the current SKY FAME cohort work at Logan Aluminum. The five earlier cohorts have included at least four Logan Aluminum employees, and Russellville’s Emerson Electric has also participated.

With SKY FAME, students can dive into a challenging Advanced Manufacturing career while simultaneously earning a college degree, and the potential to graduate with zero student debt! 

Students selected will attend classes at SKYCTC Franklin-Simpson Center two days a week and work a minimum of 24 hours a week for a local manufacturer – all while being paid a competitive wage. Students study a multi-craft technical skill set, including electricity, robotics, fluid power, mechanics, fabrication, industrial troubleshooting, and much more. After five semesters, students will have earned an Associate Degree in Applied Science in Industrial Maintenance Technology-Advanced Manufacturing Technician Track and over 1,800 hours of on-the-job work experience. 

SKY FAME is currently recruiting for its 7th cohort of students. The program, which began in 2016, has witnessed over 75 students graduate, working at one of 15 manufacturing facilities affiliated with the SKY FAME program.

“I chose SKY FAME because I was looking for hands-on experience, not just college classes,” says SKY FAME student Heath Cross, a graduate of Logan County High School. “I have the chance to learn hands-on every day, whether I am at school or work. I have so many opportunities for my future because of SKY FAME – I will earn an Advanced Manufacturing degree and have work experience when I graduate in 2023. I can go anywhere globally because of the need for maintenance technicians in the manufacturing sector.

“Something I have learned from my sponsoring employer, Fluor, is that safety is the number one priority – I am thinking every day as to how to keep myself and my co-workers safe.” Cross will graduate from the program in 2023 and is currently working as a maintenance technician intern at Fluor at Logan Aluminum.

Cross is a graduate of Logan County High School as are fellow SKY FAME students Madison Simmons and Andrew Lyne.

The recruitment event will be held at SKYCTC’s Franklin-Simpson Center, located at 175 Davis Drive in Franklin, adjacent to Exit 6 off I-65. Door prizes to be given away may include gift cards, and one lucky participant will win a Dell Laptop valued at more than $650! Winners must be present to win.

For more information about the event or SKY FAME, visit www.skyfame.org or contact Kelcie Richart at 270-901-1035 or kelcie.richart@kctcs.edu