Can you describe how your apprenticeship system's ecosystem works and what it takes to make that collaboration between secondary schools, the college, employers, and workforce partners? What does it take to make that so successful?

Yes.

So I believe that the success of our apprenticeship program comes down to one thing, and that is relationships.

At Southeastern Community College, we don't just work with our partners, we work alongside them.

We build strong and trusting relationships with our local school systems, our employers, workforce partners, economic developers, and also our community organizations.

I believe that we all share that same goal, and that's preparing our students for careers and the needs for our county.

I also believe one of the things that make our program unique is that we don't just wait for students to graduate high school, we start earlier.

So what results of the apprenticeship program have surprised you the most? And then share with us some of the impacts that you're seeing, whether that's student success, employers engagement into the apprenticeship program, and even the broader economic impact into your region.