HUNTSVILLE – Celebrating 15 students selected for its advanced manufacturing technician program, Drake State Community & Technical College hosted its inaugural Federation of Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME) Signing Day today.
In partnership with leading manufacturers, including Mazda-Toyota Manufacturing, Toyota Alabama, Runergy, Bruderer, and Blue Origin, the event honored students as they officially committed to the two-year, employer-sponsored work-study program that combines hands-on training with classroom instruction.
“This was a special moment, not just for these students, but for our industry partners and the entire Huntsville community,” said Dr. Myron Parks, FAME coordinator at Drake State. “FAME is about more than education; it’s about building a sustainable talent pipeline that addresses critical workforce needs. These students are stepping into careers with real purpose, and this signing ceremony was our way of honoring that commitment.”
The students are Thomas Croft, Seth McPherson, Logan Childers, Chalie Sledge, Armani Moore, Mat Klapetek, Tawnya Smith, Diana Pablo, Isaiah Rogers, Luca Andrews, Leo Mina Fernández, Riley Groce, Owen Bergeson, Travis Anderson and Avery Phillips.
Set to begin training this first cohort in August, the Huntsville Tech FAME chapter is designed to prepare students for high-demand, high-wage careers in advanced manufacturing.
Each signing student will alternate between classroom learning and paid, on-site work experience at their sponsoring company. The program curriculum includes industrial automation, robotics, electricity, fluid power, and manufacturing core competencies, along with professional development and lean manufacturing practices.
The program is one of 11 FAME chapters across the Alabama Community College System and more than 40 nationwide.
For more information about the Huntsville Tech FAME program at Drake State, visit drakestate.edu/fame.
