The Dual Enrollment program at Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) and Catoosa County’s From HERE to CAREER! College and Career Academy has cemented a partnership with an area manufacturer of concrete reinforcement fiber.

Sika Corp.’s Chattanooga plant makes concrete reinforcement fibers from polypropylene. Plant leadership said they participate in GNTC’s internship program to nurture the upcoming workforce and to provide a community service.

Georgia’s Dual Enrollment program allows qualified high school students in GNTC’s nine-county service area to maximize their education and career training by taking courses that earn college and high school credit at the same time for free. The program includes the opportunity to earn a Technical Certificate of Credit before graduation.

“We believe the earlier the technical training begins, the more opportunities these students have – even if they don’t go into a technical career,” said Mark Bradford, maintenance manager for Sika Corp.

Sika’s two interns completed Catoosa County’s From HERE to CAREER! Academy’s mechatronics pathway, graduated from high school last year and are working towards their associate degrees in Industrial Systems Technology through GNTC. Zaniel Carroll, 18, went to work for Sika as a maintenance intern about a year ago while 19-year-old Connor Hutchins was hired four months ago; they both work 28 hours per week and attend classes two nights a week, the interns said.

Their mechatronics education equipped them to respond to electrical, mechanical and automation repair calls and to perform preventative maintenance, Bradford said.

“Most businesses are willing to teach the knowledge for the job but also recognize that many people entering the workforce today lack soft skills, such as work ethics, interview skills, arriving on time and being prepared to work,” Bradford said. “I’ve been telling businesses for over 20 years that they need to be involved in the local school system and training at technical colleges because that will give them access to the best and brightest graduates.”