HOPKINSVILLE, KY. (January 19, 2023) Hopkinsville Community College (HCC) will host a HOPFAME open house from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 24, in the Emerging Technologies Building on HCC’s Hopkinsville campus. The event is an informational session for individuals and their families who are interested in a career in advanced manufacturing and are available to begin courses in the fall of 2023. 

The Hopkinsville Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (HOPFAME) is a partnership of nearly 20 regional manufacturers, educational institutions, and community organizations whose purpose is to implement apprenticeship-style training to create a pipeline of highly skilled workers in advanced manufacturing.  

“HOPFAME students have the opportunity to earn a degree with little or no debt and gain experience that starts their future off on the right foot,” said HOPFAME Success Coach Mary-Rachel Leach. “This hands-on, paid experience is ideal for recent high school graduates, military veterans and upskilling current employees.” 

HOPFAME participants attend classes two days a week and work at a sponsoring manufacturer for a competitive wage a minimum of 24 hours each week. This work-and-learn format gives students the opportunity to immediately apply what they learn on campus in a real-world setting at work. Students who complete the five-semester program receive an associate in applied science degree and often graduate with zero student-loan debt. 

The program also addresses common workplace behavior issues that may frustrate employers by incorporating critical personal skills into the curriculum. Behaviors including attendance, communication, diligence, teamwork, interpersonal relations and initiative are emphasized both in the classroom and at the workplace. 

With the practical skills gained during their paid work experience, HOPFAME graduates frequently take full-time positions with their sponsoring companies. Graduates can also continue their education toward bachelor’s degrees in engineering. 

The application deadline for this year’s cohort is March 1, 2023. The application is available online at http://rebrand.ly/HOPFAME. To be considered for the program, an applicant must have a high school diploma or GED and meet minimum requirements on standardized tests in English, math and reading. 

Students who are selected for the program earn a competitive wage while working for one of the HOPFAME sponsoring companies which include: 

  • Brazeway 
  • Comefri 
  • Continental Mills 
  • Douglas Autotech 
  • Huhtamaki 
  • LG Electronics 
  • Martinrea 
  • Metalsa Structural Products 
  • Novelis 
  • Par4 Plastics 
  • Plymouth Engineered Shapes 
  • Pregis 
  • Riken Elastomers 
  • T.RAD North America 
  • Toyoda Gosei 
  • Wabash National 
  • White Drive Products  

To learn more about KYFAME, visit www.KYFAME.com.  

Posted in HOP FAME Chapter, Kentucky