CPT Scholarship to Gateway Jumpstarts Manufacturing Careers for Nine Northern Kentucky Students

A scholarship program funded by Duke Energy and Partners for a Competitive Workforce is enabling nine Northern Kentucky high school students to attend Certified Production Technician training at Gateway Community & Technical College.

CPT certification is a nationally recognized, industry-driven credential developed by the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council.

The CPT is widely accepted by manufacturers as an excellent pre-apprenticeship or pre-hire foundational course in manufacturing skills,amp;rdqurdquo; said Carissa Schutzman, dean of Workforce Solutions at Gateway, which provides the training. Anyone who is CPT certified has a head start on a manufacturing career.

Each scholarship is valued at $2,250 and provides for the cost of tuition, books, and assessments for students to complete the MFG 102 CPT course that is also endorsed by the National Association of Manufacturers. Students who successfully complete the course by passing four required assessments will earn six college-credit hours along with certification.

The program provides students with the opportunity to complete their high school graduation requirements while concurrently taking college-level courses. This model allows us to simultaneously address two of manufacturings most critical issues, the skills gap and the talent pipeline, stated Stephen Tucker, Senior Manager, Partners for a Competitive Workforce.

Investing in our future workforce requires immediate attention, especially for those job sectors in Northern Kentucky that are so critical to our economy and where there is a significant shortage, said Rhonda Whitaker, District Manager, Duke Energy Government and Community Relations in Northern Kentucky. Duke Energy has invested heavily over the years in economic development and workforce initiatives, making these CPT scholarships a perfect fit with our investment priorities.

Students receiving the scholarships were selected through a nomination process managed by participating schools. Scholarship recipients are:

Alisha Bagley of Cooper High School in Boone County
Emma Booker, Scott High School, Kenton County
Drew Brumbeck, Simon Kenton High School, Kenton County
Jordan England, Boone County High School
Zack Fuqua, Simon Kenton High School, Kenton County
Meghan Knisely, Ryle High School, Boone County
Rocio Mejia, Dixie Heights High School, Kenton County
Claudia Palacios, Dixie Heights High School, Kenton County
Pryzm Saylor, Ludlow High School, Kenton County

We are ecstatic that our students received this scholarship which provides a unique opportunity to work closely with industry professionals, learning cutting-edge workplace skills. Strong partnerships --such as this one with Gateway--provide innovative ways for Boone County students to become college, career, and life ready, said Karen Cheser, Chief Academic Officer, Deputy Superintendent, Boone County Schools.

The Kenton County School Districts mission is to ensure that every student is prepared for the global work market. Northern Kentucky business and industry play a key role in extending learning opportunities that reflect the needs of our future workforce. We value the business partnerships that provide our students these collaborative learning experiences, said Terri Cox-Cruey, Ed.D., Superintendent, Kenton County Schools

Students will attend class at Gateway's Center for Advanced Manufacturing at the Boone Campus. We welcomed these young people to our campus and are immersing them in some of the skills they need to begin a financially rewarding and mentally challenging career in manufacturing, Schutzman said. One of the most exciting aspects for them is the chance to learn that making things in high-tech production facilities is fun, cool and allows them to contribute to our regions economy in a highly meaningful way.