24 Students Graduate 2025 Twin County Manufacturing Excellence Program
Mount Rogers Regional Partnership’s Talent Pipeline Program Completes Third Year
November 10th, 2025
Mount Rogers Regional Partnership is excited to announce that 24 high school seniors from Carroll County High School, Grayson County High School, and Galax High School completed the 2025 Twin County Manufacturing Excellence Program on Friday, November 7th. These students worked hard over the past ten weeks, earning as many as five industry certifications by the end of the program. They also toured manufacturing facilities, learned about classes and tracks offered through Wytheville Community College, spoke to industry experts, and received training on resume writing and career skills.
Students who passed all evaluations walked away with credentials from NC3 (National Coalition of Certification Centers) in Electric and Electrical Tool Safety; Fundamentals of Industry; Hand Tool Safety; Head, Eye, and Face Protection; and Caliper Measurement. They toured MOOG, Mohawk, Real Performance Machinery (RPM), and Turman Hardwood Flooring. Other supporting businesses include Albany and Thomas Automation Management (TAM). New this year, the student experience culminated with an immersive job shadowing experience in which participants were assigned to a facility for several hours of on-the-job learning.
Mount Rogers Regional Partnership’s Twin County Manufacturing Excellence program, led by Deputy Director Rebecca Fisher, is designed to give high school seniors a direct route into a manufacturing job upon graduating. Last year’s cohort led to one immediate job placement, with a student accepting a position at Mohawk. “This has been an incredible group of students, and I am confident that we will hear success stories again this year,” shares Ms. Fisher. “Everyone involved with the program has remarked on how engaged and inquisitive this group has been.”
Students had a positive reception to the program as well. “I have learned a lot more about my surrounding area than I thought I ever would have. I learned a lot more about how things are made, and it changed my views on manufacturing a lot,” says Ethan Sechrist, a Carroll County student who completed the program.
Twin County Manufacturing Excellence would not be possible without the support of MRRP’s partners, including Wytheville Community College and the Twin County Chamber of Commerce, as well as the participating manufacturers. Carroll County, Grayson County, and Galax City public schools are instrumental to the success of the program as well.
Please join us in congratulating these hardworking students and wishing them the very best in their future careers!
Employers in the region who are interested in learning more about the Manufacturing Excellence program should contact Rebecca Fisher, Deputy Director, at rfisher@wcc.vccs.edu or by calling (276) 223-4709.
MEDIA CONTACT
Morgan Herbert
Director of Marketing and Communications
Mount Rogers Regional Partnership
mherbert@wcc.vccs.edu
276-223-4858
mountrogersregion.com
