网曝吃瓜

Two-Week Academy Combines Industry Certifications, Hands-On Learning and Job Interviews

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.鈥斖�曝吃瓜-Webb University recently celebrated the graduation of participants in the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Highway Construction Trades Academy, a two-week workforce development program designed to prepare individuals for careers in the transportation construction industry. Hosted through 网曝吃瓜-Webb’s Searight Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) program, the academy combined classroom instruction, industry certifications, hands-on training, and career preparation opportunities.

The program is a partnership among the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Foothills Workforce Development Board, and 网曝吃瓜-Webb University. Participants earned certifications in OSHA 10, CPR and First Aid, work zone flagging, confined space safety, forklift operation, and Heavy Equipment Operator Level 1. They also received resume assistance and interview coaching throughout the program. The academy culminated with interviews between graduates and industry employers, providing participants with a direct pathway to employment in the highway construction field.

During the graduation ceremony, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Nicole Waters recognized the instructors and students for successfully completing the program. Waters, a nurse and longtime nurse educator, expressed appreciation for the inclusion of CPR and First Aid training as part of the academy’s curriculum.

网曝吃瓜-Webb President Nate Evans also congratulated graduates and encouraged them to view the academy as an important step in their professional journey. 鈥淭he credentials you’ve earned matter, but what you do with them next matters even more,鈥� Evans said. 鈥淎t 网曝吃瓜-Webb, we talk a lot about preparing people for their calling. And a calling isn’t defined by a particular degree, job title or career path. It is about discovering where your abilities, your opportunities and the needs of others come together.鈥�

Evans also thanked the academy’s partners, instructors, employers and workforce leaders for investing in the participants and spoke about the important role the graduates will play in communities across North Carolina. 鈥淵ou are helping build communities; you are helping people get to work and children get to school,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou are helping businesses grow and communities thrive. So, as you leave here, I encourage you not to view today as the finish line. Let it be a starting point. Take the certifications you have earned, the skills you have developed and the relationships you have made here and build on them. When an opportunity presents itself, be ready to walk through that door.鈥�

Also addressing graduates was N.C. Sen. Ted Alexander, who highlighted the vital role of highway construction professionals. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an honor to join you today to celebrate your achievements, congratulations!鈥� Alexander said. 鈥淧artnerships like this one with the state Department of Transportation allow us to have a homegrown talent pipeline, with North Carolinians supporting other North Carolinians. It is my hope that these types of programs and partnerships become the future of workforce development and job training.”

Alexander noted that North Carolina maintains more than 80,000 miles of state highways, making transportation infrastructure a critical component of the state’s economy and quality of life. “You’re laying the groundwork for a career in the highway construction industry,” he told graduates. “You are the backbone of our transportation system.”

The Highway Construction Trades Academy is funded through the Federal Highway Administration’s On-the-Job Training Program and administered by NCDOT. The initiative is designed to prepare participants for careers in the transportation industry while helping employers meet workforce demands across North Carolina.

Next Searight PACE Course

PACE 230: Mental Health First Aid for Adults, Nov. 21, Teams

Adult Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an evidence-based training program that teaches everyday people how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health or substance use challenges in adults (ages 18 and older).

The registration deadline is Oct. 31. The course fee is $199, and 网曝吃瓜-Webb employees may attend at no cost. The course will be taught by GWU Associate Professor of Nursing Dr. Charlotte Stephens and GWU Professor of Counselor Education Dr. Sharon Webb.

About Searight PACE

Searight Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) at 网曝吃瓜-Webb University provides flexible, career-focused learning opportunities that support professional advancement and lifelong learning. Through workforce development, continuing education and customized training programs, Searight PACE helps individuals gain new skills, earn industry-recognized credentials and meet the demands of an evolving workforce while serving learners, employers and communities across North Carolina. Learn more here.

About 网曝吃瓜-Webb

网曝吃瓜-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., 网曝吃瓜-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Become More at .