Thirteen College of Western Idaho (CWI) Advanced Mechatronics Engineering Technology students have signed on to be the next cohort in Micron Technology’s Registered Apprenticeship Program. The signing event on Monday, Nov. 13 helped kick off National Apprenticeship Week, a nationwide celebration where industry, labor, equity, workforce, education, and government leaders host events to showcase the successes and value of Registered Apprenticeships.
The second cohort of Registered Apprentices will begin their new journey with Micron in January 2024.
Micron’s Registered Apprenticeship Program provides students with the opportunity to gain experience in the industry, providing hands-on training and technical instruction designed for aspiring technicians. Apprentices will work closely in partnership with Micron’s production and engineering team members from various areas, in and out of the world-class Fab. Micron will place the Apprentices in three key roles: Manufacturing Technician, Equipment Technician, and Lab Technician.
The company also covers the cost of a student’s education and pays them a competitive wage, while offering a schedule that is flexible based on their current school schedule – allowing students to earn while they learn.
The Apprenticeship Program is made possible by a collaboration with CWI, Micron, and Idaho Manufacturing Alliance (IMA).
"Apprenticeships play a special role in workforce development, and these students serve as clear examples of the positive outcomes that result from collaborative efforts," said CWI President Gordon Jones. "By working together with the community and employers, community colleges can create exceptional opportunities to ensure employability for all students."
The signing event also honored the previous and inaugural Micron Registered Apprenticeship cohort. Micron shares the first cohort of Apprentices and the program, which launched last year, are pivotal in Micron’s success story as the company continues to grow in Idaho and across the United States.
Three student apprentices were awarded the President’s List for obtaining a 4.0 GPA while enrolled in the Advanced Mechatronics program and Apprenticeship: Peter Schaffer, Bailey Guthrie, and Daniel Lam.
CWI student and former Micron Apprentice, Olivia Zierenberg, shared a few remarks about her experience in the program, the tools she was able to take away, and gave advice to the second cohort.
To be eligible for the Micron Registered Apprenticeship Program students must be enrolled in or planning to enroll in CWI’s two-year Advanced Mechatronics Engineering Technology Applied Associate of Science (AAS) degree program.
For more information, please contact Robert Novak at robertnovak@cwi.edu or visit the Advanced Mechatronics program page to learn more.
