Rend Lake College and Continental Tire welcomed a new batch of apprentices Friday who are taking advantage of this rewarding program bolstering the Southern Illinois workforce.
Officials with CTA and RLC held a press conference to recognize the 14 apprentices in the program for the Fall 2023 semester. One is a new apprentice in the Information Technology program. Nine are in their second year of the Industrial Electronics and Maintenance Technician program, and another seven are in their third year on the INEL track. It’s the largest group of CTA fall apprentices since it was offered eight years ago. With the inclusion of this new group, the total count of CTA apprentices in the program has reached an impressive 31. 
RLC President Terry Wilkerson congratulated the apprentices, along with their family members and loved ones who were there to support them. “We are proud of our students,” Wilkerson said. “It’s our job to ensure they get a good quality education, and we do that through partnerships like [Continental Tire].”
This was the first year CTA welcomed new apprentices and workers in such a grand fashion at the Mt. Vernon plant. The event included refreshments, a tour of the plant, and an appearance from State Representative Dave Severin. He has hope that, with this apprenticeship opportunity at Continental Tire, young people will see the value of staying in Southern Illinois. He said partnerships between industry and education like this lead to success and endless possibilities.
Since 2015, CTA and RLC have partnered to provide the apprenticeship opportunity. At its core, the apprenticeship initiative bridges the gap between classroom learning and real-world experiences. Under the guidance of on-the-job mentors, apprentices receive hands-on opportunities to hone their technical expertise and gain insights into Continental Tire's processes.
Nick Pearce, the Plant Manager of Continental Tire in Mt. Vernon, expressed the importance of manufacturing and industrial engineering apprenticeships like the one offered at RLC and the value they hold in the future of Southern Illinois and beyond. He praised RLC for always going in with an open mind, constantly looking toward the next step, and finding ways to do better for the community and its students.
“Continental Tire shares Rend Lake College’s belief that apprenticeship is an investment in our future workforce in Southern Illinois,” said RLC Director of Apprenticeships, Community, & Corporate Education Tonya Odum. “Apprenticeship directly addresses skill shortages through tailored training programs. This not only fills immediate job vacancies but also contributes to the long-term sustainability of the workforce, enhancing the overall productivity of our region.”