Participating in the official signing day ceremony, the 14 students ushered in the brand new scholarship that focuses on manufacturing and the needs of the local labor market. Twelve more students that will attend school at JCC’s Olean campus participated in separate signing day Thursday.

The scholarship will allow the future JCC students, who will graduate later this month from their respective school districts, to attend programs offered at the MTI at no cost to the student. The scholarship will provide funding for in-state tuition, additional collegiate fees, book expenses and program supplies. An emphasis of the scholarship at the time of announcement earlier this year was that its funding went beyond the cost of tuition, covering additional expenses incurred from the student experience.

“We promise to sponsor them throughout the length of the program. Whatever they have chosen whether it’s a one-year certificate or a two-year degree and we will cover the cost associated with that,” said Jeff Teluk, Engineering Science and Mechanical Technology director. “We will also attempt to put them into a business before the end of their tenure here to have an applied learning experience that adds validity to what we teach.”

Recipients that will attend classes at the Jamestown campus include Christopher Alladine, Abigail DeGolier, Shaheem Freeney, William McArthur, Jomar Medero Montanez, Anna North, Carlos Soto, Thorne Springstead, Bailey Steenburn, Alexander Tremblay, Jacob Wasberg, Lane White, Jonathan White-Smith, and Eric Witherow.

Pictured from back left are William McArthur, Thorne Springstead, Jacob Wasberg, Eric Witherow, Abigail DeGolier, Anna North, Bailey Steenburn, Shaheem Freeney, Lane White, Jomar Medero Montanez, Carlos Soto, Christopher Calladine and Jonathan White-Smith.

“They are going to graduate with enough knowledge that they can go out and get a job and impact the local economy. That’s our goal here. That’s what we do,” Teluk said.

Teluk said the MTI generally has an estimated 50 students undergoing its programs at once, not including the the new recruits. Whether the additional students will “overload” the MTI, he said the institute will make room for them.

At Wednesday’s event, local elected officials including County Executive George Borrello were in attendance.

“If you want to own your own business and control your own future, this is the best path in Chautauqua County,” Borrello said to the students who were about to commit to the Workforce Readiness Scholarship.

JCC officials touted the scholarship’s potential to expose students to contemporary work environments with a focus on a hands-on experience.

Students are able to pursue pathways that include industrial equipment technology, machine tool technology, welding technology, and CAD/CNC certificate programs as well as the welding technology and mechanical technology degree programs.

The MTI is located on the Jamestown and Cattaraugus County campuses and is focused on manufacturing-related programs. The MTI and the Workforce Readiness Scholarship emphasize the importance of work readiness pathways specifically with local manufacturers.

The scholarship was made available to qualified high school graduates in Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany, Warren, Forest, Potter, McKean, Elk, and Cameron counties and in Corry and North East in Pennsylvania.

Students in the program must maintain a full-time coursework associated with one of the various degrees or certificates, complete at least 12 credits per semester and earn a minimum of a 2.0 semester and cumulative GPA. Additionally, those who are completing a corresponding program will be set up with a local employer to be provided with either part-time employment, a paid internship or an apprenticeship. The program is in connection with the Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier.

“Jamestown Community College is making good on its promise to do work to prepare the workforce for New York State’s southern tier,” said Dr. Daniel DeMarte, JCC president.