Gaston College Success Story

Gaston College is a community college located in Dallas, North Carolina that serves the local counties of Gaston and Lincoln, NC. Read from Jill Hendrix, Director of 321 Apprenticeship at Gaston, about how working with Equus Workforce Solutions was able to fund career pathways for the near-future workforce.

“When we first applied for the Equus incentive funds relating to their new Registered Apprenticeship Programs, we had one goal in mind.  These funds would be allocated to cover the salary expense for a Success Coach for our Apprenticeship 321 program.  The Success Coach is critical in making this program successful.  This individual, who has a Masters in Social Work, assists the apprentices with business, work and life issues that can become roadblocks that prevent our students from completing their certification.  This coach adds so much value to the program and the participants in so many different ways.  We were beyond thrilled to obtain these funds so we could hire this person.  Soon after our Certified Nurse Assistants began their apprenticeship program, we realized we needed to fund uniforms for when they were representing Gaston College while in clinical roles.   Without the support from Equus, we would not have been able to provide these uniforms free of charge.   Some of the Equus funds also allowed us to provide books for a new paramedic medicine IT pathway which started this semester.

Launched in 2015 with 5 employers and 23 apprentices, Apprenticeship 321 has grown to 22 employers with over 64 apprentices seeking credentials in 15 pathways in both Advanced Manufacturing and Medical Services.   Equus allowed us to keep all of these pathways open by providing services and financial support that removed roadblocks.  We are so thankful to Equus for helping our students, community health centers and Gaston College with needed funding to keep these programs alive which ultimately changes lives and improves our community, one patient at a time.”

Jill Hendrix

Apprenticeship 321 Director

Gaston College