They were presented a trophy as a finalist in the Outstanding College/Corporate Partnership category of the American Association of Community Colleges’ (AACC) Awards of Excellence during the annual conference in Louisville, Kentucky.

The AACC Outstanding College/Corporate Partnership Award honors local, regional, and national collaboration between a college and corporate partner that has achieved demonstrable, multi-year success in advancing the mission of the institution(s), the economic prosperity of a community, region, or the nation, and the learning excellence of students.

WCC and Smithfield Foods were honored for the apprenticeship model developed and implemented by the two in 2019. The model has since been replicated by Smithfield Foods nationwide with over 115 apprentices across the country participating in the program that began at WCC.

“This is an extremely rewarding program to be involved with,” said Smithfield Foods Talent Development Training Specialist Clarence Scott. “When these awards are given by a national association such as the AACC, it just reinforces to me that we are doing what is right and gives me even more energy to continue forward.”

Currently, there are 29 Smithfield Foods apprentices in four different cohorts studying at WCC. The first cohort of seven maintenance technicians graduated in the spring of 2023, and the sixth cohort will begin in the fall of 2024.

“Being recognized by the AACC for the outstanding partnership WCC has with Smithfield Foods just shows the value of working with our employer partners to meet the needs of our workforce and community,” said WCC Executive Director of Apprenticeships and Career Development Kristie Sauls.

“We were honored to be named a finalist for the AACC Award of Excellence in the Outstanding College/Corporate Partnership category,” said WCC President Patty Pfeiffer. “Having our apprenticeship model with Smithfield Foods recognized at a national level speaks volumes for the work that is being done to impact the current and future workforce needs.”

WCC was the only community college in North Carolina to be a finalist in the AACC’s 11 awards categories. This is the sixth time that WCC has been a finalist for an AACC Award of Excellence.

The team of San Jacinto College District (Texas) and LyondellBasell won this year’s Outstanding College/Corporate Partnership Award.

The AACC’s Awards of Excellence underscore the association’s priorities and bring national visibility to promising practices among its member colleges. The winners were chosen by a select committee of the AACC board of directors.