Page 25 - Athens New Comers Guide 2020

apprenticeships within the Athens Area – advanced manufacturing and welding, 28 students in the 2012-13 school year to
business community. Wesley Mellina, and teaching as a profession. 310 students in 2019-20 school year.
ACCA’s Workforce Development Mellina says anytime new pathways Besides their academic coursework,
Coordinator, says the response from are considered, they are thoughtfully ACCA students regularly participate in
local industry leaders has been positive crafted with input from businesses employability events designed to build
and students are able to apply what they soft skills and other workplace essentials.
are learning at ACCA to their internship and students. Activities like mock interviews, resume
site placements. “We, of course, look at the hard data workshops, in-house career fairs, and
Current ACCA business and industry and work with business and industry industry tours give students the tools
partners include ABB, Caterpillar, to determine what jobs are needed in to excel in the real world from day one.
Carrier Transicold, Accurus Aerospace, the community, but we also have to These skills, coupled with a strategic
Innovative Healthcare Institute, Athens consider student interest,” Mellina says. focus on student identity development
Community Council on Aging, University “By offering programs that businesses and equity, really allow ACCA students
of Georgia, Georgia Power, and Goodwill need and students want, we’re able to to find their voice and their path to
of North Georgia, among others. grow our own talent pipeline and keep future success.
graduates here in Athens.”
For the last several years, the “Students are even required to
Athens Community Career Academy The calculated expansion in use their unique key fobs to “clock-in”
has offered five academies supporting programmatic offerings has paid off. In to classrooms,” Mellina says. “It’s just
11 career pathways. In the fall of 2020, just seven years, enrollment in ACCA has another way we’re building the capacity
ACCA is set to add two new pathways increased more than 1000 percent, from for workplace success in a positive way.”

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Athens Area Chamber of Commerce • www.athensga.com • (706) 549-6800