- Antonio Mojica, Apprenticeship Pathway: Automotive

ANTONIO MOJICA, a former Automotive youth apprentice, joined TTC President Dr. Mary Thornley on stage during the 10th anniversary Signing Day event in July 2023. Antonio was hired in 2017 by Rick Hendrick Toyota Scion and was promoted quickly as a youth apprentice. He is now employed by KBR WYLE (Government Contracting) and is growing his own automotive business, Ascension Garage and Motorsports, in Cane Bay.

- Brandon Casey, Apprenticeship Pathway: Industrial Mechanics

BRANDON CASEY, a former Industrial Mechanics youth apprentice, was hired by Boeing in 2019 as a rising junior at Philip Simmons High School. After completing his two-year apprenticeship, Brandon remained at Boeing and is now employed as a full-time Equipment Technician there. Brandon’s younger brother, Cameron, was hired in 2023 by Boeing, also as an Industrial Mechanics youth apprentice, and Cameron is looking forward to following in his big brother’s footsteps, excited to begin building a lifelong career at the leading global aerospace company.

- Christyon Brown, Apprenticeship Pathway: CNA/Pre-Nursing

CHRISTYON BROWN, a CNA/Pre-Nursing youth apprentice, was hired by MUSC in 2021 and is busy working on the Oncology floor, 7 West ART Building. She will be finishing her youth apprenticeship in spring 2023 and plans to continue in TTC’s Nursing Program. According to Chrissy, “I learn a lot from my patients, especially the older ones. They have a lot of knowledge and I really enjoy caring for them.” Chrissy works six-hour shifts during the school year and 12-hour shifts in the summer, sometimes as much as 48 hours a week. Chrissy hopes to become a travel nurse once her education is complete. About her nursing career, she says, “I can’t see myself doing anything else! Helping people helps me feel better about myself.”

- Daniela Figueroa, Apprenticeship Pathway: CNA/Pre-Nursing

DANIELA FIGUEROA, a former CNA/Pre-Nursing youth apprentice, was hired in 2020 by Trident Health System. Daniela graduated from Fort Dorchester High School with an exemplary GPA and maintained academic excellence in all her classes at TTC. Daniela has temporary asylee status in the United States, which allows her to legally work and attend school in the U.S., and she has become a valuable member of the health care team at Trident Hospital. She will complete her BSN at Charleston Southern University.

- Drake Head, Apprenticeship Pathway: PLTW Engineering Assistant

DRAKE HEAD, a PLTW Engineering Assistant, was hired by KION as a youth apprentice in 2019 when he was a new graduate of Ashley Ridge High School. After completing his job-related education at Trident Technical College in preparation for transfer to The Citadel, plus his on-the-job training, KION has told Drake they will keep him on as long as he likes and that there is an engineering job waiting for him once he completes his bachelor’s degree.

- Keyshon Green, Apprenticeship Pathway: Machine Tool Technology

KEYSHON GREEN, a former Machine Tool Technology youth apprentice with Stoba USA Corporation, began his apprenticeship with the Charleston-based high precision metal components manufacturer in the fall of 2020 as a new graduate of Burke High School. Just a few months later, his employer asked permission for Keyshon to be excused from class that evening since the company was relying on him to finish their sample production on the new Haas machine UMC500, and Keyshon was the primary person working on that project. (Permission was happily granted.) Keyshon served as a panelist at Signing Day 2021, during the October 2021 Preparing Our Youth--Preparing Our Future national conference at TTC, and led a tour of the machining lab for the Secretary of Labor, Marty Walsh, when he visited TTC in November 2021.

- Michelle Hammock, Apprenticeship Pathway: Culinary Arts

MICHELLE HAMMOCK, a former Culinary Arts youth apprentice, was hired by Post House, a coastal tavern and inn in Mt. Pleasant, in 2015. After completing the two-year program and excelling in her classes at Trident Technical College, Michelle went on to Clemson University and graduated in 2021 with a B.S. in Food and Culinary Sciences. She is pursuing her master's degree in Food Science at Clemson, and hopes to go into recipe development and perhaps become a research chef. She has also had the opportunity to act as Teaching Assistant for three different university classes including baking, culinary and product development. Michelle is shown here during the time she studied abroad as an undergrad in Australia.