Kanawha Valley FAME

🎉 BIG NEWS! 🎉

Huge congratulations to Jefferson Hymer, named the 2026 Kanawha Valley FAME’s Distinguished Graduate at the national 2026 FAME USA Conference! 🏆✨

This prestigious award isn’t easily earned. Jefferson scored at the absolute top of his cohort across FAME’s rigorous national criteria:

Academic Excellence: Top-tier grades in advanced manufacturing coursework.

On-the-Job Performance: Outstanding technical skill during 1,800 hours of work-study training.

Professional Leadership: Flawless attendance, teamwork, and program ambassadorship.

Jefferson truly embodies the gold standard of an Advanced Manufacturing Technician. We are incredibly proud to have him representing Kanawha Valley FAME! 🚀 Help us wish him the best with his new job at Niterra North America!

We are so proud of these 23 FAME graduates from the Class of 2026! 🎓👏

To graduate from the FAME program, students had to complete 1,770 hours of paid work experience, maintain a “C” or better in all classes, and consistently show up on time for both work and class. That’s a major commitment, and this group rose to the challenge!

These graduates are entering one of the most in-demand career fields, gaining real-world experience while getting paid for every hour worked — and many are launching their careers with little to no educational debt.

Congratulations to all 23 graduates on this incredible achievement and bright future ahead! 🚀

We are so proud of these 1️⃣8️⃣ apprentices with Niterra North America, Nucor Steel West Virginia, ProLift Toyota Material Handling, and Toyota West Virginia!

👏They’ll be obtaining a likely free associate’s degree from BridgeValley Community and Technical College

💰Earning while they learn

🌎Graduating & entering a highly in-demand career field

The sky is the limit for this group! 🚀

Full gallery of photos on our page! Thank you, Hurricane Media!

We’re so proud of the 2026 apprenticeship cohort of Kanawha Valley FAME!

This impressive group of 18 was selected out of an applicant pool of over 70 people! 👏👏

• 50% of this cohort are non traditional students, some are changing their careers to industrial maintenance!

• Many of this group will obtain their associate’s degree completely for free thanks to the WV Invest program and the BridgeValley Community & Technical College ASAP program!

• These apprentices are getting paid to learn with sponsoring employers Niterra North America, Nucor Steel West Virginia, ProLift Toyota Material Handling, and Toyota West Virginia!

Special thank you to Hurricane Media for covering the event! We can’t wait to see the rest of the photos!

We’re so proud of the 2026 apprenticeship cohort of Kanawha Valley FAME!

This impressive group of 18 was selected out of an applicant pool of over 70 people! 👏👏

• 50% of this cohort are non traditional students, some are changing their careers to industrial maintenance!

• Many of this group will obtain their associate’s degree completely for free thanks to the WV Invest program and the BridgeValley Community and Technical College ASAP program!

• These apprentices are getting paid to learn with sponsoring employers Niterra North America, Nucor Steel West Virginia, ProLift Toyota Material Handling, and Toyota West Virginia!

Special thank you to for covering the event! We can’t wait to see the rest of the photos!

We’re so proud of the 2026 apprenticeship cohort of Kanawha Valley FAME!

This impressive group of 18 was selected out of an applicant pool of over 70 people! 👏👏

• 50% of this cohort are non traditional students, some are changing their careers to industrial maintenance!

• Many of this group will obtain their associate’s degree completely for free thanks to the WV Invest program and the BridgeValley Community and Technical College ASAP program!

• These apprentices are getting paid to learn with sponsoring employers Niterra North America, Nucor Steel West Virginia, ProLift Toyota Material Handling, and Toyota West Virginia!

Special thank you to Hurricane Media for covering the event! We can’t wait to see the rest of the photos!

👏Big news for Kanawha Valley FAME!

Brendan Gallagher, Jefferson Hymer, and Cody Newsome took first place in the Manufacturing Core Competition at the FAME Convention this week in Florida!

We are so proud of these FAME apprentices partnered with Niterra North America! Job well done! 👏👏

A great article about the national FAME program!

Imagine while your friends are racking up student debt, you’re debt free and making real money!! Learn more at PCDA.org/k-fame

“I’m 20 with zero debt and a job people my age would line up for.” -Conner B.

Conner is already mastering high‑tech robotics through the FAME program, an earn‑while‑you‑learn path that allows students to work at Toyota, pay for school, and graduate with two years of hands-on experience.

With nearly 50 chapters nationwide, FAME is helping students step straight from high school into high-tech careers with no debt and a bright future. ✨

🚨 Last call! The deadline to apply for the Kanawha Valley FAME program is **This Saturday, February 21, at 11:59 PM**!

Don't miss this chance to:
🤩Gain hands-on training
🤩Earn while you learn through paid apprenticeships
🤩Build your skills for globally in-demand careers
🤩Streamline pathways to positions like engineering
🤩Have no or low educational debt

Apply now and take a big step toward your future! For more info, visit our website at PCDA.org/k-fame🌟