MARTINSVILLE – The Mechatronics program at Patrick Henry Community College is accustomed to having a reason to celebrate this time of the year, but this year the reasons to celebrate have doubled.
When all of PHCC’s Mechatronic students passed the Siemens Mechatronic Systems Certification exam this year, it marked the fifth year in a row that the program has achieved a 100% pass rate. Since the program’s inception in 2013, no student has left the program without earning this internationally recognized industry certification. However, this continued success is only half of the reason everyone in PHCC’s Mechatronics program is celebrating.
In October of 2017, PHCC launched a pilot Mechatronics Boot Camp at its Patrick County site in Stuart, VA. For the first time, students in Patrick County could get training in this high-demand field without having to travel to Martinsville. Now, the inaugural class of nine Patrick County students completed the mechatronics program, passed the national certification exam, and are ready to fill the many open positions that Patrick County employers say they have been trying to fill.
“We are delighted that we get to continue celebrating our 100% passing rate for another year – and we’re especially excited that we can include our Patrick County students in this celebration,” says Daniel Edwards, PHCC’s Instructor of Industrial Electronics Technology.
PHCC officials say that over the past five years, the mechatronics program has averaged an 80% job placement rate. Siemens-certified employees canefficiently and effectively diagnose and repair complex automated equipment. Globally, employers utilize the Siemens Mechatronic Systems Certification as a standard of quality when recruiting employees in computer science, electronics, and mechanical engineering.
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Patrick County:
Front Row Left to Right: Glen Holt, Tim Greer, Bryson Wood, Brian Smith, Joel Roberson, Dale Boyd, Daniel Edwards,
Back Row Left to Right: Carlis Martin, Jack Mulherin, Robert Ellington.
Main Campus:
Front Row Left to Right: Ryan Boyd, Brian Ingram, Cameron Bowling, Mark Hicks, Steven Gilley, Kevin Wison
Back Row Left to Right: Daniel Edwards, Jared Belle, Gabriel Judkins, Mickey Owen, Jonathon Jamison, Dustin Wagner, Louis Hampton
Not Pictured: Daniel Slate
