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SANFORD, N.C. — As heavy machinery is built at Caterpillar’s Sanford manufacturing facilities, a select group of highly-trained high school students plays an important role in the operation. 

These are the Caterpillar Youth Welding Apprentices: Lee County Schools juniors and seniors selected through a competitive application process. They receive training, education credits, and credentials from �ڰ������� as well as paid apprenticeship experience and preferred employment opportunities from CAT, with clear pathways for advancement.

The program, which has been running for 14 years, recently honored its graduates and new inductees with a ceremony that has become a proud annual tradition. 

“You’ve earned your high school diploma, or soon to be; you’ve completed college coursework at one of the top community colleges in the state, and you’ve gained real-world, real-life experiences at one of the most respected names in the industry: Caterpillar,” said LCS Superintendent Dr. Chris Dossenbach. “This is no small achievement.” 

�ڰ������� President Dr. Lisa M. Chapman said �ڰ������� and its partners work together to meet industry workforce demands while growing local talent and building opportunities for area young people. 

“That’s a credit to our community, and I think it represents the secret sauce that Lee County has in terms of maintaining the economic success that we have,” Dr. Chapman said. 

Graduating apprentice Ronnie Onofre Garcia pointed to valuable skills he learned from the program, such as welding, plasma and torch cutting, and how to read blueprints.

Another best part, he said, was the people he met along the way. 

“I met a lot of great people who I’m proud to call friends,” he said, smiling at his fellow apprentices, who grinned back. “They are my friends and my buddies. We all came in trying to learn something new and throughout the process we pushed each other to work harder and improve every day.” 

To the new inductees, he recommended staying patient with themselves, arriving on time, and always being willing to learn. 

“Take advantage of the opportunity you are being given, because this program can really open a lot of doors for your future, if you put that effort in.”

Lee County high school students and families who are interested in participation in Caterpillar Youth Apprenticeship Program should contact their school’s Career Development Coordinator by calling (919) 718-2400 ext. 2163 for Southern Lee High School or (919) 776-7541 ext. 2207. To learn more about �ڰ�������’s Welding Technology program visit . 

Youth Welding Apprenticeship Graduates

Jhoander Acevedo Linares, Yadimir Benitez Bustos, Dakota R. Buchanan, Eduardo Calixto, Edgar Campos, Austin A. Godfrey, Dustin Avery Harrington, Roberto Lule Acevedo, Jadyn Macedo, James Z. Matthews, Allan A. Morales, Ronnie Onofre Garcia, Adrian Soriano Ramos, Darrin K. Webster

Incoming Youth Welding Apprentices

Adrian Benitez, David Macias Beltran, Jasson Rodriguez Canales, Tony Terrones-Carreno, Christopher Dorsett, Bryson Dunigan, Connor Gwyn, Tre’Quan Hodges, Marcos Candelario Macedo, Giovanny Martinez, Railey Moore, Raymond Serra, Joshua Soto, Kailynn Torres, Elliott Watkins, Chance Ward