
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 9, 1994                    TAG: 9406090515 
SECTION: LOCAL                     PAGE: D3    EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA  
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT 
DATELINE: 940609                                 LENGTH: WASHINGTON

HUNT TO TOUR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

{LEAD} Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. will visit Washington High School and a local textile mill Friday as part of a regional conference on JobReady, Hunt's plan for establishing apprenticeship programs statewide.

Hunt is scheduled to address the conference, sponsored by the Governor's Commission on Workforce Preparedness, on Friday afternoon and visit National Spinning Co. Inc., a textile manufacturing firm and one of Beaufort County's largest employers.

{REST} The plant is home to the area's first certified high school apprenticeship program. Begun about a year ago, the program combines job training and education.

Students chosen for the program complete eight weeks of basic training this semester, work 40 hours a week for eight weeks with the company during summer, then work with the company four hours a day their senior year in high school.

During their apprenticeship, the students have to maintain a C average to stay with the program.

Those who successfully complete their work with the company and their academic program, are guaranteed a full-time job with the company at the end of their senior year, according to company officials.

by CNB