2015-2016 High School Welding Apprenticeships

Parents and Students,

Thank you for your interest in the Caterpillar Apprenticeship Training in Welding (CAT-W) program application process.  The CAT-W program is a two-year youth apprenticeship program, open only to high school juniors and seniors, that leads into an adult apprenticeship and employment at Caterpillar. Eligible high school students will take welding-related classes at Central Carolina Community College or the Innovation Center located in the Lee County Industrial Park three days a week and will work and train at Caterpillar two days per week during their high school junior and senior years. Caterpillar will compensate enrolled students for a portion of the time spent working and training for Caterpillar. In addition, students will work up to 32 hours per week at Caterpillar during the summer between their junior and senior year. At the completion of the program, successful graduates will have earned a welding certificate from Central Carolina Community College, will have a certificate from the NC Department of Labor, will have completed the 80 hour Caterpillar Accelerated Training program, and will have worked at Caterpillar for two years. Upon successful completion of this high school program, the student will be eligible for full time employment at Caterpillar. Students will transition from the youth apprenticeship program to the adult program. Only fifteen 11th grade students will be chosen to participate each school year. Students enrolled into this program must commit one block each semester (two total) during their Junior year and two blocks each semester (four total) during their Senior year of high school. See program brochure more details.

Once you have received your application, it is very important that you carefully read the entire packet.  Please contact the Career Development Coordinator at your school regarding any questions you might have concerning the CAT-W Program. 

As part of the application process, the following information will be shared from your current school and will be submitted with your application to the CAT-W Program.

• Grades and attendance for the current year


• Scholastic record


• Student Services, Exceptional Education, and Section 504 records


• Discipline Profile


• Attendance Profile


• Test Profile including PLAN, ACT, and WorkKeys scores

Students will be selected based on interviews, application, and the documents listed above. Pursuant to the North Carolina Career and College Promise (CCP) requirements, each student must submit a CCP application, maintain a 2.0 GPA in all college work, and a 3.0 high school GPA to continue in the CAT-W program.

We are excited that you have chosen to explore the possibility of admittance into the CAT-W Program. This program is made available through a partnership with Caterpillar, Central Carolina Community College, Lee County Schools, and NC Department of Labor.

Sincerely,                                                                                 

Andy Bryan, Ed.D.

Superintendent Lee County Schools

Dr. T. Eston "Bud" Marchant

President Central Carolina Community College