FAME signs 30 students

Taleasha Smoot signs her FAME pledge and commitment to Bridgewater Interiors at the FAME Signing Day held May 18 at the Oxford Civic Center. She is pictured with, from left, Alan Smith, dean of Workforce Development; Dr. Kathy Murphy, president of Gadsden State; and April Stillwell, training and development coordinator at Bridgewater Interiors.

ABOVE: Taleasha Smoot signs her FAME pledge and commitment to Bridgewater Interiors. She is pictured with, from left, Alan Smith, dean of Workforce Development; Dr. Kathy Murphy, president of Gadsden State; and April Stillwell, training and development coordinator at Bridgewater Interiors. 

Gadsden State’s Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education Program hosted a signing night on May 18 at the Oxford Civic Center. Representatives from partnering companies presented their new employees with FAME certificates. 

“FAME is one of my favorite programs at Gadsden State,” said Dr. Kathy Murphy, president of Gadsden State. “This wonderful program gives students the opportunity to work while earning a degree at the same time.” 

Those in attendance included employees from Gadsden State, industry partners, current and past FAME students and the families of the signees. 

Gadsden State’s Dean of Workforce Development Alan Smith referred to FAME as a “golden ticket” experience. 

“Being a FAME student helps young men and women graduate debt free and with a job,” he said. “FAME is the global best. You're not just learning to be the best in our service area, or in Alabama or even the best in the country. You are learning to be the best in the world. When you leave Gadsden State, you will be prepared for an awesome career.” 

The Gadsden State FAME team exceeded its recruitment goals for the 2023-24 cohort. The 30 signees were chosen from 160 applicants. Diversity among the cohort increased by 15 percent.  

“We look for the absolute best we can find in our FAME students, so we have the best pool of applicants for our industry partners,” Smith said. 

Gadsden State’s Coordinator of Workforce Development Andy Robertson introduced each student as they came on stage to sign the FAME pledge alongside their employer, Murphy and Smith. 

FAME signees and their respective companies include:

  • Bridgewater Interiors - Taleasha Smoot
  • Eastman Chemical - Judge Daugherty
  • General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems - Anthony Burns
  • GH Metal Solutions - Michael Otten and Amalia Rochell
  • Honda Manufacturing of Alabama - Kanyon Cox, Kayden Cox, Westin Day, Max Payne, and Garrett Webb
  • Koch Foods - Hope Jenkins and Brylon Pilkington
  • Koller Craft LLC - Joshua Kanaday
  • Krono Span - Oziel Gonzalez, Trent Hopkins, Bailey Mitchell, Gavin Moore, Rylan Owens, Jacovie Parker, Carson Whitehead and Ethan Wright
  • Legacy Cabinets - Cole Elder and Hunter Puls
  • M&H Valve Co. - Brody Wood
  • Prince Metal Stampings - Evan Brown, Dalton Elliott, Will Martin and Brandon Whitlock

The alternates for FAME include Mason Jairrels and Ryan Reynolds. For more information about FAME visit www.GadsdenState.edu/FAME. 

Article written by Sarah Kate Edmondson, an intern in the Gadsden State Public Relations and Marketing Department. She is a senior majoring in Communication Studies and Public Relations at Troy University.