GAP apprentice Dylan Clarke fast-tracks career from high school grad to department supervisor

"I feel like GTCC is a wonderful way to get your education quickly and learn a skill that’s going to get you working."

In high school, Dylan Clarke was certain of one thing: he did not want to go to college. He never took the SATs and he wasn’t interested in four years of lecture halls and dorm rooms.

Today, just a few years after graduating from Northeast Guilford High School in 2023, Clarke is thriving as a Guilford Technical Community College student, a homeowner, and a department supervisor at a manufacturing company.

Clarke’s journey began in high school. He was a student at The Academy of Computer and Information Sciences at Northeast Guilford High School. The academy prepares students for careers in technology with pathways in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Clarke became the academy's success story and was heavily involved in recruitment and promotion for the school. It was during this time that he attended a symposium for the academy and met Tammy Simmons, a founding member of the Guilford Apprenticeship Partners (GAP).

Learning about GAP introduced Clarke to a different kind of future in which work and education go hand in hand.

The GAP program offered the clarity he was looking for. A week after his high school graduation, Clarke began a pre-apprenticeship. By August 2023, he had started his four-year journey with Machine Specialties Inc (MSI).

The GAP program is designed to bridge the gap between education and employment. For Clarke, this means a schedule that balances real-world experience with classroom instruction. He works at MSI Monday through Thursday and attends classes at GTCC on Fridays.

Additionally, he is paid for his time in class, ensuring he receives a full 40-hour paycheck every week. The program covers all school expenses, meaning Clarke has spent zero money on his education.

At GTCC, he is pursuing an associate's degree in manufacturing technology. Upon completion of the four-year program, he will also earn a Journeyman’s Certificate.

"It proves you're a pro, and it's recognized across the nation," Clarke said.

This combination of academic learning and on-the-job training has accelerated his career in ways he never expected. At MSI, Clarke works in the Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) department.

"We do some cool stuff. I've seen some crazy things, like a torpedo for the navy and fins for missiles," Clarke said.

During his second year in the program, the EDM department's supervisor left, leaving the position open. Because Clarke knew the department best, he stepped up to fill the void.

Now, as an apprentice, he serves as the department supervisor. He is responsible for programming, setting up parts, and more.

"I think it’s cool that as an apprentice, I’m a department head," Clarke said. "I’ve been over the department for the last year and a half."

His success hasn't gone unnoticed. North Carolina was recently named number one in workforce development by Site Selection Magazine. To celebrate this achievement, Governor Josh Stein visited MSI to announce it and highlight the state’s workforce investments. Clarke’s achievements were highlighted during this visit, and he even met and spoke with the governor.

“We knew from the beginning that Dylan had what it takes to be a successful apprentice: a willingness to learn and a drive to be better. Using these attributes, Dylan has taken hold of the opportunity that apprenticeship provides him in an exceptional way,” said Jay Simmons, apprenticeship program manager at MSI.

The most significant benefit from GTCC and MSI has been early stability. While many peers face uncertainty, Clarke is building equity through a clear, structured pathway.

The program includes life skills training, where apprentices learn about the stock market and real estate. Clarke took those lessons to heart. He bought his first car just a month into his apprenticeship. More impressively, he has already purchased his first home.

"It’s granted me some stability in life," Clarke said. "It allowed me to buy my first car a month into the apprenticeship. It’s provided stability and a job right out of high school."

He notes the contrast between his path and that of friends who chose different routes.

"A lot of my friends who didn’t go that pathway are still trying to make up their minds," Clarke said. "I got my pathway into my career right after high school. I know the path that I go down, as long as I keep going down this path, I’ll be great. It gave me clarity on what I want to do with my life."

Beyond the financial and professional milestones, Clarke has found a community. He describes the environment at MSI as a "family-owned company" where apprentices support one another.

"It’s been cool. I’ve made a lot of friends, friends that I’ll have for the rest of my life," he said. "We all get along really well."

As Clarke continues his journey toward his degree and journeyman’s certificate, he remains a strong advocate for the model that changed his life. For students unsure about the traditional college experience, Clarke offers his story as proof that there are other, equally rewarding roads to success.

"I feel like GTCC is a wonderful way to get your education quickly and learn a skill that’s going to get you working," Clarke said.

Through the partnership between GTCC and local industry, Dylan Clarke isn't just a student or an employee; he is a homeowner, a supervisor, and a prime example of how the college helps students make amazing happen.