Rock Hill, S.C. – The South Carolina Public Charter School District (PCSD) and Superintendent Chris Neeley officially designated York Preparatory Academy (YPA) as the state’s newest Workforce Center of Excellence (WCOE) during a special ceremony at the school on Thursday, October 29. The designation recognizes YPA’s commitment to ensuring all students graduate prepared for college, careers, and military service. “Being recognized as a Workforce Center of Excellence affirms our belief that education should do more than prepare students for graduation, but also prepare them for life and real world experiences. At YPA, we are committed to building meaningful pathways from classroom to careers and giving students the skills, confidence and every opportunity to succeed, said Managing Director, Brian Myrup.
During the ceremony, PCSD, YPA, and community leaders delivered remarks highlighting the significance of the Workforce Center of Excellence initiative and its impact on students and the regional workforce pipeline. Additionally, officials from York Technical College recognized nine YPA students who completed the new Ready to Work certification, which was a program that they piloted with the school. The students who completed certification are as follows:
Zaylee Alston
Colton Carroll
Zachary Curtis
Zachary Grissom
Jacob Rodgers
William Wade
Danica Warren
Gunner Dobbins
Gavin Colvin
“York Preparatory Academy is being recognized not because we’re asking them to change their mission, but because they’ve made workforce development a priority for years. Through strong partnerships, hands-on learning, and industry-recognized credentials, York Prep is helping students discover their purpose, develop their talents, and prepare to make a meaningful contribution to their communities. This is what it means to put Kids First, said Chris Neeley, Superintendent, South Carolina Public Charter School District.
For more information about Workforce Centers of Excellence, visit sccharter.org/wcoe
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Patrick Byrne lives in Tega Cay with his wife and two daughters. After 25 years working for a Big 4 bank, he retired to pursue his passion for writing. Additional articles and content can be found on his blog (reverian1776.blogspot.com) and freethepeople.org.
