NEWS

Two graduates at Gaston College are recognized: One obtains a job, the other an award

Beatriz Guerrero
The Gaston Gazette

Two Gaston College students crossed the graduation stage with various accomplishments, one securing a job and the other being named an Outstanding Public Safety Student during the an awards ceremony.

Both students graduated alongside their peers at CaroMont Health Park last week.

Kings Mountain resident Ernest Meeks recently graduated Gaston College with an associate degree in industrial maintenance mechanics. Meeks obtained his education debt-free upon participating in the Gaston College Apprenticeship 321 program.

Ernest Meeks

Kings Mountain resident, Ernest Meeks decided he needed to go back to school three years ago to learn machining technology. Meeks wanted to go to school to excel at his job as a puller locator at Hanes Brands in Kings Mountain. 

Meeks found he had the opportunity to obtain a debt-free education after seeing a poster at work that invited employees to submit an essay for an apprenticeship program.

To Meeks, the program seemed to be a pathway to a career advancement and an opportunity to increase his salary at his current job.

“I am very thankful that Ernest was able to take advantage of the apprenticeship program. This partnership, with grant money paying for his cost of schooling and our company paying Ernest while attending, made it possible for Ernest to advance and excel. Without Apprenticeship 321 this would not have happened,” said Joel Rohrer, Meek’s mentor and maintenance supervisor at Hanes.

“Ernest has been able to take on more and more responsibility inside of our department and it has been very satisfying to observe the growth and personal ownership that Ernest has developed,” he added.

The Gaston Apprenticeship 321 Program at Gaston College provides an alternative to traditional higher education for those who are interested in careers in a STEM-related field, or want to continue working full time while learning.

While at school, Meeks studied industrial systems technology.

“When I first started my classes. I was nervous, especially when I saw that most of my classmates were younger than my kids,” said Meeks.

”I could tell that I’d been out of school for a while since the others were answering questions much faster than I could. But after a couple of days, it got better and I was able to get the answers and follow along with everyone else,” he said. 

Though going to school while holding a full-time job was difficult for Meeks, the support of his instructors encouraged him to keep going.

“I would not let my kids see me fail,” Meeks said, “and I was not going to let my work family see me give up.”

Now, Meeks has an associate degree in industrial maintenance mechanics. He continues to work at Hanes, but now, as a maintenance mechanic.

“It is never too early or too late to get an education. You may have obstacles in your way, but you can overcome them to reach your goal in life,” Meeks said.

Dallas resident Michael Chafin recently graduated from Gaston College with an associate degree in applied science. Chafin currently holds an associate in arts degree, but came back to school for a more hands-on job. Chafin was recently awarded Outstanding Public Safety Student for his excellence in the Fire Protection Technology program.

Michael Chafin

After graduating from North Gaston High in 2018, Dallas resident Michael Chafin attended Gaston College to study criminal justice. Chafin switched to an associate in arts after his first semester, with the intention to transfer to a four-year institution upon graduation. 

When Chafin obtained his associate, he realized his passion was in public safety and went back to Gaston College to obtain a career that involved physical work.

Chafin, ultimately decided to switch to the Fire Protection Technology program to pursue a career as a firefighter. Since entering that program, Chafin has become a certified firefighter and has obtained other certifications involving rescue operations, apparatus driving, and pump certifications.

“During his time at Gaston College, Michael has maintained high academic standards,” said Josh Crisp, director of the Regional Emergency Services Training Center at Gaston College.

“He is an outstanding student and will surely advance rapidly in the ranks of the fire department,” he added.

Gaston College recently rewarded Chafin with the Outstanding Public Safety award weeks before graduation for his excellence in the Fire Protection Technology program.

This award is given to graduating students from all majors with outstanding accomplishments during their time at Gaston County.

Aside from being hired as a firefighter with the city of Gaston in 2020, Chafin has volunteered with the Agriculture Center Fire Department in Bessemer City since 2019. He continues to work part time for the Agriculture Center Fire Department, which recognized him as its 2021 Firefighter of the Year.

Chafin plans to return to Gaston College to obtain another associate in public safety administration and later pursue a bachelors degree.

In the meantime, Chafin hopes to continue his firefighter career for the next 30 years.

Beatriz Guerrero can be reached at 704-869-1828 or on Twitter@BeatrizGue_.