Altec and Surry-Yadkin Works Open New Education Center for High Schoolers in Mt. Airy

On January 31, 2025, Surry-Yadkin Works and Altec officially opened the Surry-Yadkin Works FLEET center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Altec’s Mount Airy, North Carolina, facility.

Administered through Surry-Yadkin Works—the first community-based internship program in North Carolina spanning a two-county region—FLEET is the very first school program in North Carolina to be established inside a manufacturing company, connecting students with real-world manufacturing experience while they continue their education.

Students participating in the program receive classroom instruction at a dedicated space inside the Altec facility while also receiving hands-on training on various manufacturing processes within the plant.

“What makes this program special is that these students are not just gaining knowledge on how to build an Altec power distribution module; they’re gaining life skills that they’re going to carry on,” said Altec Mt. Airy General Manager Ben Griffin. “For Altec, this was an easy decision.”

The FLEET program aims to engage students who may be disconnected from traditional school settings, face attendance challenges, and need support in linking education to their future career goals. A key goal of the FLEET program is to prevent these students from becoming part of the Opportunity Youth demographic—young people aged 16 to 24 who are neither in school nor employed. With 16% of Surry County youth and 14.6% of Yadkin County youth classified in this category, FLEET provides a crucial bridge between education and employment, offering an alternative path to success.

“Like most high schoolers, I only went to school with the one main goal of just getting by to graduate and get out of high school,” said Allison Hornaday, FLEET student. “Many times, I contemplated dropping out but looking back I am so glad that I didn’t.”

Hornaday is one of 16 students currently enrolled in the program that began classes in August 2024. Although Hornaday said she had reservations about joining the program as it was far beyond her comfort zone and covered entirely new subject matter, the risk was well worth the reward she has experienced from participating.

“I have learned skills that I will take with me for the rest of my life—for example, soft skills like teamwork, communication, problem-solving, time management, and work ethic. I also never imagined myself wiring a PDM board, teaching others what I have learned, and moving on to paint bodies for trucks,” Hornaday said. “I have also grown as a person, being more comfortable and confident around people. I am thankful every day for everyone that is part of the program, and thankful for myself for taking a chance.”