In 2021, Pueblo Community College and a group of partnering employers announced the creation of a Pueblo chapter of the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME). The program offers a combination of classroom instruction and paid on-the-job training so graduates already have two years of work experience by the time they graduate.
Daniel Ramos heard the announcement and took notice.
“I had never seen a program like this so I decided to jump at the opportunity,” he said.
In May 2023, Ramos graduated with his associate degree in industrial technology maintenance and a wealth of work experience with the facility services department at PCC.
“My mentors taught me in depth about things I was learning in class and gave me the extra help I needed to succeed,” he said. “They would even take the time to explain complicated problems or explain why I was doing things, not just say, ‘It needs to be done.’”
Ramos specifically praised one of his PCC mentors, Ray Marquez, for introducing him to other craftsmen who took time to answer questions and offer help.
“I could not be more grateful. Without the extra support, I would not have been so confident in my classroom studies,” Ramos said.
With his attention now focused on starting a career, Ramos said he’ll carry many experiences with him as he joins the workforce.
“I can honestly say I have learned something from each of my many teachers,” he said. “From learning how to effectively communicate to the program itself, I have taken valuable life lessons from all.”
