Article originally published by Jeanna Baxter White from Davie County Blog.

Record Enrollment for 6th Cohort

This fall, IGNITE DAVIE welcomed the 6th and largest class of students since its launch in 2020. A record 111 students are enrolled in programs at Davidson-Davie Community College and Forsyth Technical Community College, compared to an average of the mid-80s in previous years.   

A Growing Impact Since 2020

Since its beginning, IGNITE DAVIE has made a powerful impact on students and the community:

• Over 500 students have taken advantage of the program.
• Students have earned hundreds of certificates, diplomas, and degrees.
• Each student volunteers at least five hours per semester in Davie County, resulting in more than 1,200 volunteer hours last school year alone.

These numbers demonstrate the program’s success in preparing students for the future while strengthening the community.  By investing in students, IGNITE DAVIE is investing in Davie County — creating a stronger workforce, increasing community engagement, and building brighter futures.

 “We are excited to see so many Davie County students taking advantage of IGNITE DAVIE.   We are providing our students with the opportunity for more education and training as well as developing our own talent pipeline to meet the needs of our business and industry, which is a win-win for our students and our community,”  said Carolyn McManamy, director of DavieCONNECT and IGNITE DAVIE partner.

More Opportunities for Students to Gain In-Demand Skills

IGNITE DAVIE covers in-state tuition, fees, and a stipend for books.  Students can pursue associate degrees, transfer pathways, diplomas, certificates, or some short-term training programs that prepare them for high-demand careers.   

Starting this fall, IGNITE DAVIE now includes ten short-term training programs at Davidson-Davie Community College.  

Students can now choose from:

• Electrical
• HVAC
• Nursing Assistant I
• Phlebotomy
• Central Sterile Processing
• EMT
• Cosmetology
• Welding
• Carpentry
• Truck Driver Training

Meeting Students Where They Are

These flexible programs allow students to gain valuable, marketable skills in less time—helping them enter the workforce quickly or take the first step toward advanced certification.

McManamy views the decision to include more short-term training programs as both an educational and community investment. “Short-term training programs are not covered by traditional financial aid, so including them in the IGNITE DAVIE program allows us to help more students secure a solid career path, especially those students who aren’t considering college because they want or need to join the workforce right after graduation.”