On April 24, the Manufacturers' Association concluded its eighth program year for its high school pre-apprenticeship program with a graduation ceremony hosted at Penn State York's campus coinciding with National Apprenticeship Week on April 30. The association's pre-apprenticeship program introduces high school students to advanced manufacturing careers in seven trades and provides opportunities to pursue high-wage and high-demand careers locally. The program includes students from York, Lancaster, Perry, Chester, Dauphin, Cumberland, and Lebanon counties, including the Milton Hershey School and several of the region's career and technology high schools.

This year's pre-apprenticeship program graduated 78 students from across southcentral Pennsylvania. During the recognition event, students received their state-recognized pre-apprenticeship credentials and were congratulated by invited guests, family members, program partners, and local manufacturing employers Eden Tool and Tate Inc.

The annual Carl Winters Jr. Memorial Scholarship, which provides $1,000 for further education or training in an industrial career, was awarded to Hayden Barr-Yendall from Red Lion High School as part of the York County Alliance for Learning (YCAL) class. Hayden plans to pursue a career in mechatronics at the York County School of Technology. The scholarship was established in honor of Carl Winters Jr. after his passing in 2019. Winters was a tool and die maker by trade for over 50 years in the York area and the creator of the original pre-apprenticeship program at the Manufacturers' Association.

Pre-apprenticeship programs are designed to offer classroom and hands-on learning specifically to train students to enter a registered apprenticeship program with an employer or continue their technical education. The association's program started in 2017 with a handful of students and since then has enrolled more than 300 students across southcentral Pennsylvania in the skills program. Students receive several industry-recognized credentials and upon graduation have the opportunity to enter registered apprenticeships with sponsoring employers while benefiting from advanced placement.

The program is registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and has received support from the state agency to expand the program across southcentral Pennsylvania. In addition to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor, the program collaborates with the Partnership for Career Development, York County Alliance for Learning, Chester County Intermediate Unit, Lancaster County Workforce Development Board, and dozens of employers.