THINC College and Career Academy has hosted one event this week and will be hosting another soon as the new academic year sets into full swing. On Monday, Aug. 21, THINC hosted the Youth Workforce Pipeline: Make It Happen event at the Del’avant from 9:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. Today, Aug. 22, THINC will welcome volunteers to its campus to take part in the Welcome Back Students event.

THINC was one of three sponsors for the inaugural Youth Workforce Pipeline: Make It Happen, alongside Georgia College and Career Academy Network and Georgia Association of Manufacturers. Congressman Drew Ferguson was the keynote speaker at the event, which focused on helping businesses and individuals discover how manufacturing companies are developing their talent.

“There’s a heavy-hitting lineup of people that will be down for the event,” said Carrie Brkich, Workforce Development Manager of THINC Academy before the event was held.

“They are having a discussion about workforce development and the future pipeline for our workforce.”

THINC Academy’s is playing a key role in workforce development through their work-based learning program, and is heavily invested in maintaining a healthy youth workforce pipeline.

“There is a looming gap among some positions within the business community,” Brkich said. “They (businesses) don’t have a plan for filling those, they’ve faced some challenges recruiting for those positions. We’ve done a lot of work as far as raising awareness about that and coming up with solutions. One of those solutions that has been working is the work-based learning program.”

The other event that THINC Academy is hosting is a Welcome Back Students rally on Aug. 22.

“This welcome back rally is an opportunity for the business community and business leaders to welcome our students as they come on campus,” said Brkich. “We have a bunch of community support, and wanted to give our partners and businesses the opportunity to come and show their support early on, with the belief that when students the students see that there are people out there who are investing in them and care about them, it puts them in the right frame of mind to succeed in the school year.”

THINC has been in session since Aug. 10, but the event has not taken place until today to give students and teachers a chance to get familiarized with each other and for class schedules to be finalized. Opportunities to participate will be 8 a.m. and/or 11:30 a.m.

“We do it a week or so into the school year just so everyone’s schedules are finalized,” Brkich said.

“We did this last year as well,” THINC Academy administrative assistant Molly Sumner said. “It works like a pep rally.”

Anyone interested in taking part in the Welcome Back Students event can participate at either 8 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.