Originally posted by Hinds Community College, by | Sep 24, 2025
Apprentices from left, Chris Johnson of Utica, Ridge Fewell of Mendenhall, Jadarius Turner of Edwards, Braiden Gilliland of Brandon and Hayden Eagleburger of Brandon.
RICHLAND – Five Hinds Community College alumni who graduated from the Diesel Technology Academy signed apprenticeship agreements with Empire Truck Sales in Richland.
The five alumni are already employed at Empire and have exhibited a strong commitment to hard work with the desire to continuously learn new skills. Due to these qualities, the Empire management team selected them to participate in the Diesel Mechanic Registered Apprenticeship program through the U.S. Department of Labor, said Josh Bower, Hinds Dean of Agriculture and Transportation and Director of Talent, Workforce and Economic Development.
Hinds Community College is the sponsor of the apprenticeship program. This opportunity will provide the apprentices with mentorship, structured training and wage increases as they successfully progress through the program.
The five apprentices are Hayden Eaglebarger of Brandon, Ridge Fewell of Mendenhall, Braiden Gilliland of Brandon, Christopher Johnson of Utica and Jadarius Turner of Edwards.
“Today is about building futures. It’s about building the futures of these apprentices,” said Dr. Ginger Robbins, Vice President of Workforce Development and Governmental Affairs at Hinds. “It’s about building the future workforce of our industry partners. This is a win for the students, this is a win for our industry partners, and it is certainly a win for our communities that we are so fortunate to serve.”
Lonnie Cook, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Empire, said the industry can use many more employees trained through the Hinds Diesel Technology Academy. Cook provided a history of the strong partnership with Hinds for the Diesel students in attendance at the signing ceremony, and he encouraged them to take full advantage of the unique learning environment provided by the experienced faculty and top-notch training aids.
“We’re very fortunate to have each and every one of you to participate. We want more people to know about it. We’ve made a lot of progress (in numbers) but we’ve got a lot of room to improve,” he said.
Representatives from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship, Mississippi Department of Employment Security, Accelerate MS, Central Mississippi Planning and Development District, Mississippi Economic Council, and Rankin First Economic Development Authority attended the apprenticeship event.
“It’s wonderful to see the investment Empire continues to make in our students, and the support we receive from our many workforce partners,” Bower said.
Hinds and Empire Truck Sales/Stribling Equipment officially opened the Diesel Technology Academy in 2016. The partnership grew out of a need for more trained diesel mechanics to work on 18-wheelers and heavy equipment in the region.
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With six campuses in central Mississippi, Hinds Community College is a comprehensive institution offering quality, affordable educational opportunities with academic programs of study leading to seamless university transfer and career and technical programs teaching job-ready skills.
Our Mission: Hinds Community College is committed to moving people and communities forward by helping develop their purpose, passion and profession.
Our Vision: Hinds Community College will be a catalyst to create a competitive economy and a compelling culture for Mississippi.
Our Values: Hinds Community College aspires to the following IDEALS: Integrity, Diversity, Excellence, Accountability, Leadership, Stewardship.
To learn more, visit www.hindscc.edu or call 1.800.HindsCC.