Northwest Shoals Community College FAME students win state competition, head to Nationals

A team of second-year Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME) students from Northwest Shoals Community College (NWSCC) won first place in the Manufacturing Core Exercises (MCE) 4 competition last week during the 2026 Alabama Summit on Talent Retention and Work-Based Learning.

The winning students were Terrell Rickard, from Tuscumbia, Edwin Vela, from Russellville, Jackson Collins, from Muscle Shoals, and Noah Aday, from Florence. Each of the students are currently employed by Constellium in Muscle Shoals. Their victory in the MCE 4 category, specifically designed for second-year students, recognizes their proficiency in lean manufacturing and technical integration.

“We are incredibly proud of these students and the dedication they have shown to both their studies and their work at Constellium,” said Allison Mefford, NWSCC Manager of Workforce Development and Apprenticeships. “I believe our students are showing they have the professional and technical skills required to lead in a modern manufacturing environment.”

The team is now preparing to compete at the FAME National Conference in Jacksonville, Florida, scheduled for May 12-14.

The success at the state level comes as the four students prepare to graduate NWSCC this May with Associate of Applied Science degrees in Industrial Systems Technology. Through the FAME model, students split their time between classroom instruction at NWSCC and paid, hands-on work experience at Constellium, allowing them to enter the workforce with two years of industry experience.

According to Kim Sizemore, Constellium, Maintenance Training Manager and Co-Chairperson of the Shoals FAME Chapter, the FAME model is the blueprint for the future of Maintenance & Reliability in Constellium Muscle Shoals. “By integrating rigorous academic learning with real-world application at Constellium, we are developing more than just technicians; we are developing leaders,” said Sizemore. “Winning at the State level to advance to the National level is a testament to the students’ hard work and the strength of the Shoals FAME Chapter and Constellium Muscle Shoals.  We are very proud of these students’ accomplishments and look forward to taking the National stage.”

The 2026 Alabama Summit, held April 14-16 at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel, was a joint effort by the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship, the Alabama Community College System, and FuelAL, a program of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama. The event brought together educators and industry leaders to discuss best practices in work-based learning and talent retention.

The NWSCC FAME program continues to serve as a primary talent pipeline for regional manufacturers like Constellium, focusing on professional behaviors and distinct manufacturing core competencies.

For more information regarding the NWSCC FAME program, visit nwscc.edu/fame.