Historic first: Hennepin Technical College awards associate degrees to Light Rail Train Technicians
Brooklyn Park, July 30, 2019 – Hennepin Technical College on Thursday will award the first light rail train technology degrees in the Minnesota State system.
The college, Metro Transit and Twin Cities R!SE, a nonprofit, partnered to train the six graduates, who are from underrepresented communities. The six will receive their associate degrees in a commencement ceremony after completing a three-year program.
The graduates attended empowerment/life skills classes at R!SE and received college instruction at HTC in automation robotics, electronics and fluid power. They also received two and a half years of paid on-the-job training at Metro Transit’s light rail vehicle facilities in Minneapolis and St. Paul. They are now eligible to apply for jobs as electro-mechanical technicians at Metro Transit, which start at about $27 an hour.
Clink on the links below to view media coverage of the graduation.