HUNTINGTON, W.Va. —- Nineteen students in the Machinist Technology Program conducted by the Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing (RCBI) are scheduled to be recognized at graduation ceremonies this month, RCBI Director and CEO Charlotte Weber announced. Most began their studies last August.

The ceremonies are scheduled at the RCBI Advanced Manufacturing Technology Centers in Huntington on Aug. 10; Rocket Center (near Keyser), Aug. 11, and Bridgeport, Aug. 12. Each of the programs will begin at 11:30 a.m.

With this year’s graduation, a total of 269 individuals will have completed the nationally recognized Machinist Technology Program, all earning certification from the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS), Weber said. Program graduates have earned nearly 1,100 individual credentials from NIMS.

The RCBI program is the only one in the nation that couples its machinist certification with an opportunity to earn a two-year college degree.

So far, 119 graduates have earned Associate degrees and others are completing the degree process through local community colleges.

Scheduled to participate in this year’s graduation programs are:

HUNTINGTON: Cody Baker, Scottown, Ohio; John Bowles, St. Albans, W.Va.; James Buckley and Joshua Finley, Kenova, W.Va.; Matthew Demoss, Ona, W.Va.; Corey King, Salt Rock, W.Va.; Shane Brotherton and Aaron Auffant, MiltonW.Va.; Zack Sturgeon, Ashton, W.Va.; Nicholas Robinson and Natalie Booth, Huntington, W.Va.

ROCKET CENTER: Matthew Miller, Markleton, Pa.; A.J. Reeves, Keyser, W.Va.; Keith Beckman, Oakland, Md.; William Castillo, Ridgeley, W.Va.; Bret DeWitt, Swanton, W.Va.; Michael Keister, Lonaconing, Md.

BRIDGEPORT: Brandon Dillon, Mannington, W.Va.; Dillon Hashman, Normantown, W.Va.

A new group of students will begin Machinist Technology Program studies Aug. 24.