MCC alumnus turns training into career at Nissan
Jack Rigdon did not plan to attend college after high school.
That all changed when Meridian Community College Instructor Stanley Bishop encouraged him to consider the Industrial Maintenance Technology Program.
“Mr. Bishop told me about the program and said I should sign up and give it a try,” Rigdon said. “My cousin and others I knew had taken the class, and everyone said it was the class to take.”
Rigdon enrolled and completed two years of training before graduating in May 2023. The 23-year-old House resident now works as a maintenance technician in body assembly at Nissan Automotive Manufacturing Co. in Canton.
He said the College’s Industrial Maintenance Program prepared him for the job and helped him stand out in the workplace. “There are things the program demonstrated that I still use every day in my career,” Rigdon said.
This two-year MCC program provides students with the technical knowledge and skills necessary for success in the field of manufacturing maintenance as students learn safety, fluid power, electricity, motor control systems, PLC, mechatronics, mechanical systems, troubleshooting, preventive maintenance, welding, and precision machining. Students also earn advanced certifications from The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) and The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Rigdon studied under Bishop and Max Dickerson, who brought more than 50 years of combined industry experience to the classroom. He said both instructors worked closely with students and made sure they understood the material.
“They taught us about maintenance, but they also went above and beyond by being mentors and role models,” he said. Rigdon’s instructors recognized the effort that he put into his studies.
“Jack was a great student,” said Bishop, who has known Rigdon for many years. “He was always on time, eager to learn, full participation in all shop activities. Jack was a friend to everyone in the class, always a smile. He made good grades in all online and class work, was always willing to help other students,” Bishop said.
One of Rigdon’s lasting memories was seeing companies from Meridian to Renton, Washington, recruit students from the program. That interest showed him the value of the skills he was learning.
His time at MCC also changed his personal life. Rigdon met his wife while attending the college. They now have a daughter and are expecting their second daughter in January.
Rigdon said the career he built through the program has given him the ability to support his growing family and provide them with a better future.
He credits MCC with giving him the skills to succeed, but he said students must also be willing to work.
“Just showing up every day will not make you succeed,” Rigdon said. “You have to want it.”
He encourages students interested in a hands-on career to consider the program and take their training seriously.
“If you apply yourself and want to be successful in a career that will provide for you and your family, this is the class for that,” he said.
For more information, visit meridiancc.edu/cte.