“I want to be successful,” says Canyon Echerd, a lifelong Alexander County resident and recent CVCC alum. “I wanted to graduate with something substantial and find a way to get ahead in my career field.” 

There are plenty of students who hold this ambition, but not everyone can fulfill it—much less exceed their goals. Canyon Echerd is one of those people. He was a strong high school student and heavily involved in activities at Alexander Central High School (ACHS), but he yearned for something more—a new challenge and a reason to develop new skills. 

He found such a place in the CVCC Career and College Promise (CCP) program.   

The concept of CCP, which permits high school-level students to take college-level courses, was not presented to Echerd until he met with CVCC instructor Ramie Robinson.  

Robinson is director of both the Electrical Systems and Computer Integrated Machining Technology at CVCC. Through CCP, Robinson also instructs these programs direct to high schools in Catawba and Alexander Counties. He was introduced to Echerd through connections at ACHS, and as soon as the two discussed academic and career goals, Robinson encouraged Echerd to enroll in the CCP electrical systems class the following Fall. 

Junior year approached fast. As a hands-on learner, Echerd knew he wanted to pursue the trades. He also held an interest in the types of work opportunities that came with a degree in Electrical Systems Technology. After reviewing the CCP curriculum at ACHS, reviewing the statistics of the field, and considering the credentials he would need for licensure, he decided that this was a path he wanted to pursue until graduation. 

For the next two years of high school, Echerd’s ambitions took off in the best of ways. He enrolled in online courses when available, drove from ACHS to the CVCC Main Campus to attend in-person electrical systems classes, and maintained the energy to spend his summers working at a local electrical company. 

 Echerd also got involved with campus organizations, like CVCC’s SkillsUSA Chapter. Through this program, he was introduced to scholarship opportunities that could supplement his college education.  

“One day, Mr. Robinson approached me at the Skills conference my senior year of high school and mentioned the possibility of receiving a SkillsUSA scholarship,” Echerd recalls. “The only catch was that you had to be a high school competitor to qualify—and I was. Mr. Robinson told me to stay with the SkillsUSA program and encouraged me to apply for the scholarship.” If selected, Echerd would use the scholarship to fund the tuition and fees of his first year as a college student at CVCC.  

While waiting for the scholarship results, Echerd finished his time at Alexander Central High School. He graduated with both a high school diploma and an Electrical Systems diploma. The accomplishment encouraged him to reach higher and move faster towards his goals, and he enrolled as a first year electrical systems student at CVCC the following Fall. 

“Thanks to that SkillsUSA scholarship, I received $1300 towards my first semester of education at CVCC, and then I received that amount again the next semester,” says Echerd.  

He also used his early start in the electrical systems program to buy time for another degree: Industrial Systems Technology. He attended CVCC for both programs, taking classes and keeping his job with the local electrical company.  

In May 2024, Echerd proudly graduated from CVCC with an Associate in Electrical Systems and an Associate in Industrial Systems. He also carried his SkillsUSA participation through the end of his second year at CVCC, taking home “Silver: Industrial Motor Control” at the 2024 SkillsUSA State Competition.  

“Within the electrical background, even industrial systems, there is some bookwork,” he shares, “but for the most part, I get to see my work in the field and understand how it all works. The labs at CVCC and the Workforce Solutions Complex are high-tech and quite realistic. Because I knew the proper tools, how to use the tools, and how to use the equipment, it wasn’t a total shock to transition into the professional field.”  

Thanks to his employer, Echerd kept his position at the electrical company and continued to apply his skills in plumbing, mechanical systems, wastewater treatment, and more. He felt that working and networking in the diverse sphere of commercial services, especially in regions such as Charlotte, proves that he made the right choice for a lucrative, fulfilling career. 

“I migrated into the electrical side of wastewater treatment because it brings something new every day,” he shares. “When I first started with [this] company, they threw any [service need] at me and I would give it a go—but the municipal side of electrical systems is what truly piqued my interest.” 

Echerd looks forward to more growth opportunities at his current job, and he is excited for the day that he can sit for the official electrical license exam. While he hones his craft, builds self-confidence, and gathers a strong network of clientele and colleagues, his final goal is to establish his own electrical company. 

“Most people our age are going for a four-year college experience,” he says. “That’s great—that’s something I looked into—but I’m glad that I stayed with the trades.”