Most college students hope to secure jobs in their chosen fields after graduation. Three incoming students in the Systems Maintenance, Automation & Robotics Technology (SMART) Program offered by Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center (MAMC) and Mountwest Community and Technical College have landed employment before they even begin their studies.
Trenton Casdorph of Culloden, an upcoming graduate of Hurricane High School and Putnam Career & Technical Center; Cooper Craig of Ashton, an upcoming graduate of Point Pleasant High School; and Bobby Lucas of West Hamlin, a graduate of Lincoln County High School and current student in the MAMC Machinist Technology/CNC Program, have been selected through a competitive process by Toyota West Virginia for two-year paid internships in the company’s Advanced Manufacturing Technician (AMT) program.
The three will begin their Toyota internships in August just before they start SMART classes at MAMC and Mountwest. They will work three days a week at Toyota’s Buffalo facility under the guidance of experienced mentors, gaining real-world experience as they learn to trouble-shoot, repair and maintain the company’s complex equipment and systems. On Tuesday and Thursdays, the students will pursue their SMART education at MAMC and Mountwest.
Craig said that when he learned that enrolling in the SMART Program made him eligible to apply for the Toyota internship, he switched his college plans.
“I knew I wanted to be an advanced manufacturing technician at Toyota, but I heard its super competitive to get in,” he explained. The internship presents an opportunity to get his foot in the door.
May 7, 2026
