A partnership between two educational entities and a nonprofit organization has local leaders excited at how it’s benefiting high school students involved in the program. Known as LITE (Linking Industry to Education), the pilot program this year recently graduated its first class, recognizing 12 students for receiving industry-recognized certificates in fields like welding, forklift operation, career development and OSHA training. Kim Guy, a workforce development coach with Lanier Charter Career Academy, said the program has a “career-driven vision...that many of the students in this generation need.”