Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Local companies utilize CVTC academies to boost workforce
Businesses in west-central Wisconsin communities continue to recognize the value in piquing the curiosity of high school students in hopes of bringing them on board after they receive degrees at Chippewa Valley Technical College.
Lippert, manufacturer and supplier of engineered products and customized solutions in Altoona, is jumping on board.
When company officials went to CVTC graduation to meet welders and they learned the graduates all had jobs lined up before graduation, they questioned how they could tap into students earlier in the process of their education.
“We explained the high school academy process,” said Kristel Tavare, Director of Pre-K through 12 Initiatives at CVTC. “We came up with a plan. Eight Eau Claire students will take Welding 1 and 2 at their high school, then Lippert would like to hire the students as Youth Apprentices once they start in the academy.”
In spring 2025, those students will take the welding academy in the College’s Mobile Welding Lab stationed on Lippert’s campus and work at the company as well. The students will earn college credit, get paid for their work and get hands-on work experience at the same time, Tavare said.
“It’s beneficial for the students so they can explore the pathway and see how that translates to the real world. The school district benefits from youth apprenticeships because it provides career-ready students, and it helps us to meet our community demands,” Tavare said. “It really gives students a jumpstart.”
