Local Youth Apprentices Attend YA Day In Madison

The 3rd Annual state-wide Youth Apprentice (YA) Day was held in Madison on Thursday, March 2, with seven Fond du Lac County youth apprentices in attendance. Students and YA coordinators were welcomed by Senator Dan Feyen and Representative Jeremy Thiesfeldt, toured the Capitol and met with local legislators to discuss how their YA experience has impacted their career path decisions.
Fond du Lac’s Spark, Youth Apprenticeship program, formerly known as School-to-Work, began in 1995. The YA program is a work-based learning opportunity that enables students to work and earn credit while in high school. Currently, there are 92 youth apprentices from nine area participating high schools placed at 67 worksites throughout the county. Youth apprentices can choose from 10 different pathways including: Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources; Architecture and Construction; Art, A/V Technology and Communications; Finance; Health Services; Hospitality and Tourism; Information Technology; Manufacturing; Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM); and Transportation Distribution and Logistics. Upon successful completion of apprenticeship requirements, YAs are credentialed from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.
Pictured left-to-right: Rachel Zahradnik, CNA – Agnesian HealthCare, Fond du Lac High School; Noah Hatch, STEM – Mi-Tech, Fond du Lac High School; Samantha Blackstad, Architecture – Tom’s Architecture, Fond du Lac High School; Senator Dan Feyen; Logan Killam, IT – Oakfield School District, Oakfield High School; Simitrio Arellano, STEM – Manowske Welding, St. Mary’s Springs Academy; Tanner Killam, Manufacturing/Welding – Alliance Laundry Systems, Ripon High School; Nathaniel Jahns, STEM – Mid-States Aluminum, Winnebago Lutheran Academy.
Spark, Youth Apprenticeship is a program of Fond du Lac Works, a division of the Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce. For more information, please contact Lisa McArthur at lisa@fdlac.com or 920-921-9500.
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