Insight on Manufacturing

w w w.in s i g h t o n m f g . c o m November 2020 • /INSIGHT ON MANUFACTURING | 19 E D U C AT I O N & T R A I N I N G For the past 20 years, GPS Education Partners has been providing an opportunity for students to get a high school diploma while gaining hands- on experience at local companies — as well as creating a way for manufacturers to introduce careers to young people in the region. "We believe very strongly that education and learning can happen outside of the four walls of a school or a classroom environment, and, in fact, for many students, some of that learning is better delivered in more of a practical, applied setting, such as a work setting," says Jeremy Joecks, director of partner services for GPS Education Partners. The work-based learning provider, which is headquartered in Waukesha and operates throughout Northeast Wisconsin, also is celebrating the opening of a new Fox Cities education center at Menasha Corp. in Neenah. A new group of students began attending classes this fall, says Michelle Zimmer-Maertz, human resources business partner at Menasha Corp. Students in their junior or senior year typically receive classroom instruction in core academic subjects for two or three hours at one of GPS's regional education centers embedded within a manufacturing company, such as Menasha Corp. "For the rest of the day, typically four to five hours or so, they engage as youth apprentices at a business partner in the communities," Joecks says. "So they are training and working and learning and being exposed to all the different possible career paths within manufacturing." GPS employs teachers who have a background in alternative education, including many with a tech-ed background. Each education center has an instructor as well as a coordinator who connects businesses with students and serves as a coach, helping prepare students for careers. Each education center includes between eight and 15 business partners, with seven centers located in Wisconsin. GPS has expanded its model to other Midwestern states as well as Oregon. Some students within GPS programming remain in their traditional school setting while also participating in some type of work- based program. The program benefits students who prefer a more practical, hands-on learning situation, including those who may not have found success learning in a traditional school environment, Joecks says. Appleton West High School is one of GPS's educational partners, sending about 10 to 15 students through the program each year, says Jon Meidam, school counselor for Appleton West High School/Appleton Technical Academy. "By having our students get skills in the manufacturing area, and develop and use their talents, we're also helping our community and business and industry," he says. "All of that works together to have stronger business and manufacturing in our community." GPS has operated in the Fox Cities for about eight years. When its education center needed to find a new home, Menasha Corp.'s new corporate headquarters, which was completed in 2018, offered an ideal space. "When we heard that GPS had a need for a new education center, the light bulb just kind of went on and we were able to move some Real-world experience GPS Education Partners gets students ready for manufacturing careers BY NIKKI KALLIO A student takes part in a women in manufacturing session with Plexus Corp. in Neenah, a GPS Education Partners participating company. GPS provides students training on the job for in- demand roles. G P S E D U C AT I O N PA R T N E R S

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