Students, employers see value in program’s real-world job training

If the numbers from the May 13 graduation and recognition ceremony are any indication, enthusiasm for the Workforce 2020 Student Youth Apprenticeship program remains at an all-time high.

The program, held at the Cedarburg Cultural Center, recognized 24 graduating seniors and their apprenticeship mentors.

Student participants came from all five Ozaukee County high schools as well as Random Lake High School.

It was the 18th year the apprenticeship program, which uses the motto “Investing in Wisconsin’s Future,” was offered in Ozaukee County through a partnership between local government, area school districts and the business community.

Apprenticeship matches were offered in four fields of employment.

The fields of training, and their graduates, schools, workplaces and mentors are:

Nursing assistant

Katie Oberst, Sarah Rowley and Alysia Gibes, all Port Washington High School, Harbor Club, Port Washington, mentor Catherine Torcivia; Jamie Brown, Grafton High School, Ellen’s Home, Port Washington, mentor Sheri Mondloch; Jacob Krieg, Cedarburg High School, Lasata Care Center, Cedarburg, mentor Dawn Nimtz; Katie Gasperetti, Cedarburg High School, EMS Medical Billing, Milwaukee, mentor Paula Bliemester; Theresa Eggleston, Cedarburg High School, Good Hope Manor, Cedarburg, mentor Linda Witzlib; Joseph Morgese and Savannah Kenny, both of Cedarburg High School, Aurora Medical Center, Grafton, mentor John Brooks; and Jessica Wengel, Ozaukee High School, Gables on the Pond, Random Lake, mentor Pam Zastrow.

Manufacturing

Joseph Schanen, Random Lake High School, and Robert Jarm, Grafton High School, Waukesha Metal, Grafton, mentor Peter Skaalen; Matthew Grady, Cedarburg High School, Carlson Tool, Cedarburg, mentor Eric Hoyem; Charlie Koller, Homestead High School, and Sam Nolan, Cedarburg High School, GenMet, Mequon, mentor Eric Isbister.

Automotive technician

Ian Liebelt, Grafton High School, Corkie’s Automotive, Cedarburg, mentor Colin Van Sluys; Cody Weis, Cedarburg High School, Krueger’s Auto and Car Maid, Cedarburg, mentors George Heimsch and Dennis Erovick; Mitchell DelCamp, Grafton High School, 5 Corners, Cedarburg, mentor Randy Kison; Alexander Conrad, Grafton High School, Tires Unlimited, Port Washington, mentor Steve Peterson; Jake Semple, Grafton High School, Newman Chevrolet, Cedarburg, mentor Mark Czerwinski; and Cody Boesch, Grafton High School, Fuel Power Sports, West Bend, mentor Ben Boesch.

Finance

Stephanie Volesky, Port Washington High School, Anna Hauer, Grafton High School, and Zachary Deming, Cedarburg High School, all worked at Port Washington State Bank, mentor Ann Noster.

Image Information: STUDENTS AND MENTORS recently celebrated the 18th annual Student Youth Apprenticeship graduation and honors recognition. Gathered outside the Cedarburg Cultural Center were students, mentors and teachers (front row, from left) Stephanie Volesky, Alysia Gibes, Jessica Wengel, Katie Oberst, Zach Deming, Jacob Krieg, Matt Grady, Mitchell Delcamp, Cody Weis, Cody Semple, Alex Conrad, Ian Liebelt, (back row) Annie Noster, Doug Dimmer, Charlie Koller, Joey Morgese, John Brooks, Louis Roeske, Aaron Hiltz, Carl Hader, Randy Kison, Deana Nelson, Jodi Hackel, Sara Rowley and Joe Schanen.                                                                      
Photo by Sam Arendt