For Immediate Release: June 8, 2018
WBLAS Contact: Marisa Vette, 651-407-7695, marisa.vette@isd624.org

This summer, more than 100 White Bear Lake Area Schools students will participate in paid experiential learning opportunities, internships, or summer camps related to Career Pathways.

Opportunities for high school students include experiences with MN Trades Academy, Gen Z Connections Manufacturing Program, FireFly Computers, St. Paul College Scrubs Camp, Technology Repair Store, HealthPartners Career Academy, and MN Department of Transportation's Phoenix Program. Students are also completing internships at the University of Minnesota Materials Science program. One student will continue her job shadow experience at TLC Veterinary and six students will participate in the St. Paul College Welding & Manufacturing Camp.

"I am energized by the community partners that are finding ways to provide opportunities for students to explore industry experiences in high demand fields," said Jennifer Moore, Career Navigator for White Bear Lake Area Schools.

Younger students also have the opportunity to gain experience in the skilled trades. Students entering grades six through nine are participating in a program through the Construction Trades Foundation called Kids at Work. The district's Technology Department will also employ more than 20 students this summer for Tech Depot, an initiative through which students will repair, clean, image and deploy technology devices over the course of the summer.

"Opportunities to help students find their purpose is critical to our strategic work," said Assistant Superintendent Sara Paul. "Early opportunities to explore careers can help students design their high school learning plans."

White Bear Lake Area Schools was one of five recipients of a $95,000 Youth Skills Training (YST) grants to develop and implement paid-learning opportunities for students 16 years of age and older. "These grants allow high schools, businesses and community organizations to work together to train students and create skilled workers for their communities," said Ken Peterson, DLI commissioner. The health care pathway partnership with Cerenity Senior Care will support more than 130 students to earn industry recognized credentials that will help address workforce shortages.