“During the 2020-2021 school year
we will have seven pathways and will
probably stay there for a while,” said
Moore. “We have all the pathways
based on workforce needs in our local
community, as well as nationwide, for
now. In the coming year, we plan to
spend some time working to expand
programming into the middle school
grades.” Currently, middle school
students are only offered access to
hands-on training programs during the
summertime.
Katherine Fischenich
Program Specialist | PIPELINE & YST
Program
Andre Keller - WBL senior during Gen Z.
Moore says students can get involved
in the Career Pathways program in
two ways. They can either enroll in a
course, or they can sign up on their
own to participate in the program.
During the 2019-2020 school year,
1,568 students in grades 7 - 12 were
either taking a course, had taken
a course, or had signed up for the
program on their own.
“We have developed a timeline that
has been really helpful for us that
we’ve been able to replicate. We offer
our annual WBL Career Pathways Expo
in the fall which helps students make
informed decision about their future
career choice. Regardless of post-
secondary plans, there is something
for everyone. In the spring we offer
job site tours, small group field trips,
job shadows and summer internships,”
said Moore, who added that students
participated in 89 paid internships
during summer 2019.
Several Northeast Metro companies
participate in the program by offering
opportunities for students to get some
hands-on training. Among them is
Herold Precision Metals, LLC, (HPM) of
White Bear Township, which joined the
22
Northeast Metro Business
program for the summer of 2019.
The company is a precision sheet
metal fabricator with an emphasis
on design, engineering, fabrication,
finishing, mechanical and electrical
assembly. HPM has participated in the
program by opening its doors for field
trips, taking part in expos, talking on
panels, and donating equipment and
materials needed for the students to
work with.
chemical dispensing, is also a program
participant. Over the last three years,
hundreds of students have taken
factory tours, and 12 students have
been through the Gen Z Connection:
Skills and Careers in Manufacturing
program.
Gen Z, which launched the summer
of 2017, is a collaborative partnership
between VHEDC, White Bear Lake
“It is vital to provide options for
everyone,” said Timothy M. Herold,
President and Co-founder of Herold
Precision Metals, LLC. “Some seek a
four year degree, some seek military,
some seek vocational, and some want
to just go to work to learn a trade, or
go to work within an industry to obtain
hands on experience prior to earning
a degree within said field of choice.
It is our responsibility to provide all
possible avenues of learning what’s out
there that could best fit the student’s
interests and desires.”
The Specialty Manufacturing Company
of St. Paul, which manufactures
products purchased by numerous
industries, including automotive, water
purification, medical, beverage, and
Drew Hamilton, St. Paul College gives Cindy O’Donovan,
Right4 Your Business and VHEDC Grant Coordinator a tour.