You will see more local students take advantage of opportunities to go from the classroom to the workspace to help further their education. Student apprenticeships are growing in school districts like Sturgeon Bay, which has 26 kids involved at 18 businesses. It aligns with the state’s goals for K-12 schools, according to the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Some goals include doubling the number of students who complete a work-based learning program, increasing the number of high schools providing a regional career pathway, and helping students receive industry-recognized credentials for in-demand fields. Sturgeon Bay District Administrator Dan Tjernagel says his daughter is an example of the success these opportunities can bring to students.

CESA 7, which includes Door and Kewaunee counties, has over 1,000 kids involved in work-study programs through the Northeast Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship (NEWYA) program. Hundreds of students had the opportunity earlier this month to plan on those potential apprenticeship opportunities during a special Manufacturing Month event hosted by the Door County Economic Development Corporation. Students from Sturgeon Bay, Sevastopol, Gibraltar, Southern Door and Algoma will tour manufacturing businesses: Marine Travelift, ExacTech, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, N.E.W. Industries, Therma-Tron-X, Hatco, Pro Products, Midwest Wire Products, Renard’s Artisan Cheese, Itasca Automation Systems, Door County Candle Company and Door County Coffee as a part of the event to give them an inside look at the work that they do.

Here are the numbers of students currently enrolled:
Gibraltar:10
Sevastopol: 9
Sturgeon Bay: 36
Southern Door: 41
Washington Island: 0
Total: 96 Participants Enrolled