Since 2018, the Ahnapee Youth Apprenticeship program has grown to support close to 300 students in their career readiness. The program aims to place students in a local business that fits within their preferred career cluster to help them learn about the career path while also receiving mentorship from an experienced member of that field. In addition to that experience, they also receive school credit and eligibility to earn state-issued skills certificates. Jennifer Johnson, the program director, says the program has served many students and helped them learn more about themselves and their futures.

When the program began in 2018, it only had five student participants, and in only three short years, they were able to raise that number to 284 students in 7 schools spread through both Door and Kewaunee county. Those students are employed by 183 local companies, ranging from auto/diesel services to healthcare services. From being employed in those businesses, the total student earnings have been more than $1.24 million. Johnson expressed that if other schools were willing to start the program, she would expand even more to help more students from Wisconsin.