Local youth get jump-start on careers, college

Youth apprentices work in finance, manufacturing, health care

By Charlie Mathews, Herald Times Reporter

MANITOWOC — Mishicot High School senior Dayna Kleckner and Two Rivers High School senior Kayla Peckham get out of the house and go to work before dawn … and then go to class.

"I help the residents get ready for their daily activities, including helping them use the bathroom," said Kleckner, a certified nursing assistant at St. Mary's nursing home at Felician Village.

She works a daily 7 to 10 a.m. shift, as does Peckham, also a certified nursing assistant. "I get to go all over the hospital at Aurora Medical Center," she said. "I enjoy the interaction with patents and their families. I want to be a pediatric nurse."

Valders junior, Tiffany Stueber, also works an early-morning CNA shift at Manitowoc Health & Rehab. "It is fast-paced, really demanding, but you feel good when you're done," she said.

The trio are part of 50 high school students getting a "jump start" on college and careers through the Manitowoc County Youth Apprenticeship program.

"The nice thing is they get to earn money while they are in school, and are earning high school and college credits," said Kari Krull, Manitowoc County School-to-Careers coordinator.

She will be hosting an informational presentation on the program at 7 p.m. Monday in the Lincoln High School auditorium.

Youth apprenticeships are available in 13 areas, from auto collision to welding.

"These apprenticeships often are a steppingstone — a jump-start — to two- or four-year college programs," Krull said.

"I would like to have the kids keep their options open, as far as career opportunities go," said Rick Conrad, Lincoln's youth apprentice liaison.

"So many kids are under the impression that going to a four-year college is the way they to go to be successful," Conrad said. "But there are many great opportunities in the skilled trades."

Lincoln senior Mike Kurtzweil is in his second year of a manufacturing-machining youth apprenticeship. The program requires a minimum of 450 hours each academic year, but Kurtzweil has already logged 1,617 hours at Stecker Machine since June 2007.

"I was in manual mills and lathes when I started, and then went over to CNC (computer numerically controlled) machines over the summer," Kurtzweil said. "Rather than you doing all the work, you tell the machine what needs to be done."

Dylan Baryenbruch, a junior, also is doing his apprenticeship at Stecker. "Long-range, I would like to get my journeyman's card in machining after completing an adult apprenticeship," he said.

Krull said state officials are considering allowing hours accrued doing a youth apprenticeship to count toward an adult apprenticeship, which often involves as many as 10,000 hours of supervised work.

"The youth apprentices are the cream of the crop, and I give them a lot of credit for taking on the program and the additional work," said Mary Greeneway, clinical nurse educator at Aurora.

She said Aurora views the program as a way to help students learn about all facets of health care, and as a recruitment tool. "Its nice to get them in your door," Greeneway said.

In the manufacturing environment, youth apprentices also are drawing a paycheck with grown-up duties. They start at about $8 an hour.

"I don't want them to act their age while they are here, but be adults and be serious about the job," said Brian Chartrand, a tool and die maker at Stecker Machine.

"He doesn't cut anybody any slack … it's good for the machining apprentices to start with Brian," said Doug Peterson, Stecker's operations manager. "He holds them to task."

"The Youth Apprentice Program is a win-win for us at Stecker," Peterson said. "The apprentices are at a lower wage, but, at the same time, getting the experience they need for the future.

"We treat them like one of us," Peterson said. "We have five youth apprentices who are very reliable and doing a good job."

Both Krull and Conrad said they hope Lakeshore area employers will stay committed to the program, especially in a struggling economy.

"I would hope they would remain committed to developing a skilled workforce," Conrad said. "When we pull out of this recession, there will be a dearth of skilled workers unless the pipeline has been getting filled."

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