Thirty-three high school students signed on with 11 area employers as part of the Stateline Manufacturing Alliance (SMA)’s Fifth Annual Manufacturing Signing Day on May 28. Some will be attending Blackhawk Technical College, some will be continuing their education elsewhere, and others will be going directly into the field.
Sponsored by JP Cullen, CCI, The Morse Group, Snap-On Tools and Blackhawk, the event honored the students chosen for various employment opportunities, including apprenticeships, internships and full-time positions.
“Today is all about the opportunities for these graduates,” said Jaron Combs, SMA board chair and senior vice president of operations at Mid-State Concrete Industries.
Joined by their employers, each student in attendance took the stage to sign a commemorative board and put on a hat representing their new company. Students also received an SMA hat to commemorate the partnership between employers and SMA.
Guest speaker David Polk, director of Wisconsin apprenticeship at the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, underscored the vital importance of the support needed for apprenticeships. Polk, a third-generation licensed plumber, has helped Wisconsin continue its trend of setting participation records for registered apprenticeship and youth apprenticeship.
“All the moving parts that have to come together are complex,” Polk said, adding he hopes the SMA and related partnerships make getting into apprenticeship programs less complex. He also shared his appreciation for the circular path many apprentices follow, from being a learner to eventually being a teacher for the next generation. "I am so very, very excited about the students today who will come back as mentors in the future."
Evan Noble, a Blackhawk alumnus who works at Scot Forge, spoke directly to the 33 high school graduates: “Take advantage of all the opportunities you can. It makes a big difference in your life.”
The students honored, listed by their employers, are:
The Caldwell Group, Inc.
- Jesus Arrieta—Hononegah High School
- Emerson Gantz—Hononegah High School
- Drew Shockley—Hononegah High School
Frito-Lay
- Marcus De La Cruz—Beloit Memorial High School
Hexpol
- Daniel Rocco—Whitewater High School
Jones Dairy Farm
- Hunter Mentch—Jefferson High School
- Ayden Mitchell—Jefferson High School
Kuhn North America, Inc.
- Lane Visger—Brodhead High School
The Morse Group
- Miguel Aguilar—Beloit Memorial High School
- Riley McKillips—The Lincoln Academy
- Jacob Popp—Beloit Memorial High School
- Alex Slown—Beloit Memorial High School
- Adrian Woodman—Evansville High School
Pieper Electric, Inc.
- Mason Brown—Evansville High School
Prent Corporation
- Dawson Van Fleet—The Lincoln Academy
Scot Forge
- Christopher Gross—Clinton High School graduate
- Mikael Higginson—Elkhorn High School
- Aidan Kerl—Clinton High School
- Drew Maly—Clinton High School
- Joe Price—FJ Turner High School
- Kaden Randall—The Lincoln Academy
- Mason Rooney—Janesville Parker High School
- Jacob Schuenke—Delavan-Darien High School
- Ryan Thomas—FJ Turner High School
- Jayven Willger—Clinton High School
Stoughton Trailers
- Etienn Cayou—McFarland High School
- Anna Maudlin—McFarland High School
- Parker Thur—Edgerton High School
United Alloy
- Olivia Bovial—Big Foot High School
- Gabe Krieser—The Lincoln Academy
- Colin Mortimer—Janesville Craig High School
- Madex Norman—Janesville Parker High School
- Jadon Upham—Janesville Parker High School
JP Cullen, The Morse Group and CCI each donated funds so that students could each receive a $100 Blain’s Farm & Fleet gift card. The gift cards are intended to be used for work boots, work apparel and other needed supplies.
Scholarships awarded
The SMA Scholarship Awards were also presented at the signing event. Through the Blackhawk Technical College Foundation, the SMA gives out $10,000 in scholarships each year. Each of the five students awarded receives a $2,000 scholarship that is split to pay $1,000 for the fall semester and $1,000 for the spring semester.
Students awarded scholarships include:
- Lilly Schoger
- Brody Scott
- Megan Sullivan
- Kayden Teasdale
- Dawson Van Fleet