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Waunakee students expand career pathways as youth apprenticeship grows; SkillsUSA teams win state berths
Summary
Michelle McGlynn, the district’s career and technical education coordinator, told the school board that youth apprenticeship enrollment has grown from roughly 20–30 students in the pre‑COVID years to 72 this school year with a projection of 85 next year.
Michelle McGlynn, the district’s career and technical education coordinator, told the school board that the state‑sponsored youth apprenticeship program in Waunakee has grown substantially in recent years.
“The youth apprenticeship program is sponsored by the state of Wisconsin to put money into a program to get students into high wage, high skill, and high demand career choices,” McGlynn said during the May meeting.
McGlynn told the board that post‑COVID interest has driven growth: the program held 20–30 students for several years, rose to 38 in 2022–23, and this year has 72 apprentices with a projection of 85 for next year. She said Waunakee now has the largest youth apprenticeship enrollment among Dane County districts.
Multiple students gave short presentations describing workplace duties and the practical skills they are learning. Logan Burns, a student apprentice working as a phlebotomist at the University of Wisconsin health system, said the hands‑on experience “is way more than I could ever get out of a classroom experience,” and credited workplace mentoring for connections that helped him secure a future emergency‑department position.
Other apprentices described placements at local employers. Cole Ganesho described an IT internship; Gracie Meinholtz described work as a veterinary assistant at Point Knut Veterinary Care; Paige Wilcox described salon and marketing work at Rejuvenation Spa; Cole Clontsehover described steel detailing work at Andersen Manufacturing. Students and staff noted apprentices must complete 450 hours per year of work as part of the program.
Separately, middle‑ and high‑school SkillsUSA teams presented accomplishments. Dave Berger, a middle‑school SkillsUSA adviser, said the Waunakee middle school chapter has gone to the national conference in Atlanta three times and reported top finishes at state competitions this year. Students brought photos and described competitions in robotics, welding and robotics, and said several students will attend nationals.
Board members praised the students’ presentations and the expansion of career pathways. The board did not alter program funding during the meeting; curriculum and textbook adoption items were advanced separately elsewhere on the agenda.
