September 12, 2022 at 1:27 p.m.
RHS shows governor #TheHodagWay
Back-to-school tour concludes in Rhinelander
RHS shows governor #TheHodagWay
Junior Eva Hetland was one of a number of students who shared their experiences with the Inspire program.
The program, which district superintendent Eric Burke was first introduced to when he was principal at Port Washington High School, is a collaboration that allows students to get a closer look at area and regional jobs that may interest them. It includes job shadowing, virtual career events, youth co-op, company tours, job coaching and more.
Hetland said she participated in a job shadow last year at Health in Motion physical therapy and the hands-on experience led to a light bulb moment.
"It was honestly a great program," Hetland said. "It was so easy. All I had to do was set it up with my counselor, Miss (Lexi) Allen, and I just went for a week during my study hall to Health in Motion and I just got to sit and watch what they do."
Hetland said she wasn't sure if physical therapy might be a potential career path for her but then a special patient came through the door.
"They brought in a baby who had been neglected and had some developmental delays and when I got to work with the kid, I discovered that that's what I want to do," she continued. "Hopefully, after I graduate high school I will go into the medical field and be a physical therapist for children just because of the Inspire Program."
"Good for you, how about that for changing your life," Evers responded.
Another business participating in Inspire is Ponsse Inc., the leading logging equipment manufacturer in the world.
While the company is based in Finland, its North American headquarters are in Rhinelander, offering local students a unique career opportunity.
RHS students Brendan Llanos and Cody Everson told the governor they are interested in working at Ponsse after having learned about the company via the Inspire program.
A Ponsse representative on hand for the governor's visit said the company would be happy to have them join the team.
"One of our biggest needs is mechanics in the shop, it's just an area that you can't find good people that want to work and get dirty every day," he said. "The other positions it seems like we can fill but the mechanic is the one we're always looking for."
In response to a question from the governor, he added that shop jobs start around $20 per hour and include benefits.
"You earn your keep," he added. "If you excel, you get rewarded accordingly."
According to school counselor Lexi Allen, the Inspire program has grown to include 32 partner businesses after starting with just eight.
In addition to the Inspire participants, Evers also heard from students Bryan Glover, Kylie Gechas and Taylor Riopel, all of whom are officers in the school's FBLA/DECA Club, about their participation in competitions and community projects including annual food and clothing drives.
Members of the school's building trades class showed Evers the plans for the house they are going to build at 638 Thayer Street.
As we reported in Friday's edition, a partnership with Habitat for Humanity Northwoods is affording students the opportunity to learn valuable skills that can translate into a future career while helping the community by providing needed housing.
Several of the building trades students said they plan to go into the field while another noted he wants to learn how to build houses so that he can build his own some day.
Business and marketing instructor Mischell Fryar told Evers and Underly about the school's financial literacy curriculum which helps ensure that newly graduated students are prepared to handle the various responsibilities that come with the financial aspects of adulthood.
She also shared the story of an RHS alum who is succeeding as an entrepreneur, having already started two businesses related to excavating and construction.
"Because of the experiences that we were able to give him through tech ed, through our business department, through our career and technical student organizations, he really found the fire of being an entrepreneur himself and now it's not one business but two businesses by the age of 20," she said.
Assistant principal Kari Strebig stressed that the district is focused on preparing young people for their future, whether that involves the necessary foundation to attend a four-year university, a technical school, military enlistment or a move straight from the halls of RHS to the workforce.
The goal, she said, is to align courses and course content "so that students can move seamlessly from high school to tech school to a four-year or go right into the workforce if that's what they chose."
As part of the back-to-school tour, which included visits to schools in Tomah, Superior, Kaukauna and Rothschild, among other communities, Evers announced a $90 million investment in K-12 education to address staffing challenges, provide direct classroom support, and expand mental health services in schools.
Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].
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