Lake Campus collaborates with Mercer County schools and company on pre-apprenticeship program for high school students

Celina, OH - A collaborative effort between Wright State University–Lake Campus and Mercer County schools seeks to forge a path for high school students to work at a local company while receiving specialized training through a newly established pre-apprenticeship program.

In the summer of 2023, the Lake Campus’ Workforce Development and Business Enterprise Center and the Mercer County Educational Service Center identified the need to collaborate on a “Learn to Earn” pilot pre-apprenticeship program.

Both centers were aware of the value of these work-based learning opportunities and wanted to bring this component to Mercer County students, said Sandi Holdheide, career navigator at the Mercer County Educational Service Center.

Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted unveiled his “Find Your Career Pathway” initiative in 2023 and all but the pre-apprenticeship area of the initiative was available to Mercer County students. The Mercer County Business Advisory Council also received a Good Jobs Challenge award to provide financial support to workforce training programs in the region.

“The goal is to create an opportunity for students to experience real-world manufacturing at a partnering industry while earning credit for a pre-apprenticeship, providing a pathway for those students who missed the opportunity to enroll in Tri Star or career technical education or a work-based learning/release program,” said Holdheide.

The collaboration started with a small pilot group to ensure that schools and businesses could work together to provide the learning outcomes defined by the experience. The Educational Service Center works with the schools to identify candidates for the program based on their career goals and academic backgrounds and pairs them with businesses.

Brayden Pavelka, a 2024 Marion Local High School graduate, was the initial entrant in the program. He didn’t envision attending college following high school, so he was intrigued by the pre-apprenticeship option.

“This program was extremely beneficial since it helped me get a good feel for the workforce before I really even started,” said Pavelka. “Also, I was able to work as part of school and do something I enjoyed while also getting paid for it. Lastly, it was nice because it gave me a fairly easy entry into the workplace.”

During his training at the Workforce Development and Business Enterprise Center at Lake Campus, Pavelka learned how to properly use tools, was taught how to do basic and advanced measurements using math skills and was offered advice and information from instructors with real-world experience.

Brayden Pavelka received specialized training at Lake Campus’s Workforce Development and Business Enterprise Center to prepare him for a career in manufacturing.

The center was established to expand Wright State’s advanced manufacturing and robotics programs and offer more credentials, certificates and apprenticeship opportunities. It also provides comprehensive counseling and management training to new and existing businesses in the region by promoting and supporting entrepreneurs with experienced business consultants.

Pavelka’s work assignment was at Pax Machine Works, a precision metal stamper primarily for the automotive industry, where he remains as a full-time quality assurance inspector. He began his apprenticeship in January and performed a variety of tasks including assisting with die changes and assembly of spray lubrication systems.

“Pax was interested in participating in this program to provide students with an opportunity to engage in hands-on, real-life work experiences,” said Jeff Pax, administrative manager. “With this being the first iteration of the pre-apprenticeship program, we were fortunate to be able to develop and tweak the program as we went. I feel that programs going forward will continue to get better and better.”

Pax said his company will continue to participate in the program because he believes it provides an ideal connection between manufacturing and academics.

Tammy Eilerman, the director of the Workforce Development and Business Enterprise Center, said six students will participate in the program during the 2024-25 academic year. In the future, plans include branching out to include the fields of agriculture and health care.

Eilerman’s knowledge of work-based learning programs and connecting the Mercer County Educational Service Center Business Advisory Council to the Good Jobs Challenge award was vital to getting the program off the ground, said Holdheide.

“The Earn and Learn Pre-Apprenticeship truly highlights the partnerships that exist between high schools, Lake Campus and businesses,” she said. “By working together and along with the Mercer County Economic and Community Development Office, the pre-apprenticeship fulfills the goal of connecting local talent to in-demand jobs in the area.”