Youth Apprenticeship Program Helps Students Jump-Start Their Career

Students at MMSD can get a head start on their careers while they’re still in school, thanks to the district’s Youth Apprenticeship program, which allows them to work in the field of their choice as early as their junior year. 

“Students can really do anything as a part of Youth Apprenticeship,” Annie Johnston, coordinator of work based learning at MMSD said. “We have students working at Summit Credit Union and UW Health, plus opportunities in biotechnology, automotive, marketing and so many more.”

The process of joining the Youth Apprenticeship program can start as early as a student's freshman year in high school, where they can learn more about each industry during career fairs.

After a student has a good idea of what industry they want to work in, they then connect with their school counselors and Johnston to find a business interested in hiring them. Before a student is hired, they are interviewed by a group of business partners, which gives them an opportunity to hone their interview skills and figure out if the apprenticeship would be a good fit for both parties.

Once the student is hired, Johnston also helps students get relevant schooling in the industry they’re working in through Madison College, all for free.

Kimberly Salas is a senior at Madison East High School who got involved with Youth Apprenticeship early. 

“We had set up a career fair here at Kriete Truck Center when Kimberly was a freshman,” Dave Rowell, the service manager at Kriete said. “The next day — and I’ll never forget this — she comes rolling into our parking lot on her bicycle asking for a job.”

While Salas was too young at the time to be hired, when her junior year rolled around she jumped right back in. Luckily Kriete Truck Center, which is Madison’s only Class 8 truck dealership, had a spot open for a student to perform pre-delivery inspections before they are sent to the buyer.

“Ever since I was young I’ve known that I want to do something hands-on for my career,” Salas said. “When I came here for the first time and saw that they do everything from painting to servicing vehicles, I knew I wanted to work here.”

As part of the pre-delivery inspection process, Salas tightens bolts on truck tires, checks to make sure all the fluids are topped off, cleans the vehicle's cab and even fixes minor scratches and dents on the truck's exterior.

She said her most proud moment on the job was finishing her first inspection after having learned many of the ins and outs of diesel trucks.

“Kimberly is learning a lot, and she’s learning quickly,” Brianna Nash, the pre-delivery inspection foreman at Kriete Truck Center said. “She’s very detailed — I remember watching her do her first PDI and thinking, ‘You really haven’t done any of this before?’”

Hearing comments like that from employers is exactly what Johnston hopes for when students enter into the Youth Apprenticeship program. She says having that extra support and structure from industry professionals can help students make connections between school and their future.

Whether that’s through an automotive or business class that students can suddenly apply to real life, or the benefit added structure can bring, the Youth Apprenticeship program helps students prepare for the future while they’re still in high school.

“If you want to be an electrician, you need to have basically calculus level math skills — which students often don’t realize going into the program,” Johnston said. “So it’s a really nice way to give students an eye-opener before they have to make career decisions on their own.”

For Salas, the Youth Apprenticeship program has given her clarity that she wants to continue to work with engines as a career.

“At first I thought diesel would be a lot more extreme,” Salas said. “After working here for a while, it doesn’t seem all too bad — this is a really good job and I’m excited to learn more.”

Interested in learning more? Visit the MMSD Youth Apprenticeship website to find out more.