Macomb Today

Utica Community Schools issued the following announcement on Mar. 11.

For decades, local businesses have been the difference in the lives of countless Utica Community Schools students through the support of the School to Work programs.

Now Utica Community Schools is returning the favor.

This year, Utica Community Schools School to Work Coordinators – who partner with businesses that pair students in opportunities that support their careers – have expanded a newly created high school job board to give students access to include School to Work partners and businesses who need high school students for open jobs.

“This year we have received many calls from community employers requesting to post information about employment for our students," said Janet Gendelman, who with Catherine Lelito serves as School to Work coordinator for UCS.  “We both felt it was important to support our local businesses by sharing these opportunities with our students.”

The newly-created job boards have featured more than 50 positions for students both related to School to Work programs and general employment opportunities.

“The postings are prominently displayed in the counseling offices for students to view so that they can ask us any questions,” Gendelman said.

Over its long history, the School to Work program has made the difference in providing graduates with experiences that help them land their future dream jobs.

Senior Noah Giovannone, who is part of the Stevenson Manufacturing, Automation and Design Engineering (MADE) program, is working at Sterling Heights-based Test Products Incorporated as he pursues a career involving circuitry.

“It really does help to open the doorway to an actual career,” he said. “In the future, whether college or trade, it will give me the edge over other people. I have industry job experiences.”

The School To Work program has impacted literally generations of graduates, including entrepreneur Mat Wszedybyl, Owner of Mat’s Beard Bar and a UCS graduate who benefited from the School to Work program.

“I learned that in-field experience is just as important as my education and I hope I will be able to provide (School to Work student) Brandon Schrader with many valuable lessons that he can take with him for his career,” Wszedybyl said. “He will help our company grow in various ways as well so it’s a win-win scenario.”

They are lessons that are being carried on today for current UCS students like Omar Almi, who is helping create tomorrow’s assembly lines at Dominion Technology Groups, Inc. in Roseville. He plans to take what he is learning to a career in electrical engineering.

“I know this is a good start to my career and will put me ahead of other people,” he said. 

Original source can be found here.