A total of 62 students from area school districts attended 3 Trades Camps held this summer. Students deemed the program a success through exit surveys and enthusiastic participation.
Generous gifts from Cheboygan Communities Foundation and Char-Em ISD helped to provide funding to assist some of the students with the opportunity to attend the Trades Camps at IAI. Additionally, strong partnerships with Michigan CAT, to provide equipment and instruction for Heavy Equipment Operation and White Pine Electric (Indian River, MI) for the electrician instruction helped to make the Trades Camps a success.
Why Learn a Skilled Trade?
When a student learns a skilled trade, industry’s biggest problem can become their big break. The skills students gain as a welder, electrician, carpenter or heavy equipment operator are in high demand, and with a 19% projected growth rate through 2018, the Professional Trades Industry has the potential to take students further (and pay them more) than the corporate ladder ever could.
“It’s partnerships and participation that makes this program a success for students in Northern Michigan”, says Tammi Ward, Operations and Student Services Manager for IAI. “We hosted students from Harbor Springs, Petoskey, Boyne City, Central Lake, East Jordan, Pellston, Onaway, Cheboygan, Posen, Afton, Fraser, Gaylord, Mackinac Island, Atlanta, Fairview, Millersburg, Grayling, Indian River, Mio, and Cummins this summer. The program continues to grow and we are committed to offering these skilled trades camps to help expose youth to careers in these fields.”.
Media Contact – Cheboygan Communities Foundation
Joanne Welihan
jwelihan@cheboyganfoundation.org
Media Contact – IAI
Mark Dombroski
989-733-4369 (o)
Media Contact – MIW
Marilyn Kapp Moran
989-733-2011 (o)