High Ground Schools Build a Better Worker
Published Aug 07, 2009
High school in The High Ground is getting more practical than ever as area businesses and economic development organizations pitch in to offer students real-world experience.
“One of our goals is to prepare students for the 21st-century workforce,” says Lisa Spears, public information officer for Workforce Solutions South Plains. “We want to prepare them for employer demands not only today, but for future technical demands as well.”
One effort in this regard recently picked up some statewide recognition, not to mention a $50,000 award. The South Plains Manufacturing Skills Standards Council certification initiative is
a partnership between Workforce Solutions South Plains, the West Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center, North West Texas Small Business Development Center, Community Workforce Partnership, South Plains College, Byron Martin Advanced Technology Center, Lubbock Economic Development Alliance and the Lubbock and Frenship independent school districts. It allows participating students the opportunity to receive an Advanced Manufacturing Technology certificate, making them eligible to go to work immediately upon graduation.
Workforce and its partners also have another youth initiative in robotics, and other area schools are getting in on the act as well. Consider the Vega High School Ag Mechanics team, which picked up four first places and other awards at the 60th Annual Ag Mechanics Show in February 2009. The team’s financial haul was $42,000 in scholarships and almost $40,000 in prizes.
The success of the various programs at the high school level means that more should be developed even as the existing ones are expanded.
“As international students continue to excel in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math, we must immediately develop solutions to provide our nation’s youth with the same opportunities for success upon graduation,” says Martin Aguirre, chief executive officer of Workforce Solutions. “It is this urgency that has caused area workforce, economic development and education leaders to collaborate with our business partners to create these skills development projects in the South Plains, ultimately providing the region’s employers the skilled labor pool required for them to remain competitive in the global economy.”
Story by Joe Morris
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