For Stevens Point News

STEVENS POINT — Skyward and Midwest Communications partnered with Junior Achievement to offer job shadow events to students from John Edwards Senior High School and Stevens Point Area Senior High. The goal of these events was to help high school students make the connection between success in the classroom and in the workplace.

Ian Gibbs, Addison Gibbs, and Peyton Kohlbeck from John Edwards Senior High School were the winners of the 2018 Junior Achievement Student Business Challenge. Winning the event guaranteed them each a $1000 scholarship to UW-Stevens Point, as well as the job shadow at Skyward. The students started the day-long event with a grand tour of the new facility; after which Skyward employees met with them to speak about their educational pathways, what brought them to Skyward, and finally their roles/experiences within the company. Lastly, the students were challenged to think like Skyward employees as they participated in some workforce related activities.

Additionally, SPASH students, who were the second place finalists from the Student Business Challenge, along with the winners of our Annual PSA Challenge from John Edwards High School were offered job shadows at Midwest Communications, along with scholarships to Mid-State Technical College. Midwest Communications invited the students to come to the studio, meet the broadcast team, tour the facility, and record their own PSA.

“Job shadowing provides students with an invaluable firsthand workplace experience, as well as exposure to role models and potential mentors,” said Stephanie Printz, director of Junior Achievement.  “For many, it opens their eyes to possibilities and options for their future that are far beyond what they experience in daily life. It also helps prepare our young people to get and keep a job in an increasingly competitive job market.”