The Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) Foundation has been awarded a $5,000 AT&T Innovation & Investment Award to provide funding to its “Schools2Skills” program, which gives Waukesha county high school students, parents, teachers and school administrators the opportunity to tour three area manufacturing sites and WCTC’s Engineering and Manufacturing Center.
Through these tours, WCTC aims to generate interest in manufacturing careers, particularly those available in Waukesha County, among students who will fill the future workforce.
“We know many of our manufacturers are looking for workers to fill highly skilled, technologically advanced jobs,” said Ellen Phillips, president of the WCTC Foundation. “Part of our mission is to educate our young people that manufacturing has changed and evolved over time. Today’s manufacturing is much more advanced and focused on technology, and this AT&T contribution will help us further our efforts to educate and encourage students to consider exciting careers in manufacturing.”
The WCTC Foundation established a partnership with the Waukesha County Business Alliance to make the “Schools2Skills” program possible as Waukesha County has continued to face a manufacturing talent shortage. The program will likely serve about 500 high school students from 12 Waukesha County school districts this school year.
The AT&T Wisconsin Innovation & Investment Award helps fund organizations and programs focused on education, the environment and economic development among other community services.
“We are very proud to support the efforts of Waukesha County business and education leaders to engage students in the exciting promising careers available in advanced manufacturing,” said Tricia Conway, director of external affairs at AT&T Wisconsin. “As a company, AT&T is committed to investing in education and helping prepare our young people for future success.”
