Anderson’s D26 Career Center and Nestle are getting ready for the third year of their partnership, with the pre-apprenticeship program beginning during the 2023-24 school year.
Students at D26 who are in the advanced manufacturing class must be part of the class during their junior and senior years. At the end of the first year, a certain number of students who are succeeding in the class can be selected for an internship with Nestle and participate in the company’s pre-apprenticeship program.
Jason Neal, director of the D26 Career Center, said the relationship with Nestle balances students having hands-on experience with growing their education.
“In the partnership with Nestle, we have a training plan,” Neal said. “That training plan is an opportunity for us to work with Nestle and say, ‘What are the things they are going to learn in the workplace?’ Not only are they going to work a job, but they are still continuing their education, and that is kind of the whole idea behind the apprenticeship model.”
Students participate in the program by working in Nestle’s packaging department, which is the factory’s largest. It allows for many trainers to help students and provides ample space for them to work.
Emily Cummins, the work-based learning coordinator at D26, said recruiters from Nestle come to D26 and do job interviews with students.
“They come in and talk to the class about the opportunity,” Cummins said. “The kids actually apply for the pre-apprenticeship program and (Nestle does) interviews with the students that apply and get recommendations from myself and the teacher.”
Along with an application and reference letters, Cummins said the students make a resume to apply at Nestle. From there, Nestle chooses students from the interviews, depending on the number of openings at the facility.
Justin Warner, a human resources generalist at Nestle, said he has seen good communication between Nestle and D26.
“Emily, who I partnered with at D26, has been very forthcoming,” Warner said. “We partner a lot in making sure the students’ needs are being met at school and at work. They have given us good feedback about being very responsive and on time, and we think that has helped us grow our presence in the community.”
Neal said a distinctive feature of the program is that it allows minors to get real-world work experience.
“It is a good opportunity,” Neal said. “It is innovative from the standpoint that the pre-apprenticeship gives students under the age of 18 an opportunity to get involved in the workforce.
“That was a big hurdle we had with getting students into manufacturers locally,” he added. “It is a good way for them to give back and for us to help prepare students for good living-wage jobs that have benefits in our area.”
Warner agreed.
“I think the program is very beneficial,” he said. “A lot of factories will not touch high school students and get them involved early on. This (program) allows us more early access to the community and shows people what Nestle can offer.”
This article appeared in The Herald Bulletin.