Athens High School, in Central Wisconsin, offers its students a well-rounded technical education program, allowing them the opportunity to explore skilled labor trades. The students can choose from several electives, such as woodworking, welding, milling and lathing, automotive, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). As the department began to grow and offer more courses, upgrades became inevitable.
Technical education teachers noticed the outdated wiring in the school’s metal shop reduced the functionality of the welders, causing students to come in outside of class time to finish their projects. Athens High School planned to slowly upgrade the department, starting with the electrical system, to continue to provide students with a safe place to get hands-on skilled labor experience with opportunities to advance.
Athens High School was awarded a grant from the Sonnentag Foundation, County Materials’ philanthropic arm, that supported the school’s need for an updated electrical system. With the new wiring in place, the functionality of the welders improved, allowing students better access to equipment during class time. The update also enabled the school to move forward with other department upgrades. This project, supported by the Sonnentag Foundation, was essential for the school’s metal shop and technical education program as a whole.
As an industry leader, County Materials is dedicated to serving its local communities and the people in them, as well as supporting industry education and growth. Technical education courses are often students’ first exposure to skilled trades, so it is essential to invest in these programs and empower students to explore the possibilities of the skilled labor workforce.