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Area Students Graduate from Accelerated Industrial Maintenance Program

A total of 17 area students completed the Accelerated Industrial Maintenance (AIM) program.

This was the third graduating class of this initiative, which is funded by a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD).

“There’s so much opportunity right here in our Stateline Area for building a career,” Greg Phillips, Dean of Manufacturing, Apprenticeship, Technology and Transportation, told the graduates. “My hope is that you have a better understanding of your personal interest and that the AIM program helped you or sparked you to build on your interests.”

In partnership with Blackhawk Technical College and the Stateline Manufacturing Alliance, the Accelerated Industrial Maintenance program has been facilitated through the Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board, which received a $1.6 million grant through the DWD in 2022 to implement projects that improve the workforce needs in several critical areas, including industrial maintenance.

Designed for high school students or recent high school graduates, the four-week summer program is comprised of Blackhawk courses that provide a foundation skillset for those seeking career opportunities in industrial maintenance and technology. Participants are paid to complete the courses and earn three credits that can be applied to a degree at Blackhawk or other colleges. The program also included career exploration opportunities at local manufacturers.

Partners in the program include the Stateline Manufacturing Alliance (SMA), Mid-States Concrete, Scot Forge, Blain’s Farm & Fleet, The Morse Group, Stoughton Trailers, Kuhn, Charter Next Generation, SSI Technologies, Frito-Lay, Fairbanks Morse Defense, and Baker Manufacturing.

2024 AIM Class

  • Jaydyn Buhmeyer, Beloit Turner High School
  • Blaine Brown, Clinton High School
  • Cayden DerHasen, Rock River Charter High School
  • Angel Escalera, Beloit Memorial High School
  • Ty Feibel, Clinton High School
  • Landon Hahn, Clinton High School
  • Nolan Hatch, Beloit Memorial High School
  • Julian Huerta, Beloit Turner High School
  • Josue Jimenez, Beloit Memorial High School
  • Nolyn Miller, South Beloit High School
  • Kaleb Neujahr, Beloit Turner High School
  • Jared Owens, Beloit Turner High School
  • Jordan Shultz, Beloit Memorial High School
  • Ryan Thomas, Beloit Turner High School
  • Saul Vargas, Beloit Memorial High School
  • Manuel Vargas, Beloit Memorial High School
  • Charles Whitaker, South Beloit High School
  • Blaine Brown, Clinton High School.

Source: The Beloit Daily News