Six Middleton High School students participated in Hooper Corporation's annual Skilled Trades Boot Camp last week in DeForest. They worked alongside skilled trades professionals to learn more about career opportunities in the construction industry.
Middleton High School senior Mary Gaffaney works at Hooper as a youth apprenticeship student, and she served as a student mentor at the event. She is preparing for a plumbing apprenticeship with Hooper after graduation.
Gaffaney talked with WMTV 15 News at the event about how she’s earning credit on the job now and will transition into a full-time role after graduating from Middleton High School in June. She inspired boot camp attendees to follow in her footsteps as a youth apprentice.
“It’s cool getting them to realize that this could be them next year,” Gaffaney told WMTV 15 News. “I’ve talked to so many people my age wishing they would be an apprentice to not only get a step up but have something to separate the school days.“
Career and Technical Education (CTE) Coordinator Dave Thomas also attended the event with Middleton High School students Logan Droogh, Luke Hanauer, Ellis McLoughlin, Jonathan Laschinger and Isaac Zander. They watched demonstrations and took part in interactive activities involving welding, HVAC fabrication, plumbing systems, construction safety, fire protection installation, electric power operations and virtual design technology.
The boot camp is part of Hooper’s Skilled Trades Youth Apprenticeship Program, which allows students to gain hands-on work experience while earning school credit. Middleton High School students participated in the event as part of the high school’s Youth Apprenticeship program.