THE VALUED VOICE

Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Assistant Deputy Secretary Dave Anderson visited Aspirus Wausau Hospital (AWH) recently to highlight DWD’s Youth Apprenticeship (YA) program. The visit was part of Governor Walker’s Cabinet on the Road Series.

The visit included a meet and greet with the students, their advisors, hospital leaders and a tour of AWH. Established in 1991, Wisconsin’s YA program provides high school students with hands-on work experience at a local business along with related classroom instruction. Aspirus currently employs four youth apprentices from the Wausau East, Mosinee, D.C. Everest and Wittenberg-Birnamwood School Districts.

The Youth Apprenticeship program is a rigorous one- or two-year elective statewide program that combines academic and technical instruction with mentored, paid, on-the-job learning that makes a real world connection for students.