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Clintonville students can work toward tech degrees

High school, Fox Valley Technical College partner up

By Erik Buchinger


Fox Valley Technical College will partner with Clintonville High School to help upperclassmen students starting this fall.

FVTC will offer industrial maintenance and automation technology career pathways to earn high school and FVTC credit, saving juniors and seniors time and money when trying to earn a degree.

“It’s a huge opportunity for students in this area,” FVTC Clintonville Regional Center Manager Kim Manteuffel said. “When the kid comes into the program, the majority of what they will do is hands-on. There is a huge market for maintenance in this community.”

Manteuffel said this plan has been in the works for more than a year.

FVTC presented the proposal in December to the Clintonville School Board, the plan was approved in January and students have been recruited since February.

For the first year of this program, classes will be held Monday through Friday from noon to 3:15 p.m., allowing students to participate in their regular after-school activities.

“Students can still participate in activities, work opportunities and whatever they’d like to do in the afternoon hours,” Manteuffel said.

If students complete the two-year offering, they will earn an industrial maintenance certificate.

After the two-year completion, businesses Walker Forge, Creative Converting and Deluxe Plastics would be willing to interview students who earned an industrial maintenance certificate.

“Once students receive their entire certificate, they will only be five credits away from a technical diploma with Fox Valley Technical College,” Manteuffel said.

For students who will be seniors in the fall of 2019, they will not be eligible to receive the entire two-year certificate while in high school but could receive 10 credits for FVTC.

Manteuffel said this program started at FVTC’s Wautoma Regional Center with students from Wautoma High School.

“It’s wonderful. They love it,” Manteuffel said. “Schools in surrounding areas are asking to join, so more will be joining next fall.”

During a school board meeting in December, Clintonville High School Principal Kelly Zeinert expressed her interest in this program.

“We haven’t done this before, but it has worked in Wautoma,” Zeinert said. “We just need to send our kids, and I would do whatever it takes to help these kids succeed. It’s a chance for us to be known as being the people who are leading, not just following.”

Manteuffel said 10 students have registered, and the hope is to have 15 to 20 students signed up for this fall.

Students interested in joining the program can contact FVTC or Clintonville High School.

Registration is open. Manteuffel recommended students sign up by the end of this school year.

Manteuffel said the technical college is considering additional opportunities for students in the future.

“We are looking into an introduction to trades and possibly doing stuff with electrical and plumbing, but we’re just starting to look at that right now,” Manteuffel said. “We will possibly be looking into one involved with our business program.”

Manteuffel said students could land full-time jobs right out of high school with a certificate.

“Companies are willing to take high school students with a certificate for full-time employment, and very nice paying positions are available,” Manteuffel said. “For students looking for hands-on training and the opportunity to work right out of high school, this is a great fit for them.”

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