As part of Gainesville High School's ongoing pursuit to increase awareness of future careers and employment, GHS students attended company information sessions with local business partners Kubota and ZF Friday.
GHS Work-Based Learning Coordinators Helen Perry and Steven Cornett gave in-class presentations to all mechatronics and engineering students and invited them to attend a detailed lunch and learn event about Kubota and ZF.
Representatives Martha Torres and Greg Worley of Kubota and Michelle Whitt of ZF gave an overview of their companies and provided details regarding various employment opportunities and benefits. After discussing work-based learning experiences in high school and opportunities beyond high school or college, as well as their support for furthering education through tuition reimbursement, both companies discussed the range of jobs that do not require college degrees and that provide many opportunities to grow within the company. Torres noted the many professional skills necessary for students to be successful, including working with others and being able to communicate with other departments. Students were able to see how diverse the variety of employment opportunities can be in departments such as engineering, human resources, accounting, and purchasing.
Natalie Smith, GHS CTAE Program Coordinator, said "We are working diligently with our business and industry partners to build programs with significant student to business interaction. We want our students to be prepared for the workforce. Several more Lunch and Learn events are planned for our students throughout this year."
Two GHS students are currently employed with Kubota through Work-Based Learning this year, and Kubota intends to significantly increase the number of Work-Based Learning students they employ. ZF plans to have several students employed through the Work-Based Learning program beginning in January.
