Lakeside Manufacturing Education Center
Rocio Galang
Pierre Couture
Russell Martiny
The Class of 2022 student speeches shares stories of gratitude for mentors, instructors, and others who have helped them along their journey. Click this icon “▶️” next to the students’ names to hear their stories.
Lorenzo Acosta ▶️
AQ Matic Valve and Controls Company
"The most important lessons I learned at AQ-Matic are responsibility and teamwork. Working on the job you should come to work when expected, manage your time well, and seek to be a positive part of the corporate team."
Mason Armstrong ▶️
"I feel like the most important one that I’ve learned so far has been that nothing in life can be done in a lazy manner."
Andrew Benzinger ▶️
ITU AbsorbTech Inc.
"During my time in the GPSEd program, I am most proud of earning my certifications in OSHA Safety & First Aid, and MSSC safety & quality. These certifications helped me understand the importance of safety in the workplace."
Parker Brossman ▶️
"During class, I learned important life skills like budgeting and the costs of renting and buying property that I can use when I am ready to move out and find a place of my own."
Caleb Curry ▶️
Charter Wire
"Sometimes you just need to keep moving forward for yourself even when you don’t want to or everyone is telling you to quit."
Ryan Hintz ▶️
ITU AbsorbTech Inc.
"I have learned that in the manufacturing world, both responsibility and personal accountability are important factors to being a successful person in life."
Derek Loehner ▶️
American Friction Welding Inc.
"In the GPSEd program, I learned how to be an adult. I was able to learn small things like how to make and keep a schedule and how to budget your money wisely so you know exactly what you save monthly."
James Morrison ▶️
"Since joining the GPSEd program, my view on manufacturing and technical careers has changed from a low paying, unsafe, and brutal work environment, to a high paying, high prestige, and safe work environment."
Hunter O'Hearn ▶️
Komatsu Mining
"Learning at Komatsu is fun and you get to work with really nice people that want to help you learn and be successful. If it wasn’t for the GPSEd program, I would have not had the opportunity to experience this at a young age."
Andrea Pieper ▶️
Charter Wire
"Because of the GPSEd program, my classmates and I know how to navigate through problems and work efficiently with others in a professional environment."
Anthony Salamone ▶️
"I developed a good relationship with my mentors and I have a lot of respect for them. We had our differences but they were always there for me."
Mason St. Arnold ▶️
"The experience of working with different people helped me learn the importance of working with people of all walks of life."
Justin Vang ▶️
ITU AbsorbTech Inc.
"What I most remember about this past year is how we all got to know each other because of the fun things we did together as teams. We built a boat out of cardboard and raced against each other or other Ed Centers."
Nathan Zens ▶️
ITU AbsorbTech Inc.
"The first month I started in the maintenance department, I was terrible with managing my tasks. Alan, gave me advice on how to take care of things while doing another task at the same time."