Hartford Finishing/Steel Craft Corp. Education Center
Joel O'Brien
Jim Karrels
Andrew Zimdars
The Class of 2023 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.
Jayson Berghammer ▶️
API Heat Transfer
"GPS Ed has been a big investment in my future. It has allowed me get used to a real work-environment that has prepared me to go to work right after graduation."
Brandon Boudry ▶️
Quest Engineering
"I am more prepared than normal high school students because I have more experience having a real job with longer shifts. I will be able to adapt to being an adult faster than an average high school student."
Atley Burke ▶️
"I have also learned that it is important to walk in every day with a new outlook on how the day is going to go and be ready for some unexpected things to happen."
Tyler Damrow ▶️
Suburban Motors Harley-Davidson
"Throughout the GPS Ed program, I have grown a lot and learned the importance of staying committed to something. By spending most of my time working throughout the week has set me up for after school and helped me understand what life will look like after graduation."
Tryton Ellenbecker ▶️
Steel Craft Corp. of Hartford
"From my time in GPS Ed, I have learned a lot more about manufacturing careers, and what they entail. I have learned about reading and drawing blueprints, different aspects of manufacturing, and much more."
Chase Fuiten ▶️
Quest Engineering
"I was able to meet new people in GPS Ed that were just like me, struggling with regular school and and looking for something different."
Tori Hacker ▶️
Q&K Construction
"The relationships that I was able to build with my fellow classmates has been one of the best experiences that I have experienced in a school setting. I love how we all push each other to be our best."
James Heiser ▶️
Triton Trailers
"From my time in GPS Ed, I have learned a lot more about manufacturing careers, and what they entail. I have learned about reading and drawing blueprints, different aspects of manufacturing, and much more."
Greg James ▶️
Rytec Corporation
"Fom the GPS Ed program, I have learned about manufacturing and what it has to offer in terms of a career. I have also learned certain life skills such as paying bills and making a budget."
David Koester ▶️
Rytec Corporation
"The GPS Ed program allowed me to focus on my interests. In the program I learned how to read blueprints and manage my money in a smart and efficient way."
Carter Masters ▶️
Uptown Motors
"Prior to GPS Ed, the learning experiences I had at my other jobs were figuring out it wasnt for me and I needed to try something new and different."
Gavin Mercier ▶️
Weasler Engineering
"During my time in GPS Ed, I also learned technical skills such as blueprint reading and using different measurement tools such as calipers and micrometers. These skills are more beneficial than sitting in a traditional classroom and learning information that I could not use."
Brenton Mies ▶️
B&B Brothers LLC
"One experience that best captures my time at GPS Ed is when we designed and built a cardboard boat and raced them against each other. This experience stands out because I would have never thought that I would be doing fun things like this while in school."
Kaleb Shaker ▶️
KSM
"GPS Ed has also allowed me to learn that partnerships with businesses are essential to helping you develop as a person."
Matt Stack ▶️
"In the GPS Ed program, I did some activities which will help me out in the real world such as work ethic, punctuality, budgeting, and buying a house and renting a place."
Connor Steldt ▶️
Quest Engineering
"I have learned that I am smarter than what I believe in myself. When I apply myself I get the task at hand done."
Jakob Thorsen ▶️
Quest Engineering
"While in the GPS Ed program I have had a very positive experience with classmates and getting to know them even outside of class. Other students have helped me understand assignments that they had better knowledge of and I have done the same for them."