On Oct. 1-2, coinciding with National Manufacturing Week, all eighth-grade students in the Warsaw, Wawasee, Whitko and Tippecanoe Valley school corporations will have the opportunity to participate in DiscoverME, a career awareness program led by OrthoWorx that showcases modern manufacturing across Kosciusko County.
The program includes hands-on experiential learning in the areas of product development, assembly and packaging, followed by a field trip where students will be exposed to the manufacturing environment of the orthopedic industry, along with the various educational pathways available to them.
“OrthoWorx’s is excited to offer this experience to area students,” said Erin Serafino, talent director at OrthoWorx. “It’s an honor to share the career opportunities available to them right here in our community.”
Manufacturing Experiences programs introduce students to local industry, showcasing career opportunities and pathways for students in Kosciusko County and the surrounding area, according to a news release from OrthoWorx. Manufacturing is a central part of the county’s economic landscape with industries around agribusiness, automotive, marine, outdoor furniture and medical devices – specifically orthopedics.
DiscoverME offers a community-responsive curriculum and introduces manufacturing at a pivotal time when students begin thinking about high school coursework and their career interests, the release states. Local companies featured as tour stops this year include DePuy Synthes, Instrumental Machine & Development, Medartis, Paragon Medical, Polywood, Precision Medical Technology and Zimmer Biomet. By partnering with local manufacturing companies in Kosciusko County, OrthoWorx showcases next generation manufacturing – an innovative, technology-driven environment that offers secure, well-paying jobs and excellent benefits with the opportunity for further education and advancement.
“We are glad to have this program available to our students at such a crucial time in their education journey,” said Ben Barkey, principal, Warsaw Area Career Center. “It is awesome to see students imagining themselves in the careers that make our community special.”
OrthoWorx is an initiative formed in 2009 in the Orthopedic Capital of the World® through initial funding from Lilly Endowment Inc, to fill a critical void in the industry, serving as a connector for industry, education, and the community, leveraging resources to drive positive change. OrthoWorx was specifically designed to make the region the best place for orthopedic industry talent to grow and thrive. They are a catalyst, deepening connections among the various interrelated moving parts of the unique orthopedic industry ecosystem. This is accomplished through their work and initiatives to equip the next generation, enrich the community and accelerate industry, according to the release.