Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Twenty-four middle school students will be exposed to something new during a six-week program at R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co., Warsaw.
Real world skills.
Donnelley is partnering with five area middle schools to expose the students to skills that will transfer to a high school extracurricular activity, a community endeavor and an awareness of employment opportunities with Donnelley.
Monday, the chosen students and their parents met with Donnelley representatives to learn more about the program they will be participating in and to learn more about the company itself.
The project came about when Pat Outlaw joined the human resources team at Donnelley in July. A discussion was held about ways to reach out to students. While the company has programs for high school students, Outlaw recognized there were no programs for younger students.
"It was Pat's idea," said human resources manager Ann Lash Branson, "and she said we really need to spend some time working with middle school students."
Other employees in the company volunteered to work with Outlaw on the program. Branson also thanked the schools for their help and support of the program and thanked the parents for their interest in their children.
One of the project coordinators, J.R. Brito, said he is excited about the students taking part. He presented the group with a video of Donnelley operations in Warsaw.
"We are big, we are large scale," Brito said.
Joy McCarthy-Sessing, president of the Kosciusko/Warsaw Chamber of Commerce, said, "Our chamber is devoted to issues that affect businesses," such as education and workforce development.
Donnelley, she said, is trying to link the gap between education and workforce development with the middle school project.
She said, "The business community is vitally interested in programs like this. ... It's great you're getting a chance to be exposed to the work world." Donnelley, she said, is being innovative with the program.
Educators Dawn Strand and Nick Walenga also spoke.
Strand said schools do a great job with college-bound and at-risk students, but need to work harder at reaching vocational students who can't afford to go to college. Middle school, she said, is the age group that everyone avoids, but they're great kids who need to be empowered.
"The Donnelley program ... has a great opportunity for these kids," she said. She would like other companies to have similar programs in the future.
Walenga told the students, "The really neat thing is, you have a golden opportunity."
Environmental, health and safety specialist Doug Heine went over the rules and regulations of the program. He also told parents their students will be safe.
"We want to make sure you feel comfortable leaving your students here with us," said Heine.
Before the students took a tour of the facilities, Outlaw gave an overview of the project.
The six-week program will be from April 9 to May 17, with an awards program May 23. The program will benefit students, the community and Donnelley, she said.
Projects the students will work on include catalog page design, creating a Web site and hands-on training. All students participating are eighth-grade students at Whitko, Lakeview, Milford, Edgewood or Wawasee middle schools.
Outlaw concluded by saying, "Altogether, this adds up to a win-win opportunity for all of us."
The students were initially selected by art, computer literacy and industrial arts teachers at the middle schools. Counselors and principals then made the final referrals. During the six-week program, students will spend two hours, one night per week, at R.R. Donnelley.
Students participating in the program include Ginni Gibbs, Aristeo Gonzalez, Keegan McHose, Amber Yoder, Celia Islas, Shane Kierstead, Eric Lane, Steve Rivera, Matt Zorn, J.R. Cates, Kyle Jackson, Ali Krauter, Mandie McDonald, Dayn Savant, Ethan Drent, Maddy Heine, Chris Mahnken, Lindsay Wright, Ling Zhou, Dustin Baker, Emily Dellinger, Stephanie Rhoades, Nathan Werstler and Daniel Wilson.
