MENASHA, WI Faith Technologies, an electrical, engineering and technology systems contractor, hosted local students during its latest job shadow event at the company's Neenah, Wisconsin, manufactured-assemblies facility. In total Faith Technologies has hosted six job shadow events serving 80 students from local high schools.

Faith Technologies' job shadow opportunities are a component of the Wisconsin's School-to-Work Youth Apprenticeship program, a one- or two-year elective program that combines academic and technical instruction with hands-on learning at worksites. While the program has been in operation since the 1990s, an electrical pathway unit was not included until the summer of 2014.

"We've always had requests for job shadow experiences, but after the electrical Youth Apprenticeship program was approved, we saw those requests increase dramatically," said Sara Mahn, Human Resources Business Partner. "The apprenticeship program shortens the time it takes for students to successfully transition to a full apprenticeship, so we wanted to facilitate that for students interested in entering the construction and electrical workforce and give them a better understanding of how the industry works."

During the event, participants ranging from high school freshmen to first-year technical school students worked with 11 Faith Technologies employees to learn about topics such as estimating, engineering, design and project management, and were advised on academic recommendations and how they can start their career in the field.