Photo Credit: Creative Technology Corp.

A few years ago, I learned about the Cardinal Manufacturing business in Eleva-Strum High School in Wisconsin. I was invited to attend their workshop on how they built their program in their technical education department. It was such an inspiration to hear how engaged the students were and how they were learning solid employability skills.

Their program is open to high school juniors and seniors, and it is a manufacturing shop inside the technical education department. The students must apply to be part of the program, and there is a prerequisite of Metal Working I and Metal Working II. When the students apply, they must submit a resume, a project portfolio, and have a letter of recommendation. When the student is accepted into the program, they are assigned a role that may include the following responsibility:

• Quoting jobs

• Ordering materials

• Manufacturing parts

• Quality control and inspections

• Shipping product

• Receiving product and materials

• Invoicing

• Customer service

• Accounting

• Marketing

The skills that are taught are the foundation of education in the program. They are referred to as the Ten Commandments for Career Success and are as follows:

• Be Positive – Attitude is everything.

• Show Up – On time, every day, reliably.

• Work Hard – Earn your keep, get something done.

• Get Along – Play together nicely in the sandbox.

• Pay it Forward – Do more than expected today, and you will receive more than expected.

• Be Flexible – Willingly take on difficult tasks.

• Figure it Out – Be a problem solver, not a problem asker.

• Join the Club – Be proud to be a part of your organization.

• No Whining – Communicate positively and well, don’t be high maintenance.

• Keep Learning – If you don’t keep up, you will be obsolete.

The program has many business partnerships. One of those businesses is MRS Machining in Augusta Wisconsin. The president of MRS is Matt Guse. Matt works with the program frequently and in many ways. With his outreach and partnership with the school, he helps get the students motivated, whether it’s helping with equipment needs for the class or giving presentations and speeches.

The student-run business model of education is a partnership where real products are made, there are employees, customers, deadlines, and challenges too. Best of all the program teaches valuable life skills such as soft skills. The students are taught how to shake a hand, communicate with coworkers and be responsible.