Mellen School District Celebrates National Apprenticeship Week with Outstanding Student Success and Community Partnerships
MELLEN, WI — As a proud member of the CESA 12 Youth Apprenticeship Consortium, Mellen School District is excited to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week and the remarkable success of its students, employers, and community partners. Across Wisconsin, Youth Apprenticeship continues to grow at record levels, with another record-breaking year of student enrollment and employer participation helping shape the future workforce.

Here in Mellen, that statewide momentum shines brightly through strong school engagement, dedicated mentors, and students who are stepping boldly into their futures while still in high school.

Through Youth Apprenticeship, Mellen students are earning paychecks, building confidence, learning valuable life skills, and discovering exciting careers close to home.

Local Economic Impact Worth Celebrating
Mellen currently has 20 Youth Apprentices employed who are gaining valuable hands-on experience while contributing directly to the local economy. Together, students have earned an estimated $145,078.98 this year, with an average wage of $15.35 per hour. Those dollars are flowing right back into the community through gas, meals, clothing, vehicles, tuition savings, and everyday purchases that support local businesses.

Community Partnerships Power Success
Mellen students are proving that size does not limit opportunity. Youth Apprentices are gaining experience in a wide variety of in-demand fields including construction, hospitality, manufacturing, marketing, finance, education, healthcare, and transportation.

These pathways show that Mellen students are not waiting for the future. They are already building it.

Mellen’s Youth Apprenticeship program thrives because of strong local relationships between the school district and employers who believe in young people.
When schools know their employers and employers know their schools, students win. These trusted partnerships create smoother placements, stronger communication, better mentorship, and meaningful career matches.

From manufacturers and healthcare providers to resorts, farms, retailers, contractors, and family-owned businesses, employers across the Northwoods are helping students launch successful futures close to home.

Local partners include Peters Land Management, Forrest Wiener Drywall and Construction, Copper Ridge Bar and Grill, Tetzner Excavating, Tom Haderly Drywall & Painting LLC, North Country Lumber, Northland Foods, Dollar General – Mellen, Eagle All Sports, Marthaler Honda, Hudson Square Coffee Company, Ashland Health Services, Tamarack Health Ashland Medical Center, Elkhorn Lodge, E&L Headquarters Gymnastics LLC, Northern State Bank, Iron City Construction LLC, Bretting Manufacturing, Droptine Bar and Grill, and Jolma Electric.

These employers are not just hiring students. They are investing in the future of Mellen.

Employers Helping Guide the Future
Local employers also help shape the direction of the broader, Regional Youth Apprenticeship program by serving on advisory boards, supporting pathway development, and participating in regional planning efforts.

Special recognition goes to Jolma Electric, where Collin Drovdahl, Operations Manager, contributes leadership and industry insight to help strengthen opportunities for students across the region. Hands-on career exploration continues to open doors for students. Opportunities such as the Bretting Manufacturing Career Fair and Northwood Technical College Career Day allow students to tour facilities, explore careers, and connect classroom learning to real-world success. Students also interact with industry leaders such as Jolma Electric and Blakeman Plumbing and Heating while learning about skilled trades and apprenticeship pathways.

One student shared:

“It was helpful to meet real people doing the work and realize there are great careers close to home. It made the future feel more real and possible.”

Mentors Make the Difference
One of the most valuable parts of Youth Apprenticeship is the guidance students receive from local mentors. Through encouragement, coaching, feedback, and real expectations, mentors help students grow in responsibility, communication, teamwork, and confidence.

That daily mentorship often becomes the bridge between being a student and becoming a professional.

Celebrating Leadership
CESA 12 and Mellen School District extend heartfelt appreciation to Corey Lake, Youth Apprenticeship Coordinator and Assistant Principal, Kristi Nortunen, and Coreina Stricker, Public Communications Coordinator, for their outstanding leadership, dedication, celebration of student success and belief in students. Their combined work in student support, employer partnerships, and community storytelling has helped make Mellen a shining example of rural student success.

Looking Ahead
Mellen School District continues to grow momentum and opportunity for students through innovation, partnerships, and belief in young people. As part of the CESA 12 Youth Apprenticeship Consortium, Mellen School District is showing that when schools, employers, and communities work together, incredible things happen.

Students succeed. Businesses grow. Communities thrive.

“When schools and local companies become mentors of our students’ future, communities grow stronger. Together, they do more than create jobs, they build confidence, skills, purpose, and a pathway for young people to succeed close to home.” -Shared Olivia Dachel, CESA 12 Regional Youth Apprenticeship Coordinator