The partnership between Eden Valley-Watkins and Kimball Area High Schools was awarded a $50,000 LYFT Pathways grant to support courses and hands-on experience with today’s manufacturing equipment to adequately prepare students for employment opportunities in welding, manufacturing, fabrication and CNC tooling.

The purpose of this project is to create a pathway to Central Minnesota employment in the trades. Allowing students to be trained on a state-of-the-art CNC machine will give them “real-world” experience on equipment that is used in industry. Students will gain an awareness of career opportunities through the business partnerships, will gain skills transferrable to CNC machines, earn college credits, and be placed in a pathway to local employment in the trades. A portion of the funds will be spent to purchase updated CNC equipment.

By working on projects with other students across school district lines, students will build their personal network within the trade and develop the communication, technology, and problem-solving skills that will help them succeed in the modern workplace.

During the 2020-21 school year, 85 students took this course.

During the 2021-22 school year, 32 students took this course. 

For more information, contact Eden Valley-Watkins Schools.