Waseca seniors get a taste of the workforce

More than 30 local businesses and agencies introduced themselves to the members of the Waseca High School graduating class during an “Immersive Career Education Day” set up outdoors in the community arena parking lot across the street from the school  the morning of Tuesday, May 12. Companies and agencies shared information about the work they do and qualifications their employees need. In some cases, potential employers handed out job applications.

 

Waseca County Sheriff Jay Dulas allowed students a look at one of the department’s vehicles, which had its light flashing. Nearby, a road flare was burning on the ground. “We wanted to show seniors what the flares looked like when they’re lit,” he explained. He also demonstrated “Stop Sticks” a specialized tool which can be stretched across a roadway to stop “excessive speeders” by puncturing their tires.  “But they don’t blow the tires, if that happens and they’re doing 90 mph down the highway, there could be a rollover or an accident. Instead, the nails inside the stick have hard little straw-like structures that stay in the tire to allow for a slower release of air, that way the person fleeing won’t get hurt, but we can still stop them.” He said there =are two ways to use the stop sticks. “You can throw them, or you can place them across the highway and pull them into the path of the oncoming vehicle.”

 

FMB Bank’s David Trcka said, “We are showing kids what we do at the bank, how to cash checks, how to fill out those forms. How to fill out a deposit slip, how interest works, the value of opening a savings account, loan approval. I’m trying to get as much in as possible in the short amount of time I have.”

 

Ryan Berg, who is employed by Greener World Solutions said, “We deal with insulations and specialty coatings, like for walls and pipes, which get liquid applied, and that includes commercial, residential and industrial.”

 

A list of all businesses includes Connors Plumbing and Heating of Waseca; James Brothers Construction; CAR Tire and Auto Center; First Main Street Insurance of United Prairie; United Prairie Bank; Keen Bank; Swanson Acupuncture; Smiles for Independent Living, which helps people of all ages, but focuses on people with disabilities; Mediacom; Minnwest Insurance; Dennis Steffel Omtvedt Funeral and Cremation Services; Rhino Trident Manufacturing, located in the old Brown Printing building; Palmer Bus Service; Riverland Community College out of Albert Lea, Austin and Owatonna; Alexandria Technical College; ICAN of Waseca;. McDonald’s; the Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons; NOVA Academy of Cosmetology; Fernbrook Family Center; the U.S. Navy, National Guard, Army and Marines; Big Idea Inc., which deals in paint, welders, cranes and drones. 

 

Rich Rogers of Big Idea said, “I’ve had maybe 60 students come through my trailer so far, I might’ve snagged a kid or two, a few of them seemed really receptive.”