WPS welcomes local students to new hands-on training program

A few simple pen strokes and a handful of photos is all it took.

Those actions are routine for any high school student, but they’re now part of a unique memory for Mitchell Baumann and Sabrina Boyer. The Sheboygan-area students have signed on as the first members of a new Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) youth apprenticeship program.

WPS employees marked the start of the program by hosting a recent Signing Day ceremony for Baumann, Boyer and their families. The incoming high school seniors officially registered as youth apprentices before putting on WPS hats and committing to a year of hands-on training in natural gas delivery and utility construction.

Earning valuable experience toward future success

While many students their age are on summer break, Baumann and Boyer are working full time with WPS, learning how the company safely and reliably delivers natural gas to homes and businesses. WPS field operations employees will provide hands-on training with installing meters, maintaining infrastructure and working safely with natural gas.

Both students will work toward completing the apprenticeship program as part-time employees when the school year resumes in the fall. When they’re finished, Baumann and Boyer will have received at least 450 hours of training that will count toward a future career with WPS.

A pair of high school students sign pieces of paper while sitting at a table with WPS hats laying on it.

A pair of high school students smile for a photo while sitting behind a table with paperwork on it.

A pair of high school students stand behind a table covered by a black WPS tablecloth

A high school student stands next to a man and woman in front of a table with papers on it.

A congratulatory slide welcomes two high school students to a new WPS youth apprenticeship program.

A high school student stands next to a man and woman for a photo behind a table with papers on it.

Developing skills to deliver affordable, reliable, clean energy

WPS employees Matt Gaboda and Tim Burke helped lead the launch of the youth apprenticeship program this year. The program partners with the Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA) District 6 and the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 420 to help area high school students learn about future career options.

This program is one of many steps WPS and its parent company WEC Energy Group take to recruit and maintain a highly-skilled workforce. These initiatives include:

Working with local technical colleges to support career programs in electric and natural gas distribution.
Participating in community outreach activities such as career day events for middle and high school students.
Engaging with students at job fairs hosted by universities and technical colleges across Wisconsin.
Partnering with educational and career-focused organizations like the Wisconsin Energy Workforce Consortium and Junior Achievement.

WPS will gather feedback from Baumann and Boyer to help enhance its youth apprenticeship program for future students.