A group of Perry High School students are benefiting from The Ohio High School Technology Grant. The grant reimburses companies who provide paid internship opportunities to students. Funds are also provided through the grant to fund advanced technological resources, enabling students to work on real-world projects and gain practical experiences. The aim of the grant is to bridge the gap between education and industry, equipping students with the skills and knowledge required for the future workforce.
Working with the non-profit workforce development organization, Cleveland Youth Opportunities Unlimited, five Perry students worked as summer interns at Avery Dennison, Griffin Technology Group, Tech Dynamix, and Divine Living.
Students Grace Mechenbier and Jake Pietrzak were selected to be recipients of this grant by Avery Dennison, a global leader in materials science and manufacturing, which provided them with hands-on experiences and mentorship in a cutting-edge environment. Grace, who is now attending Miami of Ohio, found value in the connections and networking opportunities. In her first two weeks at Avery she attended events in which she met current Miami students and alumni who were also working at Avery Dennison.
The IT Site Coordinator at Avery Dennison, Robinette Cotton, oversaw Grace and Jake. Robinette believes this internship provides students with the opportunity to apply what they learn in the classroom in a real-world experience. She hopes that Jake and Grace not only walk away from the experiences with a greater awareness of all that a career in Information Technology has to offer but also a chance to hone the specific life skills a young professional needs to have when working in a global environment.
Kyle McCann interned with Griffin Technology Group. McCann said that he initially wanted the internship because he knew it would “look good” but now he knows the value is all that he has learned at Griffin.
“Griffin is a company dedicated to being a strong community partner,” said Jon Kruse, the technical services team lead at Griffin, who has been mentoring students at Mentor High School and Auburn Career for years through Senior Shadow weeks and Mock Interview Days. Kruse sees the Ohio HS Technology Grant as another resource local businesses have that will help them find and retain top talent in the area.
Jeffery Sandor, class of 2024, was selected by Tech Dynamix for the Ohio Technology Internship. Jeffery adapted quickly to the many facets of his role. While earning certifications, he interacted with customers and wrote programs to assist the business organize data. Jeffery and his employer hope to keep Jeffery on the team beyond the timeframe of the grant.
Aidan Clutter, a junior at Perry High School, worked at Divine Living in Madison, working with security cameras, setting up gaming platforms, labeling and organizing tech to make systems at Divine Living more secure. This fall, Aidan is continuing his training by enrolling in the Coding Program at Auburn Career Center.
For more information about the Ohio High School Technology Grant and business collaboratives involving students at Perry High School, please contact Rita Soeder, Career Exploration Specialist at Perry Local Schools. Phone: (440) 205-0019 soederr@perry-lake.org.
