On Oct. 1 and 2, in conjunction with National Manufacturing Week, all eighth-graders from Warsaw, Wawasee, Whitco and Tippecanoe Valley School Corporations will have the opportunity to participate in DiscoverME, a career awareness program led by OrthoWorx that introduces modern manufacturing across Kosciusko County.
The program includes hands-on experiential learning in the areas of product development, assembly and packaging, followed by field trips where students experience the orthopedic industry manufacturing environment and the various educational pathways available.
“OrthoWorks is excited to offer this experience to students in our area,” said Erin Serafino, OrthoWorks Talent Director. “We are honored to be able to provide a career opportunity for students in our community.”
According to a news release from OrthoWorx, the manufacturing experience program will expose students to local industries and introduce career opportunities and career paths for students in Kosciusko County and the surrounding area. Manufacturing is central to the county’s economic landscape, with industries centered around agriculture, automotive, marine, outdoor furniture and medical equipment (particularly orthopedics).
According to the release, DiscoverME will offer a community-responsive curriculum and introduce students to manufacturing at a critical time when they begin to think about high school coursework and career interests. Local businesses featured on this year’s tour stops include DePuy Synthes, Instrumental Machine & Development, Medartis, Paragon Medical, Polywood, Precision Medical Technology and Zimmer Biomet. By partnering with local manufacturing companies in Kosciusko County, OrthoWorx will introduce the next generation of manufacturing – an innovative, tech-driven environment that offers safe, well-paying jobs with great benefits, as well as opportunities for further education and advancement.
“We are pleased to be able to offer this program at such an important time in our students’ educational journey,” said Ben Burkey, director of the Warsaw Area Career Center. “It’s wonderful to see our students dreaming of pursuing careers that make our community special.”
OrthoWorx is an initiative founded in 2009 in the orthopedic capital of the world with initial funding from Lilly Endowment Inc., to fill a critical gap in the industry and serve to connect industry, education and the community, leveraging resources to drive positive change. OrthoWorx was specifically designed to make the region the best place for orthopedic talent to grow and thrive. They act as catalysts, deepening connections between the various interrelated moving parts of the unique orthopedic industry ecosystem. This is accomplished through their work and initiatives to nurture the next generation, enrich the community and accelerate the industry, according to the release.
