Students gain real world experiences

FOSTORIA—Fifth-graders may be looking forward to when they're finished with school and in the adult world. Such youngsters from Fostoria Elementary School will get a taste of working for a living from 9:15 a.m., to 12:10 p.m., on Tuesday, when they take part in Make-It Day at the Fostoria Learning Center. The collaboration between the learning center, Fostoria City Schools and the Fostoria Economic Development Corporation will engage the students with local employers to learn about those businesses, what they do and produce and take part in activities that demonstrate how that production occurs. Companies scheduled to take part in Make-It Day with representatives present are Charter Steel, Clouse Construction, Custom Glass Solutions, Callies Performance Products, Reineke Family Dealerships, Seneca Millwork and The Mennel Milling Company. "This is our fourth year hosting Make-It Day, and each year the event is met with enthusiasm from both students and businesses," said Renee Smith, managing director of the Fostoria Learning Center. "It's a creative and engaging way to introduce the next generation to local career opportunities. Through those hands-on experiences, students not only learn about what's made in Fostoria but also begin to envision their future role in our community." Each company's activity, related to their operations and products, will help students see the diverse career pathways available in their own community, a news release from the learning center said. "The goal of 'Make It Day' is to inspire curiosity, demonstrate local workforce opportunities and celebrate the innovative spirit of Fostoria's businesses," the news release said."This opportunity exposes our students to local companies is a unique way by giving them time to learn about a variety of companies from employees, as well as do a hands-on activity similar to what they may do if they worked there," Fostoria City Schools Superintendent Jason Longbrake said. "This benefits our students by showing them the many opportunities for employment we have right here in Fostoria. It helps them realize career interests at an early age and opens their eyes to future opportunities they may not have realized we had in our town." The Fostoria Learning Center, established in 2017, is a 42,000-square-foot facility that offers a number of educational and workforce programs, including welding, medical training, computer classes and customized trainings. More information about Make-It Day and the Fostoria Learning Center is available by calling 419-408-5540 or emailing to admin@fostorialearningcenter.org.