PESHTIGO, Wis. – U.S. Representative Reid Ribble, who represents northeast Wisconsin in Congress, and Rick Sense, his district chief of staff, visited the GPS Education Center and BPM Inc., a specialty paper mill of Peshtigo recently.

Visiting the BPM-sponsored education facility and BPM’s manufacturing plant with Ribble were Jim Koronkiewicz, BPM general manager; Steve Peterich, BPM plant engineer and GPS student mentor; Josh Blau, GPS regional program administrator; Allyson Baue, GPS regional coordinator; Karen Sporrer, GPS teacher; and Tristan Heitkamper and Austin Chaplin, current students.

The visit began with introductions at BPM, followed by a brief tour of BPM’s wax and converting department where some students in the GPS program work. The group then visited the GPS education center located on French Street in Peshtigo.

GPS Education Partners is an innovative education model that uniquely prepares and partners students with businesses to accelerate technical education and drive success.

Students have the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and nationally-recognized manufacturing certifications by spending each day in a hands-on, immersive, blended learning setting where teachers relate academic subject matter to the work environment and businesses provide structured training experiences that help students develop both manufacturing and employability skills.

“Investing in the next generation by providing an innovative education model, such as the GPS program, offers students a real-world, hands-on approach to future employment,” said Ribble.

“The companies that are funding this program are forward-thinking businesses looking to prepare students for the technical and manufacturing industries. The majority of the success can be credited to the outstanding teachers and staff who challenge and push the students to find their niche and excel in the work place,” Ribble added.

Local manufacturing companies, such as BPM, Inc., R.W. Fernstrum, Vargo Tool & Die, Inc, Silvan Industries, Tyco, Anchor Coupling, Inc., KS Kolbenschmidt, and UTC are embracing and investing in innovative solutions that create opportunities for young people to pursue challenging, rewarding careers while strengthening Wisconsin’s workforce.

The companies sponsor the program by paying sponsorship fees, hosting a classroom education center, and/or providing job placements. In addition to the immediate benefit from students becoming productive members of their workforce as apprentices, business partners have access to a qualified pool of credentialed talent.

The program currently has 200 students enrolled, 300 graduates to date, more than 100 business partners, 45 high school partners, and16 education centers serving 12 Wisconsin counties.