This summer, 24 Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) students are spending their time earning money while they learn about careers in our region’s growing Biohealth industry. The immersive six-week MATC Biohealth Summer Youth Program (MBSYP), made possible by our collaboration with Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) and MPS and through the Wisconsin BioHealth Tech Hub’s funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Regional Technology and Innovations Hub program, provides students with job readiness training, career exploration, and occupational instruction.
In this pilot program, a cohort of MPS juniors and seniors explore a different Biohealth career pathway each week, including Biotechnology Lab Technician, Biomedical Electronics Technology, Radiography, Medical Laboratory Technicians, Electronic Engineering Technology, and Manufacturing (Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Technicians and Operators).
The first week of camp highlighted Manufacturing. Students learned from MATC faculty member Ira Smith, Lead Machine Tool Operator, through hands-on instruction in CNC machining. Instruction was complemented by field trips to two HellermannTyton locations, a local manufacturing company. Students toured the headquarters, explored tool and die and mechatronics careers, participated in interactive learning activities, and connected with professionals working in the industry. Participants also received career readiness training through MATC Career Hub classes, where they created LinkedIn profiles and learned best practices on how to use LinkedIn during and after high school.
In the second week, students learned about the field of Radiography, participating in a hands-on session led by Angie Fraser and Elena Edwards, MATC Clinical Instructors in the Radiography Program. To further their learning, participants visited local health system Ascension, where they toured the MRI and CT departments and met working professionals. During their tour, they got an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at imaging equipment being installed, thanks to our partnership with Ascension and TriMedx!
The third week of camp focused on Electrical Engineering Technology. Students visited ACL Laboratories to learn about histology (the study of tissues), tour the lab where tissue is tested, see the production side, and hear guest speakers. Participants also visited Versiti and learned about the role Biohealth plays in organ donation.
Participants receive weekly instruction from MATC professors on the basics of each pathway, participate in hands-on activities, meet current MATC students in Biohealth-related programs, and go on field trips to visit local employers. So far, field trips have included HellermannTyton, Ascension, ACL Lab, MilliporeSigma, Versiti, and Froedtert. Upon program completion, students receive a paid stipend and MPS academic internship credit supporting their educational success.
MBSYP builds a direct pipeline to MATC’s Biohealth-related programs, providing access and exposure to this high-growth field. Students learn about educational pathways that lead to Biohealth careers, including Registered Apprenticeships. Programs like the MBSYP demonstrate the power of employer-led partnerships and work-based learning to connect young people with high-demand career pathways. By giving students direct exposure to industry professionals, hands-on experiences, and real-world workplaces, we are helping build the next generation of Biohealth talent for our region. We are proud to highlight this sector-based youth summer program that is vital to our local talent pipeline to BioHealth careers.
Keep up with our MBSYP program on our LinkedIn this summer!
