Senior Patrick Beniger II has spent a good deal of his time at South High School involved with the Red Raider Manufacturing program. He’s taken a variety of Tech Ed classes and participated in nine-week co-ops at Old Wisconsin and American Orthodontics, where he is also spending a full year in a youth apprenticeship.

“It’s really opened my eyes to what it will be like after high school, what a job will be like, and what opportunities I can have in my future,” Patrick said.

Patrick’s favorite piece of the Red Raider experience has been learning to build or make a wide range of items through classes such as Woods Production, Metals Production, Advanced Metals Production, Construction Trades, and Graphic Design. In addition to his Tech Ed coursework, Patrick is currently taking Psychology, Health, and Weight Training.

He’s most proud of two projects: making chess sets on the CNC lathe and programming one of the robotic arms to pick and place blocks in the correct place.

Patrick feels that students can benefit from participating in the Red Raider Manufacturing program for numerous reasons. “You learn how to make things out of different materials and how to use different machines and power tools,” he said. “It also gives you the opportunity to try different things so you don’t waste your time in the future.”

Patrick plans to attend Lakeshore Technical College (LTC) in the Electro-Mechanical program and will possibly continue his education further.

Red Raider Manufacturing is available at both North High School and South High School. A partnership between the Sheboygan Area School District, local manufacturing companies, and LTC, Red Raider Manufacturing is one of many programs that SASD offers students along their Academic and Career Planning (ACP) journeys. Through self-exploration, career exploration, and the development of career management and planning skills, the ACP process allows students–with adult support–to create and cultivate their own unique and information-based visions for post-secondary success. Learn more about Red Raider Manufacturing and Academic and Career Planning at our website.