The district has also embraced emerging fields like eSports. “It’s been a real motivator for a lot of our students who couldn’t find their niche,” McCreary explains. “It also opened their eyes to all of the different branches that are involved in eSports, which is very similar to the sports business.” The program includes visits to collegiate eSports programs, like Butler University, expanding students’ understanding of potential career paths beyond game creation. REAL-WORLD READY: CAREER PATHWAYS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS Madison Consolidated Schools has developed robust career and technical education (CTE) programs that connect students directly with workplace experiences.“Our students are involved in numerous pathways from culinary arts to business to industrial maintenance and welding. We have an agriculture department that students are receiving opportunities in,” says Slygh. These programs are strengthened through partnerships with local industries, including Grote Industries, Super ATV, Madison Precision Products, Arvin Sango, Royer, Inc., and VSG where students gain hands-on experience, mentorships, and opportunities through internships and co-ops. The district’s innovative Farm Stop project showcases their entrepreneurial education approach. “We will be the first school district in Indiana, maybe the country that’s going to have a student-run farm stop,” Dr. Brown explains. “Our business will open downtown on Main Street. People will be able to come in and buy fresh produce and goods from our students as they’ve been working with local farmers and producers to create a supply chain.” The project emerged from a year-long entrepreneurship program where seven students developed a comprehensive business plan, supported by USDA grants. The district’s work-based learning initiatives create tangible value for local industry partners.“We make things for them. Our students in manufacturing produce things that they need in the company, and then they’re paid for that,” says Dr. Brown. This (812)273-4949 • germanamerican.com Strength in Numbers We are proud of our #2 bank in the nation ranking. Serving local communities from a position of strength and stability has been in German American Bank’s DNA since 1910. Strength. Stability. Customer Service Excellence. #2 Ranked in the Nation Member FDIC 6 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 03
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