The Madison Metropolitan School District’s (MMSD) Career and Technical Education (CTE) Summer Discovery program is providing middle school students with hands-on career exploration opportunities this summer thanks in large part to the support of local industry partners and community organizations.
Designed to introduce students to a variety of career pathways before they enter high school, CTE Summer Discovery combines classroom learning, field experiences and direct interaction with professionals working in high-demand industries. This year’s program, set to run July 6–16, has benefited from significant investments of funding, materials, expertise and volunteer time from partners across the Madison community.
Among the program’s largest supporters is the Madison Public Schools Foundation, which has helped secure thousands of dollars in funding and expand experiential learning opportunities for participating students.
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“The Madison Public Schools Foundation exists to mobilize our community's support for public schools, and the CTE Summer Discovery program shows exactly what that looks like,” said Mo Cheeks, the Foundation’s president. “Right now, MMSD middle-schoolers are getting a hands-on look at careers in engineering, technology, and the skilled trades thanks to partners like American Transmission Co. (ATC) and others. We're grateful for this impactful partnership and we're proud to help build partnerships like this."
ATC contributed $16,000 in funding and will provide staff presentations and demonstrations for students, helping connect classroom learning with real-world career opportunities.
That support is part of a broader community effort that brings students into direct contact with professionals, workplaces and industries throughout the Madison area. Additional businesses and organizations supporting this year's program include the following:
- Findorff, one of the firms helping to construct schools associated with the district’s 2024 facilities referendum, donated approximately $1,500 in lumber and will give employee-led demonstrations and presentations.
- Hooper Corporation will deliver hands-on presentations that introduce students to careers in the skilled trades and construction industries.
- Kriete Trucks will host students for an on-site field experience, providing a firsthand look at careers in transportation and heavy equipment.
- IBEW Local 159, a supporter since the program’s inception three years ago, will welcome students to its training facility for immersive career exploration experiences.
- Boys and Girls Clubs of Dane County, also in its third year of consecutive support, co-facilitates the Entrepreneurship camp and provides a $100 business start-up gift card for every student who completes the camp.
- CEOs of Tomorrow, another third-year supporter, provides financial literacy and youth business start-up workshops.
“The level of community support we've seen this year demonstrates how much our partners value investing their time and resources in our MMSD scholars,” said Nar Doumbya, MMSD’s CTE specialist for middle schools. “These experiences help students see themselves in careers they may never have considered before while building skills, curiosity and a stronger understanding of the opportunities available to them in high school.”
CTE Summer Discovery is part of MMSD’s broader commitment to career-connected learning and workforce development. By providing students with early exposure to a variety of professions and industries, district leaders hope to help young people make informed decisions about future coursework, career pathways and postsecondary opportunities.
As the program continues to grow, partnerships with local businesses, labor organizations and community groups will remain essential to expanding access and creating meaningful experiences for students across the district.
