Through its work-based learning program, the Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES Career & Technical Educational Center offered students internship opportunities at Meyda Lighting in the 2021-2022 school year. Students were placed in three different trades programs: Welding, Electricity, and Construction.
The students typically spend 4-6 weeks, 2-3 days a week, working closely with Meyda employees to get first-hand experience in the various skilled trades and positions. The main objective is to expose students to the workplace, and help them develop their skills apply them out in the workplace. Ultimately, the best end goal is for students to find gainful employment with the hosting internship site.
“Meyda helped support our internship program by providing placement sites and in-field instructors,” said Kimberly Petronella, the Work Based Learning Coordinator, Health Occupations Coordinator/Instructor SkillsUSA Co-Advisor at Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES. “Through the internships, Meyda allows our students access to their employees, to work with them side by side to learn and foster development of their trade skills. The students get to work with skilled professionals on actual projects that a customer has ordered.
“With Meyda Lighting fostering this partnership, students are able to take the experiences, and skills they are learning in our classroom and labs, out into the ‘real world.’ The students gain an appreciation and understanding of time management, project completion and teamwork, all of which are essential skills in the workplace. Through Meyda Lighting’s support of our O-H-M BOCES,CTE internship program, they are fostering the next generation of skilled workers.”
“The students genuinely enjoyed their time and experiences at Meyda Lighting,” continued Ms. Petronella. “Each time I met with the students following an internship week, or while doing a site visit, the students always spoke highly of their experience and what they were learning.”