DID YOU KNOW? Ninety-three percent of WLC job shadow hosts say their hosting experience was a valuable use of their time. Interested in learning how you can get involved and help students explore careers in your industry? Visit our Partners and Volunteers page to learn more.

Workplace Learning Connection Selected as a Career Z Phase 3 Finalist!

In August, WLC was selected as one of 10 Career Z Phase 3 finalists. This designation means we were identified as one of the top 10 work-based learning ecosystems in the country.

The Career Z Challenge is a multiphase federal prize competition to expand high school students’ access to high-quality work-based learning. The 10 finalists will receive tailored technical assistance to accelerate the expansion and sustainability of their WBL ecosystem during Phase 3 of the challenge. Each finalist who completes the Phase 3 requirements will be eligible to receive $150,000.

The 10 finalists were selected from a diverse pool of 73 semifinalists representing schools from 34 states. During the 2023 – ’24 school year, semifinalists participated in a community of practice and received technical assistance through learning workshops, cohort working groups, and topical discussions. A panel of judges — with subject matter expertise in secondary and postsecondary education, business and industry, and workforce development — reviewed and scored the semifinalists’ submissions. As a finalist, we received $20,000 from the Phase 2 process.

We are honored to be part of this selection and excited for what it means for our future. We look forward to continuing to build a sustainable system that provides students with high-quality experiences that impact their futures.

To learn more about the Career Z Challenge, visit the challenge.gov website.

Second-Semester 2025 Internship Portal Opens Sept.23

We had another successful (and busy!) summer of internships. Students — 219 of them — completed internships with area businesses to explore potential careers of interest. They also met regularly with our internship coordinators to learn key employability and career development skills.

Some of the biggest benefits of the Internship Program include:

• Learning about a field before committing to it. Students get an inside look at jobs in their field of interest and can determine if it’s a good fit for them.
• Earning high school and college credits while exploring a potential career. This can help students make decisions about their high school coursework and postsecondary education or training plans.
• Improving their resume. This is helpful for college, scholarship, and job applications.
• Networking opportunities. Internships allow students to meet people at all levels of the company, and those connections can be valuable in the future.
• Experiencing the working world firsthand. Students experience what it’s like to have a job in their career of interest and what type of work environment and schedule they could expect in that field.

The second-semester 2025 internship application window opens Sept. 23 and closes Nov. 1 at 3 p.m. Applications are open to current high school juniors and seniors. To learn more about the program details and requirements, click here.

Introducing New WLC Team Member Julie Welter

Julie Welter is a business and school liaison working out of the Jones County Regional Center (JREC), providing work-based learning opportunities for students in Jones and Cedar counties.

Where did you work prior to WLC?
My journey in career services began at Clarke College (now Clarke University) in Dubuque, where I spent nine years. Following this, I worked for 15 years at the Kirkwood Jones County Regional Center holding various roles, including career counselor, academic advisor, instructor for How College Works and Career Decision Making, and continuing education coordinator. In my most recent position here, I developed the course material and was the lead instructor for the Career Quest 2.0 Innovation Fund Project. This project brought a careers class to area eighth grade students and a Career Exploration Day, hosted at JREC, for ninth grade students.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I enjoy spending time with family and friends. My family loves to go boating at Lake Delhi and take family vacations. I also like to walk and hike outdoors, bake, and volunteer in the community. Two of my three boys have been very involved with sports, so I have spent most of my free time over the past several years shuttling them around and watching them play.

From your perspective, why is career exploration such a pivotal part of a student’s educational journey?
Learning about their interests, skills, values, and personality types is important in a student’s personal growth. Learning how these things relate to a future career is the first step in their career development process. Figuring out a career choice gives students focus and reason as to the “why” they need to learn particular things. It can create an internal motivation in their education plan and provide a direction for that plan. Job shadowing and internships help students confirm their career choice or reveal they should start looking for something different. I love being able to help guide students along this process and see them get excited about their education and future.

What are you most looking forward to in your new role?
I am excited to assist students in career decision-making. Through personal experience and working in this field for several years, I have learned that job shadowing and internships are two of the most important things students can do in their career decision-making process. A job shadow I did during my senior year led me to my career choice. I wouldn’t have even known about this career if it wasn’t for that job shadow. Through this position, I can help students learn about careers and businesses they may have not heard about. I am also excited to be part of a great team of people who share similar interests and are motivated to provide the best services and opportunities for students and local employers. Connecting students to potential future employers is a great way to help our local communities prosper.