Program gives Mankato students a head start in manufacturing careers

MANKATO — At MTU Onsite Energy, East High School senior Ethan Dempster is mounting control panels, installing radiators and trying almost every other job on the assembly line.

His favorite job is testing the generators after they are assembled.

“You get to see everything come together,” he said.

Dempster is earning both a paycheck and school credit while he works at the Mankato manufacturing company.

He's one of a dozen participants in the Mankato Area Public Schools Youth Employment Acceleration Program.

School district officials and business partners promoted the manufacturing apprenticeship program to business supporters from across the state. They presented at the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Executives annual conference in Mankato.

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