A new collaboration between Springfield Public Schools (SPS) and the Paul Mueller Company allows students the opportunity to learn and gain hands-on experience in welding and grinding while receiving compensation.
According to SPS, “The program is designed to bridge the gap between the classroom and the workforce, ensuring students graduate success-ready with the technical and professional skills required in a rapidly changing workforce.”
Within the company, there is a school for welding and grinding. Five SPS high school students were selected for the Registered Youth Apprenticeships will attend the school to learn and gain experience.
Additionally, they will be working for the Paul Muller company and receiving compensation.
Thursday, April 27th, marked the official signing day for the five selected SPS students for this program.
From our school, Hayden Garretson, Micah Powell, Drake Owen, and Gustavo Dos Santos were some of the students chosen for this new opportunity.
Dos Santos will be completing an apprenticeship that will be catered to heating and air conditioning rather than welding and grinding.
Initially set to begin during the 2026 to 2027 school year, the program will start over the summer, allowing these students more time to learn before beginning hands-on work.
“I will be full-time in the summer, and then I will go part-time during school,” junior Micah Powell said.
During the school year, the program will operate similarly to other career readiness programs, meaning students will attend school for half of the day and then go to Paul Mueller for the other half.
“I will be on the floor with someone. I’ll be like their peer, basically, watching what they do,” junior Drake Owen said.
The program enables students to get a head start and become more prepared to join the workforce.
“I will get a welding certification from the welding school, and the program actually goes towards credits in high school, too,” Owen said.
Students’ pay will start at 17 dollars an hour, with opportunities to earn up to 25 dollars per hour.
According to SPS, “By integrating paid, career-focused experiences into the high school curriculum, the district is helping to build a sustainable pipeline of talent for Springfield’s industrial sector.”
