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Promega Bailey Lubinski Oregon Class Of 2015 Company: Promega Program: Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) What did you love about YA? I loved being able to get hands-on research experience. I think that the training that I received prior to starting my job was extremely valuable. During my first few years doing research, I would often get comments about how advanced I was compared to other undergraduate researchers who hadn't been in the program. I also remember making a lot of friends who had similar life goals to me. How did YA influence your plans after high school? I continued working in the job that I got through the YA program for several years after I graduated from high school. My research experience helped me get into college for my undergraduate degree and also played a key role in my acceptance to an Ivy League college for a PhD program. Before I did the YA program, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life, but after I started working it just felt so natural to keep going. I'm so happy that I was able to be in this program. What do you want others to know about YA? I think that nothing will help you decide what career you want so much as getting direct working experience. Even joining a YA program and figuring out that the area you went into ultimately isn't for you would be extremely valuable.

UW-Madison Department of Horticulture (USDA) Robin Wahle Cambridge Class Of 2006 Company: UW-Madison Department of Horticulture (USDA) Program: STEM What did you love about YA? My experience in YA helped me be more competitive in the job market, both in college and after college because I had a base knowledge of techniques. It helped be build a solid foundation that I’ve been able to rise in my field very quickly. How did YA influence your plans after high school? I obtained a BS in Genetics at UW-Madison in 2010. I worked in my YA mentor’s lab for another 3 years while in college, then moved to a different lab for more exposure my senior year. I worked in education and outreach at the Morgridge Institute for Research for 2.5 years. There I taught scientists how to culture human embryonic stem cells (ESC) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) as well as how to generate iPSC from skin fibroblasts. My favorite part of that job was the outreach portion where I got to teach kids during field trips, camps, and after-school programs about stem cells and introduce them to hands-on science. I have been working at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital for the last 10 years. I started working for 2 years characterizing ESC and iPSC to generate a master database for scientists to use. After that project was completed, I started working in a GMP environment doing manufacturing of cell and gene therapy products for patients with blood diseases and cancers under FDA Phase I/II IND. We help researchers here at CCHMC as well as companies around the world bring their promising new research into GMP. This means we help them take what they’ve shown works in animal models and human cell lines and translate it to human clinical trials. Once we’ve shown their process can be translated, we work with them to submit the FDA application and then manufacturer products for the first phase of their clinical trial. It’s incredibly rewarding work, knowing we are helping people who often have no other therapy available to them. What do you want others to know about YA? https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/research/cores/translational-core-laboratory

Three Gaits Inc. Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources YA Alumni Makayla Ramberg Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources View Job Stoughton Class Of 2021

UW Biotechnology Center Core Peptide Synthesis Lab Ryan Prior Oregon Class Of 2006 Company: UW Biotechnology Center Core Peptide Synthesis Lab Program: STEM What did you love about YA? I loved learning to operate a wide variety science machines, completing state of the art syntheses and assays, and serving the UW Madision biotech research commons. How did YA influence your plans after high school? I was burned out on biotech after my apprenticeship and decided to study computer engineering instead. I eventually got the opportunity to bring the ends together, designing specialized computers for the sciences. What do you want others to know about YA? Actually doing the job will teach you things you didn't expect to learn and answer important questions you wouldn't have asked. The YA program gets you into the arena to struggle with real industrial problems and emerge stronger.

UW-Madison Department of Entomology Ellyn Lepinski Oregon Class Of 2011 Company: UW-Madison Department of Entomology Program: STEM What did you love about YA? My YA experience gave me the opportunity to work in a lab from a very early age. I developed both scientific and lab management skills that were essential in finding a career after college. It also gave me a great foundation for college courses and a distinct advantage during lab courses at UW-Madison. I am so grateful for having had the opportunity to participate in the YA program and am happy to hear that it continues to be offered to young folks looking to gain invaluable experience during high school. How did YA influence your plans after high school? I attended UW-Madison and got my bachelor’s degree in microbiology. After graduating college, I moved to Iowa for a position as an Immunotherapuetics Production Associate I. What do you want others to know about YA?

Dane County School Consortium Marketing YA Alumni Caden Boehnen Marketing View Job McFarland Class Of 2023 Sergei Capaul Marketing View Job Waunakee Class Of 2013

Hometown Pharmacy Casper Vang DeForest Class Of 2018 Company: Hometown Pharmacy Program: Health Science What did you love about YA? During my time as an apprentice I worked for a local pharmacy. Some of my daily duties included filling out patient prescriptions, contacting insurance, and working the cash register at the drive through. I worked closely with the head pharmacist and other pharmacy technicians. How did YA influence your plans after high school? One of my most memorable experiences was learning under Bob Vernig alongside my small group of upcoming pharmacy techs. We would meet at the elementary school each week in Monona Grove and sit in those small classrooms. Bob taught us a lot of knowledge and prepared us to take the test for our licenses. My peers were also a very outgoing group and we had a lot of fun working together, and sharing our experiences from our workplaces. What do you want others to know about YA? Having a mentor greatly benefitted my experience because they were a role model that I could aspire to be like. In addition, they helped guide me to learn more about myself and what kind of career path I want to choose.

BMO Harris Bank, Waunakee Finance YA Alumni Alyssa Knight Finance View Job Waunakee Class Of 2015 Hans Meganck Finance View Job Waunakee Class Of 2018 Anya Bower Finance View Job Mount Horeb Class Of 2016 Reanah Nelson Finance View Job DeForest Class Of 2023

Genetic Visions Celia Bartels Verona Class Of 2023 Company: Genetic Visions Program: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math What did you love about YA? My job and the YA program in general not only taught me so much about the biotech field, but it also connected me to teachers, mentors, and peers that I know I can continue learning from and leaning on for support for the rest of my life. I made many lasting friendships and I know my mentors will be there for me both in the field and in life. How did YA influence your plans after high school? The YA program was a great opportunity to try out a real job in the field before I solidified my post-high school plans. The program eased many anxieties that I would have had in spending time and money studying something without experiencing it first. What do you want others to know about YA? The YA program not only teaches students technical skills necessary for their careers, but it builds many soft skills such as exploring new things, connecting with peers and mentors, and building confidence. The program helps students learn that they are capable of big things even at a young age.

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Three Gaits Inc. Makayla Ramberg Stoughton Class Of 2021 Company: Three Gaits Inc. Program: Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources What did you love about YA? I loved working with my coworkers every day! They had positive attitudes and knew what was best for the horses. They were great mentors when it came to teaching me about horse health and what it takes to run an agricultural business. I loved getting hands on experiences with the horses and getting the opportunity to take the leadership role on certain projects. How did YA influence your plans after high school? I have always had a passion for the agriculture industry and after taking the Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources YA program, it reassured me that I wanted to go to college for an Agribusiness Management degree and pursue a career within that area which I am currently still doing. What do you want others to know about YA? I want future YA students to know that the program you work with will set you off on the right path for your future whether it is preparing you for the next steps of college or the workforce. At your YA job, you will develop a great networking base that will be able to help guide you through your early career exploration!

Stoughton Trailers Tyler Millard Stoughton Class Of 2020 Company: Stoughton Trailers Program: STEM What did you love about YA? One thing that I loved about the YA program was the vast amount of resources and connections that it brought along. Working with Josh to find open employers and positions in my area was super valuable. Finding more advanced opportunities in the industry is tough without experience or a degree but Josh was able to find an amazing opportunity for me at Stoughton Trailers. As for the experience I gained while working at my YA, I would attribute the experience I gained during my YA to my success today. My YA eventually turned into a college level internship and it seemed that the longer I worked in industry, the more connections I was gaining. When I left my first internship I had no worries that I would find a better position that I enjoyed more elsewhere. Overall, the YA program is for students who are interested in applying classroom based knowledge to real world work applications while being paid. The YA opportunities often pay better than most part time work, (in my experience) and on top of that, you’re gaining extremely valuable experience. This experience should be added to resumes and advertised to any new employer. This experience on my resumes has allowed me to fast-track my career. How did YA influence your plans after high school? I worked the following year in between my first college semesters as an intern there and had great success. I tried a year of college studying mechanical engineering at UW Milwaukee but it didn’t end up being right for me. I moved back to Madison to attend MATC. I have been in the mechanical design technology program and I have absolutely loved it. I am completing my final semester currently. I also decided to look for new positions and explore all of my connections and resources that I had accumulated through my time in the industry. I am now a full time mechanical design engineer at an amazing small company. I work for Develop LLC out of Verona, WI and I take lead roles in designing large, custom industrial automated systems for our clients. This is my dream job for now and I believe that a lot of my success has been due to the start that I got as a YA What do you want others to know about YA? I think an important thing for any YA to keep in mind is that your first work experiences might not be the end-all-be-all. You might have to use your first positions as stepping stones and this is okay. The idea is that your experience makes you a more valuable employee but that same experience is also teaching you what you do and don’t want in a future position. Experience speaks volumes in the STEM industry. I believe that because I started gaining real industry experience at such a young age, that is what has allowed me to make a successful living now. I am 21 years old working what I consider to be my dream job and I was able to move out on my own at age 20. This program can really kickstart your career and get you headed in a good direction.