Grand Island Public Schools Superintendent Matt Fisher speaks at an awards ceremony June 19 for Grand Island Senior High School’s Academies program. The event was at the Career Pathways Institute at 1215 S. Adams St, (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND – Grand Island Senior High School students described their experiences in the high school’s Academies, and two awards were presented Wednesday, June 19.
All of the students who spoke graduated in 2024. Charlie Gentry took classes in the Construction Pathway. He noted he had received seven scholarships. He recalled as a senior, he worked constructing a $500,000 house as a “mini-project manager.”
“I have grown exponentially,” Gentry said.
He plans to pursue a four-year construction management degree at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Superintendent Matt Fisher greeted those attending. He said that students are “soaking it in and learning” as students in the Academies, which is “what we’re hoping to accomplish with the Academy Model. He said the business partners have been extremely important. The event was held at the Career Pathways Institute building at 1215 S. Adams St.
“A lot of private dollars went into this building,” Fisher said.
Jeff Gilbertson, the high school’s executive principal, said what started as a dream seven years ago has become reality.
The Academies are a “transformative experience for our students.”
He noted that “our graduates are graduating with more confidence in their abilities.”
Gilbertson gave some statistics about the Academies from the past year. There have been 28 internships, 303 job shadows, 12 apprenticeships, 71 hiring fair employers participation, 342 industry certifications, 647 freshman mock interviews, and 700 students earned 3,123 dual credits.
“Our goal is to continually evolve and adapt,” he said. “We are dedicated to preparing our students for the next steps in life.”
Next, graduate Elli Ward spoke. She was a student in the Architecture and Design Pathway. She plans to attend Kansas State University to study architecture. As a high school student, she was exposed to common architectural software. She worked for a business as a part-time estimator.
Graduate Nyarout Wal was a student in the Healthcare Pathway. She plans to attend the University of Minnesota or South Central Community College in Minnesota to study to be a paramedic. She noted her family was from South Sudan.
Next, CHI Health-St. Francis was honored as Business Partner of the Year, and Lisa Wilson with CNH Industrial was recognized as Community Partner of the Year.
It was noted that 150 10th-grade students toured CHI Health-St. Francis, and more than 50 students participated in job shadowing.
Wilson is the human resources manager at CNH Industrial. She has interviewed students and has functioned “like a guidance counselor” for students.
Lisa Wilson (second from right) was recognized by Grand Island Senior High School as Community Partner of the Year for the Academies program. She is Human Resources manager at CNH Industrial, (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
CHI Health-St. Francis was honored by Grand Island Senior High School as Business Partner of the Year for the Academies program, (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
