DiscoverME 2024 Introduces Area Eighth Graders to Career Opportunities in the Orthopedic Industry

On October 1-2, 2024, coinciding with National Manufacturing Week, all eighth-grade students in the Warsaw, Wawasee, Whitko & Tippecanoe Valley school corporations will have the opportunity to participate in DiscoverME, a career awareness program led by OrthoWorx that showcases modern manufacturing across Kosciusko County. The program includes hands-on experiential learning in the areas of product development, assembly, and packaging, followed by a field trip where students will be exposed to the manufacturing environment of the orthopedic industry, along with the various educational pathways available to them.

“OrthoWorx’s is excited to offer this experience to area students,” says Erin Serafino, Talent Director at OrthoWorx, “It’s an honor to share the career opportunities available to them right here in our community.”

Manufacturing Experiences programs introduce students to local industry, showcasing career opportunities and pathways for students in Kosciusko County and the surrounding area. Manufacturing is a central part of our county’s economic landscape with industries around agribusiness, automotive, marine, outdoor furniture and medical devices – specifically orthopedics. DiscoverME offers a community-responsive curriculum and introduces manufacturing at a pivotal time when students begin thinking about high school coursework and their career interests. Local companies featured as tour stops this year include: DePuy Synthes, Instrumental Machine & Development, Medartis, Paragon Medical, POLYWOOD, Precision Medical Technology, and Zimmer Biomet. By partnering with local manufacturing companies in Kosciusko County, we showcase next generation manufacturing – an innovative, technology-driven environment that offers secure, well-paying jobs and excellent benefits with the opportunity for further education and advancement.

“We are glad to have this program available to our students at such a crucial time in their education journey,” says Ben Barkey, Principal, Warsaw Area Career Center, “It is awesome to see students imagining themselves in the careers that make our community special.”