Michigan Works! Supports Youth Career Exploration Through MiSTEM Summer Academies

The MiSTEM Summer Academies are hands-on career and technical education programs offered at the Industrial Arts Institute (IAI) in partnership with MiSTEM Network Region 12, COP ESD, and Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium. Designed for high school students, the academies provide opportunities to explore skilled trades and advanced manufacturing careers through immersive, real-world learning experiences. As part of Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium's support, students were able to participate in a learn-and-earn opportunity that provided financial incentives for attendance, while also having access to supportive services that helped address barriers to participation and promote program success.

Students participated in one of three specialized academies: Welding, CNC Machining, and Construction Trades. Each academy offered in-depth training using industry-grade equipment and instruction from experienced professionals, allowing students to develop practical, job-ready skills in a professional training environment.

In addition to hands-on classroom and lab experiences, students took part in industry immersion trips to local businesses, where they gained firsthand exposure to workplace environments, learned about career pathways, and connected with employers in the region.

These experiences helped students better understand how the skills they were learning translate into real careers in Northeast Michigan.

Throughout the academies, participants had the opportunity to:

• Learn foundational and advanced trade skills.

• Operate professional tools, equipment, and machinery.

• Explore careers in skilled trades, construction, and advanced manufacturing.

• Connect with local employers and industry professionals.

Build practical experience that can support future education, apprenticeship, and employment opportunities.

“The MiSTEM Summer Academies provide so much more than technical skill development—they give young people the opportunity to explore career pathways, build confidence, and experience what the workplace looks like firsthand,” said Ashley Udell, Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium. “Through hands-on training and immersion trips with local employers, students are able to connect classroom learning to real-world careers and gain valuable insight into opportunities available right here in Northeast Michigan. These experiences help youth make informed decisions about their future while developing skills that will benefit them wherever their career journey takes them.”

The MiSTEM Summer Academies help expand access to career and technical education opportunities for students across the region while strengthening awareness of high-demand careers available in Northeast Michigan.