Education & Talent Development
The Education and Talent Department of the Oshkosh Chamber is the cornerstone of building a stronger workforce for the Oshkosh community. The Chamber is creating meaningful partnerships between education and business, inspiring change for the future through collaborative programming and initiatives.
Education & Talent Overview
FutureYOU
FutureYOU is a one-day career exploration event that allows around 800 eighth-grade students from our private and public schools to imagine what their future could hold. Around 60 local businesses and organizations have a chance to leave a lasting impression through engaging displays and interactive experiences. The variety of career pathways represented gives students a real opportunity to think outside the box of what they may have been exposed to for career options up to this point in their lives.
Senior Talent Track
The Senior Talent Track is a hiring event specifically designed for the area’s graduating high school seniors. Particularly those who haven’t finalized their post-graduation plans and are seeking full-time employment opportunities that have the potential to become a permanent career. The event, held directly before graduation in the spring, showcases entry-level positions with benefits that pay a minimum of around $16 per hour and provide opportunities for advancement. Businesses in many pathways, including the skilled trades and technology sectors, help offer a diverse range of career paths to explore.
Students are assisted with resume completion, interview, and employability skills before the event and can apply in an on-site application center at the event as well. This is an exciting opportunity to give bright young minds the chance to build rewarding careers directly out of high school.
Link2Learn
Link2Learn is a new networking series focused on creating direct links between local businesses and our educators. These morning events are typically worked into professional development time for teachers, include a light breakfast, tours of classroom or business spaces, and plenty of opportunities for learning and connecting. Link2Learn events are intended to create a better understanding of the inner workings of both the education systems and different industries and bring awareness to the opportunities that lie between the two
PIE Council (Partners in Education)
PIE is the primary Oshkosh forum where K-12 through post-secondary education representatives engage in meaningful dialog with business, industry, and community leaders on programs and initiatives to develop a skilled and competitive workforce.
MISSION: Support and cultivate change in the education system. By enhancing business and education partnerships, PIE will serve as the voice for the community and promote many paths to lifelong success.
VISION: Education is a lifelong learning activity that goes beyond the classroom. PIE will serve as a conduit between our schools and the business community to foster the optimal growth of our students.
GOAL: Create and facilitate educational experiences that result in College, Career, and Community-ready learners with clear visions for their futures.
The PIE Council will meet for up to 90 minutes on the 2nd Tuesday of every month during the school year from 3:30-5:00 pm at various business or education PIE member locations throughout the community.
Committee member expectations: meeting attendance; sub-committee membership; project and agenda-building participation; contribution of individual perspectives on education and/or workplace issues; being a voice to help advocate for the PIE council and its goals in the community.
For more information, contact Shannon Seaman – Oshkosh Chamber at [email protected] | (920) 303-2265 Ext. 15.
CBLEs (Career Based Learning Experiences)
CBLEs are K-12 education experiences and opportunities rooted in business connections. Classroom speakers, job shadows, company tours, internships and youth apprenticeships are examples of CBLEs that create career awareness allowing our youth to explore, refine and execute their transition into the working world. The Oshkosh Chamber is proud to be an instrumental part in helping connect and grow the CBLE opportunities within the Oshkosh community.
Youth Apprenticeships
One of the most impactful CBLE experiences are Youth Apprenticeships. Youth Apprenticeships create a win-win situation for students, employers, and the broader economy. They help bridge the gap between education and employment, ensuring that young people are well-prepared for the future. The Oshkosh Chamber assists in the placement of Oshkosh Area School District students into supporting businesses. Check out Youth Apprenticeship – Oshkosh Area School District for more information on the OASD YA Program!
If your business or organization is interested in becoming more involved with opportunities like these, please contact us!
Youth Career Exploration Camps
Fox Valley Technical College
We offer a variety of high-tech, engaging, affordable summer camp options for middle school and high school students.
Register Now
University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh
The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh would like to support your future educational plans and offer you a fun-filled learning experience at the UW Oshkosh campus through our pre-college programs. We offer summer residential programs in the following subject areas: science, technology, engineering, mathematics, teacher education, nursing, business, mass media, and college preparation. The PreCollege Programs at UW Oshkosh provide a variety of challenging experiences to increase awareness and appreciation for higher learning, build a foundation of better-prepared students, and view college as an attainable goal. This is your chance to take a sneak peek at what the college experience has to offer.
Wisconsin Business World
Wisconsin Business World is a program of the WMC Foundation aimed at providing high school students with economic and financial literacy education while teaching the importance of free-market enterprise. Business World hosts three four-day summer camps each year and numerous one-day “mini” programs during the school year for school districts around the state. Students participate in hands-on exercises that easily relate to the everyday life of running a business and finish each program with a better understanding of the intricacies of business. The program also exposes students to the variety of different career opportunities available after high school or college. Established in 1982, Business World has been a leading educational program for over 20,000 students that provides an in-depth look at various aspects of business from competition and ethics to marketing and R&D.