The Forest County Potawatomi (FCP) Summer Youth Employee Program (SYEP) took a week off from work duties to focus on their educational futures during what is known as education week. This week was July 11-14, 2016, and directed by the Education department.

Each day started at 9 a.m. During these days everything was focused on expanding SYEP’s knowledge in what they would like to do for their future educational choices.

The first day the students were able to visit Nicolet College in Rhinelander, Wis., to talk with Sara Gruber, career coach, and Susan Crazy Thunder, diversity and tribal outreach coordinator, about different options they would have if attending Nicolet in the future. After these ladies spoke with the students, they were able to see some of the programs offered such as

the culinary arts program, where they got to make special treats and learn some science behind cooking/baking; information technology, which was the best perceived, and where they received information about the criminal justice eld. All these programs were hands-on for the students to see that school isn’t just books and pens.

The second day consisted of Tom Devine, chief executive officer, and Stephanie Omdoll, director of communications, from Potawatomi Business Development Corporation (PBDC) from Milwaukee, Wis. They both talked with the students about goal setting in their futures and even in their early educational choices.

Next, there were different break out sessions. Various FCP departments came to speak with the students about the different options they have if they want to stay close to home or if they decide to go to school and come back to work for their tribe. Once this exercise was over, the students were able to hear from present FCP college students and ask any questions they may have had for them. This was great for the younger students to get an idea of what college can really be like.

The final event of the day was a college fair, which included Marquette University, UW-Green Bay, Fox Valley Technical College, and UW-Stevens Point. This was a busy, informative day for the students; hopefully they all took away something to use in their future goals.

The third day was another eld trip where the SYEP students went to the Blackwell Job Corps Center to hear about the opportunities offered there. They learned about the “trades”

offered at this campus. If interested in construction, welding, masonry or maybe becoming a certified nursing assistant (CNA), this might be the place to go after high school. Jason Bertrand, higher education coordinator, said, “This is an accelerated program that gives them the skills to obtain a high-paying career.”

The fourth and final day entailed Donald Keeble, language and culture language apprentice, giving the students a tour of the FCP Museum while telling them about their history of being Potawatomi. Many of the students participated well during this event, and it was nice to see many of the younger ones knowing the answers to their heritage. Keeble also spoke about cultural sensitivity and gave a brief language lesson.

While Keeble was giving his language lesson to half of the students, the other half met with Leslie Bowman, financial advisor for Mass Mutual. Bowman spoke about the basics of investments, short/ long-term goals for the students’ futures, the importance between “wants” and “needs” and efficient investments that will help them later on in life. Last but not least, Melissa Metoxen, health science recruiter from UW-Madison, spoke with the students.

The students learned quite a bit from education week and seemed to have a good time with everyone being together. This is a very informative week for all who attend and it’s great to see the students obtain more information for their future.

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