Work-Based Learning kickstarts careers in UC

An inside look at Cooper Container, a corrugated box manufacturer located on Durham Drive in Maynardville.
In 1996, as a high school graduate, I entered the workforce before pursuing higher education. My career started in accounts payable at Cooper Container Corporation (CCC). Since I had limited work experience, A.C. Cooper and the leadership team allowed me to develop the fundamental skills associated with clerical occupations and basic accounting processes. These acquired skills proved vital for my future academic and professional endeavors, with many of the learned skills solidifying practices that remain at the forefront of my personal and professional organization of files and recordkeeping structures today.
For many years, CCC has been the launching pad for careers in Union County (UC). The corrugated box manufacturer located on Durham Drive in Maynardville maintains a vital position as an industrial leader and employer for many UC citizens still today. With a variety of roles and offerings for employees, leadership at CCC is able to appeal to a variety of workers in the area. This holds especially true for the students of UC High School.
Students often seek employment that is accommodating to their school and extracurricular schedules. CCC has developed working conditions conducive to student activities and academics. These flexible opportunities grant students an opportunity to earn wages, gain employment experience, build work ethics, and learn responsibility beyond the classroom while maintaining balance with their academic obligations and other commitments. Furthermore, the flexibility and partnership of CCC with the high school’s Work-Based Learning (WBL) program creates earlier employment options for students.
WBL was developed by the State of Tennessee to develop opportunities for students as they prepare for life after high school. The Tennessee Education Department states, “In an increasingly complex global economy, all students must be prepared with intellectual, technical, and social skills needed to compete and contribute meaningfully to their communities. For most, this will mean completing some post-secondary education or training; for all, it will mean learning about themselves and the world of work.
WBL is a proactive approach to bridging the gap between high school and high-demand, high-skill careers in Tennessee. Students build on classroom-based instruction to develop employability skills that prepare them for success in secondary education and future careers. Through experiences like internships, apprenticeships, and paid work experience, juniors and seniors (16 years or older) may earn high school credit for capstone WBL experiences.”
It is great partners such as CCC who make active learning successful for student workers. The Career and Technical Education staff and administrators at UC High School are thankful for exemplary partnerships with our industry leaders and local businesses. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about WBL at UC High, contact the school.
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