Career Exploration

In partnership with local businesses, the Lourdes Academy Scholars program assists students in the career exploration process by:

1. Visiting businesses and talking with professionals working in the field.
2. Narrowing down areas of interest to better make choices about colleges and careers.
3. Learning how the skills they are learning now can translate into careers in the future.
4. Gaining a better understanding of the businesses that make up our community and economy.

MILITARY SCHOLARS
Location: National Guard Armory & Transportation Center

The National Guard answers the call when disaster strikes at home and responds to the country’s needs around the world. Students visit the National Guard Armory to learn how the National Guard and other branches of the military support operations at home and abroad. Students put their skills to the test and see how quickly they can respond to a nuclear biological chemical emergency; test out military equipment and learn how transport operators service some of the Guard’s 50,000 vehicles, right here in Oshkosh.

LAW ENFORCEMENT SCHOLARS
Location: Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department

Do crime shows paint an accurate picture of a day in the life of law enforcement personnel? Students spend a day with the Sheriff’s Department to find out. They learn how to conduct a traffic stop and a field sobriety test, analyze crime scene evidence to solve a crime, and visit the dispatch center to see how emergency calls are managed.

MEDICAL SCHOLARS
Location: Ascension Mercy Hospital

Careers in the medical profession are limitless. Students test their dexterity with a surgical robot in the operating room and see how ultrasound machines help monitor patients during a c-section or other procedures. Students also visit other areas of the hospital to learn about additional careers.

AERO SCHOLARS
Locations: Fox Valley Technical College Spanbauer Center, Basler Turbo Conversions, Sonex Aircraft & the Air Traffic Control Tower

Students learn about the legendary history of the Douglas DC-3 aircraft and how Basler Turbo Conversions rebuilds and repurposes aircraft for use around the world. Students get to taxi in Basler’s corporate plan to Sonex, a company that manufacturers kit airplanes. While at Sonex students will learn how to build their own aircraft. At FVTC students learn about careers in aviation and get to take to the skies in a flight simulator. 

ENGINEERING SCHOLARS
Location: Oshkosh Corporation Global Technology Center

Students tour Oshkosh Corporation’s engineering facility to see the truck manufacturing process from start to finish. They learn everything that goes into making vehicles safe for our soldiers, from the materials used, the 3D design & modeling process, and to the construction. Students also tour the test track where they ride in one of Oshkosh Corporation’s vehicles to test for traction, grip, shock and a myriad other factors.

CONSTRUCTION TRADE SCHOLARS
Locations: Miron Construction Corporate Office & Construction Site

Learn the work involved in coordinating a complex construction project from the bid process to project management and design and watch a project come together. Student visit Miron's corporate offices before heading to a construction site to get a behind-the-scenes look at the building process. Students learn about the different trades that go into a project and the problem solving involved in keeping projects on schedule.

SPORTS SCHOLARS
Locations: Menominee Nation Arena (home of the Herd), Timber Rattlers Stadium, Lambeau Field

Students visit sporting venues between Oshkosh and Green Bay to learn about careers in sports. From ticket sales and marketing to partnering with the community, the Herd, Timber Rattlers and Green Bay Packers work to bring exciting sporting events to the area.

BROADCASTING SCHOLARS
Locations: WFRV-TV and Relevant Radio

Do you have a face for radio or a voice for television? Students find out at this exciting Scholars session. Students visit Relevant Radio in Green Bay, a Catholic talk radio ministry, to learn how they are spreading the Catholic faith through the media. Students will also meet WFRV Sportscaster Burke Griffin and coordinator Kathy Hoffman and tour the WFRV studios.

VETERINARY SCHOLARS
Locations: Great Lakes Equine Clinic and Valley Veterinary Hospital

Dr. John Lorfeld takes students behind the scenes at Valley Veterinary Hospital to show how their staff focuses on the wellbeing of dogs and cats. Dr. Lorfeld, a Purdue graduate, has practiced veterinary medicine for more than 35 years and hosts his own monthly radio show about veterinary medicine and health. Students also visit the Hortonville Great Lakes Equine Clinic to observe how the staff provides field, emergency and rehabilitation services for horses.

NATURAL RESOURCES
Locations: Horicon Wildlife Area & Explorium and Pernaat’s Meat Processing

Students take a guided tour/hike with educator-naturalist at the Horicon Wildlife Area & Explorium. They learn the fascinating history of the Horicon area and identify wildlife that are part of the area’s ecosystem. Students also work with a DNR Wildlife Biologist to learn how biologists work together with wardens, technicians and others to protect wildlife and study the whitetail deer aging process. Students also visit Pernaat’s to see where white-deer are processed during the hunt.

LEGAL SCHOLARS
Location: Winnebago County  Courthouse

Students tour the Winnebago County Courthouse to see the safety features that have been incorporated into the historic building. They then experience the legal process from different perspectives, including the defendant, attorney, district attorney and judge. They sit in the jury box to hear a mock trial and decide the fate of the defendant.

BUSINESS/ENTREPRENEUR SCHOLARS
Locations: Verve a Credit Union, Robin’s Nest Floral and Tamara’s the Cake Guru

Students tour the area’s fastest growing credit union to see different aspects of the business from different departments, and shoot a commercial with Merve in the company’s studio. From a well-established business, students travel across town to see how two small businesses operate and the challenges they face. They learn how Robin’s Nest Floral and Tamara’s are growing and expanding their start-up businesses. Students get to test their skills decorating a cupcake and creating a corsage.

Lourdes Academy offers students many opportunities to explore and experience a variety of careers prior to entering the workforce. One such program, Decision Tree Mentoring (DTM), matches alumni with current students or recent graduates to share their experiences in their career field. A match can be as simple as a phone conversation or could evolve into a job shadow or internship experience.

This new program has matched students and mentors in the areas of accounting, physical therapy, criminal justice and dentistry.

To learn more about DTM, contact Karen Boehm at 920-426-3626, ext. 546 or [email protected].