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The Packer Pro Shop was one of 13 recipients of the Business Friend of Education awards announced by State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster earlier this month.
The awards recognize the efforts of businesses and individuals around the state that provide work-based learning programs in partnership with local schools.
The Packer Pro Shop is involved in two such programs. One is a marketing co-op in which area high school students hold an outside job as part of a marketing class. The other is a work-experience program, in partnership with Green Bay West High School, which places students with disabilities into the work environment at the Pro Shop to provide them the skills and experience to succeed on their own as adults.
"Our managers and full-time and part-time staff are instrumental in helping these kids," said Kate Hogan, Packers director of retail operations. "They really take heart in working with them and preparing them and making sure they feel a part of the operation. By the end of the year, they really want the students to leave with a lot of experience and good feelings about the work they've done. That's really key."
Hogan added that Jody Van Wassenhoven, the work experience program coordinator at Green Bay West, nominated the Pro Shop for the award.
Deb Mulry and Chris Cohorst received the award on behalf of the Pro Shop at the 71st annual Wisconsin Association of Career and Technical Education Conference held March 1-2 in Appleton. Mulry and Cohorst also participated in a panel discussion with state educators, reviewing the benefits that result from participation in work-based learning programs and the challenges businesses face to make them succeed.
"These awards recognize true champions from the business community for their involvement in education," Burmaster said. "I want to commend them for their efforts to increase achievement for all students and close the achievement gap."