Unique Program helps HPS students succeed in school, life, and work

There’s a program that is offered at Hazel Park High School that is so unique that it’s only piloted in one school district in the State of Michigan – the UAW Chrysler School-to-Work Program.

“The best thing about this program for students is that it helps them become the best employee for any type of job they’re going into,” said HPS’s Christopher Benedetto, who has been the lead for this program since it began in 2015. “And it’s for kids interested in going into skilled trades. Instead of having to commit to schooling in one skilled trade they get to explore six or seven different skilled trades. They’ll get a little taste of what each trade is about and then they can decide on what they want to pursue it.”

This two-year program begins as sophomores when students are able to apply to get into the program. From there, 20 applicants are chosen to participate.

Once accepted, students start attending the off-site training facility as juniors. That first year of the program is tied around soft skills such as problem solving, public speaking, conflict resolution, and resume writing. They also start a carpentry project using only hand tools.

As seniors, they get into using power tools to help finish the carpentry project. They will also learn pipe fitting, industrial plumbing, welding, metal cutting, sheet metal work for HVHC and get into robotics and robotics programming.

“We want to give these kids an opportunity to focus on that they can take it through all the way to graduation,” said Stellantis’ Nancy Neikirk,” who helps run the program. “If they come back and work for us that’s a huge benefit because they’ll know how to work and build as a team. We’re not only teaching trades we’re teaching life skills.”

A number of HPS students that have gone through the program have applied and gotten jobs with Chrysler, which changed its name to Stellantis in 2020.

“I signed up because I heard it’s a good program and it makes you a better person,” said Omarrion Gray, who’s a senior this year. “This program helps make us all better people. They teach you so much from public speaking and learning how communicate with others. Learning these skills are a bonus, but learning how to communicate with others and work as a team is the best part of this program.”

“This is just such a great opportunity for me to explore different things career wise,” said Cienna Sealy, another senior. You’re learning social skills and skills you can learn later on in life that you’re not really getting taught in school.”

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• Students are welcome to take summer courses at their in-district community college (up to 4 credits per summer.)

The Promise Zone strives to make resources as equitable as possible and are able to provide scholarships using privately fundraised resources

For the students of Hazel Park schools, the future is now brighter thanks to the Hazel Park Promise. Our community’s commitment to help students and families plan, prepare and pay for continuing education after high school - and to enhance the growth, stability and economic development of the Hazel Park community.