Inaugural Southridge/OFS 'Crafted' class graduates

Southridge Principal Greg Gogel pointed to the pieces of furniture created by the first cohort of a unique partnership between OFS and the high school as one of his favorite aspects of the specialized program, Crafted.

“If you go to Southridge and flip over any desk or flip over any chair, there’s a little sticker that has the students’ names on it,” Gogel said.

The students sign their names on the furniture they’ve built through the program, and those pieces are now in use in the school.

“They can come back years later and flip over a chair and say, ‘I made this,'” Gogel said. “That’s cool.”

The school and OFS took time on Wednesday to celebrate the inaugural cohort of seven students graduating from the multifaceted program that combines hands-on training with advanced manufacturing, mentoring, and real-world experience.

Here is a video about the program.

“We really didn’t know what we were getting into when we first started it, but couldn’t be more proud of seven of you sitting up front here today,” said Cory Menke, Chief Operations Manager at OFS, during the graduation ceremony.

The program emerged when OFS leadership discovered Toyota’s 4T lab facility and decided their company needed to participate in technical education initiatives. Menke approached the school district about creating a partnership that would provide students with real-world manufacturing experience.

“I walked into that 4T lab and I was like, no, we’re not going to have this in our backyard without us participating in some way, shape or form,” Menke explained.

The initiative transformed from concept to reality in approximately four months, with OFS providing facilities and equipment while Southridge High School integrated the program into its curriculum. Menke said he tagged longtime OFS employee Jason Diekhoff to provide instruction in the program.

Gogel emphasized that the program aligns with the district’s vision of preparing students for rewarding careers while providing opportunities for college readiness and community involvement.

“Because of your efforts and kind of believing in us and our vision and what we’re trying to do, we’re now ahead of the curve in the State of Indiana on what the diploma looks like, what experiences need to be there,” Gogel told the corporate leadership team.

During their junior year, students constructed chairs, desks, bookshelves, cabinets and more while working with advanced manufacturing equipment and even spending time working for the OFS. Those work hours resulted in them earning about $34,000 cumulatively while learning.

OFS and Southridge celebrated the students with a special graduation ceremony and luncheon. The first cohort to complete Crafted, from left: Cristian Guardado, Chase Bowman, Cristian Ramirez, Kevin Haven, Zackery Russell, Owen Blessinger and Kevin Gonzalez.

Christian Guardado, one of the graduates, plans to pursue a career in aviation at Indiana State University. He appreciated how the program provided structure and purpose beyond traditional classroom learning. He explained that although they learned to manage their time and be efficient, they also appreciated developing a new skill set and being proficient in those new skills.

“It definitely gave me something to look forward to every week, going to work instead of being in the school all the time,” Guardado said. “It gave us a break and we got paid for it, which was pretty cool.”

The program addresses evolving educational requirements in Indiana, where traditional high school diplomas no longer meet industry expectations for technical careers. The hands-on experience provides students with credentials and skills that exceed standard graduation requirements.

“Any pursuit of educational opportunities and experience must be rooted in what the district vision is in our schools,” Gogel explained. “At Southridge, we prepare all students for a rewarding career.”

The success of the inaugural cohort has led to expansion plans, with four cohorts scheduled for the next academic year. The program serves as a potential model for other rural schools seeking to partner with local businesses for technical education opportunities.

Diekhoff challenged graduates to continue investing in themselves and others as they move forward in their careers and education.

“This little sheet of paper means more than that, and it’s more about your guys’ investment in time and trying to learn and everybody else’s investment in you,” he told the graduates during the certificate presentation. “I want to challenge you in the future that as you invest in yourself, you also invest in other people.”