Workplace Learning Connection

06/18/2026

Students try their 🤚at casting during Physician Associate (PA) Day hosted in partnership with of Iowa Health Care Community Education Programs and of Iowa Health Care.

[Pun intended]

06/16/2026

Event Planning & Marketing Day with Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival

"I learned that it takes a lot of time to plan the event and get all of the task list done. We got to make door signs, yards signs, and social media posts. I like that our job shadow was hands on." - Kiera Williams, Kennedy High School

06/11/2026

What an exciting week for sports! ⚽️🏀🏒⚾️🏆

Many students tell us they love sports but they are not sure how to turn that passion into a career beyond becoming an athlete.

The good news? The sports industry offers countless opportunities for students with a wide range of interests and talents. Some of the examples include:

- Athletic Trainer
- Physical Therapist
- Coach
- Sports Nutritionist/Dietitian
- Athletic Director
- Sports Marketer
- Athletic Fundraising Professional
- Sports Information Director
- Statistician/Data Analyst
- Sports Agent
- Event/Facility Manager
- Sports Journalists

Whether you are interested in health care, business, communications, leadership or data, there's a place for you in the world of sports!

06/09/2026

WLC Partner Spotlight!

We are incredibly grateful for our partnership with Bear Creek Design Studio. Their continued support in hosting job shadow students and interns has created meaningful, real-world learning experiences for our students. Through their willingness to open their doors, students have had the opportunity to explore careers, build confidence, and gain valuable insight into the design field.

“Working with WLC and having students spend time in my studio has been one of the most rewarding parts of what I do. It is amazing to watch them connect their interests to real creative work and see what is possible for them. It also keeps me inspired and connected to the next generation growing up right here in our community.” – Corienne Dally, Owner – Bear Creek Design Studio

Bear Creek Design Studio

06/03/2026

That's a wrap for the 2025-2026 school year!

Thank you to all of our community partners who volunteered their time to help students explore careers, prepare for the workforce, and build a foundation of success for their future.

Check out the below video to see some of the amazing experiences YOU helped support!

The 2025-2026 school year was full of learning, exploration, discov...

05/27/2026

During the 2025-2026 school year, we once again partnered with Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity to place 10 student interns on a Habitat homebuilding project. Throughout the year, students had the unique opportunity to work on the home from start to finish, gaining hands-on experience in every phase of the construction process.

“Students work on all aspects of the project from excavation to final finishes,” said Leslie Neugebauer, development director at Habitat for Humanity. “During each class period, they learn from and network with construction professionals
in the industry.”

In addition to working on-site, students explored the many career paths connected to homebuilding and the skilled trades. They toured local industry partners, including Croell, Inc. and , and met with city officials to learn more about the regulations and planning involved in residential construction.

The program not only gave students valuable real-world experience, but also helped them build connections with professionals and potential future employers while exploring careers in the trades.

Linn-Mar Community Schools View Community High School

05/27/2026

When Tessa Smith looks back on her journey from high school student to structural designer, one thing is clear: her path wasn’t defined by a single moment—but by a series of opportunities sparked by one influential teacher, and a willingness to say “yes.”

A 2020 graduate of Benton Community High School, Tessa took all the shop classes she could in middle and high school. It wasn’t until a new shop teacher joined the school, that her perspective on careers began to shift. “He was really focused on getting us out into the community,” Tessa shared. “We went on field trips, learned about manufacturing, and he brought in more modern tools—like Revit—which introduced me to the technology side of drafting.”

That exposure was pivotal. For the first time, Tessa began to see a connection between what she was learning in the classroom and real-world careers in architecture and engineering. By her senior year, that same teacher required students to complete a job shadow or internship as part of the program—something Tessa admits she may not have pursued otherwise.

That requirement led her to participate in a job shadow at Shive-Hattery’s Architecture and Engineering Day through Workplace Learning Connection. “I didn’t know much about the industry at the time,” she said. “But it was a great experience. It gave me exposure to a company like Shive-Hattery and helped me start thinking more seriously about what I wanted to do after high school.”

While Tessa initially planned to attend Iowa State University, the COVID-19 pandemic shifted her plans. Instead, she chose to enroll in Kirkwood Community College’s Architectural Technology Program—a decision that allowed her to build on the skills she had already started developing in high school.

Her path came full circle when representatives from Shive-Hattery visited Kirkwood to speak with students about job opportunities. Tessa decided to apply. “I knew the company from my job shadow, and I liked what I saw, so I went for it,” she said.

That decision paid off. Today, Tessa has been working in structural design at Shive-Hattery for nearly four years, contributing to industrial projects and collaborating across disciplines.

Today, she helps host job shadow students at Shive-Hattery, the same experience that once helped shape her own future. “It’s definitely a full-circle moment,” she said. “I remember how intimidating it felt to walk in as a student, not knowing anyone. Now I get to be on the other side and help make that experience better for someone else, and help show them how something as seemingly as small as a job shadow can give you connections for down the road.”

Shive-Hattery Benton Community Schools

05/22/2026

Where are they now?

Jacey Reineke, a 2024 graduate of Belle Plaine High School, made the most of her high school experience by completing her Associate of Arts degree through Kirkwood Community College’s College Credit in High School Program—all before graduation.

Alongside this impressive academic achievement, Jacey gained valuable real-world experience through a Workplace Learning Connection (WLC) job shadow at Transamerica and a WLC internship at MidWestOne Bank.

“My job shadow and internship experiences helped me see what financial and analytical careers look like in real life,” Jacey shares. “I got to observe professionals and understand the skills they use every day. Having that real-world experience helped me confirm that I wanted to pursue a degree in Actuarial Science, and it made my path after high school feel clear and intentional.”

Jacey is currently studying Actuarial Science at the University of Iowa. Her transition to a large university has been smooth, thanks to the Kirkwood classes she completed while in high school. “Completing my associate’s degree gave me a strong academic foundation, so I felt prepared for the workload and expectations at Iowa,” she says.

Looking ahead, Jacey hopes to one day be working as an actuary, contributing to a company where she can apply her analytical thinking to real world problems. “WLC and Kirkwood opened doors for me. They helped me understand my strengths, explore career options and build the confidence to pursue my dreams!”

Belle Plaine Jr/Sr High Kirkwood - Iowa County Center

05/18/2026

"I enjoyed being able to observe how to teach certain subjects and how to use differential learning for kids. The biggest takeaway from my internship was a boost in my confidence and a clearer understanding of what I’m capable of." - Jazmine Nino, Lone Tree High School - WLC winter 2026 intern at Lone Tree Elementary

Lone Tree Community School

05/18/2026

Interested in joining the WLC team and making a difference in the lives of area students? We’d love to connect with you!

We have two open positions on our team:
- Internship Coordinator
https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/kirkwoodcc/jobs/5342998/internship-coordinator-workplace-learning-connection

-Business Liaison - Johnson County (195 Day)
https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/kirkwoodcc/jobs/5343281/business-liaison-johnson-county-195-day

We are looking for highly organized, collaborative, and outgoing individuals to join our team. If you or someone you know would be interested, please check out the job postings above.