The Hall School District Work-Based Learning (WBL) program held its annual Employer Appreciation Luncheon on Friday, May 30. The event took place at the Oaks of Lanier College and Career Academy. This luncheon recognizes the highly prized and tremendously effective partnerships between local business and industry and our WBL Students. These business partners and mentors not only provide employment and internships for over 900 WBL students district wide, but also present a career opportunity that could change the trajectory of these students’ lives.

Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) Executive Director, Rhonda Samples, remarked that “the partnerships between WBL and local business and industry are vital to fostering and retaining talent here in Hall County. Creating the pipeline of young employees is the best investment companies can make in their workforce.”

Each year, the HCSD Work-Based Learning team presents awards to business and industry partners. This year‘s recipients were The YMCA of Gainesville as the Existing Work-Based Learning Partner of the Year, Orbital Energy Service as the New Work-Based Learning Partner of the Year, Michelle Whitt, of ZF, as the Work-Based Learning Community Advocate of the Year and Rodney Pressley as the Work-Based Learning HCSD Advocate of the Year.

The WBL team and Hall County School District look forward to continuing these and fostering new industry partnerships in the years to come.