WAUSAU, WI - High school students across Northcentral Wisconsin are gaining valuable job experience from local businesses through apprenticeship programs. One of the apprenticeships is with the Wausau's Department of Public Works automotive maintenance team, where students can learn about repairing vehicles, according to WSAW.

DWP Fleet Manager Mark Hanson said Northcentral Technical College 's Youth Apprenticeship Program is a good beginning step for students because it gets them thinking about whether this would be a good career path.

The apprenticeship is one of the ways for a young person to gain hands-on knowledge in the vehicle maintenance field, where mechanics are hired only after completing a lot of training.

And while the program helps students get jobs down the road, it also provides the DPW with an extra pair of hands at the fleet facility, according to news report.