High School Students Obtain Skills at Butler

Butler Community College partnered with the Workforce Alliance through Kansasworks on the organization’s Youth Employment Project. The college hired 20 high school students through this summer project.  These students are learning skills that either helps them become career ready or educates them on what they might study in college.

Each student was employed by Butler and went through the Youth Essential Skills workshop offered by Kansasworks. Each youth learned about customer service, financial literacy, employment etiquette and other essential skills.

Lance Husselman, 16, of Augusta is going into his senior year of high school. Lance is working with Butler’s IT department and is helping assist with the Butler’s digital transformation.

“I’ve been all over the place with my career field,” Lance said. “This program is helping me figure out basic skills. It’s opening another field choice that I can follow.”

Lance, like the 15 other IT workers employed by this program, is working 24 hours a week. The students began work in late May and will continue through mid-August. He is replacing computers and helping with IT.

“This job has shown me what little I knew before and how much there was to learn,” said William Hull, 16. “It’s opened a lot of options and widened my knowledge.”

William, from El Dorado, has always tinkered with computers. From an early age, he knew he wanted to engage in IT as a career. He just didn’t know what side of IT he wanted to work on. This summer, he is helping to wire buildings for internet so upgrades can be made. He is also helping with IT support and installing sound systems and projectors.

In addition to the 15 summer high school student IT workers employed by Butler, four students are working with the college’s facilities department and one student is working in Butler’s EduCare Center Learning Lab, a nationally accredited educational center that takes care of more than 100 children ranging in age from two weeks to 12 years old.

 “We’re proud that Butler is able to help area youth further their future career interests by embedding them in summer positions through the Youth Employment Program,” said Butler President Kim Krull, Ph.D. “This program is offering area high school students a chance to earn a workplace essential skills certificate; these skills are transferrable to any type of job.”  

To find out more about the Workforce Center of Kansas Locations contact:

Butler Workforce Center at 316.321.2350 or Wichita Workforce Center at 316.771.6800 or go to Kansasworks.com.