Aaron Beyersdoerfer walked across the stage at Grant County High School on June 5 this year, the first person in his family to earn his diploma. A high school teacher had told him about KY FAME and had encouraged him to apply.
“I didn’t really think about it,” Aaron said. “I just applied. It was the best decision I ever made. Without the program I wouldn’t have been able to go to college.”
Just 20 days after graduation, Aaron began his new job at Bosch Automotive Steering in Florence and this fall, started classes at Gateway Community & Technical College. Aaron is one of nine students in the KY FAME program hired by Bosch. He has spent his first semester working the production line.
“We want students to understand that all our money is made on the production line,” said Mike Hirsch, vice president of operations for passenger car steering systems. “In the second semester they will get to specialize in other areas – engineering, maintenance and others – but the first semester sets the stage for their entire career.”
Hirsch, a 39-year veteran of the manufacturing industry, completed an apprenticeship-style program in Germany early in his career. He was part of a search team at Bosch in 2014 that was looking into apprenticeship programs when they heard about KY FAME. The team immediately knew this was the program they were looking for.
“KY FAME teaches the technical skills, but also soft skills – like work ethic – baked into the program,” he said. “Vocational training alone doesn’t teach skills like problem solving and safety.”
Because of Bosch’s involvement with the formation of the northern Kentucky chapter, Hirsch and others were able to drive the curriculum for students and ensure these skills were being taught.
“I have improved in public speaking,” Aaron said. “I have given more presentations and tours [of the program at school] than ever before. I didn’t know it would be part of the program, but I am really glad it is.”
Another fulfilling part of Aaron’s experience at Bosch has been his mentor, Eric Miller, an engineer at Bosch.
“We intentionally partner the students with someone that can teach them the soft skills side,” said Hirsch. “When they come up against an obstacle – and we know they will – it’s someone who can help them overcome it and move on.”
Aaron’s long-term goal is to finish the AMT program with Bosch and go on to finish his engineering degree. Bosch creates roadmaps for each of its students to help them achieve their goals.
“We screen to get students with ambition and are motivated to complete the program,” said Hirsch. “And so far, what we started is working.”
Although KY FAME students at Bosch start their journey in maintenance or on the production line, Hirsch wants students to grow into problem solvers and hard workers that are motivated to achieve their dreams.
“In just six months,” said Aaron, “this program has changed my life.”
From Think Kentucky newsletter