The Career Readiness and Community Connections program is making a difference. It's a collaborative initiative between Hartford Union High School and the Hartford Rotary Club.

This program provides 12th-grade students with essential workplace skills through direct mentorship from local business professionals. The program is led by HUHS Associate Principal Desiree Rahmlow and Hartford Rotarian Ane Ohm. It covers a variety of areas including communication, critical thinking, and resume writing.

According to several Hartford Union High School seniors, this opportunity has engaged them in “learning about the speakers’ experiences in the workplace and using that to help ourselves be prepared when we enter the work force” and a “good opportunity to talk about scenarios you could find yourself in during your work career and how to handle them,” according to HUHS Director of Communications Laura Trapp.

To achieve the best impact for both students and the Hartford community, the program has at least twenty volunteers monthly. These mentors guide small-group sessions and more than 30 career professionals have offered their time during a school day at HUHS, meeting directly with students.  

The program is designed to meet the State of Wisconsin Career Readiness Standards while providing students with real-world insights.