First AMP Internship Gives MHS Students Real-World Manufacturing Experience

For four Mishawaka High School students, part of the school week now looks a little different. Instead of spending every hour of the day in a traditional classroom, they are gaining firsthand experience inside a local manufacturing facility.

The students are participating in School City of Mishawaka’s first AMP (Advanced Manufacturing Program) Internship at Daman Products in Mishawaka. Each student spends a minimum of 10 hours per week during the school day at Daman, rotating through different areas of the facility and learning about the skills, processes, and career opportunities found in advanced manufacturing.

Recently, MHS student Jae’Don Montgomery reached an exciting milestone in the program when he received his very first paycheck.

While that paycheck was certainly worth celebrating, it represents something even bigger: the opportunity for students to connect their education with authentic workplace experiences.

Through Work-Based Learning opportunities like the AMP internship, students can explore potential careers, develop workplace and technical skills, build relationships with professionals, and gain a better understanding of what they may want to pursue after high school.

For Jae’Don and his fellow interns, the experience is providing a glimpse into their future while they are still in high school—and giving them the chance to begin building the skills that can help them get there.

School City of Mishawaka is grateful to Daman Products for investing its time and resources in our students and partnering with us to provide meaningful opportunities beyond the classroom.

Congratulations to Jae’Don and all four of our AMP interns as they continue this exciting experience!