A special signing day in Itasca County, and it had nothing to do with sports.

Instead, 15 students from area schools signed their training agreements for manufacturing internships they are starting on Monday.

Aiden Dahlgren, a senior from Greenway, grew up on a farm, and likes using his hands. He told us,”I’m excited and kind of nervous. I’m not used to a big manufacturing company.”

He’s headed to Yanmar in Grand Rapids, where he and five other interns will get to try a variety of roles.

The Human Resources Manager, Jamie Janezich, said they really value this partnership. “We’ve been partnering with Career Pathways for several years now. We’ve had people come through, liked what they were doing, and then start building their career with us.”

Another student, Jaci Rebrovich, is excited to put her welding classes to the test. “I think this is a great opportunity to know what it’s like to go out and work, especially with the trades.” The senior from Nashwauk-Keewatin is headed to L&M Radiator in Hibbing.

February is Career and Technical Education Awareness Month.

Here are the business partners hosting interns this spring:

Range Steel, L&M Radiator, Hibbing Fabricators, Trison, Midwest Manufacturing, Zakobe, Yanmar, Swan Machine, Northland Machine

This is all part of the Itasca Area School Collaboration.