Adrian, MI – Some of the strongest learning opportunities at the LISD TECH Center happen when students have the chance to connect what they are learning in the classroom with the people and businesses doing that work every day.
For years, Adrian, formerly Adrian Steel, has helped make those connections possible.
Through materials, mentorship, industry expertise, facility tours and Work-Based Learning opportunities, Adrian has become a valued partner across several programs at the LISD TECH Center. That continued commitment has earned the company recognition as the LISD TECH Center Business Partner of the Year.
What makes the partnership especially meaningful is the variety of ways Adrian supports students, from their first introduction to manufacturing to opportunities that can eventually lead to employment.
Students in Welding Technology and Machining & CAM have benefited from high-quality materials provided by the company, helping them gain hands-on experience with the tools and processes they may encounter in the workplace. Adrian employees also serve on LISD TECH Center advisory boards, sharing industry perspectives that help instructors ensure programs continue preparing students for today's workforce.
For Marketing & Entrepreneurship students, the partnership provides a different look inside the company. Through facility tours and conversations with Adrian employees, students can see how marketing, operations and business strategy come together within a local business.
Adrian has also supported the Engineering, Robotics & Mechatronics program, including students participating in FIRST Robotics. Employees have visited LISD TECH Center classrooms as guest speakers, sharing their experiences and giving students an opportunity to learn directly from professionals in the field.
For Adrian employee Cody Hudson, one of the most rewarding parts of the partnership is seeing students discover opportunities in manufacturing and eventually return to the company as employees.
"It's nice to see them come through on tours, get an idea of the manufacturing side, and then eventually come back as an employee," Hudson said.
That connection is particularly evident through the LISD TECH Center's Work-Based Learning program, where Adrian employees have mentored students as they take some of their first steps into a professional workplace. Along the way, students develop technical skills while learning how to communicate, work as part of a team, solve problems and understand workplace expectations.
For some, those experiences have turned into careers. Former LISD TECH Center students are now part of Adrian's workforce, creating a full-circle connection between education and employment right here in Lenawee County.
Hudson said that sense of connection extends beyond the workplace. As a family-owned company with deep roots in the community, Adrian has built relationships that often span generations.
"It's truly an honor to receive this award because we're still a family-owned company," Hudson said. "You see a lot of familiar faces over the years, whether it's our current employees or their kids coming through here. It's just a family thing."
That perspective speaks to what has made the relationship between Adrian and the LISD TECH Center so valuable over the years. The company does more than provide resources. Its employees share their knowledge, welcome students into their workplace and help young people see the career opportunities available in their own community.
For students, those connections can be the beginning of something much bigger than a classroom experience. They can lead to new interests, industry skills, professional relationships and, in some cases, a career with the very company that first introduced them to the possibilities.
It is that continued investment in students, educators and the future of Lenawee County's workforce that makes Adrian a deserving recipient of the LISD TECH Center Business Partner of the Year award.