Forty-five Wauwatosa high school students will be recognized during the 6th annual Industry Signing Day on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, 3-4:30 p.m. at the Wauwatosa East High School woodshop, 7500 Milwaukee Ave.
Industry Signing Day is a celebrated event where students formally commit to entering various industries after graduation, much like athletes do with colleges. This event highlights students who have chosen to pursue careers in skilled trades, technical fields, or other industry sectors and celebrates their decision to enter the workforce and contributes to changing perceptions about the value of vocational and technical education.
“This event is about celebrating students who are taking the first step in their careers. The coursework and programming we offer have led the students to be qualified to start a Registered Apprenticeship in any of the skilled building trades,” Technology Education teacher Craig Griffie said.
The Industry Advisory program includes students from both Wauwatosa East High School and Wauwatosa West High School. It is recognized as a Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Certified Pre-Apprenticeship program. It has an attendance-based participation policy that students in the Construction Capstone program can voluntarily participate in.
The event will celebrate the following students who have completed Wauwatosa School District’s Industry Advisory:
Colin Anhalt, Wauwatosa East High School senior - Common Links Construction
Henry Bachar, Wauwatosa West High School senior
Nathan Balistriere, Wauwatosa West High School junior - Total Mechanical
Joseph Bartelme, Wauwatosa West High School senior - Mortenson Construction
Deanna Bellini, Wauwatosa East High School senior - Total Mechanical
Carter Block, Wauwatosa East High School senior - Hetzel Sanfilippo Inc
Rummel Cannon Jr, Wauwatosa West High School senior - Miron Construction
Miguel Carrillo-Leyva, Wauwatosa West High School senior - Total Mechanical
Riley Cobb, Wauwatosa East High School senior - Miron
D’Anthony Codere, Wauwatosa East High School junior - Mortenson Construction
Bennett Collum, Wauwatosa East High School senor - Mortenson Construction
Noah Dinsmore-Shaefer, Wauwatosa West High School senior - PCI
Jack Donohoo, Wauwatosa East High School senior - Mortenson Construction
Roman Draheim, Wauwatosa East High School senior - Zignego
Chris Draper, Wauwatosa East High School senior - Mortenson Construction
Lance DuPree, Wauwatosa East High School senior - JH Findorff
Liam Ferguson, Wauwatosa East High School junior - Mortenson Construction
Brady Ferrell, Wauwatosa West High School senior
Declan Freeborn, Wauwatosa West High School senior - PCI
Aidem Harmon, Wauwatosa West High School senior - Gurtz Electric
Nathaniel Hayes, Wauwatosa East High School senior - Common Links Construction
Henry Heffner, Wauwatosa East High School junior - JP Cullen
Montae Jordan, Wauwatosa East High School senior - Pieper Power
Alexander Kotas, Wauwatosa East High School senior - JP Cullen
Palmer Krieghoff, Wauwatosa West High School senior - Gurtz Electric
Charles Laritson, Wauwatosa East High School junior - Staff Electric
Aiden Maas, Wauwatosa East High School senior - Lemberg Electric
Marek Malinowski, Wauwatosa West High School senior - Staff Electric
Fallyn Moye, Wauwatosa East High School senior - KG Stevens
Henry Nielsen, Wauwatosa East High School senior - Wellenstein & Sons
Liam O’Rear, Wauwatosa West High School senior - Boldt
Jason Onopa, Wauwatosa West High School junior
Joseph Pantuso, Wauwatosa East High School senior - Miron
Evan Penegor, Wauwatosa East High School senior - MidCity Plumbing
Cole Schmidt, Wauwatosa East High School senior - Gurtz Electric
Nathan Schwartz, Wauwatosa East High School senior - Westphal Electric
Lucas Spadanuda, Wauwatosa East High School senior
Ryan Stamm, Wauwatosa West High School senior - JH Ahern
Khalil Taylor, Wauwatosa West High School senior - JM Brennan
Hanie Tiru, Wauwatosa East High School senior - CG Schmidt
Stevin Tunstall, Wauwatosa West High School senior - JH Findorff
Franklin Watters, Wauwatosa East High School senior - Westphal Electric
Sadie Weske, Wauwatosa East High School senior - Lippert Tile
Braeden Young, Wauwatosa West High School senior - JM Brennan
Max Zylstra, Wauwatosa West High School senior - Allcon Construction
Representatives from the following industries/companies will be in attendance:
Mortenson Construction
CG Schmidt
JP Cullen
Miron
JH Findorff
PCI
Common Links Construction
Hetzel Sanfilippo Inc
Westphal Electric
JM Brennan
Boldt Construction
MidCity Plumbing
Wellenstein & Sons Construction
AGI Fabricators
Total Mechanical
Gurtz Electric
STAFF Electric
Pieper Power
Zignego
Northern Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters
Plumbing Mechanical Sheet Metal Contractors Association
NARI Milwaukee Foundation
Milwaukee Tool
ABC WI
Building Advantage
Participating in registered apprenticeships allows graduates and current high school students to earn money while gaining valuable skills in their chosen industries. The duration of an apprenticeship varies by trade, involving both coursework and hands-on training.
Additional special guests in attendance will include:
Wisconsin Office of Department of Workforce Development
WI Rep. Robyn Vining
WI Sen. Rob Hutton
Representative of US Rep Gwen Moore’s office
Mayor of Wauwatosa, Dennis McBride