Decatur Central High School Student Gains Valuable Career Experience Through Work-Based Learning Partnership with Arcamed

Decatur Central High School student Gavin Farmer is gaining hands-on career experience through a work-based learning opportunity with Arcamed, a medical manufacturing company located right here in Decatur Township.

Arcamed specializes in transforming flat sheet metal into surgical cases, trays, and caddies used by surgeons in operating rooms to organize and access surgical tools. Through this partnership, Gavin is gaining real-world manufacturing experience while applying the skills he has learned through the manufacturing pathway courses at Decatur Central High School.

Currently, Gavin works in quality inspection for fabrication, operating the costa machine, which is designed for deburring, edge rounding, and finishing on sheet metal to ensure parts are smooth before it moves through the rest of the production cycle. This detailed work requires precision and focus, something Gavin enjoys.

“I like that I’m constantly busy,” Gavin shared, adding that he takes pride in doing quality work.

Arcamed leadership has been highly impressed with Gavin’s work ethic and preparation. Jon Desalvo, CEO of Arcamed, described Gavin as “an amazing young man and a great worker.”

Gavin’s school schedule has been intentionally designed to support his work-based learning experience. Four days each week, he leaves Decatur Central High School just before 2:30 p.m. and is transported to Arcamed by one of two mini-buses funded through a Lilly Endowment grant designated specifically for work-based learning opportunities.

Arcamed currently employs six students in part-time positions and hopes to add another student employee in the future. Company leadership views work-based learning as a valuable partnership that benefits both students and employers.

By working directly with students, Arcamed gains a better understanding of what students are learning in school while also seeing firsthand their work ethic, strengths, and potential. The company is able to intentionally train students and determine whether they are a strong fit for the organization and company culture. At the same time, students gain meaningful career experience and can explore whether a career pathway is the right fit for their future before entering the workforce full-time.

For students like Gavin, these opportunities can potentially lead to full-time employment after graduation if both the student and employer determine it is a good match.

Michael Gath, Director of Secondary Education for MSD of Decatur Township, emphasized the value of the partnership and the collaborative learning that occurs between schools and employers.

“Work-based learning benefits both the school and the employer because there is meaningful feedback in both directions,” Gath explained. “Our manufacturing pathway instructors were able to visit and tour Arcamed, learn what they are looking for in employees, and adjust instruction accordingly.”

As Indiana continues implementing the new diploma requirements, MSD of Decatur Township is actively expanding work-based learning opportunities to connect students with meaningful career experiences and local industry partners.

Businesses interested in partnering with Decatur Central High School to host students for work-based learning opportunities are encouraged to contact MSD of Decatur Township at 317-856-5265 or reach out to Jack Birmingham, Career Partnerships Coordinator, at jbirmingham@decaturproud.org.