East Lake High Student Wins Trip to Berlin

East Lake High School senior Christina Chadwick has been named the Trainee of the Year by the German American Chambers of Commerce.

Christina, who turns 18 in February, was nominated by her employer, Bauer Foundation Corp., an Odessa-based subsidiary of Bauer Group. Bauer Group is an international construction and machinery manufacturing company headquartered in Germany.

Germany uses an apprenticeship model that trains students for careers while they are still in school. Pinellas County Schools Superintendent Michael A. Grego and School Board Member Robin L. Wikle recently traveled to Germany to lean more about the model.

“My career goals became so much more evident through the process of training (at Bauer) that I am now focused on pursuing mechanical engineering in my future,” Christina said in her acceptance speech.

Christina said she worked in various capacities for Bauer until she found her “passion working in the mechanic and weld shop.”

The experience with Bauer gave her real world experience in the professional realm, she said.

“As my confidence grew, I realized that I had earned the respect of the other workers. I also learned the value of great teamwork and the importance of good communication,” she said.

Christina’s award came with a one-week, all expenses paid trip to Berlin.

This information was provided by Pinellas County Schools