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The Brief
• The School District of La Crosse hosted an All-Academy Open House Wednesday evening, showcasing four career-focused programs for high school students
• The Engineering Academy, a two-year program for juniors and seniors, offers hands-on learning in mechanical engineering, robotics and electrical systems
• Current students demonstrated projects and answered questions from prospective sophomores considering the program for next year
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) — High school sophomores got a firsthand look at advanced engineering opportunities Wednesday evening during the School District of La Crosse’s All-Academy Open House, where students and families explored career-connected learning programs designed to bridge classroom education with real-world applications.
The Engineering Academy, housed at Western Technical College’s Integrated Technology Center, drew prospective students eager to learn about the two-year program that combines mechanical engineering, robotics and electrical systems training.
“Tonight, we have an open house for our engineering academy in the school district of La Crosse,” said Lucas Jandrin, technology and engineering instructor for the School District of La Crosse. “The academy is a junior and senior program for our district, and tonight we have an open house here at Western Technical College, which is where we house the academy.”
The evening event targeted sophomores preparing to enter their junior year, giving them an opportunity to meet instructors, tour facilities and determine whether the specialized program aligns with their career interests.
Current academy students played a central role in the open house, showcasing popular projects and offering peer-to-peer insights about the program experience.
“One thing that I’m really proud of is we have some of our current students here tonight to showcase some of our popular projects,” Jandrin said. “I think that’s nice for the sophomores to get that student perspective and ask questions like ‘what is it like traveling back and forth throughout the day’ because our program is first through third hour.”
The Engineering Academy curriculum spans multiple technical disciplines over two years. Students gain experience in mechanical engineering through SolidWorks software, 3D modeling and 3D printing applications. The program also includes comprehensive electrical training focused on DC electricity, where students learn soldering techniques, breadboarding and circuit design.
Advanced coursework covers mechatronics and robotics, including industrial robotics training using FANUC robots. Students learn to integrate electricity, pneumatics and programming into cohesive automated systems.
“Throughout the two years, students will learn a lot about mechanical engineering through things like SolidWorks, 3D modeling, and 3D printing opportunities,” Jandrin explained. “We also have courses in electricity, specifically in DC electricity, so our students get to solder, do a lot of breadboarding, and learn about circuitry from that standpoint.”
The program’s hands-on approach often surprises visitors who discover the scope of available resources and training opportunities.
“It’s really hard to explain what we do at the academy,” Jandrin said. “Most of our parents, families, and students who come and tour say ‘wow, we never knew this existed’ or ‘we never knew those things were there.’ So, for us, it’s really just getting people in the door and being exposed to see what we offer.”
The All-Academy Open House featured four specialized programs across multiple La Crosse locations: the Health Science Academy, Engineering Academy, Culinary Arts Academy, and Architecture & Construction (ACE) Academy. The two-hour event ran from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., allowing families to visit multiple locations and explore various career pathways.
According to district officials, the Pathway Academies help students discover potential career directions while earning industry certifications and college credits. The programs combine traditional high school instruction with mentorships, job shadowing, clinical experiences and partnerships with community and higher education institutions.
The Health Science, Engineering, and Architecture & Construction academies operate as two-year programs for students entering 11th grade, while the Culinary Arts Academy offers a one-year program for juniors and seniors.
For more information, you can visit the La Crosse School district’s website.
COPYRIGHT 2025 BY NEWS 8 NOW/NEWS 8000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.