For Immediate Release
Contact: Katie Glass, Executive Director of Marketing/Public Information Officer
Phone: 608.822.2411
Mail: 1800 Bronson Blvd., Fennimore, WI 53809
Date of Release: February 26, 2026
Prairie du Chien Middle School students earn national NC3 credential
Prairie du Chien -
During Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, nine Prairie du Chien middle school students have accomplished something extraordinary by earning a nationally recognized NC3 Global Credential in Introduction to Mechatronics. This level of certification is typically achieved by high school or postsecondary students.
Through a 10-week, hands-on program delivered in partnership between the Prairie du Chien School District and Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, students engaged in rigorous, industry-aligned training in automation and advanced manufacturing. Instruction was led collaboratively by Zak Hafke of Prairie du Chien and Austin Yager of Southwest Tech.
Upon completing the program, nine of 11 participating students successfully earned their NC3 certification through Southwest Tech. The credential demonstrates knowledge and competency in industrial automation, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), electro-pneumatic systems, electro-pneumatic systems, and engineering system design. These foundational skills power today’s advanced manufacturing and engineering industries.
“CTE Month is about celebrating opportunity,” said Katie Glass, chief communications officer at Southwest Tech. “These students are not just exploring careers. They are earning nationally recognized, industry-aligned credentials years earlier than expected. That speaks to their capability, the quality of instruction, and the strength of partnership between Prairie du Chien and Southwest Tech.”
“This is a proud moment for our students and our community,” said Andy Banasik, superintendent of the Prairie du Chien School District. “Prairie du Chien has made a deep commitment to providing students with access to industry-recognized credentials that carry real value beyond the classroom. When middle school students earn a credential aligned directly with college and workforce standards, it reinforces what we believe. Our students are capable of more than we sometimes imagine. Partnerships like this expand what is possible and help us build a strong future workforce right here in our region.”
This achievement reflects Prairie du Chien’s intentional investment in career pathways aligned with industry needs and postsecondary standards. By embedding credential opportunities early, the district ensures students graduate not only prepared academically but equipped with validated skills recognized by employers and technical colleges.
The momentum is continuing. Prairie du Chien High School students are now pursuing additional NC3 certifications in continued partnership with Southwest Tech. The success of the middle school students has created powerful motivation for the next level of learners, demonstrating what is possible when expectations are high and support is strong.
Enrollment growth in mechatronics and robotics at the high school has created a positive challenge. Increased student participation, along with equipment acquired through two Wisconsin Fast Forward grants, has led to space limitations within the program. To help meet the needs of the growing number of students, Southwest Tech has provided the temporary use of an additional collaborative robot to support instruction and hands-on learning.
“This accomplishment represents what is possible when schools and colleges share a vision for students,” said Tomi Gebhard, Bluff View Elementary principal. “Our students rose to the challenge. They demonstrated curiosity, discipline, and the ability to perform at a level well beyond what is traditionally expected in middle school.”
Because NC3 credentials are aligned with industry and technical college standards, this accomplishment supports future high school technical pathways, credit for prior learning, and eventual careers in automation, engineering, and advanced manufacturing. It reinforces the importance of early exposure to high-demand career fields.
The success of this program reflects a broader shift in career and technical education, one that prioritizes hands-on learning, industry credentials, and clear pathways from middle school to high school to technical college and the workforce.
As communities across Wisconsin celebrate CTE Month, this achievement stands as a powerful example of what early, aligned, industry-driven education can unlock.
