What began as a simple idea to give students hands-on experience pressing t-shirts has grown into something much larger at Midview High School. Thanks to the vision of District Transition Coordinator Jessica Hoban and a transformative $70,000 grant from Knorr-Bremse Global Care North America (KBGCNA), Midview Local Schools has launched three pre-apprenticeship programs designed to provide inclusive, work-based learning opportunities for students of all abilities.
“As a transition coordinator, part of my role is seeing skills in students that they don’t always see in themselves and helping them dream about what their future could look like,” Hoban explained. “In my previous district, I had proposed a small t-shirt shop, and the amount of growth we saw in students was incredible. They had something they could take ownership of, something they could succeed at, and something that made them feel like they belonged at school.”
“When I came to Midview, I knew I wanted to bring that same idea here. With full support from our administration, I began researching local companies that give back to schools. I found Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems in Avon. I had originally asked for a much smaller donation, but after I shared our vision, they not only loved it—they offered even greater support through KBGCNA.” KBGCNA is the North American philanthropic organization for Knorr‐Bremse, Bendix's Munich, Germany‐based parent company.
Anchoring the programs is the new Career Learning Hub, formerly the school’s Learning Resource Center. KBGCNA’s grant funded a complete renovation and outfitting of the space, including new furniture, equipment, and supplies to launch the programs. Over the summer, Midview’s Maintenance Department, with support from Bendix team members, spent countless hours transforming the space into a multi-purpose Hub that now houses:
A new classroom to support special education programming
A teaching kitchen and sensory room
Two pre-apprenticeship programs:
The Middie Cafe: a student-run café, serving coffee, specialty drinks, and baked goods
Developed by MHS Intervention Specialist Katie Hicks, the café began five years ago on a much smaller scale, with students delivering Keurig-made drinks to staff. Today, the grant has transformed it into a full-scale operation with espresso machines, flavored syrups, premium coffee blends, and even a service window.
Harbor for Hope: a brand-new production and sales company, where students design, press, and sell items such as apparel and various small goods
Under the guidance of MHS Intervention Specialists Katie Hicks and Don Caramell, students will rotate through nearly 16 job roles—including management, marketing, customer service, sales, production, design, and quality control—while continuing to prioritize their daily academic responsibilities.
“Our main goal is to provide work-based learning opportunities that support students with disabilities and help them prepare for life after high school–including earning a job in their local community and developing independent living skills,” said Hicks. “This grant funding has made a huge difference in the opportunities we are able to provide for our students. Before, our space was just a small, typical classroom –we did not have this many opportunities in terms of our T-shirt company and our café. This grant has allowed us to really expand and create true businesses and true workplaces for our students. It gives us real hope for the future and what these opportunities will mean for our students and our community.”
Just down the hall is the third pre-apprenticeship program: the Kindness Closet. Previously managed by Mrs. Hicks and Mr. Caramell’s students for the last six years, the Closet will now be managed primarily by Career-Based Intervention (CBI) students. The Kindness Closet provides essential items like clothing, hygiene products, and school supplies to students and families in need. CBI students also collaborate with special education classes in the Hub, creating an integrated learning environment.
The Middie Cafe, Harbor for Hope, and the Kindness Closet pre-apprenticeship programs meet Ohio Department of Education requirements in both the finance and hospitality/tourism pathways. Through these opportunities, students gain real-world experience in areas such as entrepreneurship, budgeting, business operations, customer service, and health and safety standards. Just as importantly, they build confidence and practice transferable soft skills—communication, leadership, and problem-solving—that will serve them well in any career or future studies.
The programs also allow students to earn industry-recognized credentials and offer an alternative path to graduation. For students who may struggle with state assessments in Algebra I or English II, completing a pre-apprenticeship can fulfill graduation requirements.
Currently, the programs serve only Midview students and staff, giving participants time to build confidence and master new skills. In just the first few weeks of school, the programs have already generated excitement across the district. Spirit wear orders have come in from several student organizations, and themed shirts have become a staple of sporting events. Meanwhile, the café has quickly become part of the staff’s daily routine, with teachers noting that the student-made lattes rival those from national coffee chains.
The district plans to expand services to the broader community in the future, with proceeds helping to fund student field trips and employment exploration opportunities.
“Seeing the transformation of this space has been my favorite part,” said Don Caramell, Intervention Specialist. “This has been a true team effort with Bendix, and for everyone’s vision to come together the way it did is unbelievable. The space itself is incredible, but what you don’t see are the smiles these opportunities bring to our kids’ faces, the excitement they feel when learning a new skill, and the pride that comes with accomplishing something they never thought possible. Watching them break ceilings is what gives me joy—that is what it’s all about.”
Midview administration sees the programs as both a model for inclusive education and an investment in the future success of their students. What started as a small project has now evolved into a sustainable initiative that seamlessly blends classroom learning with real-world applications—while demonstrating to students what’s possible after graduation.
“Partnering with our local businesses and engaging our community is extremely important,” said Meredith Udris, Director of Pupil Services. “With the support of companies that believe in our students and schools, we’re able to expand programming, prepare students for life beyond our doors, and ensure they’re ready for careers in our community and across the state. It’s about helping all students, regardless of their abilities, grow into active, contributing members of society.”
For KBGCNA, the Midview project represents exactly the kind of community investment the organization seeks – one that combines education with hands-on skills and creates opportunities for students who need them most.
“This partnership hit our sweet spot at KBGCNA – helping young people at risk build real skills for life, from vocational training to inclusion,” said Maria Gutierrez, KBGCNA president. “It meant so much to see Midview dream big and then bring that vision to life with creativity, resourcefulness, and community spirit.”
Every KBGCNA project is supported by an employee champion, and for Midview, that role was filled by Cheryl Greenly, a Bendix intellectual property attorney and parent of three Midview graduates. Greenly helped stretch grant dollars through strategic purchases and stayed in close touch with teachers as the programs took shape.
“As a parent of three Midview graduates, this was my chance to give back,” Greenly said. “I saw firsthand how much Midview gave my kids, and now I can help make sure other students have the same opportunities.”
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About Knorr-Bremse Global Care North America: Knorr-Bremse Global Care North America Inc. (KBGCNA) is an independent organization operating as the North American arm of a global nonprofit organization – Knorr-Bremse Global Care. With an aim to address local social challenges more effectively, KBGCNA investments are centered in the surrounding communities of Knorr-Bremse’s three largest North American companies: Avon, Ohio-based Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC; Westminster, Maryland-based Knorr Brake Company; and Watertown, New York-based New York Air Brake LLC. Funding activities are championed and supported by the employees of each of the three local companies. Follow us on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/knorr-bremse-global-care-north-america-inc.
About Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, a member of Knorr-Bremse, develops and supplies leading-edge active safety technologies, energy management solutions, and air brake charging and control systems and components under the Bendix® brand name for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, tractors, trailers, buses, and other commercial vehicles throughout North America. An industry pioneer, employing more than 3,600 people, Bendix is driven to deliver the best solutions for improved vehicle safety, performance, and overall operating cost. Contact us at 1-800-AIR-BRAKE (1-800-247-2725) or visit www.bendix.com. To learn more about career opportunities at Bendix, visit bendix.com/careers.