The Enkeboll Foundation Teams Up With WoodLINKS USA

The Enkeboll Foundation for the Arts and Architecture is pleased to announce its partnership with WoodLINKS USA, and its donation of $10,000 to the organization. WoodLINKS USA, a rapidly growing national program, brings together schools of similar interests, including the best benchmarks in high school wood manufacturing programs, to share best-practice ideas and to understand industry needs. The organization also offers highly recognized National Industry Credentialing. Through the partnership, the Foundation and WoodLINKS will provide end-to-end solutions for the woodworking industry, helping accelerate the advancement of both students and teachers. By reconnecting education to industry, both organizations believe everyone will benefit from better-trained artisans, who understand the field’s needs.

“One thing we require students to undergo is the Industry Certificate Exam for the Wood Manufacturing Program,” stated Wilf Torunski, “This has a tremendous value to graduating students and provides industry recognition. This credential is the first step towards the development of a National Skill Standard that will ultimately improve competitiveness in our business. Not only does it create a sense of ownership and responsibility, it also works to resolve our number one problem - the lack of skilled workers.”

In addition to learning about modern woodworking, students also receive mentorship from trade groups. According to Wilf Torunski, “after a few years of participation in the WoodLINKS program, students have increased scholarship opportunities and better career prospects anywhere in the United States.” For additional experience, students can participate in national design competitions sponsored by the Association of Woodworking and Federation Suppliers and in national summer camp as well as access to WoodTRACKS job posting and employment.

The program offered by WoodLINKS and sponsored by the Enkeboll Foundation also focuses on the elevating the knowledge of woodworking educators with national and international teacher in-serve programs and the creation of a Master of Arts program. To learn more about WoodLINKS, log onto www.woodlinks.org.