WARSAW — Warsaw Community Schools has announced Zimmer Biomet’s support of Kosciusko County’s Work Ethic Certificate. As a participating employer, Zimmer Biomet will consider certificate recipients for direct-hire employment.

Additionally, Zimmer Biomet is offering certificate holders who are hired a sign-on bonus. If hired for a full-time position, the certificate holders will have opportunity to take advantage of Zimmer Biomet’s benefit programs, such as tuition reimbursement, health benefits and access to the company’s Aspire program, which focuses on career advancement through skills development.

The Work Ethic Certificate is an award available, for the first time, to seniors in any high school in Kosciusko County. This award was created, endorsed and incentivized by local industry and the Governor of Indiana in an effort to address the national labor shortage.

To earn the certificate, students must meet criteria related to grades, attendance, leadership, teamwork, work-ready skills, personal accountability and respectfulness. Students who earn the certificate will be recognized at a graduation, receive a certificate signed by the Governor and be eligible for incentives like the ones described above offered by industry partners who agree to back the award.

“The certificate will provide graduating seniors immediate access to very attractive employment opportunities,” said Kevin Williamson, director of human resources for Zimmer Biomet. “We are pleased that the Warsaw Area Career Center is equipping these students with skills that will prepare them to meet the expectations of full-time employment.”

Zimmer Biomet will also provide the financial support for additional soft-skills training courses. The training, offered through the Purdue Extension of Kosciusko County, focuses on “teaching life skills necessary to increase the number of qualified applicants for Indiana job openings.”  In its inaugural year, 16 students at Warsaw Community High School (pictured) participated in the INWork workshops on topics such as managing time and money, setting goals and making a positive first impression and have earned this certification.

Warsaw Community Schools commends Zimmer Biomet and other local business for their support of ongoing educational initiatives such as the Work Ethic Certificate. A complete list of industry partners can be found online at: https://wacc.warsaw.k12.in.us/wec. Anyone interested in getting involved or learning more information regarding the Work Ethic Certificate should contact Jill Jackson at Warsaw Area Career Center at (574) 371-5074, ext. 2105.