Senior Southern Machinist Gears Up for Engineering Career at Rapid Industries
"Just take a chance," says Logan Sexton, Operations Manager at Rapid Industries. "It will work out...because the value is definitely there."
A powerful partnership with Southern High School is proving that the gap between high school and a high-stakes career is smaller than many think. At Rapid Industries, a specialist in overhead conveyor systems for global clients like PPG, the focus is on building a talent pipeline that starts in the classroom and leads directly to the engineering lab.
The Blueprint of a Pathway-Aligned Co-op
For Edwin Lozoria, a senior in the Machine Tool and Die pathway at Southern High School, the school day doesn't end at the ringing of a bell. It transitions into a professional shift as a machinist.
The logistics of Edwin’s co-op are a masterclass in "Learning by Doing":
The Schedule: Edwin spends his mornings at Southern completing core academic requirements. At 12:15 PM, he heads to Rapid Industries to work a three-hour shift.
The Work: Rather than a typical entry-level job, Edwin operates CNC lathes and mills, applies complex measurements, and manages production deadlines for real-world suppliers.
The Mentorship: Edwin trained directly under veteran machinists, moving from needing constant setup assistance to independently selecting tools and managing the drill press.
Mutual Benefits: A Win-Win for Louisville
A pathway-related co-op provides a competitive edge that classroom learning alone cannot replicate.
For the Student: Edwin isn't just earning a wage; he is building a resume. "I’m not just working a retail job where I might not learn anything," Edwin explains. By applying four years of "Machine Tool" curriculum to industrial projects, he has mastered the ability to work under pressure. "I can use what I've learned within the last three, four years and apply that into real-world experiences," he says.
For the Business Partner: For Logan Sexton, hiring a "green" high school student was a strategic advantage. While some veteran hires bring rigid habits from other shops, Edwin arrived as a blank slate—highly attentive and eager to learn the "Rapid way." This allows the company to instill its own quality standards and safety protocols from day one, creating a "homegrown" employee who already understands their specific internal processes.
“We would love to have him full-time one day. He already knows our processes, so he’s a step ahead of someone who might even have more experience than him.”
Bridging the Gap to Engineering
The Academies of Louisville model is designed to shatter the myth that students must choose between a trade and a degree. Edwin’s journey is a perfect example of the "Machinist-to-Engineer" ladder. He plans to attend the University of Louisville J.B. Speed School of Engineering, using his hands-on experience as a foundation for his mechanical engineering studies.
This early exposure to the workforce ensures that when students like Edwin reach college, they are refining a craft they have already practiced in the field. "I know the ins and outs of a machine," Edwin notes. "I think that might help me later on in the future...because I have experience with these machines that other students might not have".
How to Make it Work
For employers hesitant to dive into the co-op waters, Sexton’s advice is simple: start small. By bringing on one or two students, businesses can test their training structures without overwhelming their staff.
The success at Rapid Industries proves that when schools like Southern High and local industries collaborate, they do more than fill a job opening—they launch a career. As Edwin prepares to graduate, he remains focused on how his current work paves the way for his engineering goals: "I think all the stuff that I’ve learned from Southern High School and at Rapid, I could use those to help me out later in life learning whatever I want to learn.”