May 9, 2026 – Seventeen area high school seniors were recognized Friday as graduates of Caterpillar’s Career Pathways program, with 15 of those students officially signing on for full-time manufacturing careers at the company’s Decatur facility.
The special ceremony celebrated the students’ completion of the 12-month paid workforce development program, which combines classroom education with hands-on manufacturing experience inside Caterpillar’s operations.
The Career Pathways program allows students to earn while they learn, spending time both in school and on the job while developing technical and professional skills in modern manufacturing environments.
“As you all know, Career Pathways is one of the best programs designed for high school seniors that pairs classroom education with real work, hands-on experience,” said Gaurav Pareek, Senior Director of Manufacturing and Operations at Caterpillar. “These students are taking the first steps in building a career in modern manufacturing.”
Pareek said today’s manufacturing industry looks much different than it did in the past, emphasizing that Caterpillar’s facilities now utilize robotics, automation, digital tools and advanced technology.
“Manufacturing today has evolved a lot,” Pareek said. “Modern manufacturing at Caterpillar involves robotics and autonomous equipment, multiple automation, digital tools and data. It’s an exciting time.”
Since launching five years ago, the program has produced more than 60 graduates, creating a direct workforce pipeline for the company’s Decatur operations.
Jason Bickel, Recruiting Manager and Leader of the Career Pathways Program, explained that students begin applying during their junior year of high school. Those selected begin with a full-time summer internship, working 40 hours a week before transitioning into a hybrid schedule during their senior year, spending half the day in school and half at Caterpillar.
Students receive training in areas including welding, assembly and quality while also learning teamwork, financial literacy, workforce preparation and community service.
“That includes both technical and non-technical skill development,” Bickel said. “They’re learning, growing and advancing in their careers throughout the entire process.”
Participating students represented several area schools, including Eisenhower High School, MacArthur High School, Argenta-Oreana High School, Taylorville High School, Clinton High School, Warrensburg-Latham High School, Unity Christian,
Among the graduates was Stephen Taylor, a senior at Eisenhower High School, who plans to continue working full-time while pursuing engineering opportunities in the future.
“It means a lot to me,” Taylor said. “It just shows that I came a long way. I completed it, and now it’s on to the next step.”
Taylor said one of his favorite parts of the program was the mentorship and support he received from coworkers and team members throughout the year.
“Everybody was able to teach me something,” he said. “There’s always something the next person can teach you if you pay attention.”
Gary Breazeale, Senior Manager of Manufacturing Operations at Caterpillar, told students the program not only prepares them for careers but also for adulthood and future growth opportunities within the company.
“The awesome thing about Caterpillar is there are so many different ways you can take your career,” Breazeale said. “For our future growth as a company, we need to continue to get young people in here, give them opportunities and help develop them.”
Brazil noted he began his own career at Caterpillar more than 20 years ago as a supplemental employee before advancing into leadership roles.
“I love seeing the development of each and every one of you over the past year,” he told graduates. “We look forward to working with many of you over the next several years.”
The ceremony concluded with students receiving Career Pathways certifications and recognition alongside family members, educators and Caterpillar team mentors who supported them throughout the program.
