Tippecanoe Valley Middle School eighth-grade students recently got a closer look at the orthopedic industry in the Kosciusko County area.

Students took part in the Think Ortho Tour on Oct. 5 by visiting Ivy Tech’s Orthopedic and Advanced Manufacturing Training Center, the Warsaw Area Career Center, and Precision Medical Technologies.

Think Ortho Tour is a program for eighth-grade students of area schools and their parents/guardians that encourages students to pursue technical careers in the growing orthopedic industry.

Students and parents on the tour were able to learn more about the orthopedic industry, advanced manufacturing career opportunities available in the Warsaw region, and the skills needed to pursue those careers.

The Think Ortho Tour is part of Orthoworx’s Talent Development Initiative to address the skills gap in the orthopedic industry, particularly in advanced manufacturing fields. The program started as a bus tour for local teachers, administrators and guidance counselors, but has now grown to include students and their parents.

This program was open to students from Tippecanoe Valley, Warsaw Community, and Whitko Community Schools whose students feed into the Warsaw Area Career Center. The tour was also open to eighth-grade students from Wawasee Community Schools.

Photo: TVMS eighth-grade students tour Precision Medical Technologies in Warsaw.