From a young age, Hunter Schlappi knew exactly where he belonged: working with his hands and figuring out how things operate. What started as a natural curiosity has blossomed into a professional career, culminating in his recent hiring as a marine technician apprentice at Walstrom Marine in Harbor Springs.
Through the support of the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Powersports program at Pellston High School and a village of supportive mentors, Schlappi has turned his passion for “wrenching” into a launching pad for a bright future.
For Schlappi, 18, the turning point came during his sophomore year of high school when he had the opportunity to shadow the CTE Powersports program. He was instantly captivated.
“I was immediately hooked,” he recalled. “Anything that was hands-on with engines, I wanted to do it.”
The program gave Schlappi the freedom to explore real-world mechanics, even allowing him to bring in his own dirt bike to completely rebuild during class. Now, as a marine technician apprentice, he gets to do what he loves every day while absorbing wisdom from seasoned veterans in the field.
For other students considering their options, Schlappi’s advice is simple: “Just do what makes you happy and try it out.”
Schlappi, a 2026 graduate of Pellston High School, was recently celebrated by Char-Em ISD at a “Career Tech to Careers” signing event. Career Tech to Careers events were established by Char-Em’s Career and Technical Education Department to recognize high school students who pursue careers after graduation based in part on their enrollment in career tech classes in high school.
Schlappi’s instructors and school leaders noticed his drive long before he graduated. They point to his work ethic and innate problem-solving abilities as the secrets to his success.
Having known Schlappi for four years at Pellston High School, Christina Kolinske, Special Education Teacher at Pellston High School, has witnessed immense personal and professional development. “Hunter loves to work and has pure grit and determination,” she said. “He knows exactly what he wants and goes after it. He is incredibly passionate about making things work and working on engines.”
Donn Juday, Pellston High School’s Powersports Instructor who taught Schlappi for two years following his sophomore shadow day, ranks him among his most memorable students.”Hunter is one of the most driven students I’ve had. He is a very smart kid who would always figure it out, no matter what the project was,” said Juday. “It didn’t take Hunter long at all to figure out that this was exactly what he wanted to do with his life.”
Scott Czerwony, representing Walstrom Marine, recognized early on during Schlappi’s co-op placement that he possessed an intangible quality that can’t be taught: a genuine desire to learn. “Some people just have that instinct where they genuinely enjoy mechanical, wrenching-type things, and Hunter definitely has it,” Czerwony noted.
Co-op allows students to work in career fields of interest with local employers for part of the school day, earning wages and credits toward graduation and honing work skills for after graduation.
Schlappi’s transition from a co-op student to a hired apprentice was a seamless choice. According to Scott Czerwony, the veteran technicians at Walstrom enjoy having him around and speak highly of his attitude and work ethic.
Czerwony emphasized that Schlappi is entering the workforce at the perfect time, and he encourages other students to come in to tour or shadow at their facility. “The skilled trades are a great opportunity right now,” said Czerwony. “There is so much potential for upward movement in these hands-on career fields.”
PHOTO CAPTION
Pictured celebrating Hunter Schlappi at a recent Career Tech to Careers signing event are (back row, from left): Tracy Beckley (Youth Services Regional Director), Donn Juday (Pellston Powersports Instructor), Marc Svatora (JMG), Jessica Bonter (Career Preparation Specialist), Chris Schlappi (Pellston High School Principal), Christina Kollinske (Pellston Special Education Teacher), Allen Kolinske (Walstrom Marine service leader), Brian Johnson (Walstrom Marine lead technician), Scott Czerwony (Walstrom MArine service manager), Jessica Karr (HR Walstrom Marine), Hannah Sanderson (CTE Consultant). (Front row, from left) Jim Rummer (CTE Director), Hunter Schlappi