For four years, Forza International has helped students in Middlesex County Magnet Schools’ (MCMS) Pre-Engineering and Manufacturing programs build technical skills and industry connections in innovative ways. The company initially partnered with the school to offer internships but has since expanded opportunities for work-based learning and even created a pipeline to recruit graduates as employees. In recognition of Forza International’s genuine interest in preparing students for post-secondary success, MCMS recognized the company as the 2024 Business Partner of the Year.
Forza is a global manufacturer of laboratory testing equipment for fuel, lubricant, grease and asphalt industries. Forza’s focus is primarily on designing equipment that tests the physical properties such as oxidation and stability, viscosity and freeze points. Through placements at Forza, MCMS students gain exposure to advanced testing instruments and practical engineering techniques, bridging classroom learning with real-world application.
Forza employees have served as mentors, delivering hands-on training and sharing career guidance. They have been instrumental in helping students gain critical skills and insights into advanced manufacturing and engineering.
“Maintaining our relationship with Middlesex County Magnet Schools has been pivotal to our success,” said Jacob George, director of sales and marketing at Forza. “The majority of our manufacturing team are graduates of the East Brunswick Magnet High School. Since starting this program in 2020, five of our part-time interns have become long-term employees.”
George said that the company’s two-week paid internships offered to students have allowed participants to “understand the significance of their vocational education while learning on the job and building their resumes for the future.” He added, “We have found that high school graduates with a vocational, hands-on background have a deeper understanding and appreciation of technology and the workforce compared to traditional high school graduates.”
George and Forza President George Aruldoss have not only been exceptional partners and mentors in MCMS’ work-based learning program, but also in the district’s Pre-Apprenticeship in Career Education (PACE) grant-funded program. Under their guidance, several students have successfully transitioned to part-time employment at Forza while pursuing engineering degrees in college. George also offers guidance to MCMS instructors and administrators as a member of the MCMS Pre-Engineering Advisory Board.
“We are thankful for the quality industry partnership that we’ve established with Forza International over the past four years,” said Adam Recktenwald, supervisor of career and technical education at MCMS. “George Aruldoss and Jacob George have been critical in providing hands-on, real-world mentoring, instruction and employment for our students in manufacturing-related fields. Jacob George’s input on our advisory board also helps inform the future of our programs, ensuring best practices and best outcomes for Middlesex County Magnet School students.”
