Inside General Mills
Relationship with Red Lake students goes beyond mentoring
| Sept. 9, 2010 |
General Mills Corporate Communications |
Continuing a relationship born out of tragedy, two students from Red Lake High School in northern Minnesota visited the General Mills main office in Minneapolis for an event dubbed "A Week of Wow."
The visit was organized by the General Mills American Indian Council (GMAIC), one of the company's 17 diversity councils and employee networks.
GMAIC launched a mentoring program for high-potential students at the Red Lake school in 2008. The group had begun working with the community in 2005 following the school shooting that left 10 dead and several wounded.
Last school year, General Mills employees mentored 12 Red Lake students in a program focused on helping students go to college. All five of this year’s graduating seniors are continuing their education this fall. Two students – Sierra Deegan and Tiffany Haukaas – were selected to visit General Mills for the “Week of Wow.”
During the week, the pair visited grocery stores, toured the company facility in Fridley, Minn., planned a product commercial, experimented with cookie recipes, and learned about finance, communications and information systems.
At the end of the week, both girls delivered a presentation about their experience. “I’ll never look at a grocery store the same way again,” Tiffany said. Sierra, an avid reader, liked the hands-on opportunities. “I learned a lot this week,” she said.
GMAIC members have visited Red Lake many times in the past five years, teaching students about corporate life and the food industry. In 2008, the council and students and staff worked together to create a "Taste of Red Lake," a cookbook that featured not only local recipes, but also the artwork of students.
Inside General Mills
