Trousdale School students work in a variety of industries.

Student Chris White works at Universal Assemblies, a company which creates components for appliance manufacturers.

“I work with the metal ... cleaning the brackets,” White said.

White is coming up on his one-year anniversary of working with the company, in November. He will also be celebrating his 42 birthday. He said he enjoys his job and gets along well with his boss, Wes Hicks.

It was not long after the school approached Universal Assemblies about partnering to have a student work there that White found out he had gotten the job.

Job coach for the school, Catherine Patten, said White was very excited when he found out he had gained the position. Patten said the partnership has been amazing.

White works three days a week at Universal.

“He brightens our day every morning. He does a good job,” Hicks said.

Hicks said he and other workers have a good relationship with White. Every time White takes a day off, co-workers are always asking Hicks where White is.

White said he likes the people he works with.

When he is not working, he enjoys a variety of sports including basketball, football, soccer and bowling. White’s bowling record is 200.

He is also a member of the Dream League softball team with several of his friends from Trousdale.

“My dad is the coach,” White said.

White goes bowling every Saturday. He has participated in the Special Olympics in basketball. White also has a red belt in Tae Kwon Do. He demonstrated these skill, along with some break dance moves to the song “Kung Fu Fighting” in this year’s Trousdale Musical. White said his performance went well.

Hicks was out of town the night of the performance, but said he is looking forward to watching the DVD.

In his free time, White enjoys spending time with his friends and being outdoors. He is also active in his church.

White has been a student at Trousdale for the past three years.

- Trousdale School is also looking forward to a fundraiser next month through a partnership with the Cleveland locations of Champion Cleaners.

“Every Tuesday in the month of December we give 10 percent of our sales to Trousdale,” owner Jim Haynie said.

Haynie hopes to have some of the students stop by during the fundraiser, so customers can meet them. The fundraiser only applies to clothing that is picked up on Tuesdays in December.

Patten said the school is excited about the partnership, and hopes to have a Trousdale Trooper working there soon. How the funds will be used has not been specifically decided, yet. However, Patten said there are many areas of need at the school. Haynie said he hopes other area businesses will consider similar partnerships. The fundraiser will begin on Dec. 6.