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Archives for October 2022

Post Secondary Senior Day Highlights

October 17, 2022

More than 25 universities, colleges, and organizations joined Alignment and School District U-46 to feature its first Senior Post Secondary Virtual Day on October 12. There were 750 individual seniors that attended the event participating in more than 2,100 sessions with university and college admissions staff and visiting faculty along with receiving assistance with FAFSA, future employment opportunities, military service, and NCAA eligibility.

Seniors had the opportunity to have visits with some of the most competitive post secondary institutions of their choice before applications are due November 1. Sessions were also offered on FAFSA and NCAA Academic Eligibility. For students that are undecided about their interest in post secondary colleges and universities, sessions were also facilitated by the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) about the current labor market, hiring projections within the local community, and tips on how to best access job openings and navigate the application process.

Michele Chapman, U-46 Director of Post Secondary Success, described the day as “a great opportunity for some seniors to help finalize their search prior to November 1st and for other seniors to begin the planning of their post secondary plans after graduation. The goal was to try to reach as many seniors as possible with sessions that met their future academic and career preparation needs. We thank Alignment for partnering with us to provide all U-46 seniors this experience.”

Students and parents also had the opportunity following the virtual event to visit Elgin Community College’s Post Secondary Fair held that evening to further visit with college and university representatives that they met during the day.

Thank you to the following colleges, universities, and organizations for partnering with Alignment and U-46 to offer the Senior Post Secondary Day:

Aurora University
Bradley University
DePaul University
Elgin Community College
Elmhurst University
Harper College
Honest Game – NCAA Academic Eligibility
Illinois Department of Employment Security
Illinois State University
Judson University
Lewis University
Loyola University
Marquette University
Milwaukee School of Engineering
North Central College

Northern Illinois University
Purdue University
Roosevelt University
Southern Illinois University
Universal Technical Institute
University of Dayton
University of Illinois Chicago
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of Iowa
University of Missouri
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
University of Wisconsin Whitewater
U.S. Armed Forces
Valparaiso University
Western Illinois University

Filed Under: Alignment, Education, Post Secondary Education

U-46 Students Introduced to Careers and Academic Paths at Explore 2022

October 12, 2022

Photo Courtesy of Elgin Area School District U-46

Roughly 2,700 eighth graders and teachers in Elgin Area Unit District 46 descended on the Now Arena in Hoffman Estates Thursday for Explore 2022.

The annual expo introduces students to various career paths and demonstrates the connection between academic curriculum and future careers.

The event was held in person for the first time since 2019. The district hosted the event online for two years because of the pandemic.

U-46 Superintendent Tony Sanders said it was “incredible” to be back in person.

“We tried to replicate it on Zoom, and our business partners did great,” he said. “But having 2,700 eighth graders actually come in person and have an opportunity to explore all these different career paths is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

The Alignment Collaborative for Education, a local nonprofit organization that brings together community resources and initiatives to support district priorities, annually partners with U-46 to organize the event.

The eighth graders learned about careers in several pathways, including health care, human and professional services; arts and communications; business, financial services, IT and culinary; and manufacturing, engineering, technology and trades.

Students and faculty from U-46’s five high school magnet academies also had information booths.

Graci Colegrove, a junior from Larkin High School’s Visual and Performing Arts Academy, worked on a painting as the visiting students strolled behind and watched. She said she attended the expo when she was in eighth grade. The visit helped her decide on the academy path.

“That made me so much more motivated to apply,” she said. “It really put coal in my engine.”

Article by Rick West, Daily Herald
This article appeared in the Daily Herald, October 6, 2022

Filed Under: Alignment, Explore

U-46 8th Graders ‘Explore’ Their Futures

October 7, 2022

U-46, Alignment Collaborative for Education partner for career expo

Photo by James Harvey, James Harvey Photography

While a representative from Colony Display talked about potential careers with the company, 8th grader Kitzya Morales-Tellez closely examined several clear display cases and colorful installations its welders and machinists had created for retail stores.

Before moving on to another exhibit, Kitzya said she’s thinking about pursuing the welding educational pathway offered in School District U-46, although she was intrigued as well by several other careers she learned about Thursday at Explore 2022. The event is U-46’s annual expo designed to expose 8th grade students to various professions and demonstrate the connection between academic curriculum and future careers.  

“It’s been fun because they tell us about each program that could lead to careers and jobs when we’re older,” said Kitzya, a student at Ellis Middle School in Elgin who was one of more than 2,500 8th graders who attended Explore 2022 at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates. 

Michael Bullerman, Colony’s human resources manager, said he enjoyed talking to the students, especially because he graduated from U-46’s Streamwood High School.

“I’m really thankful to see something like this happen. I’m glad to be a part of it,” Bullerman said. “It gives kids an opportunity to see jobs they may never think of on their own.”  

The Alignment Collaborative for Education, a non-profit local organization that brings together community resources and initiatives to support District priorities, once again partnered with U-46 to organize the event. 

“It’s all about seeing the excitement on the students’ faces about making that career decision that doesn’t have to be a final decision, but at least they are beginning to explore what they are interested in as possible career pathways,” said Alignment Executive Director Nancy Coleman.

Students from the District’s 8th middle schools attended Explore during the school day in two different shifts. Ahead of time, each student worked in Naviance — a digital college and career planning system —  to learn which career clusters align with their current interests and aptitudes. Using information gathered from Naviance and guided by counselors, students selected two career pathways to focus on.

About 60 local businesses, industries, governmental organizations, and nonprofits had exhibits at Explore and representatives who engaged in discussions with students. In addition, each of the District’s five Magnet Academies had exhibits, teachers, and high schoolers present to talk to 8th grade students (the application process for Magnet Academies is now open to 8th graders) and U-46’s culinary, health sciences, automotive, welding, and precision manufacturing programs were represented as well. The veterinary assistant program at Burlington Central School District 301 – which is offered to U-46 students – brought along a real dog, Monte, who was quite a draw.

Another popular exhibit was brought by HLR, a civil engineering firm. It was a sandbox with a topographic map being beamed onto it from a digital projector above. Students pushed the sand into piles to form hills, valleys, and roads; placing their hands above the sandbox caused “rain” to fall, forming pools of water (represented by blue wavy lines) in the depressions in the sand. 

“It was a very good example,” Alex Kalinski, a student at Kenyon Woods Middle School in South Elgin, said after spending some time talking to HLR employees. “I liked how they explained and went into depth about everything, and then they gave us details about what you’d need to do if you wanted a job in engineering.” 

Alex and his friend Michael Lombardo, also an 8th grader at Kenyon Woods, both said they are interested in a career in engineering, and considering whether to apply for the Science, Engineering, and High Technology Magnet Academy at Bartlett High School.

Kunal Modi, a student at Eastview Middle School in Bartlett, said his favorite exhibit at Explore was one from Nicor Gas, although he enjoyed performing CPR on a patient simulator, too. 

“Today was very fun,” Kunal said. “It gave me some experiences I’d never usually get.” 

U-46 Superintendent Dr. Tony Sanders greeted students as they exited the school buses that brought them to Explore. After the previous two editions of the event were held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Sanders said it was good to be back in person.

“Nothing else can replicate this experience of being a hands-on and interactive introduction to career pathways,” Dr. Sanders said. “It’s great to be back at the NOW Arena, and I appreciate all our business partners who help make this event possible.” 

Filed Under: Alignment, Explore

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