As schools open and students return to the classroom, 307 students are beginning the new school year with greater confidence, valuable real-world experience, and a much clearer vision for their future after high school.
Marked by continued growth, innovation, and expanding career opportunities, this summer’s internship program connected students from 11 high schools across School Districts U-46, 300, 301, and 303. Benefiting from the third year of partnering with Elgin Community College’s Taking Back the Trades grant, the summer internship program experienced a 24% growth in internship placements.
This summer also marked the launch of new internship programs in project based AI internships with small businesses and non-profit organizations, behavioral health internships with prominent regional mental health providers, and a new drone internship pilot program offering students FAA Part 107 remote pilot certification hosted by Central High School. Partnering with Advocate Sherman Hospital and Northern Illinois Medical Scholars Program, more than 30 future healthcare professionals explored multiple career pathways and specialties in one of the region’s fastest growing industry sectors.
Together, our partners made an extraordinary investment in the future of our region:
- More than 18,000 volunteer hours invested by our industry partner host sites
- Investment of financial sponsorships and volunteer hours exceeding $1.1 million
- More than $330,000 earned in stipends and wages by student interns
None of this would be possible without the incredible commitment of our 72 internship hosts. Their willingness to invest their time, expertise, and resources created life-changing experiences that inspire students, strengthen the region’s workforce pipeline, and help shape the next generation of skilled professionals.
Thank You to Our Internship Host Companies
Automotive and Heavy Equipment Maintenance
- AHW John Deere
- Bob Loquercio Auto Group
- KS Auto Care
- West Side Tractor
- Wicked Wrench
Business, Finance, IT and Marketing
- American Legion
- Centro de Información
- Downtown Neighborhood Association
- Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce
- Elgin Development Group
- Explore Elgin
- Industrial Treasures
- Microsoft
- Opiquad
- Segucci Home Team, affiliate of Baird and Warner
- Wintrust
Culinary and Hospitality
- Bartlett Hills Golf Course
- Holiday Inn / Bennigan’s
- Rosati’s Pizza
Education, Human Services and the Arts
- ABC Toon Town
- Advance Preschool
- Bartlett Park District
- Central Unit School District 301
- Community Unit School District 300
- Hanover Township Aging Services
- Mid-Valley Special Education Cooperative
- NISRA (Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association)
- Precious Angels
- School District U-46
- Side Street Studios
- South Elgin Parks and Recreation
- Two Rivers Head Start
- YMCA
Engineering, Manufacturing, Technology and Trades
- ATI (Assurance Technologies Inc.)
- Bucher Hydraulics
- City of Elgin
- Central School District 301
- Community School District 300
- Elgin Sweeper
- Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick
- Hoffer Plastics
- ITW Shakeproof
- Judson University
- Lakeview Precision Machining
- Lauderdale Electric
- Matrix Design, LLC
- Shales McNutt Construction
- WT Group
Government and Public Safety
- Bartlett Police Department
- City of Elgin
- Elgin Fire Department
- Elgin Police Department
- Hanover Park Fire Department
- Hanover Township Emergency Management Services
- Office of State Representative Anna Moeller
- Office of State Representative Suzanne Ness
- Office of State Senator Cristina Castro
Healthcare
- Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
- Advocate Sherman Hospital
- Athletico
- Diamond Physical Therapy
- Ecker Center for Mental Health
- Family Service Association
- Luna Behavioral Health Center
- Northern Illinois Medical Scholars Program
- OrthoIllinois
- Streamwood Behavioral Healthcare System
- VNA Health Care
- Well Child Center
Veterinary Science & Animal Care
- Anderson Humane Vet Care
- Army Trail Animal Hospital
- Dundee Animal Hospital
- Pet Vet Animal Clinic
- Tails Animal Hospital
Note: Many organizations listed hosted interns in multiple specialties with a total of 72 unique organizations participating this summer.
If your organization is interested in offering internships for Summer 2027, please contact Nancy Coleman at colemanace@align4edu.org or Terry Stroh at terry.stroh@central301.net for further information.
ACE is a member of the Alignment USA communities of collaboration and collective impact.
