Alignment

Interns Experience Healthcare Professions from Pharmacy to Public Health

July 17, 2023

Ashwitha Sankor, Bartlett High School intern, assists Well Child Center Dental Staff

Advocate Sherman Hospital and Well Child Center Host High School Interns

Over 80 high school students utilized the summer to advance their career readiness. Thirteen of those students chose pharmacy and public health hosted by Advocate Sherman Hospital and Well Child Center. Alignment in partnership with Advocate Sherman and Well Child was able to offer students a one-of-a-kind paid pharmaceutical technician internship in collaboration with Advocate Sherman Hospital, as well as a paid internship with Elgin’s Well Child Center focused on public health in order to give ambitious students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of healthcare.

“Being in a real clinical setting provides a sense of experience that you can’t get from a classroom.” says Sahanj Joshi, one of ten pharmacy technician interns at Advocate Sherman. These interns completed both online coursework at the hospital as well as clinical hours in the hospital pharmacy. Students were able to both observe and participate in using the drug carousel, filling orders, and restocking crash carts. Alignment was also able to cater to those looking into the sphere of public health by offering three paid internships at Well Child Center. Interns assisted with the food pantry and worked directly with the dentist at the center. “I think I’ve not only gained communication skills because I’ve been interacting with a lot of different people, but I’ve also learned what it means to be a nonprofit and how everything is centered in the community. I’ve really learned the values here and I think that’s been really cool.” says Mahitha, one of the Well Child Interns.

Alignment expresses its appreciation to Advocate Sherman and the Well Child Center for providing these students with real-life experiences in order to help them feel confident and excited about their future endeavors. Ambitious and hard-working students interested in healthcare can be sure to gain a thorough understanding of the healthcare field with these paid summer internships.

Article and photos were provided by Alignment’s two high school interns: Bryanna Cole, Elgin High School and Jasmine Fox, Bartlett High School.

Authors Bryanna Cole, Elgin High School, and Jasmine Fox, Bartlett High School visit with Stephanie Asare, intern for Representative Anna Moeller's Office. — Authors Bryanna Cole, Elgin High School, and Jasmine Fox, Bartlett High School visit with Stephanie Asare, intern for Representative Anna Moeller’s Office.

Students Celebrate 100% Completion of Pharmacy Technician Internship — Authors Bryanna Cole, Elgin High School, and Jasmine Fox, Bartlett High School visit with Stephanie Asare, intern for Representative Anna Moeller’s Office.

Thank You to the Seigle Foundation

June 28, 2023

Mark and Robin Seigle with Governing Board Chair Bill Wright at EXPLORE 2022 — Robin and Mark Seigle with Alignment Governing Board Chair Bill Wright at EXPLORE 2022

Thank you to the Seigle Foundation and its commitment to Alignment’s mission to provide future workforce development programs and services that give students the opportunity across the region to graduate academic and career ready. The Seigle Foundation awarded a total of $283,000 to educational organizations in the region. Alignment is excited and honored to be named as one of those organizations.

In a recent article in the Daily Herald, Nancy Coleman, Alignment’s executive director expressed our appreciation to the Seigle Foundation. “Alignment greatly appreciates the Seigle Foundation for its investment in future workforce development. Thank you for your human and financial contribution to our shared commitment that students graduate academic and career ready prepared for continued success.”

Here is the link to the Daily Herald’s June 27, 2023 original article on the Seigle Foundation:
https://www.dailyherald.com/submitted/20230627/seigle-foundation-grants-surpass-10-million-mark

Here is the link to the August 28, 2023 updated article “Recent Seigle Foundation grants bring giving to over $1 million”:
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20230828/recent-seigle-foundation-grants-bring-giving-to-over-1-million

Alignment Launches Summer Internships with 24 Partner Organizations

June 15, 2023

Alignment - Summer Interns at Advocate Sherman Hospital — Advocate Sherman Hospital, Pharmacy Tech Interns

New Internship Opportunities Offered in 11 Career Fields

Alignment in partnership with Northern Kane County Region 110 and School District U-46 is offering more than 80 paid summer internship opportunities to high school students from school districts U-46, 300, and 301. Eleven career fields are highlighted this summer such as the new pilot program in pharmacy sponsored by Advocate Sherman Hospital. Elgin Sweeper has expanded its internship opportunities to include both engineering and welding experiences. Once again, Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, Inc. in partnership with Judson University will provide 15 students experiences in architecture, civil engineering, and design. These are just a few examples of what the summer has to offer to high school students.

Stay tuned to learn more about these internships, the hosting organizations, and the students excelling through these experiences.

Thank you to the following organizations and our school districts for hosting these career exploration opportunities:

Advocate Sherman Hospital
Alignment Collaborative for Education
ALTA
The Atrium at Oak Crest Residence
Bartlett Park District
City of Elgin
Downtown Neighborhood Association
Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce
Elgin Partnership for Early Learning (EPEL)
Elgin Sweeper
Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, Inc.
Hanover Township

ITW Shakeproof
Judson University
Northern Kane County Region 110
Office of State Representative Anna Moeller
Reishauer
School District U-46
Streamwood Park District
Talent First
Taylor Family YMCA
Village of Bartlett
Well Child Center
79Ratio

Future Teachers Tour Judson University

May 1, 2023

Students from Bartlett, Larkin, and South Elgin high schools visited Judson’s School of Education to view the array of programs Judson offers in preparing the next decade of teachers. Thirty-two (32) students from the Education CTE programs participated in the day as part of Alignment’s efforts in partnership with U-46, District 300, and District 301 to regionally build a teacher pipeline. Nancy Coleman, Alignment’s executive director praised the volunteers leading this program. “We had the opportunity to visit NIU in the fall and Judson in the spring to showcase two institutions of higher learning making great contributions to address the teacher shortage.” Alignment is thankful to the Judson School of Education for investing these resources in students considering teaching as their future profession.

Larkin High School CTE Awards Day

April 28, 2023

Larkin High School seniors were recognized for their achievements while enrolled in career and technical education (CTE) courses including culinary, education, engineering and healthcare programs. Career and technical education (CTE) teachers had the opportunity to celebrate the students’ accomplishments as these seniors prepare to graduate on May 27, 2023 at the NOW Arena.

Alignment’s executive director, Nancy Coleman, participated in the awards ceremony by providing the keynote address. Coleman praised the students for utilizing their high school experience to prepare for future careers where many of these students graduate with highly marketable skills and certifications. As Coleman asked students “What’s Next?”, she encouraged “seniors to take advantage of opportunities, set goals, and find a career that challenges you to showcase your best performance”.

Alignment wishes to recognize all U-46 career and technical education (CTE) teachers for their contributions to ensuring students have the opportunity to graduate academic and career ready.

CTE teachers: Amanda Long, Healthcare; Diane Kriescher, Engineering; Aurora Scarpaci, Education; and Katie Thompson, Business.

Alignment hosts 2023 Senior Job Fair for Career and Technical Education Students

April 24, 2023

Seniors Prepare for Employment at Job Fair

Nearly 400 high school students from School District U-46 and Central School District 301 attended the Senior CTE (career and technical education) Job Fair on Thursday, April 20, 2023 at Elgin Community College. Representatives from about 60 businesses, corporations, non-profits, municipalities, trade unions, colleges, and universities were present to meet with students. “An event like this shows students, as they’re preparing their postsecondary plans, that there are good options to work directly after high school, which also prepare them to be more competitive as they seek their long-term career goals” said Alignment Executive Director Nancy Coleman.

From all indications, this year’s job fair was an immediate success. “At least three job offers were made on the spot at the event,” said Terry Stroh, Executive Director, Northern Kane County Region 110 “including service technician positions at local auto dealerships and a maintenance position with a large equipment facility.”

“We were impressed by how many students know the direction they want to go after high school.” said Chad Randich, the business unit manager at Elgin Sweeper. He noted many students he spoke to were interested in a career in welding, a vital role at the company. U-46 offers a welding certification for students and its lab at Elgin High School is an accredited testing facility.

Mitchell Briesemeister, U-46 Director of Educational Pathways, remarked, “This is a place where we can connect high-wage, high-demand opportunities to our students who are choosing to explore entering the workforce immediately after high school. It is also a great way for our students to leverage the industry credentials they’ve earned in our high schools, which are valuable to our local partners.”

Students who attended the Senior CTE Job Fair benefitted from the experience. Jesse Villagomez, a senior at Elgin High School, spoke with representatives from Hoffer Plastics. He was intrigued by the variety of products Hoffer Plastics produces, such as car speaker covers. A speaker was on displayed on the table for students to view up close.

Villagomez is currently enrolled in Culinary Arts courses and he is grateful he will be able to cook confidently for himself, family, and friends. As far as a career, he is looking at other fields. “I don’t mind working hard,” he said. “The job fair opened my mind a little bit more. It’s making me flex my mind, thinking, ‘Is this what I want to do, or is it something more like this?’”.

Alignment’s community-wide work has focused on helping businesses offer educational experiences for students to demonstrate the link between high school completion and workplace opportunities.

Mark Seigle of the Seigle Foundation visited the event and was impressed at the large scale participation. He complimented Alignment on its success and said, “I spoke to a student who said he loved it and an employer who noted it was a great use of his time.”

Manufacturing
CV-Tek
ECC Apprenticeship Program
Electriflex
Hoffer Plastics
MAPAI
MCIP
Middleby

Welding
ECC Welding
Elgin Sweeper
S&C Electric

Culinary
Andy’s Frozen Custard
Culver’s
ECC Culinary
U-46 Food Services

Employment Services
Manpower

Business/Operations
Fisher Nuts – John B. Sanfilippo & Sons
KCT Credit Union
Nicor
State Farm
TBK Bank
U-46 Human Resources
U-46 Plant Operations

Education
Bartlett Park District
City of Elgin Parks and Rec
ECC Education Department
Judson University
Northern Illinois University
Primrose School of South Elgin
Streamwood Park District
YMCA

Healthcare
Advocate Sherman Hospital
Bella Terra Streamwood
ECC: Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Ophthalmic Tech
Forest View Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
Fox Valley Orthopaedic Associates
Gateway Express Clinic
Highland Oaks of Elgin
Illinois Pain and Spine Institute
Ascension Saint Joseph
The Atrium at Oak Crest Residents
Walgreens