Internships

Sponsored by the AED Foundation and in partnership with Northern Kane County Region 110, Alignment hosted its 2025 Internship Host Recognition Breakfast on December 4 at Bartlett Hills Golf Club. More than 50 organizations came together for the event to recognize all host sites that provided a total of 243 students with paid internship experiences during 2025.

Welcomed to Bartlett by City Manager Paula Schumacher, the morning’s program highlighted the profound success and impact of this growing internship initiative that originally began five years ago with the first interns placed with the Village of Bartlett.

Alongside presenting awards to each 2025 host organization, the event featured compelling testimonies from past interns, industry representatives, and elected officials Hanover Park Mayor Rodney Craig and City of Elgin Mayor David Kaptain, embodying the significance of creating internship experiences that invest in the future success of the community.

Partners from Advocate Sherman Hospital, AED Foundation, Elgin Community College, Hoffer Plastics, Seigle Foundation, and Wintrust echoed the students’ sentiments in the importance of students being in the workplace to engage with industry professionals. Sharing their internship host experiences, these partners emphasized the reward and return of this future workforce investment to the region. With 243 interns placed for a minimum of 60 hours, the 55 host sites invested over 13,000 hours in these internship experiences representing more than a $700,000 return on investment to the school districts and the community.

Two student panels representing Bartlett, Central, Hampshire, Larkin, South Elgin, St. Charles East, and Streamwood high schools highlighted how their internship experiences have shaped their future career goals. From skill development to gaining stark clarity on what careers to pursue, interns expressed their immense gratitude to host organizations and confidently encouraged all the organizations in the room to support students and the future workforce by becoming a host site in 2026.

Superintendents from School Districts U-46, 300, 301, and 303 each announced increased financial commitments to sponsor internships next year. Elgin Community College (ECC), confirming on Monday following the breakfast, a third year of funding under the Taking Back the Trades grant securing a 33% increase from 2025 resulting in 100 high school students receiving paid summer internship opportunities in 2026.

Combining the financial support from the school districts, ECC, and the business partners that have already committed funding for 2026, the goal is to match 300 students to their career goal in this paid work opportunity. Alignment and Northern Kane County Region 110 are working to identify all internship opportunities by March 1. If your organization is interested in offering internships for Summer 2026, please contact Nancy Coleman at colemanace@align4edu.org, Terry Stroh at terry.stroh@central301.net, or Dr. Todd Stirn at efe.stirn@central301.net for further information.

Thank you to our 2025 Internship Host Organizations

The Program has Attracted 20 Students From School Districts U-46, 300, and 301

Article by Riley Penar, Central High School and Emily O’Hearn, Larkin High School.

Bartlett Police Department, Hanover Park Fire Department, and Hanover Township Emergency Management Services offered ten students a comprehensive exposure to First Responder professions. New this year, the Elgin Fire Department and Elgin Police Department hosted their own pilot program where an additional ten interns gained experience in emergency management, fire, and public safety.

On site at the seven fire stations in Elgin, along with Hanover Park’s Station 15, interns worked alongside First Responder professionals learning fire-fighting procedures and emergency medical skills, while also earning their CPR and Stop the Bleed certifications. Bartlett and Elgin Police Departments focused on dispatch communications, search and seizure procedures, excessive force parameters and overall public safety while also partnering with Hanover Township Emergency Management Services.

The students described this internship as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that deepened their understanding of careers in public safety. An average student’s summer does not typically consist of going to fire and police stations and spending their time with local heroes. Bernie Nevares, a firefighter and paramedic from Hanover Park encouraged the students to “push yourself as far as you can go”. This valuable opportunity taught these twenty students how to cope with stressful situations, gain new perspectives, and get over the fear of asking questions. Students in the Elgin program visited with Elgin Police Chief Ana Lalley as she reflected on her 30 years of experience, encouraging students to understand the “why” of selecting this profession and staying true to that commitment.

Nathan Shanley, an incoming Junior at South Elgin High School stated, “It has been really unique. I received great exposure to the fire service industry, and it definitely made me reconsider my career options because this has been such a cool experience.” Opportunities like this do not come often, so when a student is interested in becoming a First Responder they are highly encouraged to apply for this internship. The value and solidification in their career decisions are what the program encourages. The connections that are made with instructors and fellow interns is why this internship stands out.

Furthering a student’s education in the work environment is a main priority of Alignment. Students having fun while doing it is an added benefit! Thank you to the Bartlett Police Department, Elgin Fire and Police Departments, Hanover Park Fire Department, and Hanover Township Emergency Services for an opportunity of a lifetime.

For an overview of our First Responder Internships this year, please view our video: