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Alignment Collaborative for Education - ACE

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Nancy Coleman Awarded YWCA Leadership Award in Education

Nancy Coleman accepts 2025 YWCA Leadership Award in Education

Alignment is thrilled to announce that our Executive Director, Nancy Coleman, was selected for this year’s Leadership Award in Education at the YWCA Leader Luncheon held May 8th. This YWCA event honors extraordinary women for their remarkable achievements and raises vital funds to support the YWCA Elgin’s impactful programs.

Nancy’s nomination included input from community leaders and educators across the region and highlighted her unwavering commitment to student success and workforce readiness.

Congratulations to Nancy and all of the 2025 nominees!

Nancy Coleman with Certificate of Nomination
Nancy Coleman accepts Nomination Certificate from Felicia King, YWCA Elgin CEO, and Diane Alfaro, Board Vice-Chair
2025 YWCA Leadership Awardees
Congratulations to the 2025 YWCA Leadership Awardees!

Alignment and Northern Kane County Region 110 Job Fair Attracts Students Across the Region

More than 550 students from eleven high schools across School Districts U-46, 300, 301, and 303 attended the annual Regional Job Fair sponsored by Alignment and Northern Kane County Region 110 hosted at Elgin Community College. The students had the opportunity to connect with 74 businesses and community organizations representing a wide range of industries, including automotive, business, culinary, education, energy, financial services, healthcare, IT, and manufacturing. Thanks to resume workshops held beforehand, many students arrived prepared with resumes to share with potential employers. This year’s fair also featured 18 organizations offering summer employment, allowing students to complete job applications on the spot.

Thank you to our Sponsors

Advocate Sherman Hospital
AED Foundation
Baran Family
City of Elgin
John and Niki Devereux
Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce
Elgin Community College
Elgin Sweeper

Elgin Township
First Mid Bank & Trust
Grand Victoria Foundation
Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, Inc.
Hoffer Family and Foundation
David and Sandy Kaptain
KCT Credit Union
Nicor

Rosati’s Pizza
Saint Joseph Hospital
Seigle Foundation
Peter Sikorski Family
United Way Metro Chicago
Village of Hanover Park
Wintrust
Wolko Design Group

Thank you to our Exhibitors

Advanced Compressors
AHW
Altorfer CAT
Association for Individual Development
A-TEC Ambulance
AVID CNA School
Black Diamond Plumbing & Mechanical
Bob Loquercio Auto Group
Boys and Girls Clubs of Elgin
Boys and Girls Clubs of the Northwest Suburbs
Bria of Geneva Nursing and Rehabilitation
Bucher Hydraulics
Business and Career Services, Inc.
City of Elgin
COLLARS
Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Northern Illinois
Convergint
Cosmetology and Spa Academy
Culvers
Custom Aluminum Products
D301 Facilities/Building and Grounds
D301 Food Service
D301 Human Resources
Dundee Township Park District
Durham School Services
Edward Jones Financial Advisor

Elgin Community College – Apprenticeship Program
Elgin Community College – Culinary Department
Elgin Community College – Dental Assisting Program
Elgin Community College – Phlebotomy Program
Elgin Community College – Talent Search
Elgin Community College – Welding
Elgin Community College – WIOA program
Elgin Industries
Elgin Neighborhood Network Mental Health Initiative
Elgin Sweeper
Gail Borden Public Library
GCAMP, Greater Chicago Advanced Manufacturing Partnership
General Kinematics
Golden Corridor Family YMCA
Highland Oaks of Elgin
Hoffer Plastics
IL Secretary of State – Department of Personnel
John B. Sanfilippo & Son (Fisher Nuts)
Judson University
Keller Williams Success Realty
LifeLine Ambulance

Lincoln College of Technology
LyondellBasell
MKD Electric
NICOR
Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association
Official Finders
Old Second National Bank
Opiquad, LLC
Organic Life Smart Food Service
Pace Suburban Bus
Prime Healthcare: Saint Joseph Hospital Elgin
ProDriven Global Brands
Rosati’s Pizza
Santa’s Village
Streamwood Behavioral Healthcare System
Streamwood Park District
Target
Truck Country
U-46 Human Resources
U-46 Plant Operations
Universal Technical Institute
Village of Hanover Park
VNA Health Care
West Dundee Fire Department
Wintrust / Elgin State Bank
workNet Batavia
Young Rembrandts

Summer Internship Program Attracts Over 800 Student Applications

Summer Internship Program 2025

This year, we received more than 800 applications from students across Northern Kane County, each showcasing unique strengths and perspectives. With only 200 internship positions available, the selection process was highly competitive. Administrators from Northern Kane County Region 110, the Alignment Collaborative for Education, and School Districts U-46, 300, 301, and 303 carefully reviewed the applications to identify the best matches. Currently, students are being interviewed and offered positions by host organizations across the region with the summer internships scheduled to begin as early as June 3.

Hanover Township Recognition

On Saturday, April 12, Hanover Township hosted its annual Supervisor’s Community Service Award Breakfast.  The Alignment Collaborative for Education was awarded Outstanding Organization of the Year nominated by the Streamwood Park District. 

We extend our sincere thanks to Jeff Janda, Executive Director of the Streamwood Park District, for the nomination, Brian McGuire, Hanover Township Supervisor, and the Hanover Township trustees for this recognition. Alignment was proud to be among several outstanding organizations recognized for its impact and dedication to Hanover Township and the communities it serves.

Elgin and Streamwood Seniors Experience Job Opportunities in Heavy Equipment Maintenance at ALTORFER CAT

Seniors from Elgin and Streamwood high schools’ automotive programs joined Altorfer CAT on March 24 to tour the East Dundee facility to learn more about the ThinkBig program.  This apprenticeship program combines work and school benefiting students with paid work time in Altorfer’s facilities while also earning their associates degree. Students begin by enrolling in the program in applied science at Illinois Central College attending eight weeks of classes followed by an eight-week, paid internship experience starting at $18.50 per hour.

At the completion of the associate degree program, students selected for full-time employment receive a 50% reimbursement of tuition costs and after three years of employment, they receive the remaining 50% reimbursement.  Graduates receiving job offers from Altorfer can expect their hourly rate to increase substantially to over $30 per hour upon completion of the ThinkBIG program.

The Alignment Collaborative for Education, Northern Kane County Region 110, and School District U-46 greatly appreciate the Altorfer team and the Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) making this experience possible for these students as they prepare to graduate in May.