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Internship Recognition Breakfast Celebrates 2025 Industry Host Partners

December 10, 2025

Alignment's 2025 Internship Host Breakfast

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

Automotive, Engineering, Heavy Equipment, Manufacturing and Trade Professions

Advanced Compressor Technologies
Bob Loquercio Auto Group
Bucher Hydraulics
Elgin Sweeper
Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, LLC
Hoffer Plastics
ITW Shakeproof
Judson University
KS Auto Care
Lakeview Precision Machining
Service Concepts
Shales McNutt Construction
Village of Bartlett
West Side Tractor
WT Group

Business, Culinary, Finance, Government, and IT

Bartlett Hills Golf Club and Banquets
Centro de Información
City of Elgin – City Manager’s Office
Downtown Neighborhood Association
Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce
Elgin Development Group
Elgin Symphony Orchestra
Explore Elgin Area
Gather Pingree Grove
Gowns for Good
The Haight
Golden Corridor Family YMCA
Keith French Photography
Microsoft
Office of State Representative Anna Moeller
Opiquad, LLC
Rosati’s
Wintrust

Education, Human Services, and Veterinary Science

Advance Preschool
Anderson Humane Veterinary Clinic
Bartlett Park District
Central Community School District 301
Community Unit School District 300
Hanover Township
Mid-Valley Special Education Cooperative
Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association
Pet Vet Animal Clinic
Precious Angels
School District U-46
South Elgin Parks & Recreation
Tails Humane Society
Two Rivers Head Start

First Responder

Bartlett Police Department
Elgin Fire Department
Elgin Police Department
Hanover Park Fire Department
Hanover Township Emergency Services

Healthcare

Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
Advocate Sherman Hospital
Athletico
Diamond Physical Therapy
OrthoIllinois
VNA Health Care
Well Child Center

Automotive, Engineering, Heavy Equipment, Manufacturing and Trade Professions Hosts

Northern Kane County Region 110 and Alignment Host Landmark Career Pathways Advisory Meeting

November 17, 2025

2025 Advisory Team meeting - room overview

Over 60 leaders from business and industry across the Fox Valley region volunteered their time and industry expertise to form a Career Pathways Curriculum Review and Advisory Council Model to support School Districts U-46, 300, 301, 303 and Elgin Community College. This unprecedented gathering provided actionable insights into the essential skills and knowledge that should be part of the region’s high school Career and Technical Education (CTE) curricula for the 11 high schools in the region.

Representatives from diverse fields—including Business, Finance, IT, Computer Science, Engineering, Manufacturing, Healthcare, First Responder Services, Law and Public Service, Programming, Communications, Marketing, Graphic Design, and Education—participated in focused discussions to ensure students are prepared for the evolving workforce.

Key Themes and Foundational Skills Needed in Today’s Workforce

Breakout sessions by industry sector revealed several common foundational themes of identified opportunities in today’s entry level workforce that need to be addressed as early as high school to better prepare students for the future workforce. Examples of skills identified across multiple industry clusters included:

Professional Skills: Initiative, reliability, and accountability
Communication: Strong oral, written, and digital communication skills
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving: Independent and collaborative approaches
Academic Foundations:
- Mathematics: Algebraic reasoning, spreadsheets, budgets, and statistical data
- English Language Arts: Oral and written communication, digital literacy, and presentation development
- Science: Pathway-specific courses such as anatomy, biology, chemistry, physics, and health-related sciences
- AI competency in various applications

A Milestone Event

This was the largest advisory board meeting of its kind, featuring curriculum and work-based learning leaders Dr. Todd Stirn (Northern Kane County Region 110), Joseph Sieczkowski and Jonathan Anderson (District 300), Stephen Buchs (District 301), Dr. Monica Boehle (District 303), and Myka Kennedy (District U-46) as well as numerous educational leaders from Elgin Community College including Dr. Sandra Gonzalez, Dr. Parul Raval, and Dr. Farah Bennani among others. The meeting was facilitated by Regional Director Terry Stroh (Northern Kane County Vocational Region 110) and Executive Director Nancy Coleman (Alignment Collaborative for Education).

“This morning, Northern Kane County Region 110, with the support of our business and community partners, held regional advisory committee meetings simultaneously across more than a dozen industry clusters for all four school districts,” noted Director Stroh. “When we began planning, I hoped for 20–25 business partners to attend. The room was packed with over 60, highlighting the commitment of our partners and the collaboration across districts and industry.”

Thank You to Our Business Community and Postsecondary Partners for a “Win-Win”

“This event highlights the power of collaboration among our school districts, business partners, and education organizations,” said Nancy Coleman, Executive Director of the Alignment Collaborative for Education. “It was Alignment’s honor to bring together such a depth of knowledge and experience to support the region’s school districts. We are strengthening our region’s 11 high schools to deliver academic and career education that is a precursor to preparing students for the future workforce. The investment today will pay for itself as we ensure within a decade a workforce that meets and hopefully exceeds the region’s need for continued economic growth and community prosperity.”

Participating Organizations

A-Tec Ambulance
Advocate Sherman Hospital
Alignment Collaborative for Education
AVID CNA School
Baird Warner
Bartlett Police Department
Braden
Bucher Hydraulics
CCS Technology
City of Elgin
City of Elgin Fire Department
City of Elgin Police Department
Elgin Community College
Elgin Development Group
Enriching Partnerships for Early Learning
Explore Elgin Area
Gail Borden Public Library
Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, Inc.
Hanover Park Fire Department
Hoffer Plastics, Inc.
Howard Sportswear

Jeniko Machine Works
Junior Achievement- Chicago
Kane County Health Department
Matrix Design, LLC
Northern Illinois University
Northern Kane County Region 110
Rosati’s
School District 300
School District 301
School District 303
School District U-46
sitebyMIKE
Southern Illinois University
Streamwood Behavioral Healthcare Services
Village of Bartlett Police Department
VNA Health Care
Well Child Center
Wintrust
Wolko Design Group
YouthBuild
Zurich Insurance

Central Community School District 301 Launches Healthcare Pathway

November 13, 2025

District 301 interns visit a resident at the Atirum Oak Crest

With the launch of a new Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program, students at Central High School can now earn their CNA certification while still in high school, building a strong foundation for a wide range of healthcare careers responding to the growing demand for skilled medical professionals. Dr. Todd Stirn, retired 301 superintendent and current work based learning specialist for Northern Kane County Region 110, described it best as a rocket launch into healthcare careers.

Stephen Buchs, Director of Curriculum 6–12 and College Partnerships, led the initiative alongside Department Chair Kelly Greene, noting students’ strong and growing interest in healthcare fields. Certified School Nurse Joyce Turnipseed now supervises the clinical coursework and supports students earning dual credit through Elgin Community College (ECC).

“This project has been a long overdue need to provide an option for students with an interest in any future healthcare profession,” said Stephen Buchs. “The investment by the district is minor in comparison to the student lives that will be changed by the pathway, even when it required overcoming challenges surrounding building space, finding licensed instructors, and managing student growth. The work invested by so many people to make the program a success is well worth it. District 301 is proud to stay a student-focused district so that every student today and in the future has access to a variety of careers.”

District 301 Group 1 interns at the Atrium Oak Crest — District 301 Group 1 Interns at the Atrium Oak Crest

District 301 Group 2 interns at the Atrium Oak Crest — District 301 Group 2 Interns at the Atrium Oak Crest

This work could not be done without our business and community partners. The Atrium at Oak Crest is now the clinical rotation site for the 11 CNA students. When asked about the clinical supervision and the partnership with The Atrium, Joyce Turnipseed praised the opportunity for students to transfer “their classroom learning into compassionate care gaining valuable hands-on experience in a real healthcare setting”.

Susan Cincinelli, Executive Director of The Atrium, enthusiastically greeted students the first day of the clinical experience. “It is a privilege to welcome District 301 CNA students to Oak Crest, where our 122-year tradition of dignity and caring continues to define our mission. Sharing the Oak Crest philosophy with the future leaders of healthcare is a true honor, and we are proud to partner with these dedicated learners—and share our mission-based approach. At Oak Crest, our goal is to continue to move toward an inclusive community where youth and aged people live together and learn from one another; these young people are reminders of what can be accomplished when the barriers of ageism are removed.”

Northern Kane County Region 110 and the Alignment Collaborative for Education applaud Central 301 and The Atrium at Oak Crest for launching this program and creating strong partnerships that connect students with real-world experience. The collaboration between Central 301 and The Atrium at Oak Crest exemplifies how schools and community organizations can work together to develop the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Stephen Buchs and Joyce Turnipseed (301) joined Terry Stroh, Todd Stirn and Nancy Coleman to visit with The Atrium's mother and daughter management team, Susan and Wendy, to finalize plans for District 301's first clinical rotation. — Stephen Buchs and Joyce Turnipseed (301) joined Terry Stroh, Todd Stirn and Nancy Coleman to visit with the Atrium’s mother and daughter management team, Susan and Wendy, to finalize plans for District 301’s first clinical rotation.

Karen Fox receives “Volunteer Extraordinaire” Elgin Image Award

November 4, 2025

The Alignment Collaborative for Education had the distinct pleasure of nominating Karen Fox for the “Volunteer Extraordinaire” Elgin Image Award. As a Governing Board member and community leader, Karen has been instrumental in providing support to students and families throughout School District U-46. Having served as a teacher and educator for over 35 years, Karen has shaped decades of students for future success.

Karen’s contributions to the community are not just limited to education. Examples of that leadership include guiding the community’s Census 2020 campaign, assisting U-46 with its latest successful referendum, serving as president of the Gail Borden Public Library Foundation as well as assisting Alignment with the implementation of the Elgin Neighborhood Network with United Way Metro Chicago.

Karen’s legacy is defined by her “contagious spirit of service” quietly encouraging and championing what is best for Elgin, its students and their families. Her nomination read “When Karen Fox is at the table, great things happen.” Thank you to the Elgin Development Group for selecting Karen for this award. All of Elgin will agree that no one deserves it more!

Manufacturing Day Grows Across School Districts U-46, 300, 301 and 303

October 23, 2025

Thank you to Northern Kane County Region 110 and our Manufacturing Partners

Thank you to Northern Kane County Region 110 for a most successful fourth annual Manufacturing Day. Approximately 600 students from school districts U-46, 300, 301, and 303 participated in industry tours with the region’s most prominent manufacturing companies, opening their doors and welcoming students to tour their facilities and learn more about manufacturing professions.

Walking the site floors, students met industry professionals who shared their experiences and advisement for multiple manufacturing careers. Region 110 Work-Based Learning Specialist, Dr. Todd Stirn, coordinated the tours sharing why these tours are so valuable. “There are hundreds of thousands of well-paying, satisfying jobs in manufacturing going unfilled, yet many young people aren’t aware of these opportunities. Bringing students and manufacturers together through these tours is the perfect solution.”

As students make plans for their future career, Terry Stroh, Region 110’s EFE director, shared that “many students during the tour discovered opportunities to join the region’s competitive summer internship program, connecting classroom learning to real-world experience”. Through this partnership of manufacturing companies, both students and local manufacturers look toward the promise of a strong future workforce. Nancy Lesincki, senior talent advisor for HARTING, posted “We undoubtedly have the best community partners working alongside us with the aim of facilitating manufacturing growth and careers in Illinois.”

Thank You to Our Host Manufacturing Companies

Advanced Compressor Technology
AFC Materials
AJR Filtration
Babbitting Service Inc.
Bucher Hydraulics
Clarke Environmental
Custom Aluminum
Echo USA

Elgin Sweeper
Flender
General Kinematics
Genesis Automation
HARTING Americas
Hoffer Plastics
ITW Shakeproof
Lakeview Precision Machining

Mazak
Middleby Marshall
McCormick FONA
Pactiv Evergreen
Richardson Electronics
Sauber Manufacturing
Swiss Automation
Wittenstein

Senior Postsecondary Day Reaches Over 1,300 Students!

October 21, 2025

More than 25 universities, colleges, and organizations joined Alignment and School District U-46 for the Senior Virtual Postsecondary Day on October 15. Reaching the largest number of seniors to date, 1,342 students were exposed to a multitude of college and career pathways.

As they met with admissions counselors and visiting faculty, students were able to gain valuable guidance as they envisioned the next steps in their academic and professional endeavors. Specialized sessions also provided students vital tools and resources through college essay tutoring and financial literacy discussions for FAFSA preparation and personal finance. From learning about different apprenticeship and technical programs at Elgin Community College, to exploring military service opportunities, to hearing from U-46 alumni share their personal postsecondary experiences at various institutions, there was something for every student to feel empowered in pursuing their postsecondary plans.

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

Aurora University
Bradley University
Butler University
College of DuPage
DePaul University Dominican University
Elgin Community College
Grand Valley State University
Harper College
Honest Game – NCAA Academic Eligibility

Illinois State University
Indiana University
Judson University
Lincoln College of Technology
Loyola University
Marquette University
Northern Illinois University
Pathways Planning and Insights
Purdue University
rich and REGULAR (Personal Financial Management)

Roosevelt University
Southern Illinois University
Universal Technical Institute
University of Illinois Chicago
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of Iowa
University of Wisconsin Madison
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
U.S. Armed Forces
Western Illinois University

Thank you to all the volunteers from these organizations who made this event a huge success, as well as to our Alignment partners from the U-46 Postsecondary Success Team, and Northern Kane County Region 110, who facilitated 16 different sessions for students.