We have focused on a few key strategies to make these connections with our students. The first is continuing our career pathways program. We support three career pathways, all strong in Lake County, that provide students with classes, experiences, and networking in the career-oriented fields of healthcare, IT, and manufacturing. Our partnership with the Lake County Tech Campus is key to this success.
Second, over the past two years, we started a work-study program for our seniors. Seniors who enroll in this class intern at local companies and take classwork focused on the soft skills needed to be successful in the workplace. Students are placed in schools, on manufacturing floors, and in small businesses.
Finally, we have an incredible partnership with the City of North Chicago to provide a program called Warhawk Summer Up! This program provides students with summer experiences like internships, field experiences, and college visits - all free to our students. These provide great opportunities for our students to connect their studies to professions and work experiences.
You just celebrated your first class of Warhawk Lancer Scholars. Can you tell us a bit about this groundbreaking scholarship program?
Yes, this is one of my favorite things to talk about. Our first class of Warhawk Lancer Scholars will graduate this spring from the College of Lake County in fields like nursing, social work, and public service. Some will continue their programs of study, and some will enter the workforce. Our scholarship program aims to provide wraparound support for our students entering college. We provide not only a full ride scholarship, but also a living stipend and academic counseling for our students.
With the more intensive support provided, along with the actual scholarship, we are seeing higher rates of success for our students. We hope to see four graduates in the spring and ten next year when our second class graduates. We are growing and expanding the impact of this scholarship.
In partnership with AbbVie, you are constructing a new Neal Math & Science Academy in North Chicago. What is the latest project news?
AbbVie’s $40M donation is becoming a reality right in the heart of our community. The project is on time, and we plan to complete the construction on August 19th - just one week before students will move in to start their first year in the new building. The design process has brought our community together, and to see this building rise up next to the current school has created a palpable sense of excitement in the entire community.
In developing the county's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), what struck you as the biggest opportunity?
The biggest opportunity in the CEDS process was to strategically plan to use economic development as a tool for increasing equity. Working with the steering committee was an honor, and throughout the process we continually returned to questions of expanding opportunity, expanding access, and using the economic strengths of Lake County to serve all of our citizens. So for example, key strategies like improving public transportation and infrastructure can have a very positive impact on members of our community that do not have their own cars.
We have also made a strong commitment to early childhood education through home-based daycares. Working families need safe, high-quality places with affordable day care. Home-based daycare centers provide that while creating dozens of small local businesses in our community. These win-win strategies help expand economic access for many people who have been denied these opportunities in the past.
We appreciate your leadership and continued partnership with LCP.
From the CEDS planning process, to organizing tours of local manufacturing plants, to convening thought partners around career pipelines in the region, Lake County Partners has led the work to connect our schools to local businesses and careers. Because of the support of Lake County Partners, our efforts to propel students to their first career placement have accelerated. Your partnership is essential to our students’ success.
