On October 6, the 2022 Illinois ACTE Media Tour visited Collinsville Area Career Center and Alton High School to get a look at the programs offered by the two schools.
Programs on display at Collinsville included automotive technology, autobody repair, construction, culinary arts, criminal justice, cybersecurity, early childhood, education, engineering, industrial electronics, health science, CNA, machining and welding.
Several key opportunities for the students were highlighted. From start to finish, Collinsville construction students are building a house that will be placed on the market. It is a single-level home that will include modern amenities. In the automotive technology program, local businesses Ranken, Ford and Auffenberg provide guidance and industry-standard equipment that prepares students to work in their local automotive shops and dealerships. Illinois State Representative Katie Stuart and State Senator Kris Tharp were in attendance to view the programs. Both representatives shared that they learned a lot about CTE and career pathways after their visit.
Alton CTE programs showcased during the tour included agriculture, food, and natural resources, architecture and engineering, arts, audio/video technology and graphic design, automotive technology, business management and administration, computer networking and programming, construction, culinary, textiles, early childhood education and welding.
The top-notch welding facilities are one of the largest areas in the school, allowing the students to practice skills in a similar space to a professional welding shop. Large drafting tables and construction equipment are housed in the lab next door. The school’s outdoor greenhouse produces plants that students care for daily. A unique feature of Alton High School is their student-operated radio station, which broadcasts daily and can be heard across Southern Illinois. In addition, Alton boasts a strong environment for CTSOs – Alton's FCCLA chapter is the largest in the state of Illinois.
At Alton High School, Assistant Principal and CTE Director Mike Brey led the tour alongside Illinois State Representative Amy Elik and Illinois Board of Education officials. Kaleb Smith, CTE Director for Madison County, urged more industry partners to become involved with the county’s CTE programs through donations or helping to educate students about career opportunities available to them.
Photos from the tour are available here.
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