U-46 prepares students for careers

Elgin Area School District U-46, in conjunction with Education for Employment Region 110, will sponsor a National Career Readiness Certification Celebration.

This recognition of the students' achievement will be held Tuesday, May 17, in the Elgin Community College Business Conference Center, 1700 Spartan Drive. The program will begin at 5 p.m.

Speakers at the event include José Torres, U-46 superintendent; David Sam, ECC president; and Pat Hayes, chairman and founder of Fabric Images. Employers using NCRC as part of their hiring practice will be on hand to talk with students and parents.

This year, 909 U-46 students received their National Career Readiness Certification, a dramatic increase from prior years. To earn the certification, students are tested on reading for information, applied mathematics and locating information.

Students are awarded certification of bronze, silver, gold or platinum level based on their skills and achievement on the three WorkKeys tests.

The National Career Readiness Certification measures and verifies essential skill sets necessary for post-secondary education and future career success. Seventy local businesses recognize National Career Readiness Certification in the screening and hiring procedures.

This year, four U-46 seniors received their Platinum Level, the highest level possible and earned by only one percent of all participants. They are: Kaitlyn McCain of Elgin High School; Tyler Harman and Kevin Kibler, both of Bartlett High School; and Kelsey Johnson of Streamwood High School.

The reception supports the aim of U-46 to prepare all students for college and the workplace. Sponsors include the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce, local businesses and private donations.