About Austin Polytech
| Austin Polytechnical Academy is an engineering- and manufacturing-focused public high school on Chicago's West Side.
Thanks to over 60 partner companies, our students learn about the many different career opportunities in manufacturing through field trips, guest speaker visits, job shadowing opportunities, internships, and more.
Austin Polytech is a project of the Chicago Manufacturing Renaissanc Council. Our career program is operated by the Center for Polytechnical Education.
www.austinpolytech.com
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Join our Newsletter List
| Sign up to receive e-mail updates from Austin Polytechnical Academy, including our monthly newsletter Tech Talk.
You can also choose to receive updates from the Chicago Manufacturing Renaissance Council and the Chicago Academy for Advanced Technology.th
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Support our Students
| It takes more than a traditional high school budget to help our students engineer their futures.
We need to invest in our world class machine shop, college- and career-prep program, and work-based projects and activities.
For example, our After School Matters beverage marketing team needs $800 to brand and sell their new product.
Please help by sending us a check, made out to the Center for Polytechnical Education, at 3411 West Diversey, Suite 10, Chicago, Illinois 60647.
You can also contribute online securely through PayPal by clicking below:
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Contact Us
| The career program at Austin Polytech is operated by the not-for-profit Center for Polytechnical Education.
If you have any questions about Tech Talk or Austin Polytech, please call our office at 773-634-5300 ext. 46326.
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NIMS Summer Program 100% Successful!
| Congratulations to all 12 NIMS Summer Program students for passing their certification exam! For the past seven weeks, students have been working with instructor Bryant Redd to prepare for their NIMS Materials, Measurement & Safety certifications.
"I wanted to know what really goes on in the manufacturing business, I wanted to know what kind of preparation you need to get a job in the manufacturing and engineering field," said rising APA junior Kadedra Murph about her decision to enroll in the program. "This credential will help me in my career. We'll be more safe because we'll know what to do."
Official evaluations are still in progress, but students really enjoyed working with Mr. Redd. "He is a real down to earth person, he makes things really simple, and he gives you a lot of individual attention" said Kadedra.
Our 100% successful summer program brings APA's NIMS certification tally up to 23 students.
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Summer Job Profile | Laystrom Manufacturing
| Rising APA senior Marquiese Booker has learned a great deal working at Laystrom Manufacturing this past summer. "The most interesting thing I learned at work so far," Marquiese reports, "is that you must know a lot about the different types of metal they have, like steel, iron, and the other types of metal."
I also find interesting that if you go to school and major in fields like mechanical or industrial engineering -- or you are really interested in metal -- you can make $35 an hour," he added, "and that's a lot of money. But you have to work hard and practice."Terry
Foley, Laystrom engineer and Marquiese's supervisor, had positive things to say about his summer employee. "He's
working well, and he's here everyday on time. He's been great. He has
a very inquisitive mind." Special thanks to Laystrom Manufacturing for their participation in the APA Summer Jobs Program!
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Summer Job Profile | Freedman Seating Co.
|  This summer, five APA students have reported to work each day for the summer jobs at Freedman Seating. "The students have been a delight to work
with," says Human Resources Director Marisela Williams.
"They have exhibited a strong work ethic and have assisted a
variety of departments to complete projects that Freedman employees do
not normally have time to complete. The extra set of hands has been a
true benefit. We hope that this experience has not only benefited us but
the students as well.Two students, Tiera Logan and London Hicks, have been working on data-entry in the office. Below, Tiera enters information for Freedman Seating's bill of materials -- an important tasks that requires superior attention to detail. Her supervisor, Ruth Meldon, says Tiera is "doing well, and I'd like to hire her!"
"Freedman Seating strongly believes in the mission of Austin Polytech therefore we try to assist in any way we can," Ms. Williams added. "When Craig Freedman was approached by Bill Vogel about the program there was no hesitation that we would participate in the program." Austin Polytech deeply appreciates Freedman Seating's support!
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| Summer Job Profile | DeCardy Diecasting | APA rising senior Michael Hudson has tried on a variety of hats during his summer job with DeCardy Diecasting. After starting out in production, Michael transitioned to a new role in quality control, working with a micrometer and calibrating gauges. Then he recorded his findings and entered the data into a computer.
George Kaniewski said he and his colleagues wanted Michael to learn as much as possible at DeCardy Diecasting, and were impressed with Michael's prior experience working with micrometers in school. His skills came in handy over the summer. Special thanks to DeCardy Diecasting for their commitment to APA.
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