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About Austin Polytech
| Austin Polytechnical Academy is an engineering- and manufacturing-focused and college prep 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 Renaissance Council. Our career program is operated by the Center for Labor and Community Research.
Learn more at austinpolytech.org |
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Support our Students
| It takes more than a traditional high school budget to help our students engineer their future.
We need to invest in our world class machine shop, college- and career-prep program, and work-based projects and activities.
For example, APA has a SkillsUSA chapter in which students meet weekly to work on school and community leadership projects, attend regional and state conferences and participate in job skill competitions.
Please help by sending us a check, payable to the Center for Labor and
Community Research, at 3411 West Diversey, Suite 10, Chicago, Illinois 60647.
You can also contribute online securely through PayPal by clicking below:
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| Career Program | The career program at Austin Polytech is operated by the not-for-profit Center for Labor and Community Research.
If you have any questions, please call our office at (773) 534-6326 or visit us in Room 140. |
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Contact
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Austin Polytechnical Academy
231 N. Pine Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60644
Main Office: (773) 534-6301
Career Services: (773) 534-6326
Fax: (773) 534-6046
austinpolytech.org |
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Austin Polytech Graduates
Its First Class
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 | | Photo: John Konstanaras/Chicago News Cooperative |
On June 11, 2011, ninety-two Austin Polytech seniors crossed the finish line. This was a significant milestone for the graduates, as young adults starting the rest of their lives, as well as for us, the educators, parents, community and manufacturing partners who have been working closely with and alongside them for the last four years. This milestone does not solely represent their success as individuals, but it also demonstrates the early successes of a unique Chicago Public School that one day hopes to catalyze the positive development of the entire Austin community.
It has not been smooth ride by any means, but at the elegant graduation ceremony ninety-two of our best students, surrounded by an auditorium full of family and friends, were exuberant. Sade Armstrong and Brittany Trotter gave touching remarks to their fellow graduates. The keynote address was given by Ron Daly, former President of R.R. Donnelley, who spoke to the graduates about the "Importance of You." One by one, the graduate names were called as they walked across the stage, showing their individual flare, as they shook hands with Principal Fabby Williams, Asst. Principal Tonya Hammaker, Ron Daly, and APA Founder Dan Swinney. We wish the graduates all the best and hope to keep in touch with them as they progress through their lives through our APA Alumni Network.
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APA Earns NIMS Accreditaton!
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As of June 27, 2011 APA's WaterSaver Faucet Manufacturing Technology Center (MTC) has become a NIMS accredited program for metalworking skills. This is momentous honor that has been in the works since the MTC was established two years ago. Through the diligent efforts of the MTC Advisory Committee and the APA Machining Instructors Pablo Varela and Tom O'Brien, the facility and the NIMS training program met and in some areas exceeded the standards set by NIMS. APA is now only one of four NIMS accredited programs and currently the only high school in Illinois. Beyond the esteem of the achieving this standard of excellence, this also means that the MTC mirrors the best practices within the industry and satisfies stringent safety standards. As MTC Advisory Committee Chairman Don Ruesch says; "As our graduating students start to enter the work world, the Austin community will feel the impact of what we have done here."
A very special thanks to: Don Ruesch - Ruesch Training, Pablo Varela - CLCR/APA NIMS Instructor, Tom O'Brien - APA Teacher, Dan Kiraly - TMA Education Foundation, Erica Swinney - CLCR/APA, Fabby Williams & Tonya Hammaker - APA Administration, Steve Lowery - Tower Oil & Technology Co., Joe Morgan - Arrow Gear Co., Jack Krikorian - Krikorian Training, Dave Pfleger - TPI Consultants, Bryant Redd - Wright College, Bill Vogel - CLCR/APA, Veronica Martinez - Career & Technical Education Dept. of Chicago Public Schools, Dan Swinney - CLCR/CMRC
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Summer Jobs Begin this Month
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The Summer Jobs program is in full swing as 7 alumni and 15 seniors start work with one of our 13 manufacturing partner companies. The students went through an extensive application process that started with 2 hour orientation followed by an interview by the partners. The students were placed based on their interest and skill level (NIMS credentials). The students will work at their sites for up to 10 weeks. Some of our students, sponsored by Chicago Public Schools and CLCR, will work with Mr. Varela in the Manufacturing Technology Center to fulfill an order made by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers Education Foundation for 500 whistles (see January 2011 Tech Talk issue). Stay tuned throughout the summer for update on our students experience
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Special thanks to: WaterSaver Faucet, Freedman Seating, Wrightwood Precision, Allied Metal, C. Cretors, Hudson Precision, PK Tool, Plymouth Tube, CLCR, DeCardy Diecasting, Laystrom Manufacturing, Strive, Overton Chicago Gear
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APA Welcomes Janler Corporation
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Bill Vogel, APA Industrial Coordinator, welcomes Carol Ebel, President of Janler Corporation as an Austin Polytech Partner. Janler Corp is a tool maker of complicated die primarily in the plastics molding industry. They also are a molder of precise parts. Ms. Ebel gave Mr. Vogel a tour of their facility. She introduced him to an intern that is with Janler for her second year. Ms. Ebel said: "We are looking forward to Ausin Polytech students being involved at Janler. We are a company with significant changes ahead and we will require the very best of employees to achieve our objectives. We're hoping some of those employees with be graduates from Austin Polytech."
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