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Thank you!
| Thank you to these partners who through the payment of their membership fees help our program provide high-quality career & technical education for the next generation of leaders in manufacturing:
American Mold Builders Assoc. (AMBA) Chicago Chapter Bison Gear & Engineering Corp. C. Cretors & Co. Chicago Metal Fabricators Chicago Paper Tube & Can Co. Columbia Metal Spinning Cragin Metals DeCardy Diecasting Freedman Seating Graymills Company Iverson & Company Label Master Laystrom Manufacturing Co. Matrix Tooling, Inc. North American Die Casting Assoc. Overton Chicago Gear P-K Tool & Mfrg Co. Paasche Airbrush Co. Plymouth Tube Co. Quality Control Corp Saporito Finishing Co. Sunstar Americas Inc Swiss Precision Machining Tempel Steel WaterSaver Faucet
Winzeler Gear Company
We also receive generous support from:
The Chicago Community Trust The JP Morgan Chase Foundation The Lloyd A. Fry Foundation The Kendeda Fund The Kresge Foundation
The Nathan Cummings Foundation
The Polk Brothers Foundation
Surdna Foundation
Society for Manufacturing Engineers Education Foundation
Tooling and Manufacturing Association Education Foundation
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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 the support of nearly 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's Career Program 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
austinpolytech.org
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APA Students Meet President Clinton
and Mayor Emanuel
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On March 1st, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and former President Bill Clinton made an announcement about infrastructure, economic development and job creation at the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters Apprentice and Training Facility, 2141 S. Union Ave. Clinton shook hands with Torres Hughes and Fashon Johnson,17, of Austin Polytechnical Academy after the announcement. | Rich Hein~Sun-Times
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Austin Polytech Honors Partners
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Photos by Richard Lanenga.
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Austin Polytechnical Academy's (APA) Career Department hosted an awards program in late January to honor Chicago area industry partners, companies for their time and efforts in support of educational programs at Austin Polytech. During the past year, APA partner companies and organizations have provided significant career exposure opportunities to students.
Program highlights for 2011 include: 108 students earned nationally-recognized industry credentials, 41 students had one or two job shadows, 36 students received paid internships or summer jobs, APA students had 19 manufacturing-related field trips, and one APA alumni secured a full-time job working in manufacturing. Partners have also contributed financially to APA's career initiatives with funding support totaling nearly $20,000 during 2011.
The two-hour APA Career Partner Appreciation program was emceed by Michael Bentley, General Manager, Compressor Operations, Johnson Controls, Inc., Wheeling, Ill. Other featured presenters included: APA Principal LaTonya Austin, Alderman Jason Ervin, Veenu Verma, Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) for Chicago Public Schools; APA Teacher Steve McIlrath: Dan Swinney, Executive Director, Chicago Manufacturing Renaissance Council; Steve Kersten, President, WaterSaver Faucet Co.; Jason Blake, CFO, Tooling and Manufacturing Association Education Foundation; Rodney Grover, Society for Manufacturing Engineers Education Foundation and Bruce Braker, National Institute for Metalworking Skills, Board Treasurer.
Guests were greeted by APA student hosts who gave tours of the WaterSaver Faucet Manufacturing Technology Center. APA Career Program Partners received special recognition plaques honoring the various ways they have contributed to APA and its students.
Veenu Verma, Director of Career and Technical Education, Chicago Public Schools set the tone when she opened her remarks by saying, "To equip our students for today's workforce, we must always keep up with the pace of innovation. You help us do just that. You help answer the questions, 'Are we teaching the right stuff?' 'Do we have the right equipment?' 'Are we offering the right credentials?' As a Project Lead the Way Academy, with 110 students earning over 150 NIMS credentials, APA students are on their way to building the skill sets needed in the 21st century."
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Polytech Students Starting 'Student-Owned' Manufacturing Business
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APA students, staff and CLCR are working together to start a student-run manufacturing business. The business is expected to have a diverse product mix over time. The goal is to establish a 'job shop,' manufacturing small batches of blanks for local manufacturers. Students are meeting weekly to discuss the business culture, management, and compensation policies for the business. They will have the opportunity to experience both the risks and the rewards of setting up and operating a manufacturing business within established guidelines approved by the Chicago Public Schools. Students have already identified a way to measure "sweat equity" until such time profits from business activities can be generated. Fashon Johnson summed up her excitement by saying, "Becoming a part of the manufacturing business at APA is an exciting opportunity, I hope to still be able to participate even after I graduate." Currently, the goal is to finish the business plan by June and start production shortly after. Stay tuned for developments! |
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Learning the Scientific Method
with Matrix Tooling, Inc.
by Kelsey Gibney, APA Chemistry Teacher
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The 12th grade Scientific Concepts class at APA has recently launched a 10-week course on manufacturing science in collaboration with our partner Matrix Tooling, Inc. Students are studying a brand new surgical device, the Microcutter, designed by Cardica, that could be used in laparoscopic procedures to simultaneously cut a staple tissue, and for which Matrix Tooling manufactures the plastic parts. They are also studying development of this product from start to finish, beginning with design and ending with the product available for use in hospitals, and we will see how the scientific method is used again and again in every step. In our first visit to Matrix Tooling we were able to see how the parts and tools are designed and produced and we are very excited to return in April to learn more about production and manufacturing in the medical field.
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Tech Trip | Johnson Controls
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On an early morning, a group of APA Seniors hopped on a bus and drove up to Milwaukee, WI to visit the global headquarters for Johnson Controls. They were greeted by Regional Manager Michael Bentley and then whisked away on a tour of the facilities. The students were shown all of the sustainable solutions, such as solar panels and thermal heating, that Johnson Controls incorporates into it's business in order to save money and streamline efficiency to make it one of the leaders in green technology. After seeing the campus the students were treated to pizza and then they headed back to filled with pizza and excitement about innovations being implemented at Johnson Controls.
Click here to see more photos.
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