Alignment

Over 300 Students Entering Paid Internships in June

June 2, 2026

Beginning June 2, over 300 high school students from School Districts 300, 301, 303 and U-46 will begin paid internships through our summer internship program – a work-based learning opportunity that allows students to explore a career through placement with a local employer. Students placed in the internships are primarily juniors entering their senior year of high school.

Thank You to our Host Organizations
for providing these opportunities!

Arts, Communication & Marketing

Baird and Warner Real Estate
Centro de Informacion (Communications and Outreach)
City of Elgin (Marketing & Communications)
District 300 Central Office Communication Department Social Media & Marketing
District 300 Communications (Website)
District 300 Jacobs High School Social Media
Downtown Neighborhood Association (Marketing & Promotions)
Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce (Marketing)
Explore Elgin Area
Rosati’s Pizza (Marketing)
Rosati’s Pizza (Social Media)
Side Street Studio Arts
U-46 Athletics and Activities Internship (Bartlett High School)
U-46 Athletics and Activities Office Student Intern (Larkin High School)
U-46 Audio and Video Internship – Beacon Academy Projects
U-46 Student Leadership Summit Planning Internship (Bartlett High School)

Automotive, Diesel & Heavy Equipment

AHW (John Deere) Parts
AHW (John Deere) Technician
Bartlett Hills Golf Course (Golf Course Equipment Maintenance Technician)
Bob Loquercio Auto Group (Parts Specialist)
Bob Loquercio Auto Group (Service Advisor)
KS Autocare (Technician)
U-46 Transportation Department (Maintenance Technician)
West Side Tractor (Heavy Equipment Technician)
Wicked Wrench (Technician)

Business, Finance & IT

AI in Industry
City of Elgin (Information Technology Systems)
District 300 Information Technology Department
District 301 Accounting & Finance
District 301 Information Technology Department
Elgin Area Chamber EDG Group (Economic Development)
Microsoft
Opiquad
Rosati’s Pizza (Accounting)
U-46 (Plant Operations: Facility Administration)
U-46 Information Services (Network Support and Cable Management)
Wintrust: Greater Elgin Area (Banking)

Culinary & Hospitality

Bartlett Hills Golf Course (Culinary)
Central 301 (Food Service Department)
Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Chicago NW/Bennigans
Rosati’s Pizza (Culinary) Rosati’s Pizza (Restaurant Operations)

Education & Youth Services

ABC Toon Town
Advance Preschool (Early Education)
Bartlett Park District (Early Education)
District 300 Career & Technical Education (CTE) Summer Camp Teacher Aid
District 300 Educational Leadership – D300 Superintendent
District 300 Education Services Department – Northwestern Illinois Association (NIA)
District 300 Extended School Year (ESY)
Mid-Valley Special Education (Education)
Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association
Precious Angels
Two Rivers Head Start (Early Childhood Education)
U-46 (I am LEAD) Records & Registration
Village of South Elgin (Summer Camp Counselor)
YMCA (Child Care)

Engineering, Manufacturing & Trades

Advanced Compressor Technology
ATI (Assurance Technologies Inc.)
Bucher Hydraulics
City Of Elgin (Environmental Sustainability)
District 300 Facility Maintenance Department
District 300 Welding
District 301 Drone Piloting (FAA 107 Certification)
Elgin Sweeper (Part Design, Test and Inspection)
Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick (Engineering and Surveying)
Hoffer Plastics (Engineering and Manufacturing Rotation)
ITW Shakeproof (Engineering)
Judson University School of Architecture
Lakeview Precision Machining
Lauderdale Electric (Electrician Assistant)
Matrix Design
Shales McNutt Construction (Project Manager)
WT Group (Architecture and Engineering)

First Responder

City of Elgin Fire and Police Departments
Bartlett Police, Hanover Park Fire, and Hanover Township Emergency Services

Government, Human & Public Services

City of Elgin (Community Development)
City of Elgin (Public Administration)
Hanover Township (Aging Services)
The Office of State Representative Anna Moeller
The Office of State Representative Suzanne Ness
The Office of State Senator Cristina Castro

Healthcare

Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital (Pharmacy Tech)
Advocate Sherman Hospital (Medical Rotation)
Advocate Sherman Hospital (Pharmacy Tech)
Advocate Sherman Outpatient Centers (Medical Assisting)
Athletico
Diamond Physical Therapy
Ecker Center
Family Service Association
Luna Behavioral Health Center
Mid-Valley OT/PT
Northern Illinois Medical Scholars Program
OrthoIllinois Physical Therapy
VNA Health Care
Well Child Center Community Health and Dental

Veterinary Science

Anderson Humane Vet Clinic
Army Trail Animal Hospital
City of Elgin Lords Park (Zoology)
Dundee Animal Hospital
Pet Vet Animal Clinic
Tails Animal Hospital

Building a Village of Support for Elgin’s Youth

May 27, 2026

As Mental Health Awareness Month continues, the Elgin Neighborhood Network (ENN) is reflecting on the power of a supportive community. We are committed to making the transition from identifying a need to receiving professional care as seamless as possible.

Navigating Care Together

The ENN Youth Mental Health Workgroup has worked diligently to map out local referral pathways. We invite you to utilize our new resource directory to help families access behavioral health support and crisis intervention.

For further educational materials, we also recommend resources from NAMI and the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine.

Youth Leadership in Action

We are thrilled to celebrate the Larkin High School HOSA team, which recently placed third at the state competition in the Mental Health Promotion category! Their campaign, Connectable, focuses on building meaningful human connections beyond social media across Larkin High School and U-46 elementary schools. The team includes our very own ENN Youth Mental Health Workgroup student representative, Emily O’Hearn. They will be taking their impactful campaign to the international competition in Indiana this June—please join us in wishing them the best of luck!

alignment youth leadership dual language class

alignment youth leadership hosa students

Thanking Our Partners

We want to thank our clinical partners, as well as Elgin Township, the Hanover Township Mental Health Board, Kane County Health Department, and School District U-46, for the vital efforts that keep our youth healthy and thriving.

Thank you for your partnership in ensuring every Elgin family has the resources to succeed.

Supporting Youth Mental Health: A Community-Wide Effort

May 1, 2026

In observance of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Elgin Neighborhood Network (ENN) Youth Mental Health Workgroup is working to ensure Elgin families know they are supported.

Recognizing the Signs: Early identification is vital. We encourage partners to watch for “subtle shifts” in youth behavior—such as changes in sleep, social withdrawal, or academic struggles. For more guidance, see this resource from the American Academy of Pediatrics. 

Connecting to Our Network: As a convener, the ENN is proud to introduce a new resource directory developed by our workgroup to provide a clear path to behavioral health support and crisis intervention.

If you are working with a family in need of professional guidance, we encourage referrals to our dedicated partners:

Together, we are ensuring there is “no wrong door” for help in Elgin.

alignment enn mental health students with display

alignment enn mental health students engaged

Alignment and Northern Kane County Region 110 Job Fair Attracts Students Across the Region

March 31, 2026

More than 600 students from eleven high schools across School Districts U-46, 300, 301, and 303 attended the annual Regional Job Fair sponsored by Alignment and Northern Kane County Region 110, hosted at Elgin Community College. The students had the opportunity to connect with 81 businesses and community organizations representing a wide range of industries, including automotive, business, cosmetology, culinary, education, energy, financial services, healthcare, heavy equipment, IT, manufacturing and welding.

Thanks to resume workshops held beforehand, many students arrived prepared with resumes to share with potential employers. This year’s fair also featured 21 organizations offering summer employment, allowing students to complete job applications on the spot.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Advocate Sherman Hospital
AED Foundation
Baran Family
City of Elgin
John and Niki Devereux
Consumers Credit Union
Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce Elgin Community College

Elgin State Bank
Elgin Sweeper
Elgin Township
Hoffer Family and Foundation
ITW Shakeproof
David and Sandy Kaptain
Lauderdale Electric
Microsoft

Nicor
Seigle Foundation
The George Cumpata Family
United Way Metro Chicago
Village of Hanover Park
Wolko Design Group

THANK YOU TO OUR EXHIBITORS

Automotive

AHW, LLC
Atlas Bobcat
Belle Tire
Bob Loquercio Auto Group
Nicor Gas
Pace Suburban Bus
Universal Technical Institute
West Side Tractor Sales

Business / IT

BMO Harris Bank
Braden
Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Northern Illinois
Consumers Credit Union
IL State Treasury
Keller Williams Success Realty
Microsoft
Opiquad, LLC
U.S. Marine Corps
Wintrust Bank

Cosmetology

Brook and Beard Academy
Cosmetology and Spa Academy
Sheridans Barber Academy

Culinary

Culvers
Elgin Community College – Culinary, Pastry and Hospitality Department
Nick’s Pizza and Pub
Organic Life Smart Food Service
Rosati’s Pizza

Education

Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central Illinois
D300 Human Resources
D301 Human Resources
Elgin Community College –  Talent Search
Two Rivers Head Start
U-46 Human Resources
UMOS
Young Rembrandts

Engineering, Manufacturing & Trades

548 Foundation
Advanced Compressor
AFC Materials Group
Babbitting Service Inc.
Black Diamond Plumbing & Mechanical
Bucher Hydraulics
Business and Career Services (MCIP)
Dukane
Echo Incorporated
Elgin Community College – Sustainability, Business and Career Technologies
Elgin Community College –  Taking Back the Trades
Elgin Industries
GCAMP, Greater Chicago Advanced Manufacturing Partnership
General Kinematics
Hoffer Plastics
John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc.  (Fisher Nuts)
Manpower
MAPEI
MKD Electric
OTTO Engineering

Healthcare

Advocate Sherman Hospital
Association for Individual Development
A-TEC Ambulance
AVID CNA School
Elgin Community College – Fire Science
Elgin Community College -Ophthalmic Technician Program
Elgin Neighborhood Network Mental Health Initiative
Hanover Township Emergency Services
Highland Oaks of Elgin
LifeLine Ambulance
LifeStyle Options
Nexus at Geneva
Streamwood Behavioral Healthcare Systems
The Atrium at Oak Crest

Summer Employment

Bartlett Park District
City of Elgin
Dundee Township Park District
Gail Borden Public Library
Golden Corridor Family YMCA
Hampshire Township Park District
Hanover Township
Lake in the Hills Parks and Recreation
Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association (NISRA)
Northwest Special Recreation Association (NWSRA)
Official Finders
Santa’s Village
Village of Hanover Park

REGIONAL JOB FAIR PHOTOS

Automotive

Business / IT

Cosmetology

Culinary

Education

Engineering, Manufacturing, and Trades

alignment job fair 2026 engineering 6690

alignment job fair 2026 engineering 6692

Healthcare

Summer Employment

General Job Fair Photos

Sophomore/Junior Postsecondary Day Reaches Over 3,600 Students!

March 10, 2026

More than 30 universities, colleges, and organizations joined Alignment and School District U-46 for the Sophomore/Junior Virtual Postsecondary Day on March 4. This large-scale Zoom event reached over 3,600 students, exposing them to a multitude of college and career pathways.

As they met with admissions counselors and visiting faculty, students gained valuable guidance for their academic and professional endeavors. Throughout the day and across 32 different Zoom sessions, students had access to key resources:

Industry-specific college panels highlighting top program offerings across the Arts, Automotive, Business, Education, Engineering, Healthcare and Manufacturing industries
Information regarding Elgin Community College’s FAFSA, Transfer, and Academic Services
Workshops sharing insights on College Athletics and Military opportunities

Whether a student is considering a four-year university, community college, technical institute, or military service, Postsecondary Day provides a unique learning opportunity where students can be encouraged and equipped in their postsecondary planning.

Thank you to the following colleges, universities, and organizations for partnering with Alignment and U-46 to offer the Sophomore/Junior Postsecondary Day:

Aurora University
Bradley University
Butler University
DePaul University
Dominican University
Elgin Community College
Elmhurst University
Grand Valley State University
Harper College
Honest Game – NCAA Academic Eligibility
Illinois State University
Indiana University
Iowa State University
Judson University
Lincoln College of Technology
Loyola University
Marquette University
Milwaukee School of Engineering

North Central College
Northern Illinois University
Purdue University
Roosevelt University
Southern Illinois University
Universal Technical Institute
University of Dayton
University of Illinois Chicago
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of Iowa
University of Notre Dame
University of Wisconsin Madison
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
U.S. Armed Forces
Valparaiso University
Western Illinois University
Xavier University

Thank you to all the volunteers from these organizations who made this event a huge success, as well as to our Alignment partners from the U-46 Postsecondary Success Team, and Northern Kane County Region 110, who facilitated 32 different sessions for students.

Region 110 Celebrates Nancy Coleman as the IACTE Carl Perkins Community Service Award Winner

February 24, 2026

Northern Kane County Vocational Region 110 proudly announces that Nancy Coleman, Executive Director of the Alignment Collaborative for Education, has been named the State of Illinois Carl Perkins Community Service Award Winner by the Illinois Association of Career and Technical Education (IACTE).

Named in honor of the late Congressman Carl Perkins, this prestigious award recognizes IACTE members who use Career and Technical Education (CTE) to make a significant, humanitarian impact on their communities. Nancy’s selection exemplifies her spirit of collaboration, relentless innovation, and unwavering commitment to student success.

As Executive Director of the Alignment Collaborative for Education, Nancy has built a powerful, partnership-driven workforce model across northern Kane County. By mobilizing a 30-member board and more than 200 business and community partners, she has successfully expanded equitable career pathways and meaningful service-learning opportunities for thousands of local students.

Under her visionary leadership, the collaborative has achieved remarkable milestones:

Skill Development: 3,418 students strengthened their resumes through regional workshops.
Exponential Growth: Internship applications skyrocketed from 65 in 2022 to 1,006 in 2025, alongside the engagement of 55 dedicated employer partners.
Career Placements: Student internship placements increased from 52 to 243, supported by $240,000 in student stipends.
Community Investment: Employers contributed 14,580 volunteer hours, representing an estimated $729,000 investment into the local community.

Beyond these achievements, Nancy spearheads the U-46 Explore initiative, which serves 2,300 eighth graders annually, ensuring that career readiness begins early. In 2025 alone, Alignment and its partners contributed more than 14,000 volunteer hours to local schools. Her transformative work has previously earned recognition from United Way Metro Chicago and School District U-46.

Nancy’s leadership serves as a prime example of how strategic community partnerships create lasting, generational impact. As the Illinois state winner, she will advance to regional consideration late this spring, with the potential for national consideration in the fall of 2026.

Alignment

Thank You to our Host Organizations for providing these opportunities!

Arts, Communication & Marketing

Automotive, Diesel & Heavy Equipment

Business, Finance & IT

Culinary & Hospitality

Education & Youth Services

Engineering, Manufacturing & Trades

First Responder

Government, Human & Public Services

Healthcare

Veterinary Science

Navigating Care Together

Youth Leadership in Action

Thanking Our Partners

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

THANK YOU TO OUR EXHIBITORS

Automotive

Business / IT

Cosmetology

Culinary

Education

Engineering, Manufacturing & Trades

Healthcare

Summer Employment

REGIONAL JOB FAIR PHOTOS

Automotive

Business / IT

Cosmetology

Culinary

Education

Engineering, Manufacturing, and Trades

Healthcare

Summer Employment

General Job Fair Photos

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Thank You to our Host Organizations
for providing these opportunities!