Other Photos
Click to enlarge.
JILG Featured School:
Amundsen HS
Jobs for Illinois Graduates (JILG) is proud to feature Amundsen High School, as its featured school of the month. Amundsen is located on Chicago’s north side at the intersection of Foster and Damen. The total enrollment at Amundsen is approximately 1500 students and is attended mostly by students from the surrounding neighborhoods of Ravenswood, Bowmansville, and Albany Park.
Through the Career Association, the JILG Career Specialist, Ms. Amy Lekan prepares students for life after high school by helping students develop leadership skills, increase civic activity, demonstrate social awareness and prepare them for a future career. The class of 2008 JILG program has been extremely active at Amundsen planning and completing a number of service learning projects. In the fall, Amundsen participated in the Alliance for the Great Lakes Adopt a Beach project at Chicago’s North Avenue Beach. Students helped collect garbage and debris to help beautify Chicago’s lakefront as well as raise awareness of the pollution problem at our nation’s beaches.
In November students attended Robert Morris College in downtown Chicago to participant in a career opportunity fieldtrip. Students explored future career options by participating in either a culinary arts or animation workshops hosted by professionals at the school. The students really enjoyed the hands on experiences and practical skills learned at the event. For many it left an extremely positive impression, one that will help guide them in making future career choices.
The Amundsen Career Association has big plans for second semester at the school including hosting a JILG Job Skills Fair as well as organizing a school wide dance. During the Jobs Skills Fair students at Amundsen will be able to attend different workshops led by current JILG students including how to dress for success, conducting a job search, and preparing a resume. In addition to the student workshops local employers will be on hand to provide information on careers in healthcare, and in finance as well as sharing practical information such as opening bank accounts and applying for loans. Students will also have the option of participating in mock interviews led by local businesses.
About the Specialist
Amy Lekan is entering her 3rd year as a JILG Specialist and second full year at Amundsen. Amy received her undergraduate degree from Columbia College, and recently just completed her Masters Degree from National Louis University.
Favorite JILG Activity
“My favorite JILG activity was attending the culinary workshop at Robert Morris College in downtown with my students. We worked with the facilitators to make pasta from scratch and when completed we ate it. I love doing interactive activities that put students in a new environment and provide them with a challenge.”
Favorite JILG Moment
My Favorite JILG Moment occurred during the Leadership Development Conference. My historian managed to convince herself that she could climb up a sixty foot pole, leap from a platform, zip line down to the bottom. She had gotten cold feet while on the platform, she stood there, frozen, while everyone screamed encouragement at her from the ground. After counting down from sixty, she took a leap of faith and zipped down the cable. I was glad to be able to witness one of my students overcoming a fear.