Connections with Employers, Unions, and Training Programs
On May 4, The Trade Collective hosted its annual Skilled Trades Expo for Evanston Township High School (ETHS) students from freshman through senior year. The event drew more than 200 students, including attendees from Niles D219 and Notre Dame Academy, as well as ETHS CTE teachers, school counselors, and administrators. Forty organizations participated, representing trade […]
Skilled Trades Expo Week: Iron Pour Kicks Off Community Celebration
On May 2, 2026, The Trade Collective launched Skilled Trades Expo Week with a community-wide Iron Pour that drew more than 350 attendees. The event showcased a collaboration between ETHS students and students from Northwestern University’s Segal Institute of Design. Participating students designed objects using design software, which were then sent to a sand-casting mold […]
Fired Up Podcast
The Trade Collective has launched the Fired Up Podcast, now available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Co-hosted by Patrick Hughes, Founder of The Trade Collective, and Dr. Pete Bavis, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction at Evanston Township High School (ETHS), the podcast is designed to broaden community awareness of skilled trades careers as […]
Business & Finance Academy Students Showcase Innovation and Entrepreneurial Excellence
Students in the Rich Township High School Business & Finance Academy demonstrated their entrepreneurial skills this year through the INCubatoredu program and regional business pitch competitions. During the academy’s annual INCubatoredu Pitch Night, student teams presented investor-ready business concepts developed throughout the school year. Participants identified real-world problems, conducted market research, built business models, and […]
Future Educators Celebrated at Homewood-Flossmoor High School’s Signing Day
Homewood-Flossmoor (H-F) High School recently honored graduating seniors who have committed to pursuing careers in education during its Introduction to Education Signing Day. Modeled after traditional athletic signing ceremonies, the event recognized students who plan to major in education and dedicate themselves to shaping future generations. Surrounded by family members, teachers, and classmates, students participated […]
Homewood-Flossmoor CTE Students Earn Top Honors at Prairie State College’s Business Pitch Competition
Career and Technical Education students from Homewood-Flossmoor High School earned top recognition at Prairie State College’s inaugural Business Pioneer Pitch Competition, where student entrepreneurs presented innovative business concepts to a panel of judges. The event challenged participants to develop business models, refine their presentations, and demonstrate entrepreneurial thinking. The first-place award in the Near-Future Development […]
Crete-Monee High School Students Compete at STARCON
Students from the Crete-Monee High School (CMHS) welding program recently competed at the STARCON event on May 2nd, showcasing their skills in pursuit of a $25,000 scholarship. Congratulations to Savian Haddon and Christopher Cruz for representing the CMHS welding program with determination, professionalism, and resilience.
Crete-Monee High School Horticulture Team Earns Top 10 Finish
Students from the Crete-Monee High School showcased their knowledge and skills at the highly competitive Joliet Junior College Horticulture Contest, competing against schools from across Illinois and surrounding states. Our horticulture team earned an impressive Top 10 placement, demonstrating outstanding teamwork, preparation, and dedication in a challenging competition.
Belvidere District 100 Expands Career Pathways and Work-Based Learning Opportunities
Belvidere District 100 continues to expand opportunities that connect students to college, careers, and the workforce. During the 2025-2026 school year, students participated in an increasing number of work-based learning experiences, including industry site visits, guest speakers, internships, job shadowing, and project-based internships with local business partners. More than 350 students participated in structured career […]
Batavia High School Hosts Future Teacher Signing Day
Batavia High School seniors in the Intro to Education classes participated in a special signing day in spring 2026. These seniors have learned the ins and outs of teaching over the past year through hands-on classroom experiences in BPS101 and are now headed to colleges where they will major in education. Students were able to […]