Lake County Tech Campus expanded its commitment to high-quality work-based learning in the 2025 school year through its Give Me TEN + TECH50 initiative, and the results speak volumes. Principal Derrick Burress shares, “Give Me TEN was a collaborative process created by a committed industry partner and a Tech Campus instructor. It has not only impacted our entire school but is now being replicated across the nation.”
Building on that momentum, Tech Campus added a 50-hour opportunity to deepen the student experience. The expanded model connects classroom learning with real-world exposure by placing students in career training across a wide range of technical education pathways.
Through this effort, nearly 200 students were introduced to work-based learning, and 131 students participated in meaningful placements, with many completing up to 60 hours of paid training at their assigned sites.
Growing Partnerships
Over 50 industry partners hosted students in sectors such as healthcare, skilled trades, education, public safety, automotive technology, and manufacturing. Thanks to generous grant support from the Gorter Family Foundation, Tech Campus awarded $65,000 in stipends to student participants. Of the campus’s 19 Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs, 16 were represented, showcasing the broad reach and relevance of this initiative.
Here’s what some of our partners had to say:
“The student we worked with was a great intern—always ready to learn, arriving before his scheduled time, and picking up skills quickly. He made a positive impact as our first intern.”
— Auto Repair Industry Partner
“One of our Kindergarten students even mentioned our intern in her graduation speech, sharing how much emotional support she provided. Our intern stepped up to support the class while I was away, leaving daily reports and a full recap. Her patience, initiative, and responsibility truly stood out.”
— Early Education and Teaching Industry Partner
2026 Goals
As Tech Campus prepares to welcome an estimated 2,600 students in SY26, the focus remains on growth, innovation, and impact. With continued support from industry partners and the broader community, the goals for 2025–2026 are bold and achievable:
- Teach: Learn from and with one another—industry partners, instructors, and students—to better prepare every learner with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to thrive.
- Establish: Strengthen industry-aligned pipelines into high-demand sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, public safety, and skilled trades.
- Commit: Support at least 175 students in completing Give Me TEN + TECH50 placements, job shadows, or pre-apprenticeships to ensure meaningful, hands-on experiences.
- Honor: Continue raising scholarship funds to support students as they pursue their postsecondary goals.
Together with its stakeholders, industry partners, program instructors, staff, families, and community supporters, Tech Campus is preparing the next generation of skilled, thoughtful, and workforce-ready students.
