Melissa Tassone is the 2013 Graphics Student of the Year for the VALEES region. Melissa is a Graphic Communications student at Indian Valley Vocational Center. Her home school is Sandwish High School. Graphics Student of the Year candidates present their professional portfolio and interview with a selection panel comprised of business representatives and educatiors in the VALEES region. You can find out more about Melissa on Facebook at Melissa Tassone Photography. Also pictured are (left to right) Bernie Loone, VALEES Director; Jane Wolf, IVVC Assistant Director; Melissa Tassone; and Jackie Dannewitz, IVVC Graphic Communications Instructor.

The" DID YOU KNOW?" Manufacturing Career Awareness Event VI will be held on November 16, 2012. This event provides a great opportunity for students to become aware of manufacturing careers in the VALEES region, including the application of STEM principles in manufacturing. The Aurora Economic Development Commission, Valley Industrial Association, Waubonsee Community College, River Vally Workforce Investment Board and VALEES are sponsoring the event at Waubonsee Community College.

Manufacturing exhibitors and breakout sessions that highlight dynamic careeres in manufacturing will provide students great insights into innovations in manufacturing and employment. A study guide to help prepare students for participation in the event ca be found here.

Illinois College Automotive Instructors Association wil hold its annual state-wide conference at Joliet Junior College on October 4-5, 2012. College and high school instructors will have the opportunity to see the new JJC auto technology center and attend technical sessions dealing with innovations in auto technology.

Additonal information about the conference can be found at the ICAIA web site.

Burgess-Norton is pleased to announce the award of two scholarship of $2,500 each. The scholarships are designed to provide financial support for graduating high school seniors in the Valley Education for Employment (VALEES) region who wish to pursue their education in fields that relate to careers in the manufacturing industry.

Click here to find out about the award recipients..

Food Service teachers visited Fona International, the world's leading expert in flavor development and applied food science. Teachers learned about the chemistry of flavor development as well as marketing, manufacturing and business practices related to the flavors industry. There are many career pathways that can lead to interesting and rewarding careers in STEM related manufacturing.

Great Harvest Bread Company is a franchise bakery in Geneva, IL. Food Servce teachers learned about challenges and opportunities that entrepreneurs face in a rapidly changing economy. Topics addressed on this field trip included business operations, marketing strategies, and employability skills critical to running a successful business.

Both of these businesses provided great opportunties for teachers to examine how the integration of CTE and core curricula play an impotant role in preparing students for STEM careers in manufacturing and entrepreneurship.

CAD Program Committee members visited Roberts and Schaefer Engineers and Contractors offices in downtown Chicago. Roberts & Schaefer is a worldwide leader in the design, engineering, procurement and construction of bulk material handling and processing systems for the power and mining industries. Offices are located around the globe in the U.S. (Chicago, Salt Lake City and Pittsburgh), Australia, India, Indonesia, Poland, South Africa and Chile.

This professional development activity provided valuable information regarding world class engineering business practices including sales and marketing, bidding, project management, conceptual design, detail drawing, and project completion. Company executives shared their perspectives on these business processes as well as career pathways and employability skills necessary to be successful in a highly competitive global enterprise.

Graphic Communications Program Committee members from VALEES high schools, career and vocational centers, Waubonsee Community College, and business partners toured two agencies in downtown Chicago as a professional development activity and as a component of the development of the Graphic Design Program of Study.

Critical Mass is an international marketing agency whose goal is to "create extraordinary experiences that bring together creative thinking, smart ideas and emerging technologies to drive our clients' businesses." www.criticalmass.com

Chicago Portfolio School prepares its students to get a job in an advertising agency as a copywriter, art director or designer. Students spend a year putting together their book (portfolio) to accurately reflect their true ability.
www.chicagoportfolio.com

You can now follow VALEES on twitter. Join twitter if you don't already have an account and look for Valley Education or VALEES1. Can you believe that someone already had VALEES, so being number one, we're VALEES1 on twitter. You can also look for Valley Education and find us.

CTE featured on Today Show. This five minute video clip illustrates the important role of CTE. Interviews with Adrianna Benjamin, a high school student enrolled in the maritime program at Urban Assembly New York Harbor School and Jan Bray, ACTE Executive Director, are refreshing, informative and positive.