Let us re-introduce you to the
Challenger Learning Center
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Heartland Community College's Challenger Learning Center (CLC) operates as an affiliate of the national Challenger Center for Space Science Education. As part of a network of centers located throughout the US, Canada, Great Britain and South Korea, the CLC at Heartland continues the educational objectives of the Challenger 51-L crew who lost their lives on January 28, 1986.
The CLC at Heartland's mission is to create a scientifically literate population that can thrive in a world increasingly driven by information and technology. The facility is located in the Astroth Community Education Center on Heartland Community College Normal Campus. The CLC is a state-of-the-art educational facility with a mission control and spacecraft simulators as its centerpiece.
The CLC at Heartland offers STEM based educational programs and missions to students from grades K-12, customized training missions for area employers through space-themed professional development, and a variety of education and outreach opportunities for community members. So whether you are looking for a fun place to hold a birthday party, a summer camp for kids, or looking for a unique team building activity for work, definitely check out the
Challenger Learning Center
!
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COMPACT is HIRING AmeriCorps VISTA Members
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The McLean County Community COMPACT was recently awarded an AmeriCorps VISTA grant and currently is recruiting for two VISTA positions:
Resource Development VISTA
: focus on resource development (including volunteer resources as well as cash and in-kind resources) that support and expand COMPACT’s portfolio of programs.
Community Engagement VISTA
: focus on marketing and outreach that enhance community coordination of workforce development efforts in McLean County.
The detailed VISTA Assignment descriptions are available on our
website.
AmeriCorps VISTA:
AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) members build capacity in nonprofit organizations and public agencies to help them more effectively generate the commitment of private sector resources, encourage volunteer service at the local level, and empower individuals and communities. AmeriCorps VISTA members serve full time for 1 full year at a community organization on anti-poverty projects. AmeriCorps VISTA members work on projects that build the capacity of their organization.
Goal of COMPACT’s VISTA Project: To support McLean County’s overarching goal to have 60% of the population with a post-secondary credential by 2025 while focusing on equitable access to
success. The VISTA project will increase COMPACT’s ability to serve more people and new populations, while also expanding the types of workforce development services provided. VISTA resources will move people out of poverty by addressing two factors that can lead individuals to poverty; employment and education.
Service Term:
Full-Time, 12 months, starting June 8, 2020
Deadline for Applications:
April 17, 2020
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LeRoy Teacher named Illinois Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year
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Katie Buckley, secondary special education teacher and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Educator across the district at LeRoy CUSD #2, has been named 2020 Illinois Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year for her outstanding efforts in incorporating agriculture into her classroom.
“I am so honored to be recognized for this award,” Buckley says.
“My goal for my students is to give them an insight into agriculture that goes beyond farming. I try to find ways to incorporate agriculture into high interest topics such as drones, automated agriculture, and GPS. The job market for agriculture is going to continue to grow and students need to be aware of those careers.”
You can follow Buckley and her students on Twitter (
@LeRoySTEM
).
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Junior Achievement Stock Market Challenge
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Attention High School Business Educators! Junior Achievement (JA) is now accepting registration for the annual JA Stock Market Challenge!
What is the Stock Market Challenge
? The JA Stock Market Challenge is an exciting, technology based stock trading simulation for high school students. The morning consists of lessons to familiarize students with the stock market and the principals of responsible investing before teams of four will compete in the high-tech stock exchange simulation. The experience is
offered at
no cost
to schools, thanks to our generous sponsors. Students will be provided lunch buffet at Illinois Wesleyan University.
Click
HERE
for more information.
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EMERGING RURAL LEADERS PROGRAM
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The Emerging Rural Leaders Program at the University of Chicago allows select high school freshmen and juniors from rural and small-town high schools to take advantage of two fully-funded summer programs (Emerging Rural Leaders I & II) during the summer. Each program gives students the chance to explore a college atmosphere, develop their leadership skills, and spend time on the University of Chicago’s campus.
Emerging Rural Leaders II (Juniors) application deadline is February 26, 2020 and Emerging Rural Leaders I (Freshman) application deadline is April 1, 2020.
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SPRING INTERNSHIP & CAREER FAIRS
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ISU Spring Career Fair:
February 18, 2020 ~ 4:00 - 7:00 pm
Bone Student Center
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Heartland Community College Career & College Transfer Fair
February 26 2020 ~ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Community Commons Building
Interested in participating?
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ESSENTIAL WORKPLACE SKILLS (EWS)
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Essential Workplace Skills (EWS) was co-developed by the Chamber/ COMPACT and Heartland Community College. EWS workshops include small group and individual activities, scenarios, and discussions for an interactive learning experience.
Each module consists of one 4-hour session. Open enrollment workshops are scheduled multiple times throughout the year to provide a consistent and effective training solution.
The next open enrollment workshops:
-Using Effective Tools for Decision Making and Goal Setting:
February 18, 2020
-Navigating Challenges and Stressors:
February 26, 2020
-
Understanding Customer Service Essentials:
March 4, 2020
REGISTER HERE
o
r register by calling 309-268-8160. Contact Angie Coughlin @ 309-268-8193 for customized or Train the Trainer Sessions.
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GET READY -
Registration will open in March!
Sign-Up Here!
To receive updates as the program for 2020 becomes finalized.
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Career Link Informational Workshop
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Wednesday, February 26th at 9:30 am
705 E. Lincoln St., Suite 110, Normal, IL
Learn about the services that Career Link has to Offer! Including Career Services, Training Services, and Business Services.
To reserve your spot, please call Maria at 309-807-1386. More information about Career Link is available through their website at
www.careerlink16.com
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The 2020 College Changes Everything (CCE) conference (BE THE CHANGE!) has an open call for proposals.
CCE is encouraging proposals that cover a
wide range of themes related to college access and completion such as, but not limited to: college and career readiness; student retention, persistence, and completion; education, business, and the economy; and college costs and affordability. Please complete the
online session proposal form
if interested in presenting.
Deadline
– Priority consideration will be given to completed session proposal forms submitted by
February 28, 2020
.
The 2020 CCE conference takes place on July 9, 2020 at the Tinley Park Convention Center, Tinley Park, Illinois. Additional information about the conference can be found on the
conference web page
.
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STEAM in the Classroom has registration now open for Chick it Out 2020!
Classrooms registered for Chick it Out will receive 1 dozen fertilized chicken eggs from University of Illinois campus and enough chicken feed to last the few days you have your chicks. Incubator, egg turner, candler and embryology curriculum are available for check-out from the University of Illinois Extension Office.
Click
HERE
for details & to get signed up.
STEAM in the Classroom is a University of Illinois Extension program developed to educate youth on concepts within Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Agriculture, and Math.
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McLean County Chamber Member Ed Program:
Website Marketing for your Business
*You do not need to be a chamber business to register
Presented by Robbie Osenga, Cybernautic
Wednesday, February 12, 2020
8:30 am - 10:00 am
Leadership McLean County Information Session
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
4:00 pm - 4:30 pm
BNHRC (Bloomington Normal Human Resources Council)
Employment Law Update
February 25, 2020
11:30 am - 3:00 pm
Illinois 60 by 25 Conference:
Registration is now open for the annual conference being held on February 25-26, 2020 at Elggin Community College. The conference will explore the importance of collaboration for driving student and community success.
REGISTER HERE
Four-part program will include opportunities for community conversation, asking always, "Who has the power?" Presented by NOT IN OUR TOWN & the McLean County Museum of History.
LEARN MORE HERE
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WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
RESOURCE CORNER
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- Demonstrating the Value of Afterschool Programs: The Afterschool Alliance’s Afterschool Impacts Database allows users to search studies and evaluation data on afterschool programs. If you are looking for data to make the case for afterschool or are considering getting involved, this database may be helpful.
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For information about COMPACT or information in this newsletter
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