On Monday, November 14, Chancellor Salgado and a handful of City Colleges apprentices joined First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, the U.S. Secretaries of Education, Labor, and Commerce, and others for a workforce event at Aon, one of our apprenticeship partners to kick off National Apprenticeship Week.
“[President Biden] knows that this pipeline of support from high school, to community college, to career is the future of our workforce, and that’s why we’re here today,” Dr. Biden said at the event.
The First Lady emphasized the Biden Administration’s support for work-based learning opportunities, a focus area City Colleges has been deeply committed to since launching an apprenticeship program with Aon in 2017. Apprenticeship programs, like the one with Aon, allow students to gain real-world experience as they earn both their associate degree and a salary.
Terionna Wilson, a current Harold Washington College student and reinsurance apprentice at Aon, introduced Dr. Biden at the event. Terionna described the struggles she experienced before applying to Aon’s apprenticeship last year. Now, she’s earning a salary, benefits, and her associate degree from Harold Washington College—tuition-free.
“I truly couldn’t feel more stable and blessed. The apprenticeship program not only changed my life, but my family’s as well,” Terionna said.
From cybersecurity to supply chain, and healthcare to hospitality, City Colleges is proud to offer unique apprenticeship programs that help students like Terionna succeed. Not only do these programs support our students in achieving upward mobility, but they fuel the Chicago workforce with talent that is prepared to meet the needs of the economy.
To learn more about apprenticeship opportunities at City Colleges, visit www.ccc.edu/apprenticeship.
To learn more about the National Apprenticeship Week kickoff event with First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, check out the media coverage:
