Apprenticeships

Elevate College Prep’s apprenticeships program provides an opportunity for high school students from Chicago to take part in a unique pre-college experience through a partnership with After School Matters Chicago

The apprenticeships are paid and provide a pathway toward skills development and independence. Students are mentored by Illinois Tech faculty in areas such as business and cybersecurity so that they can learn and develop skills that they can use to address problems in their communities. 

  • Students must be between the ages of 14–18 to participate
  • Students must live in the city of Chicago
  • Interested students must apply through After School Matters
  • Students receive $325 upon completing 10-week apprenticeships and $100 for two-week previews

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Computer Science Apprenticeship

Description: This apprenticeship teaches fundamental Python programming skills and its applications in data science and machine learning. Students will develop coding skills, and the program will culminate students developing an app that will be presented at the end of the program.

When: Tuesdays/Wednesdays from 4–7 p.m. 

Instructors: Na'im Muhammad (lead), Oluwadamilola Folayemi, Jasmine Lopez 

Design and Entrepreneurship Apprenticeship 

Description: Every idea needs fuel to be successful. Through this apprenticeship, students will be able to ignite ideas with cutting-edge tools to help them transform their new products and inventions into reality. Students will be take part in the program at Illinois Tech’s state-of-the-art, rapid-prototyping lab that houses 3D printers and scanners, multiple Computer Numerical Control (CNC) milling machines, a vacuum former, and a laser cutter. This opportunity bridges architecture, engineering, business, and design into one experience. 

When: Mondays/Wednesdays from 4–7 p.m.

Lead Instructors: Bo Rodda, Michael Koenig

Student Instructors: Eden Ephraim, Jack Jarjourah, Courtney Lyttle

Biology Pathways

Description: The objective of this apprenticeship is to provide high school students with immersive, hands-on experiences that introduce them to fields such as nursing, medicine, biomedical engineering, and biology. By the end of this program, participants will develop a foundational grasp of biology and its subfields through active engagement in experiments and labs, and by demonstrating what they’ve learned in applying the scientific method through a final presentation.

When: Mondays/Tuesdays from 4–7 p.m.

Instructors: Gabrielle Palomo (lead),  Boluwatife Arowosafe, Courtney Lyttle 

Democracy and the Law

Description: Are you curious about democracy and about law—or in becoming an activist, lawyer, or learning how to engage with political and social issues that impact you or your community? The Democracy and the Law program offers an exploration into the combination of governance, rights, and justice that shape our societies and equips you with the knowledge and skills to become an active participant in our democracy and a champion of justice. Your voice matters—lets explore how together.

When: Tuesdays/Thursdays

Instructors: Jaylin D. McClinton, Dee Runaas