Selected as the Rotary Club of Sycamore's Student of the Month for September 2021, Chloe Harbecke attended this week's meeting and shared some things about herself with the group. Chloe was joined by her parents and introduced by Tim Carlson, Principal at Sycamore High School.

 

 

Chloe is a high-achieving high school senior (second in her class). A big part of her high school experience has been playing in band, including traditional band (playing clarinet), marching band (playing clarinet), pit orchestra for musicals (playing clarinet), and jazz band (alto saxophone). She describes band as a diverse and fun group, and her participation has provided her with great opportunities to meet students from other schools.

 

Chloe experienced some stage fright early on, but she says she's worked through it for the most part. In fact, she set goals to be invited to All-State Band and Fall Festival Band, and achieved them both. She has realized music can be found in everything, and joked that she sometimes misses the plot of movies because she's so focused on the music.

 

As Student of the Month, Chloe received $100 from Rotary Club of Sycamore for a charity of her choice. She selected Neighbor's House (https://www.neighborshouse.org/), a not-for-profit, faith-based, community development organization partnering with DeKalb County students and families to help them fulfill their God-given potential for academic and relational success.

 

Tom Couch, reminded us this week of the valuable resource that is the Kishwaukee Education Consortium, for whom he serves as Executive Director. KEC serves as a "career center" of sorts for students in northern part of DeKalb County, partnering with nearly two dozen school districts, community colleges, and 4-year institutions to offer alternative education and trade programs. Not to be confused with Kishwaukee Community College (though based there), KEC programs provide alternative education to about 500 students (as young as middle school) as well as training on the trades to many others.

 

The trade programs provide students the opportunity to earn anywhere from 3 to 33 college credits each. Traditional trades are offered, but so is a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program as well as an aviation program based at the DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport. KEC used to have an active construction trade program, which built and sold a house each year. However, the program concluded in 2008 (after 33 years), a year when the economy made selling their freshly-built home very difficult (but they got it done). KEC also supports school districts with a partnership to offer a New Teacher Academy and an Early Childhood Academy. Most programs include opportunities for job shadowing and/or internships as well.

 

A tiny house program is possible for the future, and would likely incorporate several trades (construction, electrical, plumbing, etc.).

 

The primary sources of revenue for Kishwaukee Education Consortium are Perkins Grants and CTI, but school districts also pay tuition for their students to participate.

 

If you have a business in need of additional workforce support, reach out to Tom to see how he might be able to help!

Hy-Vee Inc. #1642

Donations are currently being requested for the Sycamore Food Pantry. Bring a bottle of laundry detergent...or $10 for Julie Sgarlata to purchase one. Money is easier to handle.

 

Personal hygiene items (bar soap, shampoo, etc.) are also being sought.