It was an awesome morning at Hoffman Estates High School where we celebrated D211 students who are ready to take the next step when it comes to pursuing a skilled trades career.
The Rotary Clubs of Schaumburg A.M. and Schaumburg-Hoffman Estates proudly awarded vocational scholarship support in the form of entry level professional grade toolboxes and kits to students pursuing additional education and careers in automotive technology, aviation maintenance and mechanics, and electrical training.
Entry level professional grade tools are required to advance and move forward in their chosen field. This represents a significant investment that many families cannot afford and hence this becomes a barrier to entry in that field.
Recognizing the growing need for skilled trade professionals in our world, both Rotary Clubs – headed up by Jim McKenzie and Don Minor respectively - have worked jointly with each other and in conjunction with Hoffman Estates High School Applied Technology department chair and auto tech teacher Dave Ligman to develop and grow this program.
Through our focused fundraising efforts and the community-based partnerships and business relationships that have evolved over time, this program seeks to address the skilled trades gap in our community’s workforce.
We are proud of these young people and excited to see where their paths take them. Their drive, talent, and commitment to hands‑on learning remind us why supporting alternative career pathways matters.
