Australian Journal

I’ve just completed a full week in Victoria—a state in southern Australia.  It’s been packed with speaking engagements and meetings and quite successful. I’m now settling into the culture.  I’m starting to learn the local language—a little more complex than I thought. First of all—I’m in Austraaaaaalia, not Australia. A football game is really something [...]

Australian Journal

  I was invited to Australia by the Foundation for Sustainable Economic Development to speak to a mix of associations and organization about the vision, programs and experience of the Chicago Manufacturing Renaissance Council.  The Foundation’s Executive Director, Max Ogden, is a veteran trade union leader who has done pathbreaking work in redefining the opportunites [...]

APA Welcomes Atlas Tool and Die

  Bill Vogel welcomes Zach Mottl of Atlas Tool and Die as the newest APA Partner.  Mr. Mottl toured the Manufacturing Technology Center and observed our students studying the CNC Horizontal Lathe and to prepare for the CNC Operator NIMS Credential exam.  Helping Mr. Vogel welcome Mr. Mottl are: Allanta Hudson, Deshawn Hunter, Iking Canavy, [...]

Making Connections: Machine Shop & AP Calculus

By Steve McIlrath, APA Math Teacher Recently Mr. Varela from the Machine Shop teamed up with the Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus class, helping bring to life the idea of rotating volumes around a fixed axis.  The AP Calculus students just finished a unit on finding volumes of solids using integration techniques.  With machining tools located [...]

Junior Job Shadow Day a Success

Trevon Dotson and Marla Sanders spent the day at American Grinding. On March 16, 2011, 35 APA Juniors participated in a job shadow day.  Students had the opportunity to see what they learn in class in action while visiting some of APA’s dedicated partners.  Students began their day with a tour of the facilities and [...]

Retooling America’s Workforce on NBC Nightly News