Work Study » Corporate Partner Highlights

Corporate Partner Highlights

Working in partnership with returning job sponsors, the Corporate Work Study Program has evolved to reflect the current climate. Corporate partners continue to provide support, both with jobs and professional development opportunities for our students. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and The McShane Companies, continuing from the Spring, and 20 additional companies have agreed to set up our students to work remotely.  The newly constructed Innovation Center, as well as the CTK computer lab provide a supervised remote work setting for our students and offers them greater accessibility and enhanced connectivity to our work partners.  

A number of  companies who were unable to accept students this academic year remain engaged with our students.  A number participated in the  CTK Career Day event this fall. Other companies have led professional development and student coaching including McKinsey & Company and Crowe Horwath. CWSP has placed a priority on developing the technical skills of our students.  Students are participating in the Microsoft Excel Certification process.    

CTK also welcomed the support of other company partners who chose to sponsor jobs at non-profits or continued to provide financial support to ensure students can continue their education. 

Representatives at a few of our renewing partners shared their rationale for continuing to support the program during the 2021-2022 school year in the box below.

For Benesch, it was extremely important for us to continue to sponsor the students even though they are unable to be on site with us this year. We understand that these students may otherwise not be able to attend CTK, and their education is important to us. While we all navigate this new normal , our support was not something we wanted to be a question in their minds.”

Chenoa Boldin, Director of Administrative Services, Alfred Benesch & Company

 

In our experience over several years as a host firm of corporate work study students, we see the benefits to the kids of studying at CTK and working with us. Although they may not be able to join us at the firm this semester, the financial support we can provide to keep them in school during this pandemic is money well spent. We feel pride in our firm for recognizing the impact that this financial support can make in the lives of our CTK students.

George Fitzpatrick, Partner, Swanson, Martin & Bell

 

We think it is important because we can’t give up on their hopes and dreams. We want to show them that we care and also let them experience what a business is going through during this current reality. The work study program, in our opinion, is as important as one of their classes. They have a great but short opportunity to learn from professionals and people in the business world. To stop our sponsorship during this time would be easy to do, but it would take away an opportunity for them to learn and grow.

Jeff Schelinski, Administrative Director, Levin Schreder & Carey

 

"Wintrust is honored to be part of the Corporate Work Study Program because it provides students in need with a solid foundation for success. The program offers young people, who may not have access to an abundance of resources on their own, a place to put their knowledge and skills to good practice. On our end, it revitalizes employees to impact these talented rising stars and invest in our future workforce. It’s a program I would wholeheartedly encourage any other company to get involved with.”

Ed Wehmer, CEO & Founder, Wintrust

 

"U.S. Bank has proudly invested in the Corporate Work Study Program for a number of years and has also had the privilege of hosting CTK students in our offices. Not only have the students we've hosted gained valuable workplace experience and confidence, our employees likely gained more in return by getting to know, and hopefully inspire, some incredibly talented young people."

Kathy Graham, Senior Vice President - Investments, U.S. Bank


For more information on the Corporate Work Study Program or to provide professional support or remote work opportunities for our students, please contact D
r. Tara Sullivan, Vice President, Corporate Work Study at 773-413-3544 or [email protected], or see CWSP brochure HERE. Thank you!