Career Center

Information Center to Colleges and Careers

Mrs. T. Hellios, Career Counselor
M.A. School Counseling

The Career Center at Grant Community High School offers up-to-date information and materials related to colleges and careers. Mrs. Hellios meets one-on-one with students assisting with and promoting career awareness and development. Students are encouraged to make use of these resources. The Career Center is located behind the Counseling Department and hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on school days.

Available information includes:

College Catalogs describing academic requirements, majors and courses of study for hundreds of  universities

Over 400 files on colleges and universities, design schools, technical and
vocational schools, etc.; Career Center Resource Materials, appropriate for career exploration and
development to be housed in a central location accessible to the entire student population (example: interest inventories, videos, software, DVD/CD, books, games, etc.).  Computers and a Printer, available for students on-line to research specific careers and participate in various personality assessments,which links students to specific careers.
Applications for college admission, including all Illinois state universities.
FAFSA (Federal financial aid application), form is available to the students. Once a year an evening meeting is scheduled to explain the FAFSA form to parents and students. Be sure to attend if you are applying for aid.
Information about scholarship opportunities, offered by corporations and organizations both local and national.
Over 50 college representatives visit throughout the school year. Students are encouraged to talk with the reps during their visits. The college rep schedule is posted in advance on the Master Calendar (located in the window of the main entrance to the Counseling Department). The visits are also posted on the school website and written up in the daily announcements. A student who has a class may request permission in advance from that teacher to meet the representative during the school day.
Personality Assessments/Interest Testing:
Career Cruising is an on-line program to help meet the career and educational planning needs of students. Career Cruising has four main sections: Career Matchmaker, Explore Careers, Explore Colleges and Universities, and the Portfolio Tool. Students can track their entire four years in their own personal portfolio. Search for schools, programs, financial aid, estimated expenses of colleges, majors, etc. are offered. This can be accessed from the Grant web site. The username is Grant and The password is community


Career Center Calendar

Career Programs Available in the Career Center:
Job Shadows are available to Grant Community High School students at the Freshman-Senior level. Students may participate in the job shadow programs if they meet the required criteria. A job shadow is an opportunity for students to spend a day or part of a day observing and interviewing a professional in a specific career area. This experience helps students acquire a realistic impression of the job position. Students also develop a more positive attitude about themselves and the world of work. The knowledge gained allows students to make informed and practical decisions about educational plans and goals. To date, these are the job shadows available:

HEALTHCARE FIELD:
Centegra Hospital, McHenry; Good Shepherd Hospital, Barrington
Job Shadow a professional in the medical field in the following careers:
nurses, physical therapist, medical imaging, pharmacist, doctors, phlebotomist, emergency room, surgery, orthopedic services, respiratory
therapist, and sports medicine. A 500-word essay, double-spaced is required for Juniors and Seniors only.

Massage Therapist Holy Tomal will be speaking to students in the Career Center about the Massage Therapy field.

Chiropractors.
Careers in the chiropractic field. Observe a chiropractor performing back
and neck adjustments to patients in an actual medical office.

EDUCATION JOB SHADOW:
Teacher, Fox Lake Grade School, Fox Lake, District 114:
Job Shadow either at Stanton School or Lotus School, Fox Lake
(pre-k thru 8th grade classroom teachers, including: physical education,
speech pathology, art, special education, music.

LAW ENFORCEMENT:
Fox Lake Police Explorers is a youth group organized by the Fox Lake
Police Dept. that meets weekly at the Fox Lake Police Station.
This is open to freshmen through seniors. The Law enforcement explorers conduct
a variety of programs and projects featuring safety, training, and service.
Explorers meet once a week at the Fox Lake Police Station. Explorers have
the opportunity to learn and gain firsthand work experience in the law
enforcement field. For more information, stop by the Career Center. If you are interested the career fields of: judge, lawyer, police officer, corrections
officer, probation officer, FBI, Homeland Security joins the Fox Lake Police
Explorers and learn how to process a crime scene, perform a felony traffic
stop, properly respond to a traffic accident, and perform a mock building search.

FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES
Fox Lake Fire/Emergency Explorers is a youth group organized by the Fox Lake Fire Department that meets weekly
at the Fox Lake Fire Dept Station 2 on Washington Street in Ingleside.
This is open to freshmen through seniors. If you’re interested in the career fields of firemen, paramedics,
emergency medical technician; by joining this organization you can learn more about this career field.
Stop by the Career Center for more information.

OUTSIDE SPEAKERS
Various outside speakers from many career clusters visit Grant Community
High School throughout the year. These speakers are willing to share their
knowledge and expertise about their career including:

 First hand information about a specific career
 Informed and realistic decisions about the future
 Positive attitudes about themselves and the world of work
 Resource information about careers

Scheduled speakers are posted on the master schedule outside the Counseling Department, announced over the PA system, and written in the Daily announcements. Students may obtain passes from the Counseling Department. Some speakers scheduled for the coming year are in the
Fields of:
 Interior Design/Fashion Merchandising
 Law Enforcement
 Medical professions
 Restaurant Management/Chef
 Plumbing Union
 Carpenters Union
 Electrical Union
 Entrepreneurs
 Banking
 Insurance
 Careers in Agriculture
 Careers in Aviation, (Pilots, Flight Attendants)
 Stockbrokers
 Forensics

TRADE ASSOCIATIONS:
Representatives from the Electrical Union, Plumbers Union, and the
Carpenters Union visit Grant High School every year. These visits are
posted on the Master Calendar and published in the daily announcements.
Students are invited to attend these meetings to assist them in deciding
a program of interest. Passes are available in the Guidance Department.

CAREER FIELD TRIPS:
During the year various field trips are scheduled; students will be visiting:
UTI, Universal Technical Institute, Glendale Heights, IL:
UTI offers training in automotive, diesel, marine, NASCAR, and
motorcycles.

FASHION:
Interior Design, Fashion Design, Merchandise Design:
A field trip will be takn to Harper College, Palatine to attend a "Fashion Show" in the spring, 2009.

FORENSICS:
Lake County Coroner's office visits talking about careers in forensics and crime solving.

COSMETOLOGY FIELD:
Cosmotology and Spa Institute (CSI), Crystal Lake talks to students interested in the career fields of: cosmetology, esthetician and nail tech.

CULINARY:
Kendall College will be visiting Grant to talk about their associates and bachelor degrees in the following: culinary, pastries and hospitality management.

COLLEGE NIGHT FOR ATHLETES:
Senior students wishing to participate in NCAA college sports may attend an information session September 14 at 7:00 p.m. at Vernon Hills High School. (Info on participation, scholarships, etc.)

COLLEGE OF LAKE COUNTY COLLEGE FAIR:
Over 150 college representatives under one roof visit with students and assist in their college search. When: Thursday, October 22. Time: 6:00-8:00 p.m.. Where: CLC, Grayslake Campus, Physical Education Center

AVIATION CAREER EXPO:
The 2nd Annual Aviation Career Expo will be held at Chicago Executive Airport (PWK) on Saturday, September 19, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at the Signature Flight Support Hangars, 1100 Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling. (Guest speakers, tour aircraft displays, attendance is free)