IT'S NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK AND THE ILLINOIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD IS HIGHLIGHTING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FIELD. 

THERE'S A GROWING NEED FOR SKILLED I-T WORKERS, AND YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAN GET YOU STARTED ON THE RIGHT PATH SAYS BOARD SPOKESPERSON MATT BERRY. THERE, STUDENTS CAN TAKE CLASSES AND JOIN AN APPRENTICESHIP.

BERRY SAYS WHILE MOST COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN ILLINOIS HAVE AN I-T PROGRAM, FEDERAL FUNDING IS CURRENTLY SUPPORTING APPRENTICESHIPS AT 10 SCHOOLS. LOCATIONS INCLUDE THE CITY COLLEGES OF CHICAGO, THE COLLEGE OF LAKE COUNTY, RICHLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND REND LAKE COLLEGE.

BERRY SAYS JUST FIVE YEARS AFTER GRADUATION, ILLINOIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS COMPLETING I-T PROGRAMS EARNED AN AVERAGE YEARLY SALARY OF NEARLY $45,000.