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C.S.I.  Career Study and Investigation

In place of the former Career Fair, Lake Zurich High School has instituted this career program to better expose students to different careers.  CSI involves inviting speakers to the school each week as part of career-themed weeks and having them speak about the education, responsibilities, daily tasks, and skills involved in their careers, as well as offering advice about how students can pursue the careers of their choice.  Students are also given the opportunity to apply to job shadow a mentor in a field of their choice.  This one-day opportunity gives students an up-close look at a job they might be interested in after high school. 

GUEST SPEAKERS - DECEMBER 2008

Beth Cunningham, Northwestern University Athletics, December 9th 
Beth works in marketing supporting Northwestern University's athletic department.  This includes advertising various athletic programs and interfacing with the public.
 
Arc Capulong, Physical Therapist with Athletico, December 10th
Guest speaker, Arc Capulong, a Physical Therapist with Athletico, is available to come to your class!  He will be sharing his journey from high school to Physical Therapist including a day in the life working in this career.  Arc's presentation would be valuable to all students, particularly those in PE and the sciences.
Russ Spitolnick, Hospital Laboratory Systems, December 17th
Russ, Director of Engineering and Services, is a father to one of our LZHS students and provides laboratory services to hospitals in the areas of hematology, urinalysis, cardiology, and radiology.  He would like to share with students the wide range of employment opportunities in the healthcare industry with an emphasis on networking, engineering, and research and development.

 

At the end of the pilot year, the following statistics were collected

 
  • 130 speakers were scheduled to speak to classrooms during the school day.
  • Of these 130 speakers, 71 speakers were requested to speak to at least one class. (55%)
  • The 71 speakers who were requested spoke to 174 classes and 4,577 students. (This is based on the assumption that each regular class had 25 students, not counting academic level classes which typically have 10 or less.
  • 50 different teachers requested a speaker at least one time. (38% of all teachers)
  • 31 speakers set up a booth in the cafeteria to speak to students during lunch periods.
  • Over 60 students inquired about job shadowing, and 40 students completed the necessary paperwork to be eligible.
  • 29 students were placed; 9 could not be placed, usually because of security/safety/confidentiality/age/location reasons.
  • 173 professionals are listed in the CSI database as potential speakers and/or mentors.


- Over 60 students inquired about job shadowing, and 40 students completed the necessary paperwork to be eligible.
- 29 students were placed.
- 9 students could not be placed, usually because of security/safety/confidentiality/
age/location reasons.
- 1 student was denied after background check. (LZ Police)
- 173 professionals are listed in the CSI database as potential speakers and/or mentors.

 
Student Surveys:
With the help of Mr. Rothermel’s Contemporary Marketing class, 306 students were surveyed to determine their awareness and opinions of the career program.  Some of the results are highlighted below:
 
- 69% of students were aware that LZHS had a career program. 
- 33% had heard the name “CSI: Career Study and Investigation.”
- 37% heard about the career program from announcements, 21% from teachers
- 53% of students had a speaker come to their class.
- Of those students, 64% found the speakers either somewhat interesting/helpful or very interesting/helpful.
- 65% of students noticed professionals in the cafeteria during lunch, but only 21% talked with them.  The main reason (56%) was that the students were too busy eating/socializing.
- 67% of students were aware of the job shadowing program, but only 13% responded as having applied.
- The main reason (36%) for not applying was uncertainty of what career field they were interested in.
- 55% of students would like more speakers coming to their classes to talk about careers.  27% would like more out of school career education opportunities.