Ball Horticultural Company and Central DuPage Hospital received Outstanding Business Partnership Awards at the May 5, 2004 DuPage Education to Careers Business Partnership Luncheon. They were nominated by Community High School District 94 in West Chicago.

Ball Horticultural Company has continued to support for efforts of Community High School for many years. They have provided mentors for Youth in Business and Industry Day for over ten years and have also provided a member for CHS's Business Partners Advisory Committee. In the past two years, under the direction of Human Resource Director Mike Williams, Ball has expanded it positive impact on the school. They have hosted field trips for the Botany students, participated in the Job Fair and provided a guest speaker on horticulture careers. Recently, they made a very generous contribution to purchase rolling benches for the high school's greenhouse. The company has also graciously donated plants to be used as door prizes the school's Employer Recognition Program. Botany teacher Corrie Stieglitz especially appreciates this wonderful neighbor -- she drives over and picks up their discarded seedlings for greenhouse projects. Mike Williams accepted the award on behalf of Ball Horticultural Company.

Central DuPage Hospital received an Integrated Curriculum Program Award for their Health Career Internship Program. CHS Anatomy and Physiology teacher Karan Oliver-Tucci worked closely with Central DuPage Hospital to develop an integrated program of instruction. Students were polled and an alignment was made between CDH staff volunteers and student interest areas. Students applied to be part of the program and had to made a commitment to attend the sessions offered. Oliver-Tucci and Dorothy Caracciolo of CDH Clinical Education worked together to develop a co-curricular experience at CDH and both parties cooperated to design a schedule that was least disruptive to the students' high school academic program. Caracciolo accepted the award on behalf of the hospital, which was also recognized for partnerships with Naperville North High School, College of DuPage and the Technology Center of DuPage.

The West Chicago and Winfield Chambers of Commerce were also recognized for their support as business partners to Community High School. "The on-going partnership between local schools and business organizations have resulted in over 5,000 students experiencing work-based competencies," said Barbara Tartaglioni of DuPage Education to Careers.

"Our business partnerships have been an invaluable resource for our students," said CHS Business Education Partnership Coordinator Cass Streicher. "We very much appreciate their contributions to our students in the areas of career exploration, internships, paid jobs and leadership education."