The team said both stood out for their commitment to preparing students for life beyond the classroom. From integrating career readiness into everyday lessons to forging connections with local employers, their dedication is helping shape the future of our workforce. The teachers were recognized Tuesday with gifts, donated by local businesses and organizations.

Drawe was recognized for making a lasting impact by preparing her students for the future in an engaging and meaningful way. Throughout the school year, she integrates real-world learning into her classroom through creative transformations that not only teach academic concepts but also expose students to a variety of career paths.

Whether she’s turning her classroom into a bustling coffee shop, a lively carnival or a fully functioning kitchen, Drawe uses these immersive experiences to help students develop essential life skills and explore potential careers.

Presser was recognized for helping her students envision and prepare for their futures through personalized guidance and intentional planning. Presser’s classroom goes beyond traditional instruction, focusing on real-world application and long-term success for every student.

Each student completes a research paper focused on a career they are interested in pursuing after graduation — ranging from hands-on trades like construction and mechanics to professional fields such as veterinary medicine. These projects not only strengthen research and writing skills but also encourage students to begin thinking critically about their goals and how to achieve them.

In addition to classroom assignments, Presser meets individually with each of her students to discuss their post-high school plans. Together, they explore whether college, trade school, or a certification program is the right path. 

The Career Guidance Team will host its Career Launch Signing Day on Tuesday at John Wood Community College’s Workforce Development Center to honor eight talented students from JWCC and Quincy Area Vocational Technical Center who are kicking off their careers with local employers.

These students have landed positions with some of the region’s major employers — Blessing Health System, Sharkey Transportation, Sunset Home, Gem City Ford, Smith Brothers Honda and Quincy Tractor — and will be celebrated for choosing to grow their futures right here at home. Surrounded by family, educators and employers, each student will sign a Work-Ready Pledge, a symbolic promise to excel in the workplace. They’ll also receive a commemorative certificate recognizing their achievement and commitment.

The Adams County Career Guidance Team is made up of partners from Great River Economic Development Foundation, the Illinois Workforce Innovation Board, JWCC, QAVTC, Junior Achievement, area school counselors and local employers, with the mission to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and inspiration to explore and pursue the wide variety of careers available in our region.

Nearly 400 eighth-grade students from 11 area schools took part in Wednesday’s expo highlighting career paths available in science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

“We hope that students will have a better understanding of what is available around them as far as careers and a better idea of what they possibly want to do in the future,” said Taylor Rakers, district manager with Junior Achievement, which sponsored the expo with the Great River Economic Development Foundation and the Learning Technology Center.

The students, who potentially could be in the workforce before 2030, heard from representatives of 39 businesses divided into three career clusters in Quincy University’s Health and Fitness Center.

“It gives me a better opportunity to learn about some new stuff,” Payson eighth-grader Juston Casey said.

Mendon eighth-grader Addalyn Landwehr, who wants to be an ultrasound technician, focused on the health care professionals.

“It gives me a perspective on learning what I want to do for my job when I’m older,” she said.

Junior Achievement has offered career fairs since 2016, Rakers said, but Career Spark provided something different to students.

“The old ones were lecture-style format in a classroom setting. Business professionals would come in and tell about their careers,” he said. “With this format, they’re going to show the kids what they do for their career. We’re encouraging hands-on exhibits and activities so students can see, touch and feel versus being told.”

Blessed Sacrament eighth-grade Allison Lenane tried her hand at painting with a virtual reality system displayed by Knapheide.

While that may not be her career choice, “it was a good try to see what it would kind of be like,” said Allison, who leans toward working in hair or cosmetology.

The expo, she said, was equally good for students.

“It’s going to be good so I can see other opportunities I have to see if I’m interested in anything else,” she said.

“Anytime we get to get in front of kids and show them what’s out there and what’s possible, I think it’s really important,” said Travis Brown, chief business development officer with the Relish Jar, who talked with students.

SIU Center for Family Medicine residents encouraged students to test out a stethoscope and to take a look inside their ears.

“In the rural areas, there’s a big need for primary care doctors especially throughout West-Central and Southern Illinois. We are really working on trying to recruit kids early to understand the process of becoming a doctor,” said Dr. Owen Alford-Bichsel, a first-year resident born and raised in Quincy.

“The commitment to being a doctor is pretty big. Knowing that early on can help a lot of students. Maybe they’re the first in their family to become a doctor and don’t know how much schooling is involved, how much debt is involved. We’re kind of providing that information.”

Hamilton science teacher Haleigh Hempen-Bell hopes her students find something that interests them at the expo.

“With our junior high kids, I’m not expecting for them to have their life planned out, but it would be helpful for them to know an area they would like to go into so they can help narrow their direction down in high school,” Hempen-Bell said.

The expo aims to bridge the gap between education and employment by demonstrating how STEAM-related fields play a vital role in everyday life and the workforce.

“Career Spark is about sparking curiosity and helping students connect their classroom learning to real-world opportunities,” GREDF Director of Workforce and Community Development Cole Schwartz said.

By DEBORAH GERTZ HUSAR Herald-Whig Staff Writer dhusar@whig.com

But a report commissioned by the Upjohn Institute found small- to medium-sized manufacturers lag behind compared to larger manufacturers and often face larger financial, skill set and cultural hurdles in adopting automation technology.

Quincy area businesses and human resources professionals came together Tuesday for the Western Illinois Regional Roundtable focused on modern approaches to address the local labor shortage.

“It’s really just bringing together local organizations and business leaders to get a more in-depth view of workforce resources across the state and locally with a focus on how manufacturers are utilizing automation and showing them ways they also may be able to utilize automation and train their workforce,” said Cole Schwartz, director of workforce and community development with the Great River Economic Development Foundation.

Knapheide Manufacturing Facilities and Maintenance Manager Chuck Makins said the business looks for ways to enhance its workforce — and its automated technology.

“Automation has been a big help to improve our processing out there, shore up some of the labor shortcomings that everyone is having,” Makins said. “We’re always looking for ways to hire new people, especially trades.”

Many manufacturers assume that implementing automation is too costly or only beneficial for large companies, but a slate of speakers challenged those assumptions by sharing strategies for adopting automation technologies and training current employees while also highlighting state and local resources.

“We have to do something,” Smith said. “There’s a continued workforce shortage, so we’ve got to upskill the current workforce, hold onto the current workforce and we’ll need to supplement with automation and other advanced technologies.”

IMA offers similar roundtable programs across the state, working with local partners such as GREDF.

While the financial hurdles may be greater for small businesses, overcoming cultural challenges can be easier.

“For smaller manufacturers with a smaller workforce, making that cultural change, while still not easy, can be simpler to get everyone pulling together,” Smith said.

Manufacturers of all sizes also can turn to a range of financial resources to help overcome financial challenges.

“There’s plenty of automation partners that if given a clear problem statement will be able to put together a cost-effective solution,” Smith said. “The idea is automation should be solving a problem. That problem can’t just be lack of automation. What are we trying to do with this piece of advanced tech equipment, what problem are solving, then we can put together that financial piece.”

Workforce and technology challenges in manufacturing are nothing new.

“The manufacturing industry is still alive, despite the fact all the way back in 1963 we were saying there’s a talent shortage,” Smith said.

But GatesAir HR Generalist Dena Pracht hoped to find some advice because workforce recruiting has gotten harder.

“Because of the environment that we’re in, different challenges with types of business and types of skills we’re looking for, some jobs are harder to recruit for,” Pracht said. “I’ve seen the ebbs and flows over several years, how it changed. I’ll try to get some information on how to more effectively recruit in the market we’re in right now.”

Story By: Quincy Herald Whig – Deborah Gertz Husar – 3/4/25