OLYMPIA FIELDS, IL | October 20, 2026 — At Rich Township High School District 227, career readiness is more than a classroom experience—it is a commitment to connecting students with authentic opportunities that prepare them for life beyond graduation.
Today, students in the district’s Automotive Technology pathway took another exciting step toward their futures through a growing industry partnership with Scott’s U-Save Tires & Automotive Repair.
During their visit, students stepped beyond the walls of their state-of-the-art automotive learning facilities to experience the inner workings of a successful automotive business. From observing daily operations to learning directly from industry professionals, our Raptors gained valuable insight into the technical skills, customer service, professionalism, and business practices that drive success in the automotive industry.
Building Bridges Between Education and Industry
This partnership represents an important expansion of Rich Township's commitment to high-quality Career and Technical Education (CTE) and meaningful work-based learning.
While our students benefit from modern facilities, industry-aligned instruction, and opportunities to develop technical competencies on campus, partnerships with local businesses like Scott’s U-Save Tires provide something equally valuable: exposure to real workplaces, real professionals, and real career possibilities.
As students advance through their automotive pathway, these experiences will help them connect classroom learning to industry expectations while exploring potential career opportunities.
Introducing “Give Me Ten”: A Pathway to Real-World Success
Rich Township is implementing its “Give Me Ten” work-based learning initiative, a scaffolded approach designed to move students from career awareness to authentic workplace experiences.
The framework emphasizes:
10 hours of career exploration: Introducing students to careers through industry tours, job shadowing, employer engagement, and firsthand observation.
50 hours of career experience: Creating opportunities for deeper participation through structured work-based learning, internships, externships, and other supervised industry experiences.
Through this progressive model, students gain exposure, build confidence, develop professional networks, and strengthen the skills needed to transition successfully into postsecondary education, industry training, apprenticeships, or employment.
The partnership with Scott’s U-Save Tires is an exciting example of how local employers can help bring this vision to life.
A Special Thank You to Our Industry Partners
We extend our sincere appreciation to the owners, managers, and team members at Scott’s U-Save Tires for generously investing their time, expertise, and resources in our students.
Opening the doors of a business to young learners is more than hosting a field experience. It is an investment in the future workforce and a demonstration of what can happen when schools and communities work together.
Their willingness to share their professional experiences and introduce students to the realities of the automotive industry helps our Raptors envision themselves as tomorrow’s technicians, entrepreneurs, managers, and industry leaders.
This Is Just the Beginning!
We are incredibly proud of our Raptors for representing Rich Township High School and embracing opportunities to learn beyond the classroom.
As District 227 continues to expand its industry partnerships and strengthen its career pathways, our commitment remains clear: Every student deserves access to meaningful experiences that connect education to opportunity.
Today's visit is not the finish line. It is another important step in building a sustainable pipeline of career exploration, hands-on learning, and future internship and externship opportunities.
To our Raptors: Keep exploring. Keep learning. Keep building your future.
To our industry partners: Thank you for helping us Make Every Moment Matter!
Rich Township High School District 227 | College & Career Readiness | Career & Technical Education
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