HILLSIDE, IL - Lee Armstrong said they have always had an interest in criminal justice and forensics.
The interest saw them pursue it in Proviso High Schools’ Dual Credit program with Triton College, and now they are one of six students from the Des Plaines Valley Region of schools and the first ever from District 209 to have earned earned the College and Career Pathway Endorsement, or CCPE, for the State of Illinois. Lee and the other five students were honored at a special breakfast and program at Triton College on May 17.
The CCPE program allows qualifying high school students to learn about a specific career path through college-level classes and working with area agencies such as hospitals and law enforcement.
“I’m really excited and nervous because I am the first one from Proviso,” the Proviso West High School senior said. “So it makes feel really good on the inside and I’m excited for the future and what I can do with this achievement.”
For Lee, it was an opportunity to work alongside the Triton College and Norridge police departments. Along with Friday sessions that taught skills on how to navigate life on a college campus, they also learned different radio calls and how to write tickets, organized events for schools, went on ride-alongs with police officers, and worked with dispatchers.
“I particularly liked the dispatch places because you can sit down and hear the police calls and you can hear what’s going on in the community,” said Lee, who earned college credit through the program.
Mr. Alexander Aschoff, co-interim superintendent for Proviso, said that he was excited that Lee will be the first of many students from Proviso to eventually earn the CCPE.
“We have the right people in place and we have the right partners in Triton,” he said. “It’s a program that’s designed for our students.”
Dr. Alexander Brandon, District 209 Director of Career and Technical Education and Early College, said that Lee earning the CCPE helps the district meet its goal for having three college and career pathways in place by 2029.
“It puts us one year ahead of the state requirement (for having three pathways by 2029),” he said. “We’ll be in a very good place because we have certified nursing assistant and criminal justice administration students in place next year (for dual credit pathways).”
Lee said they plan to attend Triton College for at least another year and with the possibility of earning a scholarship, pursue plans to attend Loyola University in Chicago for their bachelor’s to eventually work as a forensic pathologist.
Congratulations, Lee!
