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Illinois Central College Solar Alums to Install Solar Panels on ICC President's Home

by Jennifer O'Neil

East Peoria, IL (10/01/2023) — Dr. Sheila Quirk-Bailey, President of Illinois Central College, is having solar panels installed on her home, and who better to put her trust in than previous students of the very College she leads?

Since she first decided she wanted solar panels, Dr. Quirk-Bailey was adamant that ICC Solar graduates should be the ones to install them. "I am confident in our program and in the training our students receive. Our program has an 89% completion rate, and the industry certification pass rate for our graduates is 66%, with 95% of those individuals employed," she said.

The ICC Solar Pipeline Training is part of the Earn and Learn apprenticeship model, which combines training with concurrent work experience. Many Earn and Learn students complete their programs with little to no out-of-pocket costs. The Solar Pipeline Training program at ICC focuses on individuals of poverty and recently incarcerated individuals, allowing them to quickly join the workforce to earn a family-sustaining wage. ICC Solar students can earn job readiness skills in around 4 weeks, and Technical Solar Training in an additional 5 weeks, which prepares them to certify with the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). Individuals trained in solar installation can earn from $30,000 to over $100,000 annually in the Greater Peoria region, depending on specialty, job title, and experience.

Event Details:

Time/Date: Monday, October 2, 1:00 - 2:00 PM

Location: 217 Morningside Dr. Peoria, IL 61614

Available for Interviews:

  • Dr. Sheila Quirk-Bailey, ICC President
  • Arnitria Shaw, Vice President of Workforce and Diversity
  • ICC solar alumni

If you plan to attend or have questions, please contact ICC Lead Communications & Media Relations Coordinator, Jennifer O'Neil at jennifer.oneil@icc.edu, or (309)218-2305.

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Illinois Central College is a two-year community college with campuses in East Peoria, Peoria, and Pekin, Illinois providing a high-quality, affordable education to prepare students to enter the workforce or to transfer to a four-year college or university. For more information on ICC, visit icc.edu.

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