Media Advisory: Illinois Central College to Host Largest-Ever Apprenticeship Signing and Recognition Day
East Peoria, IL (04/28/2026) — Illinois Central College (ICC) will host its largest Apprenticeship Signing and Recognition Day to date on Thursday, April 30, at 10:00 a.m. in the Performing Arts Center on the East Peoria Campus, where students, employer partners, and community leaders will gather to celebrate the continued growth of apprenticeship opportunities across Central Illinois.
Stephen Lefaver, co-chair of the Illinois Community College Board Work-Based Learning Committee and director of apprenticeships and training for the North Central Finishing Trades Institute, will attend to present a proclamation on behalf of Governor J.B. Pritzker during the U.S. Department of Labor's 12th annual National Apprenticeship Week.
During the event, students beginning registered apprenticeships will sign agreements with their employers, marking a significant milestone in their career pathways. The program will also recognize apprenticeship completers, honor employer partnerships, and highlight the expansion of ICC's apprenticeship programs, including continued growth into the healthcare industry.
Why This Matters: Apprenticeships help students build skills, launch careers, and earn while they learn. They also help employers meet workforce needs and strengthen the regional economy by creating direct connections between education and industry.
Photo/Video Opportunities: Students signing apprenticeship agreements, recognition of apprenticeship completers, and the presentation of a proclamation on behalf of Governor Pritzker.
Available for interviews:
- Bruce Budde, Interim President, ICC
- Paula Nachtrieb, Executive Director of Workforce Operations, ICC
- ICC student apprentices
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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 institution. ICC is the 2020 awardee of the National Community College Charles Kennedy Equity Award from ACCT, a 2022 and 2025 EDA Good Job Challenge Institution, and the Lead College for the state of Illinois' Workforce Empowerment Initiative. ICC also conducts original research in agricultural fields, including water quality and soil conservation. For more information, visit icc.edu.
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