Dr. Jill Biden Chicago: First lady visits Rolling Meadows HS, Aon for National Apprenticeship Week
CHICAGO (WLS) -- First Lady Dr. Jill Biden traveled to Illinois Monday to kick off National Apprenticeship Week.
She arrived at O'Hare airport just before noon, and was greeted by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.
WATCH: First Lady Jill Biden arrives at O'Hare airport
Some very nervous and excited Rolling Meadows High School students welcomed Biden.
The first lady came to check out the high school's successful engineering and manufacturing pathways program.
"Not everybody has to have a four-year degree. It's all about jobs," Biden said.
Joined by secretaries of commerce, labor and education, Biden came to Chicago to launch a new program called "Raising the Bar: Unlocking Career Success." The administration is investing federal funds to expand high school career programs and apprenticeships.
"Joe knows the pipeline of support from high school to community college to career is the future of our workforce," Biden said.
Biden's visit included a downtown trip to Aon. The company joined 77 others in Chicago that are offering apprenticeships to community college students. Still, Biden said the pipeline to manufacturing, automotive and cyber services jobs all begins in high school, adding that the Rolling Meadows program is a prime example.
WATCH: First Lady Dr. Jill Biden speaks at Aon for for National Apprenticeship Week
"Here at 214, we had a lot of different pathways to career ready classes kids can take," said Anthony Genovese, a Rolling Meadows High School teacher.
Students got to show off some of their engineering inventions, including a Bot named Flipside, where the first lady took over the controls.
"Her coming in validates our work, like, wow, we did take home something that is worthy of them to come here and see what we are all about," said Ethan Salibio, a student.
During a round table discussion, sophomore Kate Foley was chosen to sit next to Biden. Foley shared her personal story of being inspired to study biomedical engineering because her mom is a three-time cancer survivor.
"Yea, the machines are amazing, but without my personal interest, I wouldn't be using them," Foley said.
To replicate career programs like the one here at Rolling Meadows High School, the Biden administration is providing new guidance to schools on how to use American Rescue funds to expand career programing.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were in the Chicago area earlier this month, stumping for Democrats ahead of the midterms.
Jill Biden was in Chicago in October 2021 for Hispanic Heritage Month.
