CTE Graduate Profile

Andrew Gordon

CAREER PATH

Bachelors Graduate in Materials Science and Engineering UIUC with a focus on metals and metal materials. Post Graduation hired as a Metallographer for Keystone Steel and Wire now Liberty Steel and Wire in Peoria.

EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS NEEDED FOR THIS CAREER

HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDED

St. Charles East High School St. Charles, Illinois – Kane County

Employee Management, Communication skills (especially to people not technically trained as you are), Time management and task planning, Technical understanding of Steel production, Critical Thinking and decision making in a timely fashion, Customer Interfacing

CTE DEPARTMENT/CLASSES ENROLLED IN DURING HIGH SCHOOL PLTW Introduction to Engineering and Design and Principles of Engineering

ADVICE TO HIGH SCHOOL CTE STUDENTS

CURRENT JOB TITLE

Metallographer

Do what you want to do. If you're even seeing this, you're likely ahead of many adjacent students, and even more likely know how to handle yourself up to this point in life. You've made it this far and can truly do anything, don't let some lame excuse hold you back. Follow your passions.

PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT

Liberty Steel and Wire Peoria, Illinois

CAREER PATHWAY

HOW HAS CTE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE/CAREER?

Manufacturing, Engineering, Technology and Trades

Time management and organization are still something I need to work on, but the foundations of both were taught to me in high school. Not to mention the general ideology of engineering and problem solving; PLTW courses shaped my mindset when tackling problems even subconsciously.