Carbondale Reporter

In a recent Facebook post, Illinois Rep. Paul Jacobs (R-Pomona) shared the Southern Illinois University Aviation and Automotive High School Introduction Tour.

"We (SIU) are turning out the most sought-after automotive students in the USA! 80% of our graduates have contracts in hand or are already hired by large automotive corporations," the legislator wrote. "Aviation already is a leader in Pilot Instruction but cemented that distinction with a contract with United Airlines a few weeks ago to train and hire many of our aviation graduates. Please tour these wonderful education sites. Go Dawgs!"

SIU brought as many as 250 students from 10 area schools and Rend Lake College to tour the Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Glenn Poshard Transportation Education Center on Sept. 22, a university news release said.

The School of Automotive and School of Aviation programs at SIU are nationally recognized, and students got the chance to tour the labs and even participated in demonstrations, the university said.

According to station KFVS, the opportunity to tour the SIU facilities was set up by Vienna superintendent Joshua Stafford.

“School isn’t just about ‘where am I going to go to school at?’ It’s about that career connection, Stafford said. " It’s been great to work with the three other schools and also the folks here at SIU, everybody has been very cooperative and on board in wanting to just do a better job at connecting kids to meaningful career paths.”

Jacobs was first elected to the Illinois House in 2020, according to his biography. A Republican, their legislative experience includes serving on the Tourism Committee and Higher Education.  Jacobs is a state representative who resides in Pomona, according to the Illinois House.