Three students to record development of CTA's Red Line Extension project during their summer internships
**A Second Year of STEM Opportunities: Corliss High School Students to Participate in Red Line Extension Internship**
The Red Line Extension (RLE) project in Chicago is set to provide real-world STEM experiences to students from Corliss Early College STEM High School, as part of a partnership with the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and REDefine Southside Partners Joint Venture (RSP-JV). This partnership marks the second year of the internship, which will take place during the construction of the 5.5-mile extension from 95th Street to 130th Street.
The internship offers an exceptional opportunity for three licensed commercial drone pilots, all of whom are students at Corliss Early College STEM High School. They will be capturing drone footage of the current site conditions and tracking changes throughout the project, working closely with engineers, construction managers, and planners to understand the full scope of the project. This experience will provide them with exposure to industry software, career pathways in transportation and infrastructure, and project management fundamentals.
The school's drone certification program enables students to gain the skills and credentials necessary to become licensed commercial drone pilots. RSP-JV Deputy Construction Manager Justin Elliott expressed his excitement about being part of the Corliss High School drone pilot internship program for a second year. He also looked forward to the contributions of the exceptional students and the opportunity to teach them about construction management, engineering, and business.
Corliss Early College STEM High School is located in the Pullman neighborhood, which is within the project footprint. The CTA aims to continue the internship each summer throughout the life of the RLE project. CPS Interim Superintendent CEO Macquline King, Ed.D. stated that the partnership is not just preparing students for future careers, but inviting them to shape the future of their communities.
The Red Line Extension project is scheduled to begin construction in 2026 and finish by the end of 2030. The partnership between the CTA, RSP-JV, and Corliss Early College STEM High School is a powerful example of what happens when education, public investment, and opportunity intersect. It offers students invaluable hands-on experience in engineering, architecture, and construction management, providing them with a solid foundation for careers in transportation infrastructure development.
- The students' drone footage will be utilized by engineers, construction managers, and planners in the Red Line Extension project, giving them a unique insight into the transportation and infrastructure industry.
- Through the internship, the students will have access to various industry software, fostering their knowledge in project management fundamentals.
- The partnership between the Chicago Transit Authority, REDefine Southside Partners Joint Venture, and Corliss Early College STEM High School encourages lifelong learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), aligning with the principles of education-and-self-development and online-education.
- Upon successful completion of the drone certification program, these Corliss High School students will be able to pursue careers in the finance and business sectors within the transportation and industry landscape.
- The real-world experience gained through the Red Line Extension internship positions the students to become valuable contributors in the development of online-education resources focused on engineering, architecture, and construction management.
- As the Red Line Extension project progresses, these students will not only have an opportunity to shape their own future careers but also contribute to the improvement of their community's transportation infrastructure.
