Local high school honors Walgreens

WAUKEGAN, Ill. St. Martin de Porres High School, a high school located in Waukegan, Ill., honored one of the nation's largest drug store chains with the annual President’s Award for its support of the mission of the school.

Walgreens was the recipient of the award, the school said, by offering corporate internships to students that help bridge the gap between school and work, provide financial support, and broaden students’ career horizons through exposure to professional work environments.

“St. Martin de Porres High School is pleased to honor Walgreens for their generosity and leadership as a Founding Business Partner of the Hire4Ed program of SMdP,” said George Rattin, president. “Walgreens and its employees provide our students the coaching and confidence that they can succeed in the professional workplace and find a rewarding and fulfilling future there after college.”

Walgreens’ support of education extends beyond financial support to include the active engagement of Walgreens employees in championing the mission of organizations devoted to strengthening and supporting this country’s children, particularly those most in need.  For the past five years, employees of Walgreens have taught the students of St. Martin de Porres the keys to success in the professional workplace through the school’s Hire4Ed program.  Student growth is nurtured through the excellent coaching of caring and committed professionals in Walgreens’ merchandising, advertising, finance, legal and logistics departments.  In the spring 2009 the Hire4Ed program awarded Carolynn Leiding, a divisional coordinator merchandising and strategic planning and analysis at Walgreens, the 2009 Educator of the Year Award for her outstanding work with St. Martin de Porres High School students.

“As one of St. Martin de Porres’ original business partners for this internship program, we’re so proud to help and see students grow in the workplace,” said Walgreens divisional VP Rick Hans, who accepted the award on Walgreens' behalf.  “Not only do the students walk away with a better sense of responsibility, discipline and drive, we, too also gain a sense of enthusiasm from being a part of the mentoring process.”