Harper College will be closed Monday, September 1, in observance of Labor Day.
On October 15, 2025, Harper College brought together alumni, corporate partners, and college leadership for a special Harper @ Work appreciation breakfast at the Zurich Center in Schaumburg. The event recognized the impactful partnership between Harper College and Zurich North America and celebrated the growing Harper alumni presence at Zurich, Wheels, Inc., and ADP—all housed within the Zurich Center.
More than 45 Harper alumni representing the three organizations gathered for networking, a light breakfast, and inspiring remarks from Harper College President Dr. Avis Proctor, Zurich North America’s Susan Meehan, and 2025 Outstanding Recent Alumni honoree Ryan Suby, an alum of Harper’s apprenticeship program with Zurich.
President Proctor highlighted the college’s mission to provide accessible, high-quality education that leads to meaningful careers—made possible by innovative workforce partnerships like the one with Zurich. “We couldn’t do it without employer partners who recognize the value of community college students and help shape our programs with real-world insight,” she said during her remarks.
Since its inception in 2016, the Zurich Apprenticeship Program has become a national model for corporate apprenticeship programs. Zurich has hired over 350 apprentices—205 from Harper—with 160 graduates to date. The majority continue to work at Zurich, benefiting from a model that combines paid employment, tuition coverage, and cohort-based college coursework.
Harper @ Work at Zurich Center was especially meaningful as it was the first time all three companies—Zurich, Wheels, and ADP—were celebrated in a joint alumni recognition event. These companies continue to invest in Harper talent, not only employing graduates but also shaping curriculum and mentoring students through programs like the Corporate Mentorship initiative.
As Dr. Proctor noted, “Together, we are not only preparing students for careers—we are empowering them to change their lives, their communities, and their future.”
The event served as a testament to the transformative power of collaboration between education and industry and underscored the lasting impact Harper alumni are making across the region. To learn about our alumni recognition and workforce programs, please contact alumni@harpercollege.edu.