---
name: apex-program
description: "Core facts about the Waukee APEX program — mission, history, location, culture, tools, and professional expectations"
metadata: 
  node_type: memory
  type: project
  originSessionId: a7c21f3f-80cb-4099-9fc9-4faecc86bcc5
---

**Full name:** Waukee Aspiring Professional Experience (APEX)
**Website:** waukeeapex.org / apex.waukeeschools.org
**Location:** Waukee Innovation & Learning Center (WILC), 295 SE Ashworth Road, Waukee, IA 50263
**General email:** apex@waukeeschools.org
**Previously called:** CAPS (students — including Vivian Le — pitched the name "APEX" to the school board)
**Founded:** ~2017 when the WILC opened; 10+ years as of 2025–2026

**Mission:** Through a collaboration between education, business, and the community, Waukee APEX develops highly-skilled, adaptable global innovators and leaders. Draws on business partners to bring real-world experience to high school through passion-based learning and authentic projects.

**Program structure:**
- Student-associates take at least 2 blocks per semester
- Most courses offer dual college credit
- Career areas: Engineering, Finance & Insurance, Human Services, Business/Technology/Communications, Agriculture & Bioscience
- Grading: Performance reviews (growth, professional behavior, engagement, reflection) — not traditional tests
- Instructors go by first names (as in a workplace)

**Tools used:** Canvas (LMS), Slack (team communication), Gmail, Google Calendar

**Professional expectations:**
- Business casual dress required all week at WILC, host sites, and offsite
- No jeans, flip-flops, t-shirts, hoodies, hats
- Professional Clothes Closet on first floor (free to all student-associates)
- 5 & 10 Rule: acknowledge and greet anyone within 5–10 feet
- Punctuality required for all meetings, courses, shuttles, events
- Shuttle runs between WILC and WHS/NWHS throughout the day

**See also:** [[apex-elevated-language]] for required terminology, [[apex-staff]] for team, [[apex-courses]] for full course list