On March 9, 2017, the Career Advancement Academy (CAA), in collaboration with the Center for Innovative Practices through Hip Hop Education & Research (CIPHER), welcomed over 120 high school guests to Skyline College for our third annual Career Technical Education (CTE) Day. CTE Day aligns with Skyline College’s commitment to helping students get in, get through, and get out on time by introducing students to high quality CTE programming in high-demand industries and emerging fields. CTE Day provides local high school students, instructors, and counselors an immersive transition-to-college experience and intentionally engages high school students, faculty, and counselors to promote increased connections and smooth transitions to Skyline College.
The day featured special keynote speaker Dr. Marco Cervantes, educator and hip-hop artist Mexican Step Grandfather, and a member of the Afro Chicano hip-hop collective Third Root. Students participated in dynamic tours, selecting from over nine CTE programs and areas of interest, enjoyed lunch and a special raffle, and appreciated a full-day college experience as they toured the campus, visited the Transfer Fair, and listened to special musical performances in the quad.
This year, we welcomed high schools and community based organizations alike, including: Baden High School, 3rd Street Youth Center’s Health Core, South San Francisco High School, June Jordan High School, Peninsula, and El Camino High School. Students received warm welcoming remarks from Dr. Angelica Garcia who encouraged graduating seniors to apply for the Skyline College Promise Scholarship and join the Skyline College Summer Scholars Institute for summer 2017.
This event was made possible thanks to generous support from the President’s Innovation Fund, which supports innovative events and programming at Skyline College, and thanks to the hard work and dedication of CTE Day Committee Members: Nate Nevado, Lauren Ford, Jeremy Evangelista, and Alina Varona. A special thanks to Skyline College’s Automotive Department, who graciously hosted our high school visitors for lunch in the Automotive Shop, Kevin Chak and the Skyline College bookstore who generously donated raffle prizes for our high school guests, to the dedicated facilities team who ensured the event ran smoothly, and the many Skyline College students, faculty, staff, and administrators who volunteered their time and talents to ensure a successful and engaging day.
The Career Advancement Academy connects students to higher wage careers and opportunities in higher education by integrating accelerated and contextualized English and math, career technical education, and integrated student support. Currently, the Career Advancement Academy has programs in Allied Health, Automotive Technology, Biotechnology, and Legal Careers with additional high school bridge programming at Baden High School and Peninsula High School. For more information about the Career Advancement Academy and related programs contact Jeremy Evangelista, evangelistaJ@smccd.edu.
Article by Alina Varona | Photo by Will Nacouzi
