On Thursday, March 24, 2017, the Career Advancement Academy (CAA) hosted its second evening financial aid workshop for Baden High School students and their family members. The evening workshop is a component of the Baden High School College and Career Readiness course, a CAA concurrent enrollment bridge program created in collaboration with Skyline College and Baden High School Faculty and Staff. Students and their families who attended the special evening financial aid workshop, conducted by CAA program services coordinator Jeremy Evangelista, learned about the types of financial aid, how to apply, district scholarships, The Skyline College Promise, and the Summer Scholars Institute.
The twenty-two high school seniors in this current cohort participate in a six week college preparatory course, COUN 101-Prep for College. During this one-unit counseling course, taught by Skyline College counselor Lorraine DeMello, students explore majors and careers, hear from college program guest speakers, prepare for college—complete their FAFSA, take the Myers Briggs Type Indicator assessment, receive individual counseling sessions, and English and math assessment to ensure a more seamless transition for their first semester at Skyline College. The course included an all-day immersive field trip to Skyline College for Career Technical Education Day and culminated with a capstone portfolio and deeply moving student presentations where students shared their college goals and future plans.
Of the 43 students who graduated during the 2015-2016 Baden High School academic year, 39 or 91% were College and Career Readiness bridge program students. Baden High school is an alternative high school for students who are considered at-risk of graduating on time. CAA hopes to continue its collaboration with Baden High School and support students’ transition to career technical education programs and additional pathways in higher education at Skyline College.
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 and Photo by Alina Varona
