Baden High School studentsOn December 8, 2015, the Career Advancement Academy (CAA) welcomed a group of Baden High School seniors and their counselors to Skyline College. This cohort of students participated in a CAA pilot bridge program: College and Career Readiness, a six week college preparatory course for Baden High School seniors, which includes career exploration, financial literacy, college preparedness (FAFSA, registration, placement), industry certification, and culminates with an all-day field trip to Skyline College. The course included several Skyline College Faculty guest lecturers from Counseling, Automotive, Retail and Hospitality, Biotechnology, Allied Health, Emergency Medical Technician, and ESTEM who generously gave of their time to support this pilot project.

The  Baden High School tour began with a student panel comprised of current and former Allied Health, Automotive, Early Childhood Education, and Legal CAA students who shared their experiences, fielded questions from Baden High School students, and offered important insights for students interested in pursuing career technical education at Skyline College. Jeremy Evangelista, (Interim Program Services Coordinator) and Monique Hernandez (Office Assistant II) facilitated tours of the campus and its Career Technical Education (CTE) programs. Students visited Automotive Technology, Allied Health, Cosmetology, SparkPoint, and the Child Development Center

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 CAAs connect students to higher wage careers and opportunities in higher education by increasing foundational skills in reading, writing and mathematics while enrolling students in career technical training programs. Currently, the Career Advancement Academy has programs in Allied Health, Automotive Technology, Early Childhood Education, and Legal Careers.

Article by Alina Varona | Photo by Jeremy Evangelista