SAN DIMAS/LA VERNE – Bonita Unified students looking to get a head start on college and career have taken advantage of several summer workshops and programs designed to spark interest in career technical education (CTE) fields, including industrial and manufacturing engineering, auto repair, architecture, theater, interior design, welding, mentoring, and waste management.

Cal Poly Pomona, Citrus College, Mt. SAC and the Claremont Colleges are among the local campuses providing guidance and instructors to assist students in finding their passion in diverse fields that can lead to lucrative careers. More than 100 BUSD students participated in programs over the summer.

“There are so many opportunities out there for students who want to take the initiative and learn about any number of specialized skills,” Bonita Unified CTE Coordinator Vanessa Tilford said. “These programs are extremely popular with our kids and they are helping to expand their horizons and options as they approach the big decisions regarding their post-secondary lives,”

Nearly 20 Bonita High and San Dimas High students enrolled in a three-day Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering (IME) Summer Academy, held at Cal Poly Pomona in late July. Working with Cal Poly professors and department heads, students received an overview of the IME program, what careers IME can lead to, and the earning potential of engineers with undergraduate and graduate degrees.

“Industrial and manufacturing engineering are two vital, in-demand fields that are not as well-known as some of the other engineering fields, but they can lead to high-paying jobs,” Cal Poly IME associate professor Dr. Ellips Masehian said. “The Summer Academy is a way to promote our programs and recruit the next generation of innovators and engineers.”

BUSD students observed a computer numerical control (CNC) milling demonstration, visited a simulation lab and created a plastic horse in a casting lab. Students also met with BUSD and Cal Poly IME alumni who now work for cutting-edge corporations like SpaceX and Disney, who discussed what to expect in college, how they got started in their careers, the importance of internships, and career advancement.

Steven Lehrman, a rising junior at Bonita High School, is interested in pursuing a career path in engineering and is already beginning to tour college campuses across California in his search for the university that will be the best fit for him.

“I didn’t know anything about both industrial and manufacturing engineering, which is why I signed up for the academy,” Lehrman said. “I liked it a lot, it’s a cool class. We learned how IME is connected to other engineering fields like civil, electrical and mechanical engineering, and how it prepares you for careers in the medical and aerospace industries. I’m still trying to figure everything out, but opportunities like this are important for me to capitalize on.”

Other summer programs attended by Bonita Unified students included:

• Citrus College Automotive/Heavy Truck/Diesel Academy: A five-day workshop held in June introduced students to automotive mechanics and heavy truck/diesel programs.
• Citrus College Architecture Summer Academy: A four-day workshop held in June gave students an overview of 3-D printing, design work and more.
• Project Think Program at Claremont Colleges: Three-week seminars held in June and July introduced students to skills needed to teach and mentor at a youth summer camp.
• Interior Design Academy at Mt. SAC: A four-day workshop held in July introduced students to interior design career paths, combining information discussions with hands-on class projects.
• Inland Valley Repertory Theater Volunteer Program: The Claremont-based theater program trained students to become volunteer teaching assistants working with the repertory theater’s summer camp children, assisting them with acting and recital preparation.
• Heavy Metal Welding Summer Academy at Superior Duct: A five-day workshop, held in July at Pomona-based Superior Duct Fabrication, introduced students and recent graduates to careers in the building trades.
• Waste Management Summer Internship: The program introduced students to various aspects of waste management, including route management, handling service issues, and developing administrative skills.

PHOTOS:

BUSD_SUMMER_CTE1: Bonita Unified students wearing protective helmets and gloves practice welding a sheet metal fitting as part of their training during the Heavy Metal Summer Academy at Superior Duct Fabrication in Pomona.

BUSD_SUMMER_CTE2: Bonita Unified students show off their completed projects during the Heavy Metal Summer Academy at Superior Duct Fabrication in Pomona.