GGUSD’s Summer Internship Program Prepares Students for Future Success

• Monday, July 14, 2025

Garden Grove Unified School District (GGUSD) celebrated 93 CTE (Career and Technical Education) students who successfully completed a six-week summer internship through the district’s Career and Technical Education Program, working at 52 businesses and community organizations across a wide range of industries.  The celebration was held on July 11 at Don Wash Auditorium to showcase the impact of the internship experience in equipping high school juniors with college and career readiness skills for lifelong success. The event was attended by Board of Education Trustee Teri Rocco and included presentations from CTE Director Dr. Ulises Garcia, Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education Dr. Stephanie Heflin, employers and business partners including Vital Link President April Barnes who played an important role, along with Orange County United Way, in placing students with employers in industries like medical, computer science, media arts, hospitality and more.

Student interns Alexis Elliott, Yahir Martinez and Chelsea Kee provided personal stories of how grateful they were to participate in an internship as high school students and how it provided them important insights as they further map out their career goals and plan for their final year of high school.

“We are deeply appreciative of our business community for opening their doors to students and providing opportunities to gain real-world skills that extend beyond the classroom,” said Board of Education Trustee Teri Rocco. “These internships give students a valuable competitive edge as they take the next steps toward achieving their aspirations.”

Prior to being selected for the internship program, students completed at least one year of CTE pathway coursework. In addition to gaining real-world job skills, student interns earned a combined total of136 professional certifications including certifications in Professional Communications, Adobe Certified Professional, Critical Career Skills, and Health Sciences Careers.

GGUSD’s CTE program offers students coursework in 15 Career Pathways that focus on the skills needed for high-paying, in-demand jobs. GGUSD’s newest Skilled Trades Career Pathway opens at Rancho Alamitos High School in the fall. CTE students gain industry certifications, compete in competitions and earn college credit while in high school.

 

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