GGUSD Students Gain 21st Century Job Experience in Summer Internship Program

• Thursday, August 10, 2017

Nearly 40 high school students from Garden Grove Unified School District (GGUSD) spent six weeks of their summer break gaining 21st century job skills through a unique Summer Internship Program.    The program is offered through a partnership with the GGUSD Career and Technical Education (CTE) Department and Orange County United Way’s Youth Career Connections program.  

On August 4, an Internship Culmination Celebration breakfast was held at Lincoln Education Center for students, parents, employers, and community partners.  Students shared stories about gaining self-confidence and discovering their career passions while employers expressed appreciation for the contributions of students who exceeded expectations. 

“We are so grateful that the Orange County United Way partnered with us to provide invaluable internship experiences that prepared students for success after high school,” said Dina Nguyen, Board of Education member. “The Board is committed to growing this program to expand the opportunities for students to explore their career goals outside of the classroom.”

Students earned 10 credits while completing a CTE pathway and were presented with a $450 scholarship at the celebration.  As part of the program, students developed LinkeIn profiles, drafted resumes, and gained real-world experience in a wide range of industries.  Employers entrusted students with important skills, such as developing Excel formulas, designing architecture plans in CAD, customer service and restaurant management, offering insight during office meetings, and contributing to engineering work in the field with experts in paleontology and botany.

Employers included Azteca Mexican Restaurant, Boys and Girls Club of Garden Grove, Carolina’s Italian Restaurant, Cielo, Dr. Forghani inc., First Service Residential, GGUSD Lincoln Education Center, Hills Bros Lock & Safe,  the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, OC Heat Press, Opus Bank, OC Labor Federation, Orange County United Way, Psomas Engineering, Sasha’s Edible Arrangements, SM&A, Thomas House Family Shelter, Unite Here Local 11, and  Ware Malcomb. Employers interested in offering internships to GGUSD students should contact Myra Clarke, Director of Career and Technical Education, at (714) 663-6503.

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