GGUSD Celebrates CTE Students for Completing Transformative Summer Internships

CTE Summer Interns

Last week, Garden Grove Unified School District (GGUSD) celebrated nearly 80 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 35 businesses and organizations across a wide range of industries.  The celebration was held at Don Wash Auditorium to showcase the impact of the internship experience in equipping students with college and career readiness skills for lifelong success.

The event was attended by Board of Education Vice President Lan Nguyen and included presentations from Superintendent Dr. Gabriela Mafi, CTE Assistant Principal Ana Bilvado-Alaniz, student interns, employers and business partners including United Way Executive Director Sergio Contreras and Vital Link President April Barnes who were important partners in placing students with employers in industries like medical, computer science, media arts, hospitality and more.

During the event United Way Executive Director Sergio Contreras presented GGUSD Board Vice President Lan Nguyen and Superintendent Dr. Gabriela Mafi with a Community Impact Partnership Award for creating work-based learning opportunities for students.

“This program puts students one step closer to their college and career goals and equips them with important workplace skills they simply cannot develop through their regular classroom coursework,” said Board of Education Vice President Lan Nguyen. “We are grateful for these employers who provided mentorship and guidance to our students who are the next generation of business and community leaders.”

Prior to being selected for the internship program, students completed at least one year of CTE pathway coursework. GGUSD’s CTE program offers students coursework in 14 Career Pathways that focus on the skills needed for high-paying, in-demand jobs. CTE students gain industry certifications, compete in competitions and earn college credit while in high school.