Leadership Event 2014

    The first stop on our Leadership Connection was extremely fascinating! Sondra Hughes, an inspirational community leader, allowed Career Institute students behind the scenes of being an entrepreneur and an owner of your own business. The students saw the challenges, obstacles, but most of all the passion involved in being a leader and becoming a manager. Among other aspects, we now have a better understanding of labor, revenue, and competition when owning your own business. After this leadership opportunity, our future business leaders are well on their way!

-Audrey Chism from the Lake Arrowhead Office

Chautauqua High School Presentation

Earlier this month, Sarah and I went to Chautauqua Highschool to give a presentation about The Career Center and what our program could do for them. We were introduced by the principal, Doug Lane, to all of the school's students gathered in their meeting room. Doug introduced us as the next step in students futures. We then talked with them about our WIA program and the Career Center in general. A lot of the kids seemed really interested!

After our presentation was over Doug gave us their meeting room to stay during break to talk more with anyone who had any questions or wanted to sign up. We got a total of eight people who have is their contact information and set up days to meet up with Cheryl, The Career Center of Big Bear Mentor.  It was so great to see these kids find our program and what we do something that they would like to be apart of!

-Dezi

Planning for the future

This month Success Story is on Michael McCort, a graduate of the Career Institute Hospitality Program and a senior standing student at California State University, Northridge.Michael began his internship as a bellman with the Sheraton Hotel by becoming the first impression for guest and greeting them with a proper welcome and offering luggage assistance.Guest enjoyed the professional service,yet humorous personality that Michael contributed to enhance their overall experience.After two years with the hospitality program, Michael transferred to Cal State Northridge to pursue his path of becoming a speech therapist for young children. In his time up north, Michael has acquired a 4.0 G.P.A within his curriculum and has become deeply involve with many academic clubs on campus. He was recently awarded the title of ambassador for his university which include duties like facilitating group tours, hosting special events, and most importantly representing his school with pride and professionalism.Michael's future plans consist of mastering the studies of school based Speech-Language Pathologist and is confident that he can improve the quality of life for children with speech disorders.

Success Story: Jesenia Velasquez

Success Story: Jesenia Velasquez

Jesenia Velasquez with her siblings, Francisco & Rosa

Working close with my colleague/friend Jesenia, I’ve come to understand what kind of person she is. She’s very kind, loyal to the ones she cares for and she's very giving. With her can do attitude and and happy go lucky spirit she earned herself an AA degree in Natural Math and Science. Her next step in life is to attain her bachelors in Neuroscience at Santa Barbara bringing her closer to her ultimate goal which is receiving her Ph.D in Neuroscience. One lesson she will take and cherish from the Career Institute is that self-presentation is key to opening doors leading to new opportunities. The one thing she loved and will miss about the Career Institute is all the new friends she made during her years as both a participant and a student ambassador of the Career Institute.

Success Story: Tim Togafau

Success Story: Tim Togafau

Tim, with members of his family after graduation.

This month I decided to make fellow Student Ambassador Tim Togafau my Student Success Story. Tim started attending Barstow Community College in Spring 2012. Throughout his time attending Barstow Community College, Tim has faced many obstacles but none of them have stopped him from receiving his Associates Degree in Psychology on Friday, May 23, 2014. When I asked Tim what his meaning of happiness is, he simply replied:  “Finding your purpose in this world and fulfilling it and when looking back on life at age 80 having no regrets but a feeling of fulfillment”. What Tim will take and cherish from the career institute is pursuing your goals with fervency and the family bond formed between the participants of the Career Institute Barstow W.I.A. group of 2012/2013. Tim was also the Student Assistant for Career Mentor Melissa Matteson. Working with Tim has truly been a wonderful experience, I wish nothing but the best for him as his future and hope’s he lives his life as he once said “Like a BOSS!” 

Sarah Hilton's Story of Success

Sarah Hilton is a former student of The Career Institute. She has successfully accomplished  many of our certification programs such as; Customer Service, Small Business Management and Financial Freedom in 2012. She became employed with Little Ceasar's this past October. Sarah is using the skills she has learned  at the Career Institute in her everyday life while working as a Cashier and managing her own money.

Sarah is currently attending Sierra College in Rocklin to gain her four year degree in becoming an American Sign Language Interpreter. She chose this career path because she sees the need for help for the hearing impaired. Her sister got her involved in signing when she was younger and loves everything about helping others and learning a whole new language without having to speak.

"Thank you for letting me have the chance to obtain the knowledge in small business management and how to handle customers with the courses I was able to be apart of."

You can accomplish anything if you set your mind to it.

 

Georgia was close to graduating high school but she didn’t have a plan; didn’t know what was in store for her future.  She was told she would never survive college, or get a real job. Until a career mentor at the Career Institute came into her high school and said “let me help”. 3 years later, she has accomplished and successfully achieved more then she would have thought she could.  This past spring, she has successfully graduated Chaffey College with honors and her AS in Universal studies and social behaviors with an emphasis in Child Development and Education. Throughout these past 3 years she has been a full time student, worked 3 jobs, bought and paid off her own car, been accepted into the honors program and the honor society through her school, and is now successfully transferring to Cal State San Bernardino; to dual major in human development and psychology. She hopes with this degree, she can get accepted into graduate school to become a guidance counselor. Georgia has set her career path to help the young adults in her community. Help them find their way after high school, find a career path, and see the potential in themselves to have a successful future; just like the career institute did for her.

“The career institute provided me with knowledge and confidence that I can be successful; and I will be successful.”-Georgia Burckel

-Georgia Burckel

Rancho Student Ambassador

gburckel@cinow.org

This morning, Rancho Office student ambassadors and Hospitality mentor Terry Stedman gathered in the Claremont Village to discuss about the upcoming summer Hospitality program. As ambassadors and past graduates of the program, we elaborated on the positives and negatives segments and presented new ideas of keeping the students interactive throughout their learning experience. The program consists of an introduction to financial freedom courses, customer service certificate, and hands-on experience of working at the Sheraton Hotel.We are truly excited to welcome the next wave of hospitality professionals.

 

-Georgia and Daniel

End of the year Luau!!!!

Career Institute Barstow supported Barstow Community College and EOPS to celebrate their end of the year luau.  The event had a great turnout and the Career Institute Barstow Ambassadors were able to reach out to a diverse group of people.

Apple Valley Leadership Connection Success!

Career Institute hosted the Apple Valley Leadership Connection in April and finished with a completion event in May. It was a huge success! The leadership committee was even mentioned in The Apple Valley Business Source. The places the mentees and mentors visited included the Town of Apple Valley, Victor Valley College Regional Public Safety Training Center, and Loma Linda Medical Center. Each mentee received certificates including:

-Certificate of Recognition from the County of San Bernardino

-Recognition of Graduation from Representative Paul Cook

-Certificate of Completion from Rick Danzey (Choice Medical Group/ Mentor) and Janice Moore (President / CEO of Apple Valley's Chamber of Commerce)

-Certificate of Commendation from the Mayor of Apple Valley, Art Bishop.

Also, a special thanks to our Career Mentor and planner of the Leadership Connection, Jennifer Martinez, who should receive more credit and recognition for her hard work and tremendous amount of dedication to this program.

 

Penelope Priester(right) accepting a certificate from Rick Danzey(left)

Touring Victor Valley's Regional Public Safety Center

After a meeting at the Town of Apple Valley

Throwback Thursday!

THROWBACK THURSDAY: LEADERSHIP CONNECTION 2013

(In order from left to Right: Jan R., Dylan B., Jesenia V., Claudia J., Desean T. Janet O., Sarah M. & Tim T.)

Hello All! I just wanted to share this picture is from our Leadership Connection for 2013. I am very thankful for being able to be apart of this. On the day this photo was taken we were given the privilege to visit the Barstow's local Fire and Police department. However, when we showed up to the Fire Department the Fire crew was out on call so we decided to take a little impromptu tour of the Mojave River Valley Museum, which is where this photo was taken. At the museum we learned a lot of new things about our hometown and the surrounding areas. This picture is honestly my favorite of them all because that day was truly memorable because we all had fun and truly felt like a little family after it was all over. If you look at this picture very closely the two boys on the left Jan and Dylan are leaning/hovering on/over a cactus... yes, cactus! The rest of us honestly didn't notice until we all looked at all the pictures that were taken at the end of the day. Now, does the young man on the right look familiar? Yes, that's our other Student Ambassador for the Barstow area Tim Togafau! I really hope you guys enjoy this photo as much as I do! 

Student Recognition Day

Barstow Community College teamed up with Career Institute Barstow to recognize students who went above and beyond protocol to get things done that benefited their Club and the School. Career Institute Barstow  was able to reach out to retuning students about the many benefits they would recieve if they were to join the many programs the Career Insitute has to offer. Afterwards all who were at the event were invited to enjoy a few games of bowling at the Barstow Revolution Bowling Alley.