Ignite the Future with EXP on April 25
The 24th Annual Oceans of Opportunity
Please join us at the 24th annual Oceans of Opportunity Awards and Scholarship Celebration to honor the achievements of EXP students and alumni and celebrate our partners and volunteers, including this year's honorees:
Keeper of the Flame Award: DCLI
The Bill Stein Memorial Leadership Award: The Honorable Lawrence Dale, former Mayor of Barstow
The Carol Rowen 180 Degree Student Award and EXP Scholarship Recipients
Guests will enjoy dinner and great conversation with industry and community leaders from across Southern California. VIP reception guests will have early access to the MOLAA galleries. The cocktail reception in the EXPerience Hall will include a silent auction and other activities--all in support of expanding opportunities for youth in our community.
Internship Program Needs Your Help!
For more information on our internship program, please contact Alesha Walker, Program Manager, Internship & Outreach, at alesha@expfuture.org.
150 volunteers needed for mock interviews this April
With only two hours, you can help The EXP Internship Program: Powered by Prologis participants develop their interview skills and prepare for their internship interviews. Mock interviews will take place in person at five LA-based locations, April 16 – 23. See page for details.
Change a life. Host an intern. 50 internship hosts needed!
We have 180 students to place this summer, and YOU can help provide high school rising seniors with real world experience, build their confidence, and give them a competitive advantage in the workforce. Attend the FINAL info session on Thursday, April 4, 12 PM - 1 PM, PST via Zoom to learn more.
Welcome New Partner School District!
We are excited to announce our newest partnership with Tustin Unified School District! Led by Daisy Boeckmann, EXP Program Manager, Strategic Initiatives, we are now providing career-readiness workshops and summer internships to Beckman, Foothill, Hillview, and Tustin High Schools.
And that means we need your help to grow in the OC! We are looking for internship placements for 30 students this summer. Please connect Daisy with your company or other businesses in the Tustin and Irvine areas to learn more about our exciting new partnership. You can also join us at the internship host information session on April 4 at 12 p.m. via Zoom to learn more.
For more information on how we can grow together in Orange County, contact Daisy at daisy@expfuture.org.
Lizeth Vasquez ‘12
Phineas Banning High School
Alumni Spotlight: Lizeth Vasquez ‘12
Lizeth Vasquez, Mechanical Associate III, Port of Los Angeles
Phineas Banning High School: International Trade Academy (ITA), Class of 2012
Lizeth participated in the EXP Internship Program: Powered by Prologis during her junior year of high school, where she interned at Tesoro Refinery, now Marathon, with the human resources department. Today, Lizeth is a Mechanical Engineer at the Port of Los Angeles, where she designs water distribution systems.
“I believe that the EXP program is a huge part of my success because it gave me the tools I needed to excel in a professional working environment early on,” said Lizeth. “The program equipped me with things such as accountability, communication skills, and being part of a team.”
Lizeth enjoys volunteering at EXP events, especially Women in STEM Career Day, to help develop the next generation of leaders and inspire young women to pursue rewarding careers in STEM. “I always tell students to reach for the stars and that no career is impossible,” said Lizeth. “Being in a male-dominated field has taught me that anything is possible with the right mindset and knowing how to take full advantage of the opportunities presented to us.”
Thank you, Lizeth, for being an inspiration to our students!
Hey, alums! Connect with us through our Facebook and LinkedIn groups, sign up for an exclusive alumni email list, or email us at alumni@expfuture.org to get involved.
Your Support in Action
2024 EXP’s Women in STEM Career Day
More than 120 volunteers and 30 organizations inspired nearly 350 high school young women and non-binary students at this year’s Women in STEM Career Day on February 29. Their commitment to helping our students explore STEM education and career possibilities turned the 99% of students who didn’t have interests in STEM careers before the event into STEM career enthusiasts after the event! Read more here.
Volunteers Lending Hands to Prepare Students for Summer Internship
180 internship candidates recently completed resume and cover letter writing workshops in preparation for summer internship placements. Interns learned the essential components of each document and reflected on their skills and accomplishments. Thank you to the organizations who volunteered their time and talent to help our students gain new skills and realize their potential:
Marathon, Yusen Logistics, Black Knight Patrol, Marine Exchange of Southern California, P2S, The Style Studio, and In-Home Supportive Services.
Thank you for supporting EXP on The Future is Working Giving Day!
Thanks to supporters like you and generous matching gifts from The Sharon D. Lund Foundation and the Sun Family Foundation, EXP exceeded our goal and raised $31,529 for our very first The Future is Working Giving Day! Additionally, together with 17 other OC nonprofit organizations, we raised $481,171 to develop a stronger workforce for Orange County. We could not have done it without you!
Watch the video below for a message from our students, educators, and staff!