ROC has the recipe for a great party. Start with 150 steadfast business owners and managers who are adamant supporters of a well-trained workforce, add 25 additional industry professionals who now teach their chosen profession at the high school level, throw in a top student from each of their respective programs, and top off with an all-star cast of speakers including a current parent of an ROC student, a district superintendent, and a newly elected assemblyman.
Welcome to the first annual ROC Industry Partner Appreciation Dinner!
ROC celebrated the deep and continued commitment our industry partners make throughout the year with a fabulous feast and an uplifting program. After a welcome by district superintendent Bryon Schaefer, KHSD Supervising Administrator of CTE Brian Miller gave an enlightening update on the district's 3-year growth plan for CTE.
An event highlight was hearing from a current student and his father. Julian Herrera, Jr., a Stockdale High senior enrolled in ROC's Sports Medicine program, gave testimony to how ROC has helped define his present and shape his future. Those sentiment were echoed by his father, Julian Herrera, Sr., who himself is a ROC industry partner in his role as district manager for Kelly Services employment agency.
The evening concluded with a positive and hopeful note from Sacramento, as Assemblyman Vince Fong spoke of the importance of, and bi-partisan support for, Career Technical Education (CTE).
The social hour preceding dinner included student representatives from each ROC program strategically stationed throughout the hall next to their program poster. Industry partners were able to speak to students and learn more about both their program and the student's personal journey.
Student involvement also extended beyond ROC, as dinner was both prepared and served by students from Bakersfield Adult School's Cafe 1600, the floral centerpieces courtesy of Shafter High floral design students, and signage was prepared by Centennial High graphic art students.