Together, we are making a lasting difference.

Bracken’s Kitchen Inspires Culinary Students with Career Insights and Community Impact

We were thrilled to welcome Bracken’s Kitchen to speak with our culinary students in a dynamic and inspiring session. The team shared valuable information about their free culinary training program, encouraging students to explore opportunities for hands-on learning and professional growth.

During the presentation, Bracken’s Kitchen team members reflected on their personal journeys in the culinary world from their early beginnings to becoming part of the organization’s mission-driven work. They offered practical career advice, highlighted diverse career paths within the food industry, and shared powerful alumni success stories from their program.

One of the highlights of the visit was a live fruit-cutting demonstration, where presenters skillfully showcased techniques while narrating their career experiences. The session also included a meaningful discussion on food rescue and the operational mission of Bracken’s Kitchen, emphasizing their commitment to fighting food insecurity and creating sustainable change in the community.

We’re grateful to Bracken’s Kitchen for their time, expertise, and passion and for inspiring our students to pursue their culinary dreams with purpose and heart.

Learn more about Bracken's Kitchen - click here

Coach Rob Empowers

New Media Academy Students Through Public Speaking

Coach Rob recently led three engaging public speaking sessions for our new Media Academy students at Valley High School, focusing on confidence, connection, and communication.

• Introductions with Personality: Students stood to share their name and favorite animal or school subject an energizing way to break the ice.
• Listening & Eye Contact: He emphasized that active listening and eye contact make speakers feel valued and improve conversations.
• Know Your Audience: Coach Rob encouraged students to learn about their audience beforehand to ensure humor and key points land well.
• Collaborative Storytelling: Students built a story together, each adding a line. The final student who the story was about wrapped it up. It was a hit!
• Impromptu Speaking: Selected students spoke for one minute about an animal they knew well, practicing quick thinking and clarity.

Coach Rob’s sessions were a powerful boost for our students’ confidence and communication skills. We’re grateful for his time and impact! For more information about Coach Rob - click here

SchoolsFirst Empowers

Culinary Academy Students

with Financial Literacy

Our senior Culinary Academy students at Valley High School recently participated in a financial literacy workshop led by SchoolsFirst, focused on building smart money habits for life beyond graduation.

• Setting Financial Goals: Students explored how defining clear goals, like saving for college, tools, or travel can guide responsible financial decisions.
• Budgeting Basics: The workshop broke down budgeting in simple terms, helping students understand how to manage spending, prioritize needs, and avoid debt.

On October 29, our Valley High School BTE seniors visited Johnson & Johnson Vision for an immersive, hands-on learning experience. Students learned how J&J transforms lives through medical devices used in cataract and other vision-improving eye surgeries. They toured multiple departments to see how these devices are designed, tested, and manufactured, and even had the opportunity to try surgical tools to understand how they support surgeons in performing precise procedures.

To end the day, students participated in a collaborative manufacturing challenge, using LEGO bricks to create a prototype and guide other teams to recreate it, strengthening communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. This visit offered meaningful insight into healthcare, engineering, and biomedical career pathways.

Exploring Healthcare Careers at

Radys Children's Health Hospital

On October 9, 2025, approximately 100 students from our Healthcare Academy (Valley High School) and Biomedical Science Pathway (Century High School) attended the Rady Children’s Healthcare Career Fair in Orange. Students explored over 30 healthcare departments and spoke directly with professionals about career pathways, education, and training. This experience helped students expand their awareness of the many careers available in healthcare and better understand how their academy or pathway can lead to real opportunities in the field. We are grateful to Rady Children’s Hospital for providing our students with such a meaningful and engaging learning experience.  

Students also participated in the UCI Leadership TeamUp! program, an incredible opportunity to strengthen their teamwork, leadership, and professional connections while deepening their interest in the healthcare field.

Looking ahead, Century High School students will have the opportunity to visit BioTech companies in the spring semester. Confirmed visits include Amgen, Masimo, and Johnson & Johnson.

These experiences gives our students a firsthand look at innovation in action while fueling their passion!

Automotive Academy

Community Garage Service Clinic

On October 18, High School’s Automotive Academy & Santa Ana High School hosted the Community Garage at Valley High School - CTE Automotive facility, offering free multi-point inspections, oil changes, and tire rotations for the SAUSD community. Students from Valley and Santa Ana High proudly put their skills into practice, supported by Congressman Lou Correa, Superintendent Dr. Lorraine Perez, Board President Hector Bustos, and several industry partners.



A special moment came when SAUSD Superintendent Dr. Lorraine Perez joined the students to assist with an oil change. High School Inc. Alumni also returned as mentors, creating a meaningful full-circle experience.  



Quick Video Recap - Click Here

High School Inc. Ambassador Program

Our kick-off event for the Ambassadors Program took place on Thursday, October 23rd, 2025, and was a great success. We had over 70 students sign up at Century High School, and we will be selecting 40 dedicated participants for this year’s cohort. The high level of interest reflects our students’ enthusiasm for leadership and involvement on campus.

We’re excited to begin our monthly meetings and continue building a strong group of student leaders who will represent our programs with pride.

What's Up MACC?

Thank you to our student volunteers from Key Club and MACC club who recently came out and dedicated their afternoon to help beautify the MACC Farm. We had approximately 36 students ready to care for our trees and apply mulch around them to retain soil moisture, reduce the need for frequent watering, and conserve water. 

Thank you to our community members for attending our 3rd Annual Pumpkin Patch. We had an amazing turnout. It was so amazing to see our attendees enjoy a beautiful after noon at the MACC. There were various activities in which our participants We had an estimated 938 community members attend our Pumpkin Patch. Our MACC club students put in their time and effort to make this event a huge success. Without your support this event would not have been possible. 

Our MACC Field Trips have begun, thank you to our partners at UCI Science Project (UCISP). We have students do different labs where they learn about regenerative farming which includes composting, pesticides. regenerative farming practices and students get to learn about the chemistry of the Freight Farm. 

E-Business Academy:

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Our E-Business Academy students at Century High School had the opportunity to participate in several engaging field trips last month.

Through these experiences, they explored how non-profit organizations operate, gained insights into small business management and marketing strategies, and developed valuable leadership skills during the UCI Leadership TeamUp! program.

In addition, students partnered with the MACC Farm, supported by High School Inc., where they learned about sustainable farming practices and produce, perfectly aligning with their coursework. Currently, the class is preparing for an exciting upcoming competition beginning in early December.

FOOD TRUCK PROGRAM

Last month, our High School Inc. Culinary Academy students at Valley High School proudly debuted the brand new Food Truck at the Taste of Santa Ana, serving up delicious nacho cheese to hundreds of excited visitors!

For the very first time, students got a hands-on food truck experience, learning teamwork, customer service, and the fast pace of the culinary world.

We were thrilled to be visited by SAUSD Board Member Brenda Lebsack and Superintendent Dr. Lorraine Perez, who even joined in the fun by helping our students serve the Santa Ana community!

Events like these show the power of High School Inc., Career Education and Workforce Innovation, connecting classroom learning to real-world experience.

Thank you, Jesus!

Jesus has been an outstanding supporter of our High School Inc. (HSI) collaboration and advisory efforts. He consistently takes initiative, frequently checking in with Sandy Cervantes (HSI Program Manager at Century High School), to offer his help wherever it’s needed. Jesus continually goes above and beyond to ensure our programs run seamlessly. His dedication was especially evident during our Ambassadors Kick-Off event, where he arrived early and stayed late to assist with both setup and cleanup.

Thank you! Radys Children's Health

Their outstanding support has gone above and beyond ensuring every need was met and even extending a generous offer to host another Career Fair this spring 2026 for our Valley and Century High School students.

We want to recognize and celebrate Noemi, who continues to be a driving force at the MACC Farm. Noemi is dedicated to ensuring daily operations run smoothly and that our students, staff, and community always feel supported. Whether she’s harvesting produce for community produce boxes, training new interns on farm systems, assisting with field trips and labs, or stepping in wherever needed, Noemi approaches every task with intention and care.

Beyond her day-to-day responsibilities, Noemi has built strong, meaningful relationships with our MACC Club students. They look to her for guidance, mentorship, and leadership, trusting in her to support their growth and voice in leading the club. The respect and connection she has developed with them is truly special and speaks to her heart for this work.

Any organization would be lucky to have someone like Noemi. At High School Inc., we are not only grateful for her work ethic and service to our organization, students, and the MACC community; we are honored to have her as part of our team.

Thank you, Noemi, for all that you do.

Meet Carlos!

We’re thrilled to highlight Carlos Mejia, Program Specialist and High School Inc. Academy Coordinator at Santa Ana Valley High School. For over 12 years, Carlos has been a dedicated leader and advocate for student success, continuously going above and beyond to ensure that every academy student has access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.

In his role, Carlos coordinates and facilitates six College and Career Readiness programs, developing innovative systems for recruitment, retention, and enrichment that help students connect classroom learning to real-world experiences. He collaborates daily with district staff, teachers, counselors, parents, business partners, and community members to strengthen the bridge between education and career pathways.

Carlos truly embodies the spirit of High School Inc. promoting our mission, supporting our community, and inspiring students to pursue their dreams. Thank you, Carlos, for your commitment and for always going the extra mile!

Meet Jennifer!

Jennifer has been a dedicated supporter of High School Inc. since our partnership began with Century High School in 2024. Despite her busy schedule, she consistently makes time to be present for our students and business partners. This past month, she attended multiple field trips and ensured everything ran smoothly, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to student success and program collaboration. We appreciate you!

Meet Monica!

Monica is a consistent and dedicated supporter of the High School Inc. programs. She frequently assists with event setup and cleanup, ensuring everything runs smoothly. In addition, she actively helps promote our programs to her students, encouraging greater participation and awareness across the Century High School campus.

New Partnerships!

This year, we’re excited to welcome new and renewed collaborations that expand opportunities for our students. A new partnership with Johnson & Johnson includes a planned visit in February 2026, offering students firsthand insight into careers in business and innovation. Additionally, we’ve reconnected with OC Goodwill to relaunch their summer paid internship program for our E-Business Academy students. These partnerships will provide meaningful, hands-on experiences that help students explore and prepare for their future career pathways.

The MACC Farm and High School Inc. is ecstatic to be partnering up with Magnolia High School's Adult Transition Program (ATP). The MACC will be used as a work-site where students get work based learning skills working alongside our High School Inc. Program/Farm Manager, Noemi Avilez. These students will learn how to harvest produce and care for our livestock amongst other tasks which they will take ownership of to ensure that the MACC operations runs smoothly. 

Become a Mentor: Help Shape the Future!

We’re launching the High School Inc/ Mentorship Program this year to support students in building confidence, connection, and communication skills. Through monthly themed sessions, students will meet in small groups with mentors who guide them through reflection, goal setting, and real conversations about navigating high school and beyond.

We’re currently looking for mentors who are willing to commit just one hour a month to make a lasting difference. Whether you can attend every session or just want to support when you’re able, your presence matters.

Interested in being a part of this journey with our students? Join us in shaping something that truly uplifts and connects.

Become a Mentor - Click Here

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