Scott O'Neil, NAWCWD executive director, celebrates the partnership and award of a $250,000 grant from the State of California to Cerro Coso Community College with representatives from the College and the Sierra Sands Unified School District. Pictured from left are: Shirley Kennedy, Sierra Sands assistant superintendent; Laura Hickle, Sierra Sands special project coordinator; Joanna Rummer, Sierra Sands superintendent; Scott O'Neil; Mary Retterer, Cerro Coso College president; and Valerie Karnes, dean of Career Technical Education at Cerro Coso.

News Release

All Campuses

Cerro Coso Awarded Career Technical Grant

June 25, 2007

The State of California recently awarded a $250,000 SB70 Strengthening Career Technical Education (CTE) grant to Cerro Coso Community College. The money will be used to execute a Career Technical Education Program aimed at delivering educated students to the future workforce who are strong in technical and academic skills.

Cerro Coso Community College has joined forces with the Sierra Sands Unified School District and the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division to address the growing local, state and national need for qualified engineers, technicians, and other highly trained workers in technology-rich environments.

"This is an exciting opportunity for the students in the Indian Wells Valley," said Valerie Karnes, dean of Career Technical Education at Cerro Coso. "This grant award was made possible by our partnership with the Naval Air Warfare Center at China Lake and the Sierra Sands School District."

A part of the CTE program will be Project Lead the Way (PLTW), a pre-engineering program that will be offered at Burroughs High School starting this fall. The goal is for the PLTW coursework and project activities to create and maintain a support system for students beginning in 8gth grade and continuing through college.

"Project Lead the Way will help provide a seamless transition from high school to community college or a university system in science, math, engineering, engineering technology, renewable energy, and related career fields," said Scott O'Neil, Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division executive director.

Future outreach plans for the CTE program include summer camps, exploration opportunities, career guidance, as well as alternative project-based and online learning.

"I'm really excited to join with Cerro Coso and the school district as we work to reconstruct our technical workforce," said Scott O'Neil. "We at China Lake are committed to this strategic partnership with our local schools and believe our combined efforts will make a significant difference here in the Indian Wells Valley as well as a the national security level."

"NAWCWD China Lake representatives will play a pivotal role along with our local business and industry leaders in the execution of Project Lead the Way," said Mary Retterer, Cerro Coso president.

Retterer said an Employer Summit will be held this fall to begin developing industry mentors and student internships. Another focus will be on employment during the course of a student's educational experience as well as long-term employment following PLTW completion.

"We are excited to provide strong sequences of courses that will enable our students to focus on their interests and build skills earlier in their education," said Laura Hickle, special projects coordinator with Sierra Sands Unified School District. "They will be much better prepared to pursue post secondary education and enter the workforce."

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Joann Handeland, Director of Public Information (760) 384-6230