Sun, rain and double rainbows!

The weather didn’t disappoint for the ITEP Friends and Family Sunset Sail. On Friday September 30, 15 ITEP Advisory Board members, Gardena Global Leadership Academy (GGLA) students, teachers from Gardena and Carson High School, and ITEP alumni, set sail on the Los Angeles Maritime Institutes (LAMI) Brigantine, the Exy Johnson, for a sunset sail through the Los Angeles Harbor. Each passenger donated $50 to sponsor one academy student for a half day sail.

With clear skies and sunshine ahead, the group set sail at Berth 78, Ports O’ Call in San Pedro and for three GGLA students it  was their first time at sea. The TopSail Youth Program uses sail training to provide real-life challenges with the goal of developing transferable skills from the classroom and into the workplace. GGLA students helped sail the vessel and mix and mingled with the business partners and volunteers who were on board.

Despite the rain, the sail ended perfectly with a double rainbow and a beautiful sunset. ITEP would like to give a special thanks to Nancy Richardson, Ed Steiner, the LAMI volunteers for all their help and support, to Ann Burckle for sponsoring the participation of the four GGLA students, and to Captain Rob who gallantly led the group through safe waters and capricious weather. This was an amazing opportunity for GGLA students. With the money raised, we will be able to send more ITEP students out to sea very soon.

GESA sophomores welcomed with a big top and an even bigger check!

There was a special surprise at this year’s Global Environmental Sciences Academy (GESA) Welcome Banquet. Under a big top with carnival games and decorations, GESA greeted the new sophomore class and received a generous donation from Valero of $20,000.

For the first time this year, ITEP was among the 13 Harbor-area organizations to receive funds raised from the 2011 Valero Texas Open and Benefit for Children Golf Classic. With their donation of $20,000, Valero has committed to sponsoring GESA’s Signature Trip, the Catalina Environmental Leadership Program (CELP). Steve Faichney, Risk Management and Government Affairs Manager, was on hand to present GESA with the check.  “ITEP’s focus in preparing the next generation of a job-ready and college-prepared workforce is critical to all industries in and outside the harbor area. Valero is proud to serve in an effort to grow the ITEP Academies… we’re committed to do that” said Faichney.

Valero has been a longstanding and dedicated community partner in Wilmington and a supporter of ITEP since 2008. In addition to sponsoring ITEP’s Annual Scholarship Dinner, Valero employees have volunteered as mentors, classroom speakers, mock interviewers, and represent the company on several of ITEP’s academy advisory boards including ITEP Board member Mary Gutierrez, Lab Supervisor, who serves on the GESA Advisory Board and Steve Faichney, who serves on the Board of Directors.

After the check presentation, GESA students and faculty had the opportunity to meet and greet GESA Advisory Board members including Gabriela Perez, Internship Coordinator for the Port of Los Angeles, Nancy Richardson, TopSail Youth Program, Martin Chavez, Human Resources Division Officer for the Port of Los Angeles, Yair Crane, Managing Director of Next Global Stage LLC ,  and GESA Advisory Board Chair, Bob Stearns Client Services Director for Calscience Environmental Laboratories, Inc.

The GESA welcome banquet was a spectacular start to the new school year. Thanks to the generous support of Valero, GESA will be able to continue the opportunities and events unique to GESA. Thank you, Valero, for your outstanding support too ITEP and GESA.  You are helping us graduate our GESA students job-ready and college-prepared in an even bigger way.

ITEP’s ITA, GSS, MATCH and GESA Academies welcome the new 10th graders!

Today was an exciting day at Banning High School! With the help of Families In Schools, ITEP welcomed the new batch of 10th graders into their respected Academies: GSS, ITA, MATCH and GESA.

Over 200 bright-eyed and bushy-tailed students and their parents met with lead teachers, ITEP staff and business partners from Comerica,  The Port of Los Angeles, Plains All American Pipeline, SA Recycling, APL, Securitas, Fast Lane Transportation, CalScience Environmental Labs, Matson, PCC Logistics, and TopSail Youth Program. It was a great opportunity for students to get an early look at the thriving maritime industry right in their backyard.

Parents were able to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of what their sons and daughters would be doing in the coming years. As I manned the registration desk, I had the opportunity to talk with parents and watch their eyes light up at the prospect of field trips, job shadowing and  internships that are available when their child joins an ITEP Port Academy. ITEP is excited for the coming school year at Banning High School and thanks Families In Schools and United Way for helping us welcome the class of 2014.Go Pilots!