(Santa Ana, Calif.) – It’s never too early to encourage children to explore careers and dream big about their future. That is exactly what Santa Ana College (SAC) is doing at the 27th annual KinderCaminata on Friday, March 6, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
More than one thousand kindergartners from elementary schools throughout the Santa Ana Unified School District will visit the SAC campus, where they will explore career opportunities that require a college education through exciting hands-on exhibits and demonstrations.
Twenty-nine academic and community booths will introduce youngsters to career choices that span from library science to occupational therapy, nursing, science, history, theater, and fire technology. The office of Congressman Lou Correa will offer an interactive booth to teach what a congressman does. The Orange County Health Care Agency will have activities to make sure children are aware of the importance of physical and mental health. Many additional community and organizational representatives will be on site, including an officer (with a police car) from the Santa Ana Police Department who will provide safety information.
Given the age of the attendees, this isn’t just any career fair. To increase the fun exponent, a number of mascots are participating in the event, including California State Fullerton Tuffy The Titan, Peter the Anteater from UC Irvine, Pinky, and Clifford the Big Red Dog.
Rancho Santiago Community College District Chancellor Marvin Martinez is grand marshal for the event, which is traditionally held near the birth date (March 31) of Cesar Chavez, the renowned United Farm Workers leader and civil rights activist. The chancellor will lead the kindergartners in a “Sí, se puede” (Yes, you can) march from the career stations to the track for lunch and to enjoy performances by Relámpago del Cielo, a nonprofit cultural arts organization that supports the study and preservation of traditional Mexican folkloric dance.
“The Santa Ana Unified School District is excited to participate in this annual event,” said Santa Ana Unified School District Superintendent Jerry Almendarez. “It’s a valuable opportunity to expose our students to different college and career paths, and to stress the importance of reading from an early age. It also highlights the critical need for parents or guardians to be actively involved in their child’s learning.”
“These children are the future leaders in our schools, businesses and communities, and we want them to understand early the value of education,” said Dr. Linda D. Rose, SAC president. “That’s what makes KinderCaminata such a wonderful event. We are able to show them the possibilities are boundless.”
For more information about the event, contact SAC’s Office of School & Community Partnerships at 714-564-6146.
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About KinderCaminata
KinderCaminata is a non-profit organization supported by an annual fundraising dinner, Salute to Chancellors, Presidents, Superintendents, organizations, community, colleges and university contributors. A volunteer board of directors composed of the four Orange County community college district chancellors, university, business and community leaders governs KinderCaminata.
About Santa Ana College
Santa Ana College (SAC), which turned 100 years old in 2015, serves about 27,000 students each semester at its main campus in Santa Ana. The college prepares students for transfer to four-year institutions and provides invaluable workforce training and customized training for business and industry. In addition, another 11,000 students are served through the college’s School of Continuing Education located at Centennial Education Center. Ranked as one of the nation’s top two-year colleges awarding associate degrees to Latino and Asian students, the college is also recognized throughout the state for its comprehensive workforce training programs for nurses, firefighters, law enforcement and other medical personnel. SAC is one of two comprehensive colleges under the auspices of the Rancho Santiago Community College District.
