Cal State LA’s College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology (ECST) hosted on Friday, August 7, the second annual Engineering Degree Apprenticeship Pathway Showcase, an event that highlighted the accomplishments of its community college summer interns and encouraged other community college students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Thirty-one members of Cal State LA’s Summer Making, Academic Prep, and Research for Transfer Students (SMART) program presented their work to students from local community colleges who are interested in STEM careers and could serve as potential future summer interns.
The event was co-sponsored by Growth Sector, whose national Engineering Degree Apprenticeship Pathway (EDAP) initiative provides community college students with direct pathways to bachelor’s degrees in high-tech fields and meaningful employment.
“The SMART internship program serves as a critical pre-apprenticeship stage within the EDAP pipeline, creating an early and intentional bridge from community college to engineering education, research, and ultimately the professional workforce,” said Charles Liu, chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Cal State LA’s summer interns, as well as the 120 invited students from the Summer Bridge program of the Los Angeles Community College District, represented Los Angeles City College (LACC), East Los Angeles College, Los Angeles Mission College, and Glendale Community College.
The paid internship engaged students in hands-on projects across electrical, computer, biomedical, and mechanical engineering. They participated in immersive technical workshops, collaborative problem-solving, and faculty-mentored research.
“There’s a lot of creativity, a lot of productivity on campus,” said LACC computer science student Zain Abadini. “We had amazing support from the professors. Above all, we got a chance to collaborate with a diverse group of students. We’re going to have an everlasting positive impression of Cal State LA.”
Maria Munoz said the internship provided her with insight into the many opportunities available through engineering. She is now leaning to change her major from electrical engineering to civil engineering.
“This was an amazing opportunity,” said the LACC student. “This gives students a foot in the door to learn and figure out what direction they want to take in engineering. I think it’s important to be able to surround yourself with people who have the same goals, so you can push each other and be each other’s support team.”
During the showcase, the interns exhibited their research and experiments through storyboards and demonstrations, and took questions from the visiting community college students.
“SMART helps students develop both the technical competencies and academic confidence necessary to transfer to a four-year engineering program,” Liu said. “More than a summer experience, SMART is a strategic engineering workforce-development intervention. It identifies emerging talent, strengthens students’ readiness for upper-division study and subsequent EDAP apprenticeship opportunities, and builds a sustainable pipeline connecting community colleges, universities, and industry.”
The event also provided the Summer Bridge students with tours of and demonstrations at the ECST Circuit Space, Makerspace, and IntelliMed Lab.
“These are amazing enrichment opportunities uniquely hosted by Cal State LA, and I hope students carry the skills and excitement they develop during their summer experience into their school year and future careers,” said Joseph Lucey, assistant professor with the Department of Civil Engineering, who provided a hydraulics and water demonstration.
A lunchtime panel featured Growth Sector’s National Program Director Gabe Hanzel-Sello, Caltrans’ Principal Transportation Engineer Anthony Ng, and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s Utility Administrator Mario Morales in a discussion about the opportunities available to the students.
Growth Sector has supported more than 3,300 community college students and placed over 1,000 students in paid internships. It is active in five states and has received support from such industry leaders as NASA, Lockheed Martin, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and Caltrans.
“Growth Sector is committed to fostering a culture of innovation and excellence in high-tech education,” said Caz Pereira, Growth Sector co-founder and co-director. “Our EDAP initiative is designed to equip students with the tools and experience they need to thrive in a competitive academic setting, as well as in the professional workforce and beyond.”
Have a story to share?
California State University, Los Angeles is the premier comprehensive public university in the heart of Los Angeles. Cal State LA is ranked number one in the United States for the upward mobility of its students. Cal State LA is dedicated to engagement, service, and the public good, offering nationally recognized programs in science, the arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education, and the humanities. Founded in 1947, the University serves more than 22,000 students and has more than 260,000 distinguished alumni.
