Manteca Unified Hosts Inaugural Career Technical Education Business Summit

Equipping Students with Real-World Career Skills

More than 150 high school juniors and seniors from Manteca Unified School District gathered last week for the district’s first-ever Career Technical Education (CTE) Business Summit, a dynamic, hands-on event designed to help students bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world careers.

Throughout the day, students rotated through a series of interactive sessions focused on career readiness. These included a financial literacy presentation on the difference between credit and debit and the importance of building a strong credit score, a resume writing workshop led by industry professionals, a networking and post-secondary planning session where students met potential employers and colleges, and an interviewing skills workshop that gave them the opportunity to practice and receive feedback from professionals across a range of industries. 

Adding a special touch to the day, professional headshots were taken by students from Manteca High School’s Advanced Digital Communications class, allowing participants to walk away with images they can use on LinkedIn and other professional platforms.

Ashley Harrington, a CTE Business & Finance Educator at Manteca Unified, explained that she and Department Head Gina Gonzalez envisioned the event as something more meaningful than a traditional career fair. “We wanted students to have one-on-one access to industry professionals, to ask questions, practice skills, and really experience what it means to prepare for a career,” Harrington said. “We want them to leave with a clear sense of the opportunities available and the confidence to pursue them.” Harrington also noted that 13 of her students are currently placed in real-world jobs as a result of the skills they’ve gained through CTE courses.

Lathrop High School senior Angelina Ormeno was one of the many students who saw firsthand how CTE learning translates to success. She shared how her capstone experience working in the school’s Student Store helped her build valuable skills in customer service, teamwork, and responsibility. “I learned how to be a greeter, run the register, and work as part of a team. That experience helped me build my resume and feel confident during my interview,” said Ormeno. “I even got the job thanks to those skills I learned at school.”

The summit was a celebration of the hard work and dedication of CTE students who have completed their pathways and are preparing to take the next step into college, careers, or both. With plans to continue the event in future years, Manteca Unified is committed to creating opportunities that prepare students for success beyond the classroom.