San Diego College of Continuing Education Partnership with Lincoln High School Creating New Pathways to Good-Paying Careers in the Trades
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To the uninitiated, the first day of Oscar Aparicio’s Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) spring semester class at San Diego College of Continuing Education’s Educational Cultural Complex was no different than the first day at any other of the hundreds of courses being taught at the college’s seven campuses. But this was a seminal moment: more than half of the 33 students perched at their desks on this day were from Lincoln High School who enrolled through a groundbreaking partnership aimed at expanding career opportunities for teens from the inner city.
Which is why there was no shortage of college and high school officials on hand to witness history unfold. “The way we’ve been doing school within our four walls is not designed for all students,” said Lori Williams, Lincoln High School’s College and Career Pathway coordinator. “We have students who are hungry for career training and eager to get certified for opportunities in the trades and be able to support themselves or help their families.”
In fact, a 2024 Gates Foundation report found that increasing numbers of high school students prefer educational pathways that are shorter, cheaper, and more directly linked to specific job opportunities. This program fits the bill, as the 17 Lincoln High School students taking part will spend 11 weeks learning fundamental concepts and skills essential to the field, such as understanding AC and DC currents, using multimeters for troubleshooting, wiring and connecting fan motors, and the nuances involved with installing thermostats, ductwork, furnaces and heat pumps. Those who pass the course will qualify to take a school-funded EPA certification exam, after which they’ll be licensed HVAC technicians.
Before summer arrives, College of Continuing Education will arrange at least one job interview per student. The potential reward? HVAC mechanics and installers are earning, on average, more than $66,000 annually in San Diego County, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Said Continuing Education President Dr. Tina M. King: “This new, innovative program is a result of hard work from a group of dedicated individuals at our college, Lincoln High School and the San Diego Unified School District and further burnishes our standing as a leader in alleviating poverty in the San Diego region.”
That the program comes at no cost is critical to successful student outcomes. At Lincoln High School, just a mile east of the Educational Cultural Complex, nearly 86% of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, or their parents did not graduate high school. Ninety-eight percent of students are members of minority populations, and 30% are English language learners.
“This is a great way to introduce younger people to the trades while providing them with marketable skills,” said Oscar Aparicio, a Marine Corps veteran leading the class who said he had to shell out $30,000 for the instruction San Diego College of Continuing Education is providing cost-free.
Underscoring the wraparound services common at the College of Continuing Education, the campus provides the HVAC students with snacks, beverages, and meals from the on-campus pantry.
Kevin Morales, 18, said he jumped at the opportunity after hearing about the program from a Lincoln High School teacher. “I’m just looking forward to learning new job skills that can help me in the future,” he said. “These are skills that will always be needed and always be in demand.”
Not all Lincoln High students are looking for an immediate career. Williams said some have already been accepted to a university, and being a licensed HVAC technician opens the door to good-paying, part-time work while they pursue a degree in electrical engineering or a related field.
College of Continuing Education Outreach Ambassador Antonio Ybarra, who works closely with his counterparts at Lincoln High School in promoting career education opportunities, watched with pride from the back of Room C-109, where the first-day orientation took place. “These kids come from diverse backgrounds, some of them more troubled or challenging than others, but when the right opportunities come along, any kid is going to be willing to seize the moment.”
Associate Dean of Outreach Tavaris Franklin is among those who was leading the charge. “It’s rewarding to see because this allows high school students to redefine success on their own terms while giving them options for their future, and we’re hoping to soon expand this program to other disciplines and other schools.”
Learn more: https://sdcce.edu/organization/news/san-diego-college-continuing-education-partnership-lincoln-high-school-creating