Hemet High School is known for many things and has a long, proud history of being the district’s first high school. Over the years, staff have created endless pathways for students so they can be set up for success. The most notable pathway Hemet High offers is the Career Technical Education (CTE) Automotive Class. Due to the program’s success, staff created the school’s first Automotive Career Fair in an effort to expose students to different careers within the automotive industry as well as give them options for education and training.
Students were able to speak to vendors in the automotive industry and learn more about career paths they hadn’t considered. The school’s blacktop was full of customized vehicles, booths with endless amounts of information, and passionate vendors ready to answer any questions students had.
This event comes after Hemet High received a certification in Automobile Service Technology (AST) from the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF), a branch of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), earlier in the school year. Throughout the three-year program, students are able to gain a better understanding of the automotive field and gain hands-on experience.
The first Automotive Career Fair was a success, said Hemet High counselor Joe Orzechowski. He said the feedback he has received from industry representatives that attended, faculty, and students was all positive. Due to the event’s success, staff will host a seminar called “Careers in Automotive Technology,” on Friday, May 5th, during both lunches. The seminar will give students the opportunity to learn more about automotive careers from Mount San Jacinto College and College of the Desert faculty.
Thank you to the Hemet High School staff for providing this informational event for students and for continuing the conversation around students’ futures.