Santa Maria Valley Next highlights the career readiness training offered in high school career pathways and recognizes students who are excelling in these various pathways. This month, we are highlighting youth excelling in the Business & Finance and Information & Computer Technologies pathways.
 

Business & Finance

Pathway Description: Persons trained in fields such as business management, international trade, and various financial services specialties (e.g., accounting, banking, and investing) will find that their skills are highly marketable. Students master basic business principles and procedures before proceeding to the career path specializations. The specializations emphasize concepts of accounting and finance, including computer applications, taxes, investments, and asset management as well as pathways in international business and business management. Because almost every business and organization has a financial and management component, students will find that opportunities exist in many career paths in addition to those in business and finance.

Nashali Vicente
12th Grade, Santa Maria High School

Nashali Vicente is a senior at Santa Maria High School and currently serving as President of the SMHS Future Business Leaders of America chapter (CTE student national organization) where she has been a four-year member. Determined to study additional business courses in her senior year, she is currently enrolled in Personal Finance, one of the courses in the Business & Finance pathway. She demonstrates standards of excellence each day as she assists her classmates with content and questions which provide deeper intellect with regards to the finance content discussed in class.  She is also enrolled in Web Design Programming as she continues to prepare for her future to attend a University and double major in Computer Science and Economics.

Yojevet Montecinos De Jesus
11th grade Pioneer Valley High School

Currently Yojevet is enrolled in Accounting & Finance, which is part of the Financial Services Pathway at PVHS; she demonstrates interest in Business classes and plans to take a concurrent Business college class next year. Additionally, she participates in Future Business Leaders of America and serves as the club parliamentarian.  Within the first 2 months of school, Yojevet has participated in two leadership Zooms with other California FBLA students and plans to attend section competitive events later this spring. Ms. Sylvester appreciates Yojevet’s ambition and interest in taking Business classes and learning new job skills at the campus student store.  She also enjoys organizing other “social” events and networking with other high school student FBLA members. Yojevet likes to dance and travel to different places in her spare time.

The Financial Services pathway at Pioneer Valley High School and Santa Maria High School focuses on Accounting & Finance and Personal Finance. After completion of both courses, students become pathway completers and are then eligible to receive a special sash at graduation.  FBLA offers business students activities to develop leadership skills, learn how to network, and they can participate in a variety of state-led competitive events.  PVHS also provides students with the opportunity to earn community service hours working at the campus student store. Different areas of Business and Technology are part of future programs that will continue to grow jobs for generations to come. 

Information & Computer Technologies

Pathway Description: Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have expanded the need for employees who can understand, manage, and support all rapidly emerging, evolving, and converging computer, software, networking, telecommunications, Internet, programming, and information systems. Essential skills for careers in the ICT sector include understanding systems that support the management and flow of data, the ability to work well and communicate clearly with people, and the ability to manage projects efficiently. The ICT sector meets national criteria for high demand, high wages, and high skills and provides students with excellent opportunities for interesting work and good pay. More than 70 percent of jobs in this sector will require a bachelor’s degree or higher by 2018.

Jack Rhyne
11th Grade, Orcutt Academy High School

A junior at Orcutt Academy High School, Jack is a member of the boys' tennis team as well as the school's Ping Pong Club. He is interested in an engineering career and has been taking numerous advanced math and science courses, including CTE Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles. He would like to attend Cal Poly or UCSB.

“Jack is always willing to beyond the minimum requirements on assignments and projects.  In a recent project Jack turned in an exceptional write-up detailing the need for computers and wi-fi for individuals found in the "Digital Divide" -- the elderly, those in rural areas, and low socioeconomic students,” said Heather Penk, Jack’s AP Computer Science Principles teacher. “Jack is a quiet leader.  While he is not loud or necessarily the first person to speak up, he is thoughtful in the things he shares and contributes to class discussions and students respect his type of leadership.”

Janalee Taguiam
11th Grade, Orcutt Academy High School

Janalee, a junior at Orcutt Academy High School, is a member of the Freshman Connect Crew and secretary of the OAHS Science Club. She is interested in business accounting for a career. She would like to attend UCLA because she has several relatives who went to college there.

"Janalee is always willing to help others in the class. During classroom discussions, she contributes thoughtful responses and is willing to listen to other students' ideas and contributions," said AP Computer Science Principles teacher Heather Penk. "She always completes assignments before they are due and goes beyond the minimum requirements on projects. She is willing to stretch herself and try new things. She doesn't limit herself to what is taught in class."