After Vital Link’s success in launching Pedal-ED last week, Dr. Brian Dozer will visited Los Alamitos High School and Cypress College this past week as part of an ongoing bicycle tour to several community college campuses, the Orange County Department of Education, Coastline ROP, and other locations.
The Pedal-ED campaign has raised nearly $11,000, of a $20,000 goal to raise funds for scholarships.
According to a press release, funding will empower Career Technical Education (CTE) students in need who are enrolling in Orange County community colleges, helping to cover expenses so they can attend as full-time students.
Additionally, Pedal-ED showcases the CTE programs available through junior and senior high schools, Regional Occupational Programs, and community colleges. The second of four bicycle tours by Dr. Brian Dozer, Vital Link President, of the county’s CTE programs will highlight remarkable CTE programs that empower students to enter the workforce with well-paying jobs through certification or two years working on a specific career pathway.
The Pedal-ED Scholarship project was created in response to the struggles of many students trying to attend community college full-time. A recent California Community Colleges Survey of 49,463 students found that many students struggle to cover their basic needs: 57% reported basic needs insecurity, 40% cited food insecurity, 37% stated they faced housing insecurity, while 18% faced homelessness.
Supporters and viewers are encouraged to donate to the Pedal-ED Scholarship campaign at https://vitallink-main-donation.funraise.org/. All donations up to $10,000 will be matched by a generous grant from 100 Companies That Care, an organization that exists to foster a culture of philanthropy within the business community in Orange County.
Vital Link’s goal is to provide scholarships to help reduce student obstacles that prevent them from completing CTE programs that will empower them to find well-paying jobs in the region. With the wave of baby boomers retiring, Orange County companies face a daunting middle-skills hiring gap according to recent studies that predict only 33% of available jobs in Business and Entrepreneurship, Health, IT and Digital Media, Energy, Construction, Utilities, Advanced Manufacturing, Advanced Transportation, Logistics, Retail, Hospitality, Tourism, Life Sciences, and Biotechnology and other vital industries will be filled. Pedal-ED aims to highlight the value of our county’s CTE programs at all levels which help to address the middle-skill labor market supply shortage.
”The first ride was so incredible and highlighted the amazing work that our Career Technical Education (CTE) students, teachers, and administrators do,” said Vital Link President, Dr. Brian Dozer. “It was also really great to see the varied programs, from construction to health sciences to digital media arts and farming that our students are excelling in.”
Dr. Dozer will live stream his visits which will be available for viewing on the Vital Link Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/vitallinkoc.
For information about the timing of each school visit, how to participate in the campaign, or press queries, please contact Misha Houser, Fundraising and Development Coordinator at misha@vitallinkoc.org, or call 714.317.8122.
About Vital Link, our Pedal-ED Partners, and October 22, Leg 2 high schools and colleges:
Vital Link is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 1995, dedicated to preparing students for their future careers through experiential learning opportunities. We offer programs that introduce students to the world of robotics, engineering, manufacturing, healthcare and medical, computer programming, digital media arts, automotive technology and much more. Through these hands-on programs, we inspire students to feel confident and excited to pursue a fulfilling career.
Courtesy photos