Press Release Provided by the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Nearly 50 students graduated on Monday August 8th from the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s “Energy and Agriculture Academy, ”a program designed to introduce local students to careers and business opportunities in the local energy and agriculture sectors.
The “Energy and Agriculture Academy” is an educational programcreated by the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (KCHCC) and KCHCC Business Education Foundation and funded primarily by Chevron, in academic partnership withBakersfield College. The academy is also supported by the Kern Energy Foundation, Aera Energy LLC, and California Resources Corporation.
The academy was hosted over several sessions this summer at the Bakersfield College main campus, featuring lessons on the importance of ag and energy businesses to Kern County’s economy, careers in each respective sector, field trips to local plants, speakers from various industries, and much more.
This is the fifth graduating class, which included students from local high schools, Bakersfield College, California State University, Bakersfield, and Fresno State. Each Graduate receives an academic stipend for their completion of the program.
“Through the social investment made by Chevron and the academy’s other supporters, students are introduced to local industries including oil, biomass, solar, agriculture, and electricity through on site facility visits and enriched classroom lectures,” said Jay Tamsi, President/CEO of the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “The goal is to inform young adults about the endless career opportunities available in Kern County by pursuing an education in STEM. We want this program to be a step forward for these students into a bright future in agriculture or STEM related careers.”
