High school students in the Socorro Independent School District gained work-based learning this fall at sporting events at the Student Activities Complex through the district’s Career and Technical Education programs.
Culinary, criminal justice, audio and video, and journalism students all obtained real-world experience as they seized their opportunities working throughout the fall sporting season in SISD.
The SISD CTE programs, which prepare more than 3,000 students for real-world jobs and careers, actively engage students in game day services at the SAC.
Creating culinary delights for guests and staff
Among those services includes catering food for guests in the press box and staff members working at the games.
Jose Serrato, culinary instructor at Pebble Hills High School, said students enrolled in culinary courses get a taste of reality in a work environment preparing meals for customers.
“This is the real-world experience students need to know to understand how a real job in this field would be,” Serrato said. “We try to mimic to a smaller degree what really happens daily in a restaurant.”
Students plan a menu based on calendar events and the number of people. They do all the grocery shopping, cooking and then they personally deliver the meals.
Aylinne Morales, a senior at Pebble Hills High School, is one of some 800 students enrolled in the district’s culinary program.
“I’ve learned a lot from this program such as communication, teamwork and customer service,” Morales said. “I want to be a pastry chef, so I feel confident that this is a step towards achieving that.”
Criminal justice students focus on security and safety
The SISD criminal justice program has more than 2,000 students enrolled districtwide. At the SAC, many of these criminal justice students assist SISD Police Services to provide security at the facility’s gates.
They check bags for prohibited items and use the metal detector wand as part of the screening process for fans and visitors entering the SAC.
Students also partner with a police officer to job shadow and get exposure to the law enforcement field.
“We are preparing the students for a successful future,” said Myrna Lozano, criminal justice instructor at Americas High School. “Exposing the students to hands-on, real-world training widens their interests, goals, and motivation to accomplish their life and career goals.”
Capturing the energy with audio and video
A major part of the action at the SAC on game days involves audio and video production. The robust CTE audio/video program in SISD has close to 600 students enrolled.
CTE audio and video production teacher at Montwood High School Marvin Hanley said the opportunity at the SAC is a great way for students to get experience while working alongside district personnel.
“The goal of this program is to give them that real world experience so that the students can go on to have successful careers in the field of audio and video,” Hanley said. “They are learning skills that can be transferred over to any job in live production and get their foot in the door.”
Audio and video students work coverage on the field and in the stands using four different cameras and man the press box controls for the Jumbotron, which displays replays and ads.
Joel Munoz, a senior at Montwood High School and part of the audio and video team, said he enjoys controlling the wireless camera that captures everything off the field such as the crowd and cheerleaders.
“I love witnessing the energy and seeing everyone so active,” Munoz said. “I enjoy seeing the crowd involved, so to get the experience while doing something I love is amazing. It’s fun but it also carries a lot of responsibility.”
Journalists working on deadline at a live event
Aspiring journalists also get a wealth of experience covering the games as reporters and photographers for their schools. The SISD journalism program educates some 350 students throughout the district.
Vanessa Martinez, CTE graphic design and journalism instructor at El Dorado High School, said her journalism students work the games to compile content for their nationally awarded school yearbook and the Aztec Gold, their online newspaper.
“They are there to help improve their education because what they are doing on the field is very hands-on,” Martinez said. “The practice at the SAC gives them the opportunity to experience what it’s like to be a journalist working in the industry.”
The journalism program and hands-on experience helps students learn how to use specialized equipment in a variety of settings; interact with various people, including members of the media; and write or produce video pieces for an audience, all while making deadlines.
Many students are making connections with industry leaders from local media stations, some are working as interns now through connections they made during their time covering high school events at the SAC, and some have even gone on to be hired by local companies, like SISD partner in education Glamour Shots.
Brenden Malacara, a senior at El Dorado High School and editor-in-chief, said he is naturally an introvert and can be uncomfortable talking to people. However, the experience he has obtained from the journalism program has pushed him outside of his comfort zone.
“For me to now have the ability to just go up to someone without knowing them and having a conversation with them is more experience than I could’ve ever asked for,” Malacara said. “Though I am still learning and refining my skills, I see the benefits from this program. Now even if I decided not to pursue a career in journalism in the future it still has given me invaluable life skills.”
Published January 31, 2023
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