By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Brock Elliott students explore careers
CAREER DAY1-4-26-14-LT
Manteca Fire Marshal Lantz Rey chats with AVID students Friday during Brock Elliott Schools career day. - photo by HIME ROMERO

They were members of the community, family and even friends.

The second-ever College and Career Day at Brock Elliott School hosted by the Advancement Via Individual Determination program brought in a variety of guest speakers on Friday.

“The goal is to create a school-wide college going atmosphere on campus,” said seventh-grade teacher Adrian Hernandez.

Thirty speakers took part in the event for first- through- eighth- grade students.

“(Our sixth- through- eighth- grade AVID students) decided that it was important to expose all students to the wide variety of exciting educational and career opportunities available to them, beginning at a young age,” Hernandez said.

She and fellow seventh-grade teacher Sheryl Peters head Brock Elliott’s AVID. The event was scheduled once again to be held outdoors in the school courtyard. But the wet conditions put a damper on those plans.

“We went with Plan B,” said Peters, who acknowledged College and Career Club representative Peter Martinez for webcam link-up from the school library to the classrooms.

She added: “It was set up so students can watch the opening reception from their classrooms.”

Martinez, who is based in Fresno, indicated that a big part of his work involves providing resources such as the video option for the participating AVID sites.

In order to achieve, Manteca Unified Superintendent Jason Messer, who was the guest speaker, noted that school plays a big role. “Career Day is an opportunity for you to learn and explore,” he said.

Education is the key.

Every Thursday, Brock Elliott has College Club Day. Hernandez said students are encouraged to wear to school the shirt or sweatshirt sporting their favorite university or college.

Many of the guest speakers including Messer pointed out that school is an important part of making possible a career.

“I kept loving school,” said Messer.”I loved to learn.”

The guest speakers included:

• Manteca Police Department Officer Jason Massy and his K9 partner Max.

• Make-up artist Arizo Mukhtar.

• State Farm insurance agent Jacob Naven.

• Alameda County Sheriff Deputy Josiah Mitchell.

• Captain Jeff Dennis, Engineer Mike Hohn and Dennis Hatfield of the Manteca Fire Department.

• Manteca Martial Arts instructor Mark Cameron.

• MFD Fire Marshal Lantz Rey.

• Jacob Fannell and Jennifer Moncrief of Target.

• Armando Martinez, EMT Kaiser Emergency and retired helicopter crew chief of the U.S. Air Force.

• Civil engineer Elizabeth Avelar of Kjeldsen, Sinnock & Neudeck, Inc.

• Lisa Goodwin, Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment (BTSA) induction coordinator at MUSD.

• Senior mortgage loan agent Dori Perdue of Guild Mortgage Co.

• Occupational therapist Sophia Comparan Del Real of Easter Seals Superior CA.

• Nicole Bettencourt, respiratory care supervisor at Lodi Memorial Hospital.

• California Highway Patrol dispatcher Erin Patterson and CHP Officer Wertman.

• Jessica Vaughn of the Second Harvest Food Bank.

• Veteran Mike Muniz of the U.S. Army.

• Gabriella Biedinger, owner of La Pink Boutique.

• SSgt. Daniel Foret of the U.S. Air Force.

• John Syler, Manteca Police Department chaplain.

• Engineer Brian Bagley of the Tracy Fire Department.

• Energy consultant Mike Lehr of Duct Testers, Inc.

• Sierra High English teacher Janet Sanders.

• Katie Arroyo of Girls Scout of America.

Martinez had a chance to talk about flying helicopters while working closely with the Coast Guard.

Fannell, who is an executive team leader with the local Target Store, told youngsters that his main focus at his job is keeping the shelves stocked while Moncrief works in Logistics & Human Resources.

“What’s my job?” she asked students in Jamie Fannell’s third grade class.

One youngster responded, saying: “Keeping employees clean and healthy.”

Any answer was worth a bit-size package of M&M candies compliments of the Target folks.