Over 800 students heard 20 community speakers from diverse career fields at this year’s Youth Education Motivation Program (YEMP) on November 7, 2013 at Letha Raney Intermediate School. The following agencies provided multiple speakers for the Letha Raney YEMP: City of Corona, Corona Fire Department, Cal Trans, Southern California Edison, Society of Professional Engineers, Corona Rotary, Corona Kiwanis, Corona Soroptimist, UCR School of Medicine, Region 12 Toastmasters, and March Air Reserve Base.
One of the featured guest speakers was Riverside Community College, Dean of Career and Technical Education, Patricia Avila. Dean Avila dedicated 90 minutes to speak to Letha Raney’s seventh and eighth grade students about post high school options. She explained university, private school, and community college admission requirements. She spoke about technical career programs offered through the Riverside Community College District and presented a cost of living analysis to the students.
The Riverside Community College District, Career Technical Education Community Collaborative, sponsors YEMP at middle schools throughout the area. The Youth Education Motivation Program (YEMP) is designed to motivate students to complete their education, to inform students of career options, and to foster a relationship between local schools and the business community. YEMP focuses on careers at all levels and industries. The community speakers stress the merits of a good education, training, how education has helped them personally, and what students might encounter in the workforce.