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MSJC Career Education Department Hosts Annual K-12 Summit to Empower Students' Futures

3/14/2025

The Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) Career Education Department hosted its annual K-12 Summit on March 13 at Wilson Creek Winery in Temecula, bringing together a full house of K-12 school administrators, counselors, teachers, and staff for a day of learning, collaboration, and student-focused innovation. The summit, themed “Creating Your Own Luck: The Power of Preparation and Opportunity,” emphasized the critical role of education and career pathways in shaping students' futures.

Representatives from K-12 districts served by MSJC (Beaumont, Banning, Hemet, Temecula, San Jacinto, Perris, Murrieta, Nuview, Menifee, Lake Elsinore, and Romoland) attended the event, which highlighted best practices for supporting students through Early College Credit opportunities, counseling, career readiness initiatives, and career pathways.

MSJC Vice President of Career Education and Nursing/Allied Health Joyce Johnson opened the summit by welcoming attendees on a rainy but energetic morning. She set the tone for the day, emphasizing the collective responsibility in preparing students for the modern workforce. “In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, we know that preparing students for the future requires collaboration, innovation, and the ability to connect opportunities with readiness,” Johnson stated.

The day began with breakfast and an inspiring keynote address from Matthew Elder, Director of the Riverside County Cal-SOAP (California Student Opportunity and Access Program) Consortium. Drawing from his experiences as a former basketball player and coach, Elder shared insights on building strong student support systems using team-centered strategies.

Throughout the day, attendees engaged in dynamic sessions covering crucial topics, including Early College Credit, the 2025-2026 Financial Aid application process, career pathway selection, aligning MSJC’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs with student success, healthcare career exploration, internship opportunities, and navigating the transition from MSJC to four-year universities.

A delicious lunch provided a midday opportunity for attendees to connect before the day concluded with a networking hour, fostering new collaborations and strengthening partnerships between K-12 institutions and MSJC.

The event was expertly organized by Jenny Hughes, MSJC Director of K-12 Partnerships, along with her dedicated event planning committee: Mary Lou Dillard, Angela Drumm, Beth Bowles, Helena Cruz, April Wardwell, Karina Mejia, Karla Marquez, and Alyssa Ezrre. Reflecting on the event’s success, Hughes remarked, “This summit is about creating real opportunities for students by strengthening the bridge between K-12 and higher education. When we work together, we can make a lasting impact on students’ futures.”

The MSJC Career Education Department remains committed to providing transformative opportunities for students, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and support needed to succeed in their academic and professional journeys.

MSJC looks forward to continuing this tradition and fostering a love of history and learning among future generations of students. For more information about MSJC and upcoming events, visit msjc.edu.