EXP Insider: Are you ready for summer? Our interns are!

EXP Summer Internship is Almost Here!

The EXP Internship Program is opening doors for high school students across Southern California. We have just wrapped up the internship host placement interviews for LA County and Barstow this week, and Orange County ones will take place mid-June. This summer, we are placing nearly 150 students with over 40 host sites! 

These experiences are more than just résumé builders; they’re confidence boosters. In fact, 89% of interns report increased confidence in pursuing higher education or post-secondary options after completing their internships.

A student said in a survey last summer the EXP internship has “given me a broader perspective on education and how I would like to pursue my own. I’ve learned a lot about giving back to communities and engaging in creativity, which I admire and will think about in terms of deciding my major.”

“The EXP internship at the Port of Los Angeles helped me focus, hone in on my career path,” said EXP alum Christine Piña, who now works at the Port of Los Angeles. “It laid it out and helped me expand my network as I built rapport to where I am today. As an EXP alum, it makes me proud to still see this program thriving.” (Watch Christine’s story here.)

Each internship is $2,000 per student, covering stipends and career-readiness training. Your support—no matter the size—helps provide students like Christine with transformative experiences that can shape their futures.

As we continue to celebrate 25 years of empowering young people, we invite you to join us on this journey. Together, we are preparing the next generation for success in college, career, and life.

Thanks to our program partner, the Port of Los Angeles, Navigator Sponsor Valero Energy, Compass Sponsor Port of Long Beach, and Beacon Sponsor TraPac!

An EXP Homecoming at Oceans of Opportunity

More than 300 community and business leaders and supporters came together to celebrate EXP’s 25-year milestone at the 25th annual Oceans of Opportunity Awards and Scholarship Celebration. The sold-out event surpassed our $400,000 fundraising goal, thanks to your generosity! 

It was a homecoming for the EXP family—from our founding members and graduates from our earliest classes to first-time volunteers and current students. Highlights included alumni co-emcees Victor Ibarra and Nancy Perez, inspirational speeches from our honorees, energetic live auction, and desserts made by Phineas Banning High School MATCH Academy. See more details in our event program here. 

From the opening fanfare by the Banning High School Mighty Marching Pilots to the very last bid card raised to fund the EXP Internship Program, it was an unforgettable evening!

A heartfelt thank you from EXP staff and our board of directors. Your support means the world to our students and alumni. We look forward to the next 25 years!

Your Support in Action

EXP Program Manager Christian Douglas in session at Lawndale HS

EXP’s Career Success Explorer Wrapped Up Our Second Successful Year!

In partnership with the Centinela Valley Union High School District and El Camino College, EXP delivered the second year of EXP’s Career Success Explorer mentorship program to more than 40 sophomores and juniors at Lawndale and Leuzinger High Schools this spring.

15 college student-mentors from El Camino College helped these students expand their horizons over the course of five monthly dynamic workshops, including setting goals with vision boards, exploring career interests, crafting their personal elevator pitch, and learning real-life lessons from our guest speakers.

  • Dr. Omer Deen: Clinical Nutritionist, Internal Medicine & Hospitalist: Cleveland Clinic, Torrance Memorial

  • Mahnaz Demehri, Photographer

  • Dr. Joclyn Gergis, Psy.D student at Pepperdine University

  • Dr. Bianca Hunter-Beckley, Executive Director, Just Like HUEY

  • Ashley Monconduit, Owner and CEO, SnoCorner

Thanks to all of our volunteers and mentors for contributing to the future career success of our students! 

Your Career Journeys Inspire Their Future 

We had one of the most successful years of the classroom speaker series with more than 50 guest speakers to date! Thank you for sharing your story and bringing the real world into the classroom. Our volunteers rock!

 Interested in becoming one of our speakers for the next school year? Fill out this interest form and we'll be in touch! 

  • Wes Armstrong, Filmmaker

  • Enzo Bauk, US Hybrid

  • James Campbell, Dvine Intervention

  • Pastor Bushawn Carpenter, Total Restoration Church

  • Zachary Cenit, Air Products Hydrogen Facility

  • Marcelo Correa, Google

  • Dr. Marco Curreli, Omni Nano

  • Lori Gage, Hichachi

  • Mahnaz Demehri, Photographer

  • Felicity Eriksson & Becca Prezgay, CSU Long Beach Shark Lab

  • Jessica Espinoza, Edwards Lifesciences

  • Daniel Ferguson & Sharon Segado, Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator

  • Reggie Foster, Champs Up LLC

  • Johnnie Fresco & Royce Sadler, Dead Fresh Crew

  • Johan Gutierrez, Pediatric Therapy Services, USC Arcadia Hospital

  • Dylan Harris, Los Angeles Times;

  • Julie Anne Hennessy, U.S. Department of Commerce, Commercial Service and International Trade Administration

  • Brent Hook, Sun and Surf Trading

  • Dr. Jennifer Hsieh Connelly, West Coast Endocrine

  • Emmanuel Ifediba, Accenture

  • Jennifer Kolbauer, Marine Mammal Care

  • Zak Lara, Veterans Legal Institute

  • Kelley Le, Grades of Green

  • Coach Greg LeFever, IMpowered Fitness Center

  • Capt. Kip Louttit, Marine Exchange of Southern California

  • Nicholas Miner, Kiewit Infrastructure

  • Nancy Mogy, The Future is Foster

  • Ashley Monconduit, SnoCorner

  • CJ Nord, Supply Chains for Good

  • Andrew Rohm, Loyola Marymount University School of Business

Ana Saldana, Audio Engineer  

  • Mayte Sanchez, Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator

  • Robert Shumate, Poppy Bank

  • Jamilla Thomas, Rockwell Automation

  • Dr. Kanchana Viswanathan, Prohealth Partners A Medical Group Inc.

Also representatives from:

  • Disney

  • The Hoop Gang

  • Monroe University    

  • The National Guard

  • Netflix

  • Self Help Credit Union

  • Valero Energy

  • Yusen Logistics

Upcoming Events

Corporate Partnership opportunities are now available for all of our events. Please contact Jessica Ureña, Director of Development, today at  jessica@expfuture.org.

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