EXP Insider: Experience that changes lives

Exploring New Possibilities: Farishta’s EXP Internship Experience

Before her summer internship in 2025, Farishta I., now a senior at Legacy Magnet Academy in Tustin, imagined her future in mechanical engineering, inspired by her involvement in programs such as robotics and the Electric Vehicle Challenge. But through her EXP internship with Ramboll, she discovered a new perspective on how engineering can shape the world.

By shadowing cross-functional teams and contributing to projects in areas like Air Quality, Solutions, and Due Diligence, Farishta learned firsthand how environmental consulting companies tackle real-world challenges. Just as importantly, she built connections with professionals and developed the confidence to navigate a corporate workplace.

The experience helped Farishta see new possibilities for her future. While she still plans to pursue engineering, she’s now interested in developing solutions that sit at the intersection of people and the environment.

“Overall, my internship was an amazing experience!” said Farishta. “I had a lot of fun, learned so much, met so many inspiring people, and grew both personally and professionally. 

“I'm extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience, connect with professionals, and explore a career field I hadn’t considered before. This experience has definitely made a lasting impact on me, and I’ll remember it for years to come!”

Thanks to our internship host sites like Ramboll, students like Farishta found that the EXP internship didn’t just build skills—it expanded their vision of what’s possible.

Our goal is to provide 160 students with paid internships this summer. You can help us make a difference!

  • Fuel the economic support! Connect with Jessica Ureña at jessica@expfuture.org for program sponsorship information.

  • Host an Intern. We make it easy to host an intern! Connect with Trevor Amy at trevor@expfuture.org today

Support our Interns
Host an Intern

Volunteers in Action

SPECIAL EVENT: Social Justice Project Mentorship and Career Panel at Cabrillo High School

Partnering with Cabrillo Academy of Law & Justice (CALJ) at Cabrillo High School, EXP brought together dynamic industry leaders to share their career journeys as change agents in our community, representing fields such as social welfare, animal advocacy, environmental policy, and law. After the panel, our speakers provided feedback and encouragement to the students’ projects. Thanks to the following volunteers for an inspirational afternoon!  

  • Melissa Morgan, Founder, VERB Works / Black Wellness Collaborative

  • Darick J. Simpson, President, Earl B. & Loraine H. Miller Foundation

  • Tara B. Voss, Partner, Peacock Piper Tong + Voss LLP

  • Lisa Dulyea, Executive Director, Four Pillars Capital Campaign (Trojan Sig Foundation);

  • April Van Ligten, Vice President of Youth Leadership, Confluence Rising

  • Grace Stepter, Housing Stability & Community Initiatives, City of Anaheim

GUEST SPEAKER SERIES

Our Guest Speaker Series shows no sign of slowing down. Thanks to the hard work of our program managers and volunteers!

  • Sato Academy of Math and Science welcomed aerospace engineer Timothy Cuatt from M4 Engineering and, for a special Spanish-language class, Lucy Gilbert-Fagen, Design Engineer with Semillero de Ideas.

  • Lawndale High School's Marine Science Academy gave a warm welcome to the 2021 Bill Stein Memorial Award Honoree, Captain Kip Louttit from the Southern California Marine Exchange. Captain Kip showed students how his work in shipping and logistics connects to marine science.

  • Our new EXP board member, Robert Menald of Titan Environmental Services, and his colleague Marc Murrietta, shared their stories and career information with students in the Environmental Career Academy at Leuzinger High School. 

PROJECT MENTORSHIP

All hands on deck for our EXPression programs so far this year.  

  • The Phillips 66 Robotics Program returned to Phineas Banning High School’s STEAM Academy in late January. We have been following the progress of their builds, and they’re doing great work! In fact, thanks to AltaSea, the underwater teams will be testing their crafts in the tank and in the open water of the Port of LA channel!

  • Over in Long Beach, 10 volunteer guest judges provided feedback to Sato Academy’s 11th-grade students on their experiments testing sun-protection measures as part of their Medical Interventions class curriculum on cancer prevention. Another volunteer group helped mentor 10th-grade BioMed students on their pulse oximeter projects.

INDUSTRY COACHING

Students at Barstow and Central High Schools are almost to the finish line! Working with their industry coaches, students set their goals using vision boards and also learned about the entrepreneurial mindset through developing a product and pitching it to their peers. 

Would you like to volunteer as a guest speaker or project mentor? See available opportunities here or contact Devyn Dupree, Program Coordinator, at devyn@expfuture.org.

Help get our Barstow Students to the Toyota Arena!

Please help get our Barstow students to the Toyota Arena on April 17 to explore career possibilities in sports, entertainment, and event operations with the Ontario Reign! 

Before the game against the San Diego Gulls, our students from Barstow and Central High School will be treated to a behind-the-scenes arena tour and a Q&A panel with Ontario Reign professionals.

They need your help to get there! With a $25 donation, you can fund one student's unique career exploration experience. Additionally, you can join the students and the EXP team at the game! $5 from every ticket sold will go to support EXP programs in Barstow! Get your tickets here!

Save the Date: The Future is Working - April 2

Join us on April 2 for The Future is Working Giving Day, a 24-hour campaign bringing together 13 Orange County organizations to develop a stronger workforce for Orange County…and beyond!  Thanks to the generosity of the Sharon D. Lund Foundation and the Sun Family Foundation, every dollar donated will be matched up to $20,000! 

Help us reach our $50,000 by:

  • Bookmark our giving page and share the link with everyone! (Also share our #FutureWorkOC social media posts!)

  • Start a fundraiser. Visit our giving page and click on "Fundraise" to start your own campaign! 

  • Set your alarm and donate on Thursday, April 2, before 11:59 p.m. 

Stay tuned for more ways to help us reach our $50,000 goal on April 2!

Save this page!

Welcome New Board Member: Aksel Palacios

We are excited to welcome our newest member to the board of directors, Aksel T. Palacios, AICP, MPA! A longtime EXP volunteer and friend, Aksel currently serves as Director of Port & Capital Projects & Economic Development for Los Angeles City Council District 15, where he oversees major capital projects, waterfront redevelopment, public housing initiatives, and economic development strategies. 

Raised in Southern California by a single mother and a first-generation college graduate, Aksel’s personal journey informs his strong commitment to mentorship and service. He believes deeply in paying it forward and investing in young people as a pathway to stronger communities and future leadership. 

“Connecting young people to local government and providing them opportunities to grow, lead, and make a difference is a cause close to my heart," said Aksel. "I look forward to supporting the next generation of leaders through this incredible organization.”

As a board member, Aksel hopes to leverage his government experience, policy expertise, and extensive public and private sector network to expand opportunities, mentorship, and resources for EXP students. 

Upcoming Events

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

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