Stephanie, Elizabeth, and Rachna - Three Generations Linked by an Opportunity
One woman leading. One woman lifted. One young woman rising. A story of three generations.
Rachna, Elizabeth, and Stephanie
In 2012, Stephanie Holloman, then with the Port of Los Angeles, began working with EXP, inspired by Captain Jim Morgan, one of EXP’s founding members. As a former high school intern herself, Stephanie knew firsthand how life-changing an internship can be. She believed students in the LA Harbor area deserved the chance to see what was possible beyond the classroom.
One of those students was Elizabeth “Liz” Machuca ’09, then a senior at Phineas Banning High School. She was eager but unsure, stepping into a world she had never experienced up close. With encouragement from EXP mentors and industry leaders, Liz pursued engineering at Cal Maritime, defying statistics and expectations.
As the years progressed, Stephanie hired Liz as a college intern in the Port’s Construction and Maintenance Department. That summer changed Liz’s life. She could see herself in a career she had never imagined, as a college graduate and an engineer.
Today, Liz is a project engineer at SPEC Services, a mother, and a mentor who has stepped into the role once held for her. She now hosts and guides EXP interns, giving high school students the same opportunity that shaped her future. Her first intern in 2024, Isha (Beckman High School '25), is now studying engineering at UC San Diego.
This past summer, Liz mentored Rachna, now a senior at Beckman High School. Rachna knew she was interested in engineering, but she didn’t know where she would fit. Her internship changed that.
Meanwhile, Stephanie’s commitment never faded. Today, she is the Assistant Chief of Human Resources at the Orange County Fire Authority. She hosted six EXP interns this past summer, continuing to lift young people as she once did for Liz.
At the Tustin Unified School District Internship Celebration, a remarkable full-circle moment unfolded. Stephanie and Liz reunited, not as mentor and intern, but as two leaders, two mothers, two women committed to lifting the next generation. And beside them stood Rachna, already imagining her future and how she would one day give back.
It was more than a reunion; it was the continuation of a legacy. Three generations linked by a single opportunity. One woman leading. One woman lifted. One young woman rising.
Every internship funded creates a new story like Liz’s, Isha’s, and Rachna’s. One student lifted. One future unlocked. One door opened to possibility.
“Meeting Chief Holloman and Liz and seeing what one opportunity can grow into inspired me. I was inspired by the lasting connections EXP builds, and I’m excited to carry this forward and support another student one day, the way they supported me.”
A gift opens doors to opportunity. When one door opens, a thousand more can follow.
This giving season, EXP is raising $100,000 to expand our internship program, connecting more young people to paid work experiences that build confidence, skills, and futures. The demand for student internships has never been greater. And with your partnership, we can meet it.
We’re thrilled to share that an anonymous donor will match the first $25,000 in gifts. This means you will double your impact when you give before December 31, 2025!
As we look to the year ahead, your generosity is more critical than ever. Please consider donating today, in any amount. Every dollar you give helps a student take their first step into a professional world. Every match brings us closer to ensuring that all students have the chance to discover their potential.
Engineering is such a big world — I wasn’t sure where I belonged. During my EXP internship, I got real hands-on experience and even learned to use CAD. Seeing Liz in her role made everything feel real and possible. – Rachna