CTEC’s first water technology course graduated 30 students, each of whom earned California water treatment and/or conservation certificates. Two students were hired by East Pasadena Water Agency with full benefits, a car and tuition reimbursement if they choose to attend college.

Ariel Bryant, of San Dimas, a student in the CTEC water technology course, secured an internship at the Glendora office of U.S. Rep. David Dreier (R-CA) and is now a freshman at Cal State Fullerton.

Avant-Garde Runway Show

CTEC endeavors to offer courses that include a broad range of business applications and expose students to a variety of careers. CTEC’s spring 2009 term offered a fashion fabric, design and merchandising class that combines concept development, market analysis, fabric testing, merchandise production, event planning, hospitality, construction and marketing that concludes with a runway fashion show in May in the Millard Sheets Center for the Arts at Fairplex.

CTEC Careers

Christian left San Dimas High School at the end of the 1st semester of his junior year because he was behind in credits. In the summer of 2009 he was encouraged to enroll in the Visual Design class at CTEC and worked diligently every day to complete the course. He earned enough credits through CTEC and continuation school to return to San Dimas High School for his senior year. In the fall of 2010 Christian continued attending the Visual Design classes at CTEC and applied and received a scholarship to travel to Italy in the summer of 2011 to study art, with the conditions that he do well in his high school classes, graduate and continue his attendance at the CTEC classes. He did all 3 successfully. His high school counselor remarked that CTEC "saved his life". Christian is currently working at the Candlelight Pavilion Dinner Theatre in Claremont and is saving money to attend college where he will study art and music.

Tori attended the Ceramics class at CTEC in the spring of 2011as a senior from Bonita High School. She completed the Ceramics class in June of 2011 and in the fall of 2011 she enrolled at California State University San Bernardino, with a major in Psychology and a minor in Ceramics. Her goal is to have a career as a Child Psychologist using clay as a medium to help kids work through their problems.

After graduating from Bonita High School, Justin Castruita
acted on a suggestion from teacher George King to enroll in a water technology course offered through the Fairplex Education Foundation’s Career and Technical Education Center. “At first I hesitated a bit. It was six weeks during the summer, everyday for eight hours,” Justin recalled. “But I thought it could be a good experience.”

Now, just 18, Justin has a full-time job at East Pasadena Water Company with a lucrative salary and a company car. He is happy to have spent last summer studying. “I learned a lot in the water technology class. The class taught us what we can do,” Justin said. “Now I make more money than most of my friends! I’m thinking of buying a house.”