CTE Foundation Sonoma County

Yesterday, we had the privilege of celebrating the INCREDIBLE employers and supervisors who opened their doors, shared their expertise, and invested in the next generation through Path to Purpose!

These photos capture just a handful of the 42 local employers who welcomed students into their workplaces this spring. Behind every internship was a professional who took the time to mentor, teach, encourage, and believe in a young person.

To every employer who said "yes" to hosting an intern, THANK YOU! Thank you for your patience, your mentorship, your leadership, and your commitment to Sonoma County's future workforce. You are changing lives and helping students take meaningful steps toward their futures.

A special thank you to our founding partners at Sonoma County Office of Education for helping make Path to Purpose possible and for their continued collaboration in creating career-connected opportunities for students across Sonoma County.

Together, we're building a stronger future - one student, one internship, and one opportunity at a time through Path to Purpose!

To learn more about becoming an Employer Host for next year's Path to Purpose Spring 2027 cohort, please visit ctesonomacounty.org/pathtopurpose.

Have you heard? We're excited to share that CTE Foundation has been selected for Phase 2 of the Catalyze Challenge!

Catalyze is a national initiative investing more than $4 million in innovative solutions that expand career-connected learning opportunities for young people. CTE Foundation is honored to be one of 31 organizations advancing to Phase 2.

This opportunity will help us continue building stronger connections between student ambition, education, and workforce opportunities throughout Sonoma County through initiatives like Path to Purpose.

We're grateful to the educators, students, employers, and community partners who make this work possible and look forward to strengthening our impact in the months ahead!

See the full list of awardees here: https://www.catalyzechallenge.org/our-community

Thank you to the Press Democrat and reporter Dan Taylor for highlighting the incredible impact of Spark the Future 2026!

Because of the generosity of our community, this year's event raised more than $350,000 to support career-connected learning opportunities for Sonoma County students. From engineering and culinary arts to agriculture, media, manufacturing, and more, over 100 students showcased the skills, creativity, and ambition that are shaping our region's future.

We're grateful to our incredible event sponsors, the participating Student Showcase classrooms, and everyone who attended, supported, and celebrated our students alongside us.

Thank you, Keysight Technologies, for serving as Presenting Sponsor and investing in Sonoma County's future workforce.

Thank you, Redwood Credit Union, for sponsoring the Presenting Sponsor of the Student Showcase and helping students shine.

And thank you to the students and educators of Academy of Innovative Arts, Analy High School, Casa Grande High School, Healdsburg High School, Petaluma High School, Piner High School, Rancho Cotate High School, Sonoma Valley High School, and Windsor High School for proudly representing your programs and inspiring our community!

Read the full story here: https://www.pressdemocrat.com/2026/06/03/spark-the-future-event-raises-350000-for-sonoma-county-car

Some of the most powerful stories in education are happening quietly right here in Sonoma County.

Students stepping into hospital clinics for the first time. Young people gaining confidence in professional kitchens. Educators reimagining what school can look like when learning feels connected to the real world.

We’re excited to share three brand-new stories on the CTE Foundation blog that highlight the incredible students, educators and industry partners shaping the future of our community.

✨ Explore the stories:
-How culinary students gained hands-on experience inside Stark Reality Restaurants
-How Analy High School is redesigning learning around student experience
-How 26 local students are stepping into healthcare careers through CNA training

These stories are hopeful, inspiring and a reminder of what’s possible when a community invests in young people.

Read the latest stories here or through the link in our bio:
https://ctesonomacounty.org/about-cte/news-updates/

“I’ve seen students go from hesitant to capable. From uncertain to certain. From ‘I don’t know if I can do this’ to ‘I can’t believe I did that.’”

As Path to Purpose internships wrap up across Sonoma County, CTE Foundation Student Success Advisor Jolene Pighini is reflecting on a year of growth, bravery, and transformation.

From classroom presentations to internship placements to college coursework through Santa Rosa Junior College, students took major steps toward their futures this year - and the impact is just beginning.

Read the full reflection:

https://mailchi.mp/ctesonomacounty/ssa2026

Interested in becoming a Path to Purpose employer partner for 2026-2027? Shoot us a message and let’s connect!

Earlier this year, CTE Foundation and Stark Reality Restaurants partnered to create a one-of-a-kind, real-world culinary experience for local students from Analy High School and Healdsburg High School. 👩🏻‍🍳🥘🤌🏻

Over several weeks, students learned side-by-side with chefs and restaurant staff, experiencing the true pace of culinary and hospitality work - prep, service, communication, teamwork, and leadership under pressure.

But the biggest lesson wasn’t just how to cook. It was what happens when young people are trusted with real responsibility. Confidence grows. Talent shines. Potential becomes undeniable.

This is the power of career-connected learning - students building real skills in real environments, with mentors who open doors instead of keeping them closed.
Stark Reality Restaurants created a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. And for students, that kind of experience can be life-changing.

To the students who showed up ready to learn - you earned every bit of this moment!

And to the community partners who believe in them - thank you for proving what’s possible when we invest in students.

Photo Credit: Savery Media

✨ Path to Purpose Intern Professional Development Day ✨

On Saturday, May 9, 2026, our Path to Purpose interns came together for an energizing day of growth, reflection and career preparation as they near the finish line of their internship journeys.

This workshop was designed to help interns walk away with real tools they can use immediately - including intern networking, resume support, portfolio building, professional headshots and even some fun “advocate for yourself” speed networking challenges that helped students practice pitching their strengths.

A major highlight was our powerful panel discussion on The Power of Social Capital - exploring how relationships, mentorship and community connections can open doors and shape future opportunities.

👏 Huge thank you to our incredible panelists for sharing your insight, time and encouragement:
Herman G. Hernandez (Los Cien)
Chase Overholt (Positive Images)
Priscilla Jaworski-Quintanilla (Redwood Credit Union)

Your leadership and authenticity made a lasting impact on the interns!

CTE Foundation, in partnership with Path to Purpose's Founding Partner Sonoma County Office of Education, are so proud of these interns and the ambition, professionalism and growth they continue to show. This is what connected learning looks like - preparing students for success by aligning academics, career opportunities and student ambition!

🎙️ Our Executive Director on the Air!

We were thrilled to have Eli Weinzveg, Executive Director of CTE Foundation Sonoma County, featured on ’s Sonoma County Focus! 🌟 Eli shared how career technical education is expanding opportunities for students across our community and why connecting learning to future careers matters now more than ever.

Tune in to hear the conversation and learn how CTE Foundation is partnering with educators, employers, and families to build pathways where students can thrive:
https://www.ksro.com/episode/sonoma-county-focus-career-technical-education-foundation/

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