The Antelope Valley Union High School District honored nine industry partners at its annual Bridge Awards ceremony, recognizing organizations and individuals who support student career readiness through internships, mentorship, and educational partnerships.

Greg Nehen, AVUHSD Superintendent, opened the ceremony by noting the awards’ 30-year history of acknowledging community partnerships. “There has been a long-standing relationship between the Antelope Valley community and the Antelope Valley Union High School District, which we are very grateful for and hope will continue for years.” 

Teresa Howard, Director of Career Technical Education, reported significant program growth. The district’s CTE programs now serve over 7,800 students, with expanding pathways in law enforcement, solar cars, and transportation. The programs have developed partnerships supporting students with special needs and are hiring former students as tutors.

Recent achievements include Knight Prep Academy students advancing to SkillsUSA Nationals, successful dental competition participation, and a well-attended STEM expo. Lancaster High School students are engaging with composites, cybersecurity, and biomedical dissections through academy programs.

“We’re hiring former students as tutors for our CTE programs. Isn’t that the greatest? Our students are coming back to work for us! “, said Howard. The event recognized the ongoing collaboration between the Antelope Valley community and the school district in supporting student career development.

Award Recipients and Their Contributions

Josh Libkie, Antelope Ambulance received recognition from Highland High School for providing EMT student internships, maintaining communication about student progress, and ongoing program donations.

Amy Weise, Kaiser Permanente was honored by Eastside High School for organizing Healthcare Simulation Internships and supporting the school’s Linked Learning Gold certification through volunteer coordination.

Jackeline Diaz, Bartz-Altadonna Community Health Center was recognized by Palmdale High School for providing clinical experiences to Health Careers Academy students, with one intern noting the staff “actually took the time to work with me and show me things.”

Zakeya Anson, Northrop Grumman earned recognition from Knight High School for supporting the HIP program across multiple valley schools and securing critical funding that benefits students region-wide.

Shaunda Edwards, SchoolsFirst Credit Union was honored for conducting financial workshops across all eight comprehensive sites, reaching approximately 500 academy students with financial literacy education.

Dr. Rodrigo Sanchez, Sanchez Chiropractic received acknowledgment for accommodating Sports Medicine students’ schedules and allowing supervised patient care tasks that enhance their learning experience.

Benjamin Gocke, Palmdale Regional Medical Center received recognition as a new partner for arranging facility tours for 75 Biomed students, providing insight into local hospital operations.

Victoria Olvera, America’s Job Center of California was acknowledged for three years of organizing student payments, providing uniforms, and offering continued job opportunities for Healthcare Simulation Interns.

Marissa Latuno, Antelope Valley College earned recognition for collaborating with Kaiser Permanente and the district to create paid Healthcare Simulation Internships, giving Biomed Academy students opportunities to shadow healthcare professionals.

Erica Rough, the AVUHSD Industry Liaison & Post-Secondary Partnerships, concluded the ceremony by thanking partners for their expertise, mentorship, and real-world experiences that prepare students for future success. “It’s truly inspiring to witness the powerful impact that your partnerships have on our students’ journeys through our academies. Your expertise, mentorship, and real-world experiences ignite their passions and equip them with invaluable skills for their future success.“