NEWS/PRESS
NEWS/PRESS

Noli Indian School students learn about careers and colleges

◆ By Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians

More than 100 students gathered at the Soboba Sports Complex gymnasium to visit with more than 30 vendors who shared the advantages of higher education and many different career opportunities during Noli Indian School’s College and Career Fair on Sept. 26.

The Soboba Indian Reservation school also invited students from Sherman Indian High School in Riverside to interact with vendors throughout the afternoon. Students were asked to create a schedule based on their interests, spending 15 minutes at each table, throughout six rotations.

Noli chooses to hold this annual event early in the school year so students have exposure to different colleges prior to open application month in October.

All Noli students, in grades 6 through 12, have a 20-minute Advisory Class prior to their fourth period classes where they discuss their current grades and challenges as well as their future goals. Sonia Modesto, who teaches Special Education and serves as one of the grade level Advisory teachers, said the annual fair plays a huge part in the students’ guidance process as they explore all options and opportunities.

“I think it is so amazing and inspiring that these vendors take the time out of their day to share it with our students,” said Modesto, who plays a key role in organizing the event. “During Advisory, we do encourage our students to reflect and discuss the day, what they learned, what they are interested in, what they enjoyed and what they may not have cared for. It is both engaging and interesting to get their feedback. It also helps us to plan for the next year.”

Students sat in the gym’s bleachers to be welcomed by Alex “Panda” Armendariz, Admissions and Outreach Specialized Recruiter for California State University San Bernardino. “This event gives you the opportunity to learn about what’s available. Take advantage of having the chance to talk to those who are making time to be here for you today,” he said.

Four other colleges were represented, sharing what each campus offers in terms of Native American studies and student life. Mt. San Jacinto College is a local community college that shared information about its adult education courses and non-credit programs for career development as well as its Native American Student Success/Support Services. Representatives from The University of Redlands and California State Universities located in Fullerton and San Marcos answered many questions posed by the students and had lots of handouts for them.

To further help students make the right decision, Cal State Fullerton is offering a Fall Webinar Series during its open enrollment period of Oct. 1 through Dec. 2 and a free campus tour on Oct. 26. Seniors were encouraged to visit calstate.edu/apply or Fullerton.edu to learn more.

The electricians’ union offered demonstrations about the type of jobs available in this field and AUMT Institute shared the career of phlebotomy. Temeeku Midwifery and the California Nurses Educational Institute shared details about medical field careers and several branches of the military explained recruitment to the students.

Coast Guard recruiter Caleb Svitenko served in the U.S. Navy for six years prior to joining the Coast Guard six years ago. He said those who enlist have often already done research and come in prepared to serve in this very specific branch.

Eastern Municipal Water District has a plethora of career paths for students to consider as does GRID Alternatives who shared the various jobs available in the rapidly growing solar industry.

Entrepreneur and Realtor David Borja Castaneda was able to explain different aspects of the real estate business to students who asked many different questions. He shared that he was working a full-time job with an automotive company and was not making the income he wanted so he switched careers. He said he enjoys being self-employed but that it isn’t easy. He added that it’s important to be a “people person” and to have compassion and great listening skills to be successful. Chloe Trosper, a junior at Sherman Indian High School, is interested in being a designer so Castaneda explained what stagers do and how they have a big impact on the sale of a house. “Real estate and designing go hand in hand,” he told Chloe.

Anthony Luna Trujillo always has one of the most popular presentations with his Stylish Culture business. He discussed how he started his graphic design business with the support of his family while he was a senior at Noli in 2015. He is a self-taught artist and graphic designer who comes up with creative designs that he recreates on items such as decorative boards, T-shirts, hats, stickers and his new line of coloring books. Although he has been a firefighter for the past seven years, he has always found time to keep up with his many orders on his days off. “I started Stylish Culture with my family when my parents invested in me. It started with an image and ended with a legacy,” said Trujillo, who now has a son, Tukut Trujillo, born June 29. “I love doing this.” He is active on Instagram @stylishculture15.

Funeral Arranger Robert Young with Inland Memorial Funeral Care in Hemet explained the different jobs that exist in that business. With a strong tie to the Native American culture, the company is well-known among local students.

Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s Tyler Topping brought purebred bloodhound Leia to the event, and she was an instant hit with students and staff alike. He explained that his K-9 partner is trained to search for missing people – not drugs, guns or bombs – and that she is extremely good at what she does. Leia was super friendly, eliciting hugs and tummy rubs from the crowd. Topping explained that when it’s time to trail, he puts on her vest and she completely changes, transforming into working mode.

California Indian Manpower Consortium provides employment and training services and other related services to Indian and Native American people. Hemet’s Coastline Beauty College offers certification in cosmetology and manicuring to anyone 18 years or older that has a high school diploma. Instructor Mina Price is also a former student and Jessica Crane from admissions said the school has hired quite a few students to work there. They also shared with students that the college offers discounted prices for salon services and specials for prom and homecoming events.

Noli science teachers Jay Dagostino and Sabrina Sobel Smith discussed all the different types of jobs that are available in the field of marine biology as both had previous careers at Sea World. Smith shared scuba diving equipment and how it works and Dagostino had many sea life samples and photos. He said there are many internships and entry level jobs at aquariums and other places where workers can learn the business from the ground up.

Branch Bankers Rosa Guardian and Tracie Bannister are with PNC Bank, the sixth largest bank in the nation but new to Hemet. Their message to students was mostly about the importance of financial literacy and the fact that PNC offers internships for college students to learn more about the banking business. “It may not seem important to them now but having a good relationship with your bank is important,” Bannister said. Guardian said banking offers all kinds of positions from the business side to the customer service side and shared that PNC is really big on expanding from within. Bannister agreed, stating that career development is huge and that the bank offers lots of incentives, sharing its motto of “employee driven, management guided.”

Members of the Soboba Casino Resort shared details about what is involved with marketing and the different skill sets they seek. Several departments from the Soboba Indian Health Clinic were available to share what it takes to work in the areas of dental, optical, pharmacy and wellness/behavioral health.

Cecilia Tsai is an optometry resident and had lots of equipment available for students to explore the world of optometry. She answered questions about eye function and diseases and what it takes to get into the field.

Dental Assistant Liz Martinez explained that being a hygienist offers lots of flexibility and freedom because they can work as often as they want and at different dental offices. “It’s been very rewarding for me; I love it and I enjoy my patients,” said Martinez, whose table offered smile kits that consisted of toothpaste, a toothbrush, floss and lip balm.

Students left with lots of other freebies from the vendors, such as candy, water bottles, pens, T-shirts, notepads, stickers and more.

“I would have to say that the main highlight for me at this event each year is to see our students really engage,” Modesto said. “They become so inquisitive and interested in what the representatives of the colleges and careers that attend have to share.”

Photos courtesy of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians

Representatives from Eastern Municipal Water District share career opportunities with students at Noli’s College and Career Fair at the Soboba Sports Complex, Sept. 26

Representatives from Eastern Municipal Water District share career opportunities with students at Noli’s College and Career Fair at the Soboba Sports Complex, Sept. 26

Inland Memorial Funeral Care’s Funeral Arranger Robert Young, center, talks with students about various jobs in the funeral industry

Inland Memorial Funeral Care’s Funeral Arranger Robert Young, center, talks with students about various jobs in the funeral industry

Alex “Panda” Armendariz, Admissions and Outreach Specialized Recruiter for California State University San Bernardino, welcomes more than 100 students to Noli’s College and Career Fair before explaining more about his college’s programs to assist Native American students

Alex “Panda” Armendariz, Admissions and Outreach Specialized Recruiter for California State University San Bernardino, welcomes more than 100 students to Noli’s College and Career Fair before explaining more about his college’s programs to assist Native American students

Anthony Luna Trujillo shares his graphic design business expertise with students during the recent college and career fair that benefited students from Noli Indian School at Soboba and Sherman Indian High School in Riverside

Anthony Luna Trujillo shares his graphic design business expertise with students during the recent college and career fair that benefited students from Noli Indian School at Soboba and Sherman Indian High School in Riverside

Realtor David Borja Castaneda explains to Chloe Trosper, a junior at Sherman Indian High School, how she can get into the real estate business

Realtor David Borja Castaneda explains to Chloe Trosper, a junior at Sherman Indian High School, how she can get into the real estate business

Soboba Indian Health Clinic optometry resident Cecilia Tsai shows how to use certain tools to examine the eye of Michael Malone, a sophomore at Noli, while his friends Luis Camacho, Edgar Gladin and Johnathan Gladin watch

Soboba Indian Health Clinic optometry resident Cecilia Tsai shows how to use certain tools to examine the eye of Michael Malone, a sophomore at Noli, while his friends Luis Camacho, Edgar Gladin and Johnathan Gladin watch

Anthony Luna Trujillo, a Noli graduate, shows some of the newest items from his online store Stylish Culture. The “Color Your Traditions” coloring book he created will be available in December

Anthony Luna Trujillo, a Noli graduate, shows some of the newest items from his online store Stylish Culture. The “Color Your Traditions” coloring book he created will be available in December

Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s Tyler Topping holds the leash of his K-9 partner Leia as she gets a lot of attention from Noli 7th grader Evelyn Resvaloso

Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s Tyler Topping holds the leash of his K-9 partner Leia as she gets a lot of attention from Noli 7th grader Evelyn Resvaloso

A representative from California Nurses Educational Institute shares all the different career options available to students attending this year’s college and career fair at the Soboba Sports Complex, Sept. 26

A representative from California Nurses Educational Institute shares all the different career options available to students attending this year’s college and career fair at the Soboba Sports Complex, Sept. 26

Mina Price and Jessica Crane from Coastline Beauty College in Hemet explain to students all the different certifications and salon services available

Mina Price and Jessica Crane from Coastline Beauty College in Hemet explain to students all the different certifications and salon services available