The Twenty-Eighth Annual KinderCaminata encourages students to explore college and career paths.
(Santa Ana, Calif.) - Inspiring local kindergartners to think about their bright futures is on the agenda at Santa Ana College's (SAC) 28th Annual KinderCaminata. The event will be held Friday, March 25, from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at the SAC campus and will give students from the class of 2034 hands-on exhibits and engaging demonstrations to explore career paths that require a college education or career training.
Santa Ana Unified School District will bring more than 1,000 kindergarten students to the event, where they will experience college and community sponsored booths that introduce them to careers, such as nursing, library science, theater arts, history, and much more.
“KinderCaminata will offer our young students a glimpse of future possibilities," shared Superintendent of Santa Ana Unified School District Jerry Almendarez. “For most of these students, this will be their first time stepping onto a college campus. It's an experience we hope will leave a lasting impression as they continue on their academic journey."
After the career fair, KinderCaminata Grand Marshal and SAC President Annebelle Nery, Ph.D., will speak to the students and lead them in a “Si, se puede" (Yes, you can) march from the career fair across campus and to the track, where they will have lunch and enjoy entertainment by the Relampago Folklorico dancers as well as mascot Clifford the Big Red Dog. Each student will also receive a free SAC-branded mask for the event.
The Annual KinderCaminata event is traditionally held near the birthdate (March 31) of Cesar Chavez, renowned civil rights and labor movement activist who influenced communities to seek social justice and inspired hope for many. In the spirit of Chavez, the primary goal of KinderCaminata is to plant the seed of education at its earliest stages and to promote higher education for all students.
“These children will be our future leaders, and we at the college want to foster hope and encourage students that they are capable of achieving a college education," said Dr. Annebelle Nery. “Higher education is possible and accessible for all, and Santa Ana College will be here in the community ready to receive all students to help prepare them for their bright futures."
Orange County education and community leaders started KinderCaminata in 1994 to expose local students to higher education at the earliest possible time in their lives.
For more information about KinderCaminata, contact SAC's Outreach Office at (714) 564-6141.
About KinderCaminata
KinderCaminata is a non-profit organization supported by an annual fundraising dinner, "Salute to Chancellors, Presidents, and Superintendents," as well as by some community organizations, colleges, and universities. A volunteer board of directors governs KinderCaminata and is composed of Orange County Community College District chancellors and university, business and community leaders.
About Santa Ana College
Santa Ana College (SAC), which turned 100 years old in 2015, serves about 18,000 students each semester. The college prepares students for transfer to four-year institutions and provides workforce training for business and industry. In addition, another 11,000 students are served through the college's School of Continuing Education located at Centennial Education Center. Ranked as one of the nation's top, two-year colleges awarding associate degrees to Latino and Asian students, the college is also recognized throughout the state for its comprehensive workforce training programs for nurses, firefighters, law enforcement and medical personnel. SAC is one of two comprehensive colleges under the auspices of the Rancho Santiago Community College District.
