(Santa Ana, Calif) –– On March 29, 2024, Santa Ana College (SAC) will host KinderCaminata, a college readiness and youth empowerment program that brings nearly 1,000 kindergartners from Santa Ana and Garden Grove Unified School Districts and several charter schools to visit the community college. The children, along with their teachers, will experience interactive activities, exhibits and other entertainment to learn about various career opportunities made possible through college education.
“We welcome our community's youngest students to KinderCaminata to visit our campus and show that higher education is accessible and feasible," said Dr. Annebelle Nery, SAC president. “Now in its 30th year at SAC, this event serves as an educational pipeline for our future generation of leaders who may attend SAC or other educational institutions in the fall of 2036."
(Children tour the different programs, careers, and spaces available at SAC.)
A county-wide program founded in 1993 by education and community leaders, KinderCaminata celebrates the life and leadership of civil rights activist and labor movement organizer César Chávez, whose motto was “¡Sí, se puede!" (Spanish for “Yes, you can!"). During KinderCaminata, the kindergarten students will participate in a “¡Sí, se puede!" march across campus to encourage them to reach for their dreams, fostering community spirit and camaraderie. The march will be led by Grand Marshal Dr. Jeff Lamb, vice president of Academic Affairs at SAC.
“KinderCaminata has made a positive impact on thousands of lives and inspires youth to grow up to make a difference in their communities," Lamb said. “It's never too early to teach kids about college––it is aspirational for them to look ahead toward their future. This event is not only exciting for them, but also educational, and expands their future outlooks on life."
Experts say that these discussions are essential at an early age to help students envision their career aspirations as valuable and attainable. Lamb believes that this early education program will be a formative, memorable experience evoking curiosity and exposing young students to future jobs and careers that may interest them.
Across the nation, primary schools are already shifting their focus from earning higher standardized test scores to promoting college readiness. According to Psychology Today, early exposure to college environments and promoting college visits helps instill the belief that children will one day matriculate and attend college after high school.
“Following the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, meaningful experiences like KinderCaminata are especially important to help students re-emphasize the value and importance of education in our communities," Nery said.
In Orange County, kindergarten students had the highest rates of chronic absenteeism (12.4%), followed by students in grades 9 – 12 (9.5%), students in grades 1 - 3 (9%), students in grades 4 – 6 (8%) and students in grades 7 – 8 (7.2%) during the 2020-2021 school year, as stated in the County of Orange Social Services' Agency's Annual Report on the Conditions of Children in Orange County. The report assesses kids' education status, and impacts on health, economic well-being, and safety.
"KinderCaminata celebrates the potential within every young person. Our commitment is clear: ignite aspirations for higher education from the start," said Jerry Almendarez, superintendent, Santa Ana Unified School District. “This event is more than a march; it's a promise that '¡Sí, se puede!' – 'Yes, you can!' – is a reality we build together, starting in kindergarten."
This exciting event will take place from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the SAC parking lot #11 and on the track and field. To learn more about KinderCaminata event, please visit www.SAC.edu/outreach or call 714-564-6141.
Visit www.sac.edu to learn more about the college, and questions about this press release can be directed to the Public Information Officer Dalilah Davaloz at Davaloz_Dalilah@sac.edu.
About Santa Ana College:
Santa Ana College (SAC), founded in 1915, serves more than 54,600 students yearly for credit and noncredit classes. At present, SAC students can work toward completing an associate degree, university transfer, career/workforce training or a bachelor's degree in occupational studies. In 2025, the college will offer a second bachelor's degree in Paralegal Studies. As part of Santa Ana College, the School of Continuing Education located at Centennial Education Center offers free classes throughout the community for adults of all ages and academic backgrounds. Santa Ana College is an award-winning college and was recently ranked as one of the nation's top two-year colleges awarding associate degrees to Latino and Asian students and named one of the best community colleges in California by Intelligent.com for a 2nd consecutive year. The college is also recognized throughout the state for its comprehensive workforce training programs for nurses, firefighters, law enforcement and medical personnel.
About Santa Ana Unified School District
Founded in 1888, the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) is the second largest school district in Orange County serving the about 40,000 children of Santa Ana and the 2nd largest employer in Santa Ana, providing job opportunities to approximately 5,000 employees. SAUSD is committed to providing each of its students with a high-quality education, rigorous and advanced programs, and a nurturing, safe environment with state-of-the-art facilities, 21st century learning and technology, and a direct pathway to college upon graduation.
