EXP Insider: Celebrating another successful school year!

School Year 2024-2025 By Numbers

Preliminary numbers.

  • 4,869 students served.

  • 152 paid internships. (21% increase.)

  • 271 students completed our career readiness certificate program. (69% increase.)

  • 2,067 hours donated by 482 industry volunteers.

  • 518 Orange County students participated in EXP programs. (65 students in the previous year.)

Thanks to our Career EXPedition sponsor: Port of Los Angeles

Your Support in Action - Career EXPedition: Cal Maritime

In the summer of 2005, a group of 40 curious juniors from Phineas Banning High School boarded a bus bound for adventure — a week at Cal Maritime that would change their lives. For many, it was the first time leaving home, the first glimpse of life beyond their neighborhood, the first spark of realizing just how far their potential could take them.

This July, 20 students from three EXP partner schools will follow in their footsteps on Career EXPedition: Cal Maritime. For one week, they’ll dive into hands-on training, earning industry certifications in Personal Survival and Basic Marine Firefighting — and discovering new possibilities for their future.

In 2023, Romeo Clay (Banning HS ‘24) made that same trip. He came home inspired and determined. Today, he’s a rising sophomore at Cal Maritime, sailing aboard the Training Ship Golden Bear — living proof that one week can change everything.

"As someone who wasn’t sure about what I wanted to do for college, the Career EXPedition was an eye-opening and very enriching experience,” said Romeo. To EXP supporters, he said, “Thank you for believing in me and supporting me. I would not be where I am today without your help, support, involvement, and motivation.”

The annual Career EXPedition has helped contribute to Phineas Banning High School being the number one feeder school to Cal Maritime. Since 2007, more than 40 EXP alums have graduated. Currently, there are 5 alums enrolled and 8 more are starting this fall. We are grateful for this long-standing partnership! (Read more about the program history here.) 

Congratulations, Class of 2025!

Way to go, Class of 2025! We are so proud to have watched our high school students grow into the young adults they are today and of all that they’ve accomplished.

We also heard back from some of our college graduates! Your support has helped Jama Willis (Barstow High School '21) along his journey at Harvard. His EXP virtual internship with the California State Assemblymember Mike Gipson’s district office in Gardena in 2020 influenced his career aspiration, and the EXP college scholarship aided in his college experience.

Additionally, our business manager apprentice, Ariana Martinez, also graduated from Loara High School in Anaheim! She will continue her apprenticeship with us through the summer before heading to UCLA in the fall. 

Upcoming Events

Corporate Partnership opportunities are now available for all of our events. Please contact Jessica Ureña, Director of Development, today at  jessica@expfuture.org.

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