Student Experience
100 internships through Central Coast K-16 Collaborative open career pathways for local students
The Central Coast K-16 Regional Collaborative, led by UC Santa Cruz’s Educational Partnership Center, is funding nearly 100 paid internships that connect local students with career pathways in high-demand fields across the region.
A Pajaro Valley Unified School District student gains hands-on experience in computing.
The Central Coast K-16 Regional Collaborative, led regionally by UC Santa Cruz’s Educational Partnership Center (EPC), and Uplift Central Coast are helping more students move from high school to college and into high-wage, high impact careers. By combining state and regional funding, the partners are creating nearly $500,000 in paid internships and apprenticeships that give students hands-on experience in growing industries across the Central Coast.
Supported by the California K-16 Collaborative Grant Program, the Central Coast K-16 Regional Collaborative brings together educators, college leaders, and economic development partners from six counties: Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura. Over the past year, the Collaborative has funded ten new or expanded career pathways in healthcare, engineering, and computing, involving 36 school districts and more than 50 institutions.
Uplift Central Coast has invested in three dozen economic development projects focused on critical sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, semiconductors, childcare, and the arts. Building on that work, the K-16 Collaborative is investing nearly half a million dollars to fund close to 100 paid internships and apprenticeships that place community college and university students directly into these Uplift-supported initiatives.
“This work is about making it easier for students to move through school and into careers,” said John Leopold, director of the Central Coast K-16 Regional Collaborative. “When schools, colleges, and employers work together, we can help students see a clear path from high school to college to a good job.”
“The UC Santa Cruz Educational Partnership Center is pleased to be part of this collaborative effort to strengthen educational and career pathways for students across the region,” said Maria Rocha-Ruiz, assistant vice chancellor of educational partnerships and chief campus outreach officer. “These programs give students the opportunity to apply their learning in real-world settings and help meet the workforce needs of our communities.”
Internships are being offered through eight partner organizations, including Hartnell College, Allan Hancock College, Rancho Cielo, and Community Memorial Healthcare. For example, Community Memorial Healthcare received funding to support healthcare internships in Ventura County, and Hartnell’s Roots of Resilience program will engage students in agricultural technology and innovation. UC Santa Barbara’s OASIS initiative will provide students with hands-on experience in the semiconductor industry.
Internship funding was allocated with a focus on geographic equity, providing support to each subregion based on population and local priorities. The goal is to give students meaningful experiences while addressing workforce shortages in key industries.
“We are grateful for the alignment and partnership between the K-16 Collaborative and Uplift Central Coast, connecting students to meaningful opportunities while fueling long-term economic impact for our region,” said Quinn Brady of Uplift Central Coast. “By linking internships to Uplift-supported projects in critical sectors, the K-16 Collaborative is expanding access to hands-on experiences that strengthen career pathways for students and at the same time support the industries driving growth and resilience across the Central Coast.”
