This month, we proudly hosted our first annual Whippet Pathways Day at Whitewater Unified School District, welcoming more than 50 businesses, organizations, and institutions into Whitewater High School.

We’re excited to share that every available space in the building was utilized for meaningful, career-connected learning experiences.

The day featured three student-selected small group sessions followed by a career and college fair, creating an engaging and high-energy environment focused on student futures.

Students explored a wide range of career pathways, connected directly with local businesses, colleges, and community organizations, and engaged in authentic conversations with professionals about education, training, and careers. Through both individual and small group interactions, students built their networks and developed social capital while gaining real-world insight and advice.

Experiences like this are powerful in building career awareness. When students engage directly with professionals, they not only learn about careers, they begin to see themselves in them.

The impact has been immediate and inspiring. Over the past week, students have been connecting with staff to solidify, and in some cases rethink, their career plans. Many are adjusting their 2026 to 2027 course selections to better align with new goals, and others are actively pursuing job shadows and Youth Apprenticeships with partners they met during the event.

We also received overwhelmingly positive feedback from both students and community partners, reinforcing the value and impact of this experience.

A huge thank you to the 50 plus businesses, organizations, and institutions who dedicated their time and expertise to make a lasting impact on our students’ futures. We’re excited to continue growing this experience in the years ahead.

Article and Photos Submitted by Mike Rick
WUSD Career and Technical Education Coordinator
ricmi01@wwusd.org