The Port of Long Beach on Tuesday, May 28, announced $100,000 in scholarships for 77 local college and high school students as part of an expanded education-outreach effort.
The students receiving the scholarships were recognized at the port’s 6th annual “Celebrating Education” event, along with the port’s 25 incoming high school summer interns and the 22 local teachers who were trained in engineering education earlier this year as part of the port’s externship program.
The event brought together students, educators, public officials and business leaders to highlight the port’s education-outreach programs and accomplishments in the goods-movement industry. This year’s event was held at the Long Beach Marriott as part of World Trade Month.
The port also announced that participation, grade-point averages and enrollment in Advanced Placement courses have steadily improved among students registered in the Academy of Global Logistics at Cabrillo High School since the program was established by the port three years ago with the Long Beach Unified School District.
The four-year, career-based AGL program combines academic curriculum with training for students interested in global trade, logistics and supply chain management, officials said.
Recently, the Washington D.C.-based University Professional and Continuing Education Association awarded its annual Engagement Award to the partnering organizations for AGL. The award recognized “an outstanding mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources” between the AGL and the California State University, Long Beach, Center for International Trade and Transportation, along with the university’s College of Continuing and Professional Education.
“The Harbor Commission has a longstanding belief in leveraging the port’s position as the second-busiest container seaport in the United States for positive changes in our industry and our community,” said Tracy Egoscue, president of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners. “The Academy of Global Logistics at Cabrillo High School successfully combines academics and industry-relevant training with the goal of educating our city’s students to become leaders in global trade and goods movement.”
Among the accomplishments:
-There are 464 students currently enrolled in AGL, up from 433 students who participated in the inaugural 2016-17 program.
-67 percent of AGL students earned a 2.0 GPA or higher in 2019, up from 61 percent in 2016.
-About 16 percent of AGL students are enrolled in Advanced Placement classes, up from 6 percent in 2016.
The $100,000 in scholarships announced Tuesday was the highest amount to date for a single year, the port announced. Officials also added engineering and environmental science categories for LBCC and Cal State Long Beach students and increased from 39 to 77 the overall number of scholarship recipients this year compared to last.
Also on Tuesday, the Harbor Commission approved an increase in the annual scholarship fund to $125,000 for next year.
Since 1993, the port has awarded scholarships to 541 students pursuing careers in international trade and goods movement. This year’s scholarships went to students from local high schools, Long Beach City College and Cal State Long Beach.
Additionally, the port welcomed 25 Long Beach-area high school students who will work as interns this summer. The six-week program offers real work experience and mentoring for those interested in careers in international trade and related fields, officials said.
The Port of Long Beach expanded other education programs, including:
-Launching the Maritime Center of Excellence at LBCC to offer training in logistics and supply chain jobs requiring more than a high school diploma, but less than a four-year degree.
-Adding new science, technology, engineering and math programs (STEM) across LBUSD high schools.
-Becoming the first industry partner of the Long Beach College Promise.
-Receiving the Cal State Long Beach President’s Distinguished Service Award for the port’s accomplishments in education.
“The Port of Long Beach is committed to investing in tomorrow’s future industry leaders through internships and scholarships that will help support the development of a skilled workforce in international trade and goods movement,” said Mario Cordero, executive director of the Port of Long Beach. “As the industry continues to grow, education outreach and workforce development programs have become a larger priority for the Port of Long Beach and the entire goods movement industry.”