LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Saturday, Oct. 10, students in grades seventh through 12th from across Lake County were invited to attend the “My Future, My Way” workshop at the Mendocino College Lake Campus.

The workshop – geared for college and career exploration – was free to students and completely funded in partnership between the college and the Lake County Office of Education Career and College Readiness Department.

Eight-five students and a dozen parents participated in a series of fun, hands-on activities including operating a chainsaw in an Alaskan Milling demonstration.

Students were able to attend sessions on computer science, fire science, nursing, automotive, criminal justice, and sustainable technology/building.

Students also attended “College 101,” where they learned how to earn college credit while still in high school for free, participated in customer service training, and took a career interest assessment.

A college student panel session was hosted by current first- and second-year college students from community and four year colleges who shared their experiences and offered some words of wisdom to potential future college students.

In addition to the college topics explored, students participated in a “Healthy Body, Healthy Mind” activity to stress the importance of staying physically active, which included a choice of yoga or working out with the Marines.

At the end of the workshop all of the students in attendance were entered into a drawing for prizes including selfie sticks, movie passes, a Kindle, a mountable camera and a Fitbit.

The workshop was a success thanks to Mendocino College interim dean of Career and Technical Education and Lake Center instruction Steve Hixenbaugh, Center Assistant Denice Solgat, the college instructors and the many presenters who held the sessions for all of the students who participated: Gary Basor (criminal justice), Noel Woodhouse (sustainable technology), Doug Boswell (automotive technology), Tiffany Drake (nursing), DJ Kennedy (fire science), David Pai (computer science) and Rhea Hollis (College 101).

Gina Dickson with Mendocino County Office of Education hosted sessions on customer service and career exploration. Kenny Burg with A Touch of Tranquility Day Spa and Staff Sergeant Jeffrey P. Atkinson of the United States Marines led the “Healthy Body, Healthy Mind” portion of the day.

The college student panel consisted of Sonia Alvarado from Butte College, Helen Ryan from Cal State Chico, Natalya Dickson and Sarah Jane Christensen of Santa Rosa Junior College, and Emma Cardono of Mendocino College.

Lunch was catered by Running Creek Casino, which also supplied the decks of cards that were used as drawing numbers.

This exciting career and college event will be held again in March at the Yuba College campus in Clearlake.

For more information contact Norma Cromwell at the Lake County Office of Education Career & College Readiness Department, 707-263-8918, Extension 284; email Tammy Serpa at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; or visit the LCOE Career & College Facebook page.