Compton Unified ROP Avionics CAD-CAM Program Open to High School

							             Compton Unified School District                                           Serving Compton
             501 South Santa Fe Avenue                                                           Carson
             Compton, California 90221                                                        Enterprise
                                                                                      South Los Angeles
             www.compton.k12.ca.us
                                                                                            Willowbrook




Contact:
Christine Sanchez                                                                  Ron T. Suazo
Director of Communications                                            Office of Communications
(310) 604-6561                                                                   (310) 604-6529

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                  July 1, 2009


              Compton Unified ROP Avionics & CAD-CAM
                Program Open to High School Students

   COMPTON, Calif., — Aspiring airplane pilots, aerospace engineers and graphic
artists may now enroll in the Compton Unified School District (CUSD) Regional
Occupational Program’s (ROP) Avionics and Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided
Manufacturing (CAD-CAM) summer training sessions.
   Held in the Compton Airport-ROP bungalow at Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum,
916 N. Alondra Blvd., the free classes run thru July 31, Monday thru Thursday, from
2:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m., and are open to high school students, grades 10 to 12. The
program is sponsored by CUSD’s ROP, the Boeing Corporation and the museum. To
give students a comprehensive overview of avionics and CAD-CAM, the program is split
into two components. Instructor Dale Adefeso, Ed.D. teaches students avionics,
electronics, aerospace and civil engineering, while teacher Carlos Bright focuses on
CAD-CAM design and drafting. By completing a summer of classes, participants earn
five high school units, including Algebra Two credits.
   Adefeso said the program offers students a rigorous curriculum that blends
mathematical subjects like algebra with graphic arts, and prepares them for careers in a
variety of industries. “It’s a very unique program that offers students an avenue by which
they can get an academic and career head start.” Adefeso added, “Some of our students
go on to become certified airplane pilots and aerospace engineers or civil engineers.
Others find careers in graphic arts and drafting, and most of them go on to four-year or
                                            (MORE)

                                      “Excellence in Progress”
                501 South Santa Fe Avenue, Compton, California 90221 – 310.639.4321
              Compton Unified School District                                            Serving Compton
              501 South Santa Fe Avenue                                                            Carson
              Compton, California 90221                                                         Enterprise
                                                                                        South Los Angeles
              www.compton.k12.ca.us
                                                                                              Willowbrook




Open Enrollment for CUSD-ROP Avionics & CAD-CAM Program                                      page two


junior colleges.” He also said the program offers students recruitment opportunities for
part-time and full-time work with Boeing. All students who complete a semester receive
a $150 stipend from Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum.
   For Centennial High School 12th-grader Amilcar Lara, the program provides the
academic support he needs to prepare himself for a career in engineering. “It’s my first
time in this program and after two weeks of classes I’ve learned so much,” he noted.
“We do a lot of algebra and graphic design using the CAD-CAM program, which is stuff
I know I’m going to use when I become an engineer.” He added, “The mathematical
aspects of the class connect to the graphics part of the course. That’s where we have to
measure our designs so that our drawings are up to scale.” Lara, who is undecided about
becoming either a civil or aerospace engineer, said that despite the program’s emphasis
on avionics, he is gaining skills that will give him access to a variety of opportunities. “I
know that what I’m learning is going to open many doors for me,” he stated. “It doesn’t
matter if I want to create buildings or airplane parts, I’ll have the skills I need to do it.”
   For additional information, parents/guardians can contact CUSD’s ROP office at (310)
898-6000 or Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum at (310) 618-1155.


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                                        “Excellence in Progress”
                  501 South Santa Fe Avenue, Compton, California 90221 – 310.639.4321
            Compton Unified School District                                           Serving Compton
            501 South Santa Fe Avenue                                                           Carson
            Compton, California 90221                                                        Enterprise
                                                                                     South Los Angeles
            www.compton.k12.ca.us
                                                                                           Willowbrook




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PHOTOS AND CAPTIONS TO ACCOMPANY:
Compton Unified ROP Avionics & CAD-CAM
Program Open to High School Students




Blasting-Off to Success — Instructor Dale Adefeso, Ed.D. (right) teaches students
avionics as part of Compton Unified School District Regional Occupational Center’s
Avionics and Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing summer training
session. The free classes, held in the Compton Airport-ROP bungalow at Tomorrow’s
Aeronautical Museum, 916 N. Alondra Blvd., run thru July 31 and are open to high
school students, grades 10 to 12.



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                                     “Excellence in Progress”
               501 South Santa Fe Avenue, Compton, California 90221 – 310.639.4321