Thousands attend College Night

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West High’s Camisha Jackson (left) and Bakersfield High’s Haresha Clark spent a long time discussing their college dreams with University of Arizona representatives.

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Kern County Superintendent of Schools Larry E. Reider happily accepted a $25,000 donation for Kern County College Night from Ophelia Basgal, Pacific Gas and Electric Company civic partnerships and community initiatives vice president.

More than 80 private and public universities, trade schools and military recruiters were on hand Sept. 8 to welcome approximately 7,000 students and adults to the ninth annual Kern County College Night. The event was held at the Rabobank Convention Center in Bakersfield.

The event is funded in large part by Pacific Gas & Electric. Earlier in the day, Ophelia B. Basgal, vice president, civic partnership and community initiatives, presented a $25,000 check from PG&E to Kern County Superintendent of Schools Larry E. Reider. This is the fourth consecutive year that PG&E has made a contribution of this size.

"Education is important to PG&E," said Basgal. "Within the next four-to-five years, 40 percent of our workforce will be eligible to retire. We offer a wide range of careers and students need to understand the opportunities."

She said PG&E is active in other educational initiatives and noted that latino employees at PG&E recently donated 17, $1,000 scholarships to students in the San Joaquin Valley.

Basgal and Reider underscored the importance of doing things that conserve and reuse our resources. This years college night included several green features including water bottles that use less plastic, increased use of recycled paper and technology to reduce paper consumption.

Reider noted that his office made the commitment several years to convert its bus fleet from diesel to compressed natural gas. Working with PG&E, Reiders office constructed a CNG fueling facility that is used by schools and other agencies. The CNG facility, at Union and Terrace Avenues, just south of Highway 58, also serves the general public.

And a class operated in Tehachapi is training students to be wind power technicians.

In thanking PG&E for its "investment in our children," Kern County Superintendent of Schools Larry E. Reider said, "Partnerships for kids are the best partnerships we can have."


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