“When I was a kid, I was in a program that taught block coding from scratch. It opened my eyes to the world of engineering. In eighth grade, I saw a presentation about the CCAP-STEM Academy and how it can help kids that want to go to college for engineering. I immediately signed up,” said Gerardo Garcia, a DVC student interested in a career in mechanical engineering.
The College and Career Access Pathway for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (CCAP-STEM) Academy is a dual enrollment partnership between Mt. Diablo Unified School District (MDUSD) and DVC, based at Ygnacio Valley High School. Students focused on entering an engineering pathway are able to earn college credits from DVC while in high school.
While acknowledging that the classes were challenging, Garcia really enjoyed his experience.
“It was really fun because I was part of a community of students who were passionate about engineering just like me. It was almost like a second family at school,” said Garcia.
CCAP-STEM Academy students take at least one college course per semester during all four years of high school.
“They start with College & Career Readiness courses and continue with a mix of hands-on and academic-focused courses. By the time they graduate high school, students in this program complete at least 12 units of college coursework that can be applied to a Certificate or Associate degree at DVC, used for transfer to a 4-year university, or can be directly applied to a career in this field,” said Sarah Peterson, Manager of Early College Credit at DVC.
Students can also enroll in optional summer career academies as well as an internship that earns work experience credits at DVC.
“I participated in everything I could, including the summer career academies. I also interned at two civil engineering firms,” said Garcia.
Garcia enrolled in additional DVC classes beyond what was required for the CCAP-STEM program, further propelling him towards his future in mechanical engineering. Upon graduating from high school, he enrolled at DVC full-time. He plans to earn his associate in science in mechanical engineering, and then transfer to pursue a bachelor’s degree.
“I accumulated 26 college credits just from the CCAP-STEM Academy, plus the additional credits I earned from other DVC classes I completed while in high school. I’m so grateful for the opportunities I’ve had through the program,” said Garcia.
Garcia’s mother, Cristina Jacobo, encourages parents to enroll their teens in the CCAP-STEM program, or other dual enrollment programs that earn college credits. She says it will help them plan for their future.
“The CCAP program helped Gerardo to prepare for his entry to college. His father and I are so proud of him, and we look to him as an example for his brother Omar. Gerardo has shown so much dedication to his studies and his future career in engineering,” said Jacobo.
How Does the CCAP-STEM Academy Work?
“The CCAP-STEM Academy is open to all MDUSD students interested in enrolling in college courses while in high school. The classes are held on campus at Ygnacio Valley High School, and then as students work towards graduation, they attend classes at DVC’s Pleasant Hill campus,” said Hilary Shen, Program Coordinator for the CCAP-STEM Academy at Ygnacio Valley High School.
Parents interested in enrolling their students into the program can reach out to Shen at hshen@dvc.edu, or they can connect with their child’s school counselor.
CCAP-STEM Academy Classes
Students participating in the CCAP-STEM Academy are able to enroll in several dual enrollment classes during their time in high school. Available classes include:
- College and Career Readiness I
- College and Career Readiness II
- Introduction to Technical Drawing
- Mathematics for Technicians
- Machining and Manufacturing I
- Machining and Manufacturing II
- Introduction to Programming
- Technology and Society
- Optional: Summer Career Academies at DVC
- Optional: Internship
Tuition and books are free for program participants. Students also receive a range of supports, including academic counseling, tutoring, work-based learning opportunities, skill development, and exposure to industry.
“Students in this program have an opportunity to graduate with up to 28 units of college credits from DVC – all transferrable to CSU and/or UC campuses – with no tuition or book fees. In addition, students can enroll in one of DVC’s summer career academies, participate in a work experience internship, or select from other DVC classes through the regular summer schedule,” said Shen.
Peterson encourages parents to help their children understand the benefits of programs that enable them to earn college credits while in high school.
“The CCAP-STEM Academy is just one of the amazing dual enrollment opportunities that DVC offers for local high school students to earn college credit! We currently offer CCAP programs with three high school districts and one charter school and are planning to expand to additional districts in 2025-2026. We also offer high school articulation and concurrent enrollment programs serving over 3000 students annually,” said Peterson.
Get Started Early on Your STEM Career
Adriel Malapote enrolled in the CCAP-STEM Academy to earn college credits while in high school.
“Before hearing about the academy, I didn’t even know that dual enrollment existed, or that advanced classes were an option for me. The STEM side of the program really opened my eyes to what was possible. It was a good challenge, and pushed me out of my comfort zone,” said Malapote.
Like Garcia, Malapote enjoyed participating in the summer career academies and internships.
“The summer career academies were fun and enabled me to learn new skills like laser cutting and computer aided design (CAD), and introduced me to computer numeric control (CNC) machines,” said Malapote.
Malapote interned with the Advanced Mobility Group.
“During my internship, I was exposed to different aspects of civil engineering. I learned how stoplights operate, and how the timing of lights and road design affects the overall driving experience,” said Malapote.
In 2024, the first cohort of CCAP-STEM Academy students graduated from the program.
“We had several graduating seniors who earned college credits through the CCAP-STEM Academy. Seventeen students earned 12 or more college credits, with most earning 18 or more credits,” said Shen.
The overwhelming majority of academy graduates are continuing their education, with most pursuing a career within a STEM field.
“I completed the CCAP-STEM Academy as part of cohort 1 and earned 25 college credits through the program. After graduation, I enrolled at DVC as a full-time student and I’m also serving as a teaching assistant for an Introduction to CNC class. I would like to explore career opportunities in engineering and machining,” said Malapote.
Malapote highly recommends that students consider participating in the CCAP-STEM Academy.
“The program prepares you for the workload of college and helps reduce the number of STEM classes you need to take later in college. It also provides a solid foundation for entering STEM fields. You finish faster, and save on tuition costs,” said Malapote.
To learn more about opportunities for earning college credit while in high school, visit High School Programs.
Why Enroll in the CCAP-STEM Program?
- Earn transferrable college credits while still in high school
- Free tuition and books
- Access to academic counseling and tutoring
- Work-based learning opportunities
- Exposure to industry, with internship opportunities
