Program graduates learn the ropes

Marisa O’Neil

They learn how to edit videotapes, bake a mean tart and even save a

life before they graduate from high school.

Tonight, 70 of the best students from the Coastline Regional

Occupational Program will receive honors for their excellence and

achievement. The program offers vocational courses to Orange County

students in 75 different career areas.

“These are students who are really focused scholars,” program

coordinator Robin Sinclair said. “In some cases they already know

what career they want to go into. Others are just testing the waters

and getting their feet wet before they go to college.”

The program serves students from 25 Orange County high schools.

Nine from Newport-Mesa are receiving awards tonight for their work in

classes ranging from cosmetology to 3D media design.

Classes offered throughout the Coastline program include pastry

baking, financial services, crime scene investigation and sports

medicine. Most of the classes are late in the day so students coming

from other schools can attend the courses.

Students like Costa Mesa High School senior Francisco Severiano

learn skills in the vocational programs that can help prepare them

for their chosen career paths. Television and video teacher Chuck

Schubert nominated his student for tonight’s honors.

“Francisco’s my right-hand man,” Schubert said.

Francisco started out four years ago making skate videos. Now he

helps do the programming for Comcast channel 26 and plans to go to

college for video editing.

“All my experience will help me become a professional editor,”

Francisco said.

Many students in the occupational programs take the courses to get

their feet wet and get a jump start on college, as well as pay for

it, said Costa Mesa High School’s program coordinator Michelle

Mendenhall.

“They can get well-paying jobs when they’re in college,”

Mendenhall said. “As we say, ‘ROP skills pay college bills.’”

Jake Mackey, a senior at Newport Harbor High School, is getting

recognition for his work in the first responder and emergency medical

technician classes. He hopes to follow in the footsteps of his

mother, who started working as a paramedic last year.

But for Mackey, success in the class comes more easily because

it’s something he’s wanted to do for years.

“I like doing it,” he said. “I enjoy going to class.”

Other Newport-Mesa students receiving honors tonight are Jillian

Sacco from Back Bay High School, Corissa Converse and Vanessa Valdes

from Corona del Mar High School, Ashley Hamilton and Bernadette David

from Costa Mesa High School, Linda Chong from Estancia High School

and Gena Paulhus from Monte Vista High School.