Baldwin Park Unified juniors from Baldwin Park, North Park and Sierra Vista high schools will embark on an educational trip to the California State Capital in Sacramento this summer, thanks to a generous donation from the City of Baldwin Park’s financial assistance program.
Thirty-two BPUSD juniors will receive a full-guided tour of the State Capital from Monday, June 12 through Thursday, June 15. The sponsored trip will include airfare, transportation, hotel accommodations, meals and a full-time tour director.
The City of Baldwin Park’s sponsored field trip was developed in partnership with the City and District to provide BPUSD students with additional field trip opportunities to increase student access to engaging and life-changing learning experiences.
Baldwin Park’s City Council approved the allocation of $120,000 for the Field Trips Financial Assistance Program earlier this year.
The 2023 tour was organized with an emphasis on academic-neutral criteria for eligibility. An extensive application and selection process took place before students were chosen to participate.
“When this amazing opportunity first happened, we reached out to our school home liaisons and administrators at the three high schools, and we created a video and slide show for juniors to learn about the trip and eligibility requirements,” Teacher on Special Assignment Jennie Wideman said.
High school juniors were required to fill out an application, create a vision board based on the prompt “What do you hope to gain from the Sacramento education tour?” and deliver an oral presentation to a panel of BPUSD educators and administrators.
“During the oral presentations, tears were shed – not just by students but by the panel. It was the most rewarding experience,” Wideman said. “Students revealed their hearts and their individual interests, their hopes for the trip and their hopes for the future, as well as how they saw this opportunity influencing their future. The depth and heart blew us away.”
The group of students set to travel to Sacramento this summer were recognized during a Baldwin Park Unified Board of Education meeting on March 28 and a City of Baldwin Park City Council meeting on April 5.
“We are extremely grateful to the City of Baldwin Park for providing the resources for this trip and for being partners in educating Baldwin Park Unified students,” Superintendent Dr. Froilan Mendoza said. “This is an exciting opportunity for our high school juniors, and when they return we cannot wait to see how they motivate and empower their peers across BPUSD campuses.”
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BPUSD_Sacramento Trip: Thirty-two Baldwin Park High School juniors were recognized during a Board of Education meeting on March 28 for being selected to represent the District and City of Baldwin Park on an educational tour of Sacramento this summer, made possible by the City’s Field Trips Financial Assistance Program.