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Vital Link of Orange County


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2012 Career Exploration Program Schedule

Please check on availability with Vital Link office prior to registering.

Vital Link Mobile Career Exploration Exhibits

Career Exploration Mobile Exhibits will visit over 25 school sites and will feature three industry sectors including Medical/Biomedical Engineering, Transportation/Engineering and Design, and Environmental Design/Civil Engineering.  Students will experience interactive and dynamic activities and obtain resources to explore career options and make education connections.

Dates:  Various Dates
Time:  9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Attendees:  Students from schools throughout Orange County
Cost:  Contact the Vital Link Office
Production Partner:  United Way Destination Graduation

Click here to contact us to register for this event


Teaching Kids to Program

Students will learn about programmers and what it takes to enter into this creative and in demand industry. By the end of the program the students will have created their own project and learned some important programming skills.

Date: 10 Monthly Tours
Location:  Orange County Department of Education Computer Lab
Attendees:  15-20 students per session

Click here to contact us to register for this event


STEM and DMA Showcase April 2012

This is a must attend event for students who are interested in exploring careers in the STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) and Digital Media Arts fields. The Showcase will include:

- Vital Link Career Exploration Exhibits (Medical, Transportation, Environmental Design, and Engineering)
- Student science and engineering displays
- STEM Digital Media Arts Competition displays
- Community College exhibits and displays
- Industry Exhibits - mobile labs, trucks, and demonstration areas
- Robotics Competition - Teams competing with student designed robots
- Energy Invitational auto competition static judging - Display alternative fuel vehicles designed and built by University and High School student teams as well as alternative fuel auto manufacturers
- Job Recruitment area - STEM related non-profits will have exhibit booths to share information about volunteer and paid positions within their organizations

Date: April 13,14 & 15, 2012
Time: 9 to 3 Friday, 10 to 5 Saturday and Sunday
Location: Orange County Fairgrounds and Event Center
Attendees: Orange County students and their families
Cost: No Charge
Production partners: Orange County Department of Education, Go Engineering, Solidworks, OC Fair & Event Center, The Reactor Institute, PBS So Cal, OCABA, OCBC, Int’l Game Developers Assoc., IEEE, Blizzard Entertainment, Cisco, So Cal Gas Co., State Street, 4th District PTA,One OC, United Way, American Career College,UCI, West Coast University and more.

Click here to contact us to register for this event.


Design Build Competition

Construction teams compete to build a project of their choice.

Date: April 14 & 15, 2012
Time: Saturday and Sunday
Location: Orange County Fairgrounds and Exposition Center
Attendee Count: 15 Team (max 15 members per team)
Cost: No Charge
Production partner: Home Builders Council

Click here to contact us to register for this event


Tustin USD College Day

Students will have an opportunity to learn about college options available to them in Orange County. 
Date: June 1, 2012 
Location: Foothill High School


Digital Media Arts Career Exploration Day

See the creative process used in the industry to develop Animation and Game Design projects, Architectural design presentations, web sites, graphic design literature and the creation of 3D models through the use of the most current computer technology.

Date: February 1, 2012    
Time:  9:30am to 1:00 pm
Location:  Costa Mesa Community Center, 1845 Park Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Attendee Count: 400 students

Lunch:  available $8.00 (optional)
Production Partner: TBD

Click here to contact us to register for this event


Medical Careers in Action

Feel the energy of the emergency and operating rooms of a hospital when professionals reenact an emergency laparoscopic surgery procedure.  Talk to the doctors, nurses and support personnel who work in the hospital.

Date: March 28, 2012    
Time:  9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Location:  Saddleback Memorial Medical Center, 24451 Health Center Dr., Laguna Hills, CA 92653
Attendee Count: 300
Cost:  $7.50 per person registration
Lunch:  available $8.00 (optional)
Production Partner: Saddleback Memorial Medical Center

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UCI Surgical Training Center

Students will have a hands-on experience using training modules, including laparoscopic trainers, a da Vinci robot trainer and the latest in surgical simulators. Students will have lunch with residents, medical students and resident physicians to learn more about the path to a career in medicine or biotechnology. Call to see if your school qualifies; each Orange County High School attends once.

Monthly tours Contact the Vital Link office for the schedule

Time:  9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Capacity: 20 students per tour
Location: UCI School of Medicine, Dept. of Urology

Lunch: Provided
Production partner: UCI Dept of Urology

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EON Reality

Enter the world of virtual 3D. Experience how 3D content is being created and used in industry.  The interactive world of 3D will be at your fingertips as you stand in the “CAVE” and the digital world is created around you.  Becoming a content developer is one of the newest and most creative careers.


Location:  EON Reality, 39 Parker St., Suite 100,
Irvine, CA 92618
Capacity:    60 students total

Lunch: Provided
Production Partner:  EON Reality

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Trig Star/Surveyors Challenge

Participate in one or both of the competitions in this exciting, information-filled Saturday event.

TrigStar Competition
Trigonometry students can enter the national TrigStar competition and use their math skills to win cash prizes and be eligible to move on to the state and national competition level.

Surveying Competition
Learn about surveying in a hands-on competition on a surveying obstacle course. 
Win prizes and recognition for being a winner. Students who have not yet taken trigonometry can participate in the Surveying Competition.

Date:  TBD   
Time:  9:30 am to 1:00 pm
Location: Santiago Canyon College
Attendee Count: 350 students

Production Partner:  California Land Surveyor’s Association, Santiago Canyon College

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Student in Business Day

Students meet and ask career related questions of mentors in the fields that interest them.

Date: 04/19/12
Attendee Count: 150 students (Fountain Valley High Schools Only)

b>Breakfast:
Provided
Production Partners: Fountain Valley Chamber of Commerce

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Robotics Competition

Bring your own Robot and challenge other clubs in timed matches and obstacle courses!

Win prizes and recognition as a competitor.

Competition Date:  04/14/12 
Time: 9:00 to 3:00 pm
Location:  STEM Showcase Bldg 10 OC Fair & Event Center
Attendee Count:  250 students
Cost:  Contact the Vital Link office for cost
Production Partner:  North Orange County Community College District

Click here to contact us to register for this event