Robin Donovan of the El Capitan Hotel honors vocational student Angela Vasquez.
Capitan Hotel was full of smiles for last Wednesday’s ceremony.
One of the promises the El Capitan Hotel made when they came to Merced was that they would create jobs and give back to the community.
Last week, they proved that they intended to make good on that promise. The hotel, along with the Merced County Office of Education (MCOE), held a graduation ceremony in their courtyard to congratulate the inaugural class of students in their special needs vocational program.
This was the first time a program like this was attempted. It consisted of 18 students, ages 18-22, who are in the MCOE Special Education Transition Center in Merced. It lasted a full academic year, with students going to the hotel three to four times a week for shifts lasting roughly two hours. The success of the program is all the more impressive considering there were few similar classes to model it after.
“We are one of the few in the United States of America,” said Robin Donovan, the director of the El Capitan Hotel. “This program does not exist in a lot of places.”
The partnership with MCOE is part of El Capitan’s community promise, focused on positively impacting Merced, particularly in education, employment and economic development and highlights the significance role vocational programs play in fostering inclusive work environments.
These students traditionally do receive vocational training in the classroom setting; however, this program brought students with their instructors into the hotel to work with staff to develop skills that can be utilized for hospitality jobs. The skills learned have applications both at home and work, and some students are even being considered for employment at the hotel when they have aged out of the school program.
Wednesday’s ceremony allowed hotel staff, educators, students, and families to come together and celebrate the student’s completion of the program. Students cheered enthusiastically for each other as they accepted their certificates. Everyone involved seemed to agree that the program was a great success.
“When they learn these skills that they can transfer, it’s just wonderful,” said Dr. Laura Fong, the assistant superintendent of special education for MCOE. “To have partners like this is just great. And the students love them so much.”