The Taft College Foundation in a partnership with the Taft College Foundation Petroleum Partners is proud to announce the launch of a new event that will give Taft College’s top graduates the opportunity to network, meet and learn from local industry and community leaders. The 2018 Taft College Grad Summit will be held at the Seven Oaks Country Club on Saturday, May 12. The exclusive event is by invitation only. Guests include 100 of Taft College’s top GPA graduating STEM students, local industry and academic leaders, community organization experts and more. 

“The purpose of our GRAD summit is designed to invite the top students who excel in Engineering, Allied Health and other STEM degrees that will be graduating this year to an inspirational gathering of mentors, alum, business and industry partners to network about life, career, education and more,” says Sheri Horn-Bunk, Taft College Foundation, Executive Director.

The evening will begin at 4:30 p.m. in a comfortable setting to enjoy hors d’oeuvres, and beverages with networking, meeting industry partners, Taft College Alumni and Academic Leaders.  At 5:45 p.m. we have an inspiring line-up of young Taft College Alumni who will speak about their success, struggles and how they have persevered.

We have Alum who work locally and will speak from PG&E, CRC, Western States Petroleum Association, Aera Energy, Chevron, CSU Bakersfield, and many more.  We also have a special message from our most famous Alum, Dante Scarnecchia, the New England Patriots Assistant Head Coach.

“We are very proud of the many Taft College graduates that live locally and contribute as excellent employees to our Kern County industries. These graduates not only participate in our economy as employees but also as community members and participants in the local economy,” says WKCCD Superintendent/President, Dr. Deb Daniels.

The Taft College Foundation and the Taft College Foundation Petroleum Partners has been working to bridge the gap between academia and the needs of local industry since its inception in 2013 after the acclaimed West Kern Petroleum Summit, the foundation has built a strong network that has since developed scholarships, mentorships and internships for Taft College students.