Inyo County 10th-grade students experience college!

On November 6th and 7th, 120 students and 13 chaperones from Inyo County visited Bakersfield and San Luis Obispo, California to tour Cal State Bakersfield, Cal Poly State University SLO, and Cuesta Community College. The goal of this overnight field trip is to expose students to post-secondary education and subsequent opportunities. One student shared, “I would recommend the trip for other sophomores as the trip lets small town kids see what bigger areas have to provide and what the daily life in college could look like out there. This trip also gives 10th graders a chance to see what opportunities they have in life, even with limited resources.” This field trip is the last in a series that introduces students to postsecondary education in an effort to help guide high school education decisions.

Students and chaperones departed Inyo County on the morning of November 6th and arrived in Bakersfield at the Runner Cafe dining hall to experience lunch as a “college student”. In the afternoon, students were led by student tour guides to all of the main department buildings on campus, student housing, and the recreational facilities. The tour guides were very informative and students shared that they really appreciated getting the opportunity to see the inside of a furnished dorm room. After a stop at the Student Union and bookstore, students departed Bakersfield for San Luis Obispo. They arrived in San Luis Obispo at 5:30 to enjoy Woodstock’s pizza for dinner and the San Luis Obispo Farmers Market. On November 7th, students toured the Cal Poly SLO campus, where the students had the opportunity to hear from Inyo graduates attending school at Cal Poly, Cuesta, or are employed locally: Meghanna Westervelt (BUHS ’25), Mylee Patton (LPHS ’25), Rylee Arcularis (BUHS ’22), Jacee Carpenter (BUHS ’22), Riley Eropkin (BUHS ’23), Owen Hildenbrand (BUHS ’22), and Nora Cimino (BUHS ’19). “I liked the Q&A on the bleachers at Cal Poly the most because I really liked getting information from the point of view of students. It educated me very well about their dorm situations,” said one student. The Cal Poly Ag Ambassadors led the guided tour of campus, sharing specific information about the College of Agriculture, but also sharing general information about various departments and campus life. At the end of the tour, students experienced their second dining hall, Vista Grande, for lunch. After visiting El Corral Bookstore, students departed for an afternoon tour at Cuesta Community College nearby. Tour guides shared information about Cuesta’s wide variety of courses, certificates, and vocational programs, as well as the process for a transfer student wanting to attend Cal Poly. Additional information was shared regarding financial aid. The tour ended with a trip to their art exhibit. After an action-packed two days, students arrived home Friday evening.

This opportunity was made possible by the Inyo County Office of Education with support from Bishop, Big Pine, Owens Valley, and Lone Pine schools. ICOE extends sincere gratitude to Joey Kinberg, Sarah Grable, Kristina Oswald, Piper McGuire, Jae No, Mike States, Sunny Cerón, Erik Forsman, Christie Nesbit, Alice Bruck, Mina Garcia, Stephanie Perez, Jocelyn Palacios, BUHS Link Crew leaders, Alissa Brooks, and Pat Slee who served as chaperones and drivers during this trip. Additionally, ICOE appreciates all of the support from Cal State Bakersfield, Cal Poly SLO and Cuesta College staff that welcomed Inyo County students onto their campuses. As 2026 approaches, Inyo County sophomores will have this experience to help guide them with future college and career planning.