Using Cutting-Edge Technology to Take Farming to the Next Level

Farming and drones might not sound like two things that would ever go together, but a program at West Hills College Coalinga (WHC) is preparing students to use this cutting-edge technology to take farming to the next level.

Through funding from the Advanced Transportation and Renewable Energy Sector (ATRE), WHC received Phantom 2 and Phantom 4 drones for its Precision Agriculture program, which also includes instruction in GIS software, automated tractor systems, and other technologies that are being used to change the way farming is done across California.

Terry Brase, an instructor in the Precision Agriculture program, supervised a group of students using Phantom 2 drones to fly over a pistachio orchard. The students guided the drones over the orchard and then loaded the images into Maps Made Easy software to view.

Read More →

Local High School Students Compete in Skills Competitions, Win Prizes Donated by Industry Partners

By Rio Hondo College CTE Division

The Rio Hondo College Career and Technical Education Division recently hosted its first Automotive Skills Competition/Mini-Career Day for high school students. The successful event welcomed more than 100 students from six local high schools accompanied by their Automotive Instructors. Read More →

Enrollment rates in four-year colleges declining as young adults join labor force earlier

Image courtesy of The Sacramento Bee

By Greg Hadley, The Sacramento Bee

For years, the idea of going to college, getting a degree and parlaying that into a stable career was widely accepted as the best possible route for most young people in America.

Now, that might no longer be the case. Read More →

Two Miramar Students Recruited by Delta Air Lines for Paid Internships

San Diego Miramar College airframe and powerplant student Genevieve Cindrich landed an internship with Delta Airlines in San Diego. Cindrich is helping restore a warbird in this photo. Photos courtesy of Genevieve Cindrich.

By David Tulis, AOPA

Two aviation maintenance students from San Diego Miramar College’s airframe and powerplant program are gaining valuable experience wrenching on the big iron after learning their trade in a challenging five-semester program.

Tevin Nixon was the school’s first student to land a paid internship with Delta Air Lines at its San Diego facility, paving the way for Genevieve Cindrich, who is entering her third weekend on the overnight shift at Delta while balancing schoolwork during the week. Read More →

California Leads Top 10 States in Adding New Solar Capacity

From Renewable Energy World on January 16, 2017

The U.S. added over 25,000 MW of new generation capacity in 2016, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Monthly Electric Generator Inventory report. Solar capacity additions reached a new record of 7,568 MW, more than double 2015 additions of 3,384. Solar capacity by state varied significantly as detailed in the analysis below.

As a percentage of total capacity, solar increased from 18 percent in 2015 to 30 percent in 2016. Note that the data includes actual additions through October with the last two months of the year based on planned additions. Of the 2016 renewable additions, nearly 60 percent were scheduled to come online during the fourth quarter. Renewable capacity additions are often highest in the final months of the year, primarily due to the timing qualifications for federal, state, or local tax incentives. Read More →

Drone Used to Enhance Public Safety in Variety of Situations

Drone Used to Enhance Public Safety in Variety of Situations

From Unmanned Aerial on January 13, 2017

Now approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) is bringing on board an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to be used in what it calls “dangerous, hostile and life-saving operations.”

At a special press conference, Sheriff Jim McDonnell explained that the drone will be used in situations such as search and rescue (SAR), explosive ordnance detection, hazardous materials incidents, disaster response, arson fires, hostage rescue, and barricaded or armed suspects, according to a press release from the LASD. Specifically, the UAS will be assigned to the Special Enforcement Bureau. Read More →