The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach has become a staple event in the Long Beach community, with meaningful ties to the Long Beach City College Career Technical Education (CTE) Program.
The CTE Program assists many departments and majors by providing grants and industry connections.
This will be the CTE Program’s third year sponsoring the Grand Prix, the event has helped to raise awareness of the program’s presence at LBCC.
“Enrollments in our programs have gone way up and I know the Grand Prix has a lot to do with it,” Gene Carbonaro said, CTE Director.
One of the biggest upsides to CTE is that it’s a tight-knit community where students often take classes together and build unique relationships with their professors.
“I think that’s what CTE builds is communities of students and faculty,” Carbonaro said.
Another direct connection that the Grand Prix has is its connection to the Automotive Technology Program, which the CTE Program is extensively involved in.
The Automotive Technology department has grown especially well since CTE became a Grand Prix sponsor.
Through watching the Grand Prix, attendees become interested in learning about cars and the role that LBCC plays as a sponsor.
CTE also runs a booth and sends students to the Grand Prix to help promote the program.
“We have three days and ten students each day market their programs at our tables,” Carbonaro said.
The Long Beach Grand Prix brings together many communities in Long Beach, it’s only fitting that LBCC serves a large role.
“For us to partner with Long Beach City College means a great deal because this event is a city and community event and wraps itself around all the various activities that take place around the city,” Jim Michaelian said, President of the Long Beach Grand Prix.
The Long Beach Grand Prix will take place from Apr. 19 to Apr. 21 and will once again feature LBCC as a sponsor.