(JURUPA VALLEY) – Today, Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes and Senator Richard D. Roth welcomed Tesla to Jurupa Valley High School’s Innovation Center. Engineers and representatives of the automaker spoke to students about their work with the hopes of inspiring them to seek out careers in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). Students also had the opportunity to visit stations exhibiting Tesla’s solar energy, battery storage, and electric vehicles.
Automation and the digital revolution are guiding the future of California’s workforce. California has more STEM entry-level jobs than any other state and the demand for these jobs will only continue to rise.
“In order to prepare for the jobs of tomorrow, it is critical that we continue to encourage our students, especially young women, to pursue careers in the STEM fields. These are quality, high-paying jobs that will move California forward,” said Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes (D-Corona). “I thank Tesla for joining us at Jurupa Valley High School to provide our students with a better understanding of the career paths taken by those in the industry. It is my hope that through our partnership, we were able to inspire our students to consider a future in these fields that are so crucial to the 21st Century workforce.”
“We must do more to ensure our young people have the 21st century skill set they need to thrive in a digital world,” said Senator Richard D. Roth (D-Riverside). “To remain the most innovative state in the nation, we must win the fight for a skilled and technologically competent labor force. That can happen if we show students the value of a STEM-based education by marrying the state’s education system and employment opportunities, which is what Jurupa Valley High School and Tesla have done today.”
Nearly half of the U.S. workforce is female, with roughly 60 percent of bachelor’s degrees being earned by women. However, in STEM fields women represent only 24 percent of the workforce.
“Supporting female STEM students, who will hopefully become the engineers of our state’s very bright future, is essential if California wants to keep out-innovating and out-building the rest of the world,” said Senator Roth. “As Assemblymember Cervantes and I know very well, Inland Southern California is ready to help lead our state in this tech revolution.”
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Sabrina Cervantes proudly represents the 60th District of the California State Assembly, which encompasses the communities of Corona, Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, Norco, and a portion of the City of Riverside.