On Friday, June 11, CAST Tech High School will celebrate its first graduating class with an evening ceremony at Alamo Stadium. The pomp and circumstance will be in-person as well as live streamed.
To highlight the milestone moment and to continue the camaraderie of its tightknit cohort, the tech-focused campus is launching an alumni support system and expanded mentoring programs that will last beyond the graduates’ senior year. Known as the CAST Alumni Network, the Greater Texas Foundation is providing $270,000 to help students successfully navigate decisions along the path through college, career and life.
“CAST students have explored career options in high school and can continue that growth with guidance from a mentor and resources from this new alumni program,” said Greater Texas Foundation President & CEO Sue McMillin. “We’re proud to support an innovative model that is gaining national attention and demonstrating results.”
Principal Melissa Alcala, who has been at the helm since CAST Tech opened four years ago, is excited to witness the school’s first graduating class.
“The CAST Alumni is the final piece of our school model," Alcala said. "We have provided a platform to keep our graduates connected to each other and us. This will allow students to maintain their friendships while developing a professional/collegiate network with graduates from CAST schools. At the same time, the connection to our graduates informs our practices as we continue to evolve and adjust to best ensure our students our future ready.”
Students have told her how lucky they feel to be at the school. Many of them worked hard to be here and will see their hard work pay off.
An impressive 70 percent of CAST Tech students will be attending a four-year college and will be able to take advantage of the alumni network as they transition to college. The mentorship program will also help bridge students into their post-secondary studies and careers.
To date, CAST Tech seniors cumulatively have earned more than $5 million in scholarships. Additionally, the students have been awarded more than 137 certifications, with 118 on the industry-based certification list, offering the potential for well-paying jobs immediately after graduation.
“At CAST Schools, we support our students in their chosen path, be it going to college, to the workforce, the military, or a combination of those approaches,” said CAST Schools Executive Director Jeanne Russell. “Bringing our CAST students together as an alumni network and maintaining their connections to key industry partners, allows them to support one another even as they continue to grow their professional networks.”
The announcement came on the heels of Senior Day for the school’s 133 seniors that included final prep for their future, like participating in mock interviews, workshops, team building, and finalizing their LinkedIn profiles. Funding from the Greater Texas Foundation will help CAST Schools create a toolkit to support its student-centric advising model. In addition to the Alumni Network, other new initiatives include College Days, a Parent Academy, and an annual student survey. This work is designed to give students greater ownership so they make informed choices about their futures, encouraging them to think about life in a more thoughtful way.