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OAI Collective Innovator:

Parker Davidson | Mechanical Engineering

Department:

Career Center

Project Title:

Updated Resume Examples for the Career Center

Project Description:

This project focuses on updating Career Center resume samples to better align with current industry standards. It incorporates VMock, input from career coaches, and NACE competencies to ensure content is relevant and aligned with employer expectations. These updates also contribute to the enhancement of the Career Center website by improving the quality, accessibility, and relevance of online resume resources for students. As part of this process, existing samples were reviewed, areas for improvement were identified, and updated examples were developed to reflect best practices in formatting, bullet development, and skill alignment. Resume samples were also created for specific majors and colleges to provide diverse, representative examples for CPP students. These samples are designed to reflect graduating seniors and help students understand the experiences and skills they can build throughout their time at CPP. The goal of the project is to provide clear, high-quality resources that support students in creating

NACE Career Competency Reflection:

This project helped me build real-world skills and prepare for your future career by working with other Career Advisors of each college to give me insight on what kinds of majors look for what kinds of career paths. It has also helped me by giving me the opportunity to take the initiative to lead my own project.

OAI Collective Innovator:

Stella Faas | Applied Mathematics

Department:

Student Innovation Idea Labs

Project Title:

S.A.A.M. Somewhat Advanced Autonomous Machine

Project Description:

To make an affordable scale model of TARS from interstellar with a completed developed AI. The purpose is for us on the team to learn new techniques in robotics, coding, electronics, AI, and project management. It was also to develop a system of moving rotational points on a robotic limb.

By taking on tasks I was scared to and that I thought may be beyond my knowledge I learned that I having confidence in you're abilities is important. I also learned on this job that being available to learn new techniques and help out is important. Very much the feeling of "I don't know now but I can if you need me to."

NACE Career Competency Reflection:

Based on this experience. I am more prepared to communicate my idea to people outside of my field and scope of knowledge.

OAI Collective Innovator:

Luis Garcia | Mechanical Engineering

Department:

Student Innovation Idea Labs

Project Title:

Innovation Orchard Revitalization

Project Description:

The revitalization of the Innovation Orchard is ensuring the tools and space is available to use. The purpose was to help assist students and faculty with projects that require more manufacturing techniques involving woodworking, engineering materials, and advanced tools compared to our other sites. It is currently still under construction but it is aimed to help students benefit as well as faculty in projects and larger equipment they would otherwise have to pay to use elsewhere.

NACE Career Competency Reflection:

Because of this experience, I am more prepared to lead a team, be a team player, be more technical, and a better version myself since I joined OAI.

OAI Collective Innovator:

Lidia Guiterrez | Visual Communication Design

Department:

Office of Academic Innovation

Project Title:

Pomona in Color

Project Description:

Research-based 15-minute documentary that tells the story of Pomona’s transformation from a historic rail and agricultural hub into a thriving arts district. It attempts to reveal how creativity, resilience, and community activism reshaped a city and redefined its cultural identity.

I researched the history of Pomona from its 1837 land grant to the present, focusing on its influence on the public arts community. I conducted fieldwork, interviewed local artists and community members, and used archival sources to support my findings.

A key challenge was analyzing and condensing a large amount of information into a clear, engaging 15-minute documentary while also making it visually compelling. As a result, I produced a cohesive narrative that effectively communicated Pomona’s historical and artistic development to an audience that was also visually engaging.

NACE Career Competency Reflection:

Because of this experience, I am more prepared to conduct in-depth research, strengthen my journalism skills, and Æðµã´«Ã½ technical skills to effectively communicate complex stories to an audience. Not to mention, this project helped sharpen my technical skills as a designer.

OAI Collective Innovator:

Heidi Hsu | Management & Human Resources

Department:

Career Center

Project Title:

Handshake Collections Project

Project Description:

This project focuses on developing targeted job and internship collections in Handshake to better support students in the College of Engineering (ENG) and the College of Education and Integrative Studies (CEIS). As part of this process, we collaborated with career coaches from both colleges, evaluated trends from daily student drop-ins, and identified the types of opportunities students were actively seeking. Using this information, we created customized, industry-aligned collections tailored to each college’s needs. These collections are designed to simplify the job and internship search process by organizing relevant opportunities in a more accessible and user-friendly way. The goal of this project is to help students efficiently find and Æðµã´«Ã½ to roles that align with their academic background and career interests, ultimately increasing engagement with Handshake and supporting overall career readiness. 

NACE Career Competency Reflection:

Working on the Handshake Collections project through Handshake helped me build practical skills related to talent sourcing, workforce research, and early-career recruiting. As a Human Resources major, I gained experience identifying relevant internship, part-time, and full-time opportunities aligned with specific academic programs and career paths. This project strengthened my understanding of how HR professionals connect talent with employers and support effective recruitment strategies.

OAI Collective Innovator:

Nathaniel Kwan | Computer and Electrical Engineering

Department:

Student Innovation Idea Labs

Project Title:

Soldering Workshop DIY Ornaments

Project Description:

The Soldering Workshop taught students the basics and safety rules of soldering. Soldering involves an extremely hot piece tool that can burn your skin in an instant, so learning the safety of soldering for yourself, others, and belongings is a crucial step to learning how to solder. By learning this skill, students would be able to assemble their own circuit boards for any electrical circuit they want, whether that be on a prototype board or a custom-made Printed Circuit Board (PCB). Once the students became comfortable with soldering, they were then given a DIY Ornament soldering kit to build their own blinking ornament that they were able to take home.

Through coordinating inventory needs, I was able to strengthen both my communication and teamwork skills. Also, even when we were faced with the problem of missing soldering irons, we were able to manage by buying soldering irons from a nearby hardware store. This experience helped me improve in time management, inventory management, communication, and quick and critical thinking.

NACE Career Competency Reflection:

Because of this experience, I am more prepared to speak in front of others and organize events.

OAI Collective Innovator:

Sumin Lee | Visual Communication Design

Department:

Office of Academic Innovation

Project Title:

AKA Musique Case Study

Project Description:

A case study in my involvement with AKA Musique, a local music collective rooted in art, music, and community. Our collective creates a safe space to foster, amplify, and connect with creatives in our community. By organizing events and placing myself at the forefront of our projects, I am able to propose ideas that puts diversity and inclusion first. At every show, artists from LA/OC/IE are able to network with each other. Intentionality led us to having a fundraiser show that raised money for immigrant families affected by ICE. What once started as working with friends allowed me to seek further career development in the music industry all while honing in on my leadership skills with my collective.

My podcast team and I went to Echo Park Lake to film an episode without location scouting first. We were trying to find a good spot to film, a place where it won't be a disturbance to the public while having good scenery. I suggested we get on the swan boats to film the episode and the video turned out to become one of the most unique podcast videos. By experimenting and having the courage to step outside the box, we learned how to creatively solve a problem.

NACE Career Competency Reflection:

Because of this experience, I am more prepared to research for the details before a project starts.

OAI Collective Innovator:

Jose Ramirez | Management and Human Resources

Department:

Student Innovation Idea Labs

Project Title:

Maker Studio Revitalization

Project Description:

My project has it's roots at SIIL within its many spaces and how being so hands-on has given me the chance to grow as a professional and a person.

The Maker Studio is the flagship of Student Innovation Idea Labs; it is a makerspace open to all Æðµã´«Ã½ students. Since its founding in 2019, it has grown steadily, with major progress in the past year through more staff, new and upgraded equipment, improved organization, and expanded outreach like workshops, tours, and collaborations.

Working at Maker Studio has helped me grow both as a team member and as a leader. I’ve learned how to collaborate effectively with others while also stepping into leadership roles when needed. Through this experience, I’ve developed skills in delegating tasks and mentoring others, which has strengthened my ability to support and guide a team. It has also given me the opportunity to improve my oral communication skills and build a higher level of professionalism in how I interact with others.

NACE Career Competency Reflection:

Because of this experience, I am more prepared to lead a team, be a team player, be more technical, and a better version myself since I joined OAI.

OAI Collective Innovator:

Esmeralda Ruvalcaba | Early Childhood Education

Department:

Career Center

Project Title:

Curriculum Vitae and Cover Letter Enhancements

Project Description:

This project focuses on updating the Career Center website sections dedicated to Curriculum Vitae (CV) and cover letter resources to better align with professional standards. It incorporates customizable templates, examples, and industry-relevant standards to ensure the content is practical and effective for a wide range of users, while enhancing the overall quality and accessibility of these resources on the Career Center website.
As part of this process, existing materials were revised, and input was gathered from students and career coaches to inform updates. New templates were developed to reflect strong organization, effective formatting, and clear communication of skills and experiences. Real-life CV examples were created for students pursuing graduate school or academic pathways, and cover letters were tailored to different career stages and industries to provide relatable and actionable models.

These resources are designed to support users in understanding how to present their qualifications strategically and professionally. The goal is to offer clear, high-quality tools that empower individuals to create strong, competitive application materials for today’s market.

NACE Career Competency Reflection:

This project helped me grow professionally by allowing me to organize and take input from multiple career coaches about what things should be included into our website template and examples wise to be more helpful to them and our students. As a teacher I will have to take the initiative to create meeting times to have 10-15 minutes chats with parents and possibly discuss more difficult topics. It also prepared me to receive constructive feedback and implement that feedback to create an even better project.

OAI Collective Innovator:

Emmett Sloan | Industrial Engineering

Department:

Student Innovation Idea Labs

Project Title:

The Wooden Friends "New and Improved"

Project Description:

Behold the “New and Improved” Wooden Friends from Birdhouse4 Industries! Once thought to be limited to only paper and the two-dimensional world, it is now brought to life through the medium of printed polylactic acid! Remember, why use real wood when you can use long-lasting non-biodegradable materials to keep your friends around forever!

These Wooden Friends were made as a way to test and learn skills about going from sketches to real three-dimensional objects through 3D modelling and printing. This was a unique experience to be able to design and create art pieces using tools that I had learned through a primarily engineering lens.

This project was a way for me to use the engineering tools that I've learned through my courses and my time at SIIL to then use them in an artistic manner. It was important to me that I could use career development tools that I've learned to then Æðµã´«Ã½ them to other areas in my life. In particular, my usage and mastery of certain technologies. A few years ago, I would've never have been able turn a sketch of mine into a 3d object.

NACE Career Competency Reflection:

Because of the experience, I am more prepared to Æðµã´«Ã½ learned skills in new and unique instances. I'm ready to tackle whatever comes my way.

OAI Collective Innovator:

Brian Tran | Marketing Management

Department:

Career Center

Project Title:

Career Fair Consultancy

Project Description:

This project focuses on analyzing Æðµã´«Ã½ students’ perspectives on Career Center events to better understand engagement and participation trends. Data is being collected through a Qualtrics survey and will be supplemented with insights from student focus groups, then analyzed using Excel and SPSS. This research provides valuable insight into student needs, perceptions, and expectations related to career programming. Findings highlight key motivations, barriers to attendance, and overall perceptions of Career Center events. These insights inform data-driven recommendations to improve event design, outreach strategies, and student engagement. Ultimately, this project supports the development of more accessible, relevant, and impactful Career Center events.

NACE Career Competency Reflection:

This project gave me real hands on experience with market segmentation, customer insights, and consulting. As a future strategist, these skills are required for the career I am pursuing.

OAI Collective Innovator:

Adam Webb | Computer Science

Department:

Student Innovation Idea Labs

Project Title:

TARS

Project Description:

I am leading a team of 11 CPP students to build the robot TARS from the movie Interstellar. The robot will be able to walk and talk, recognize individuals based on their faces, and transition between different walking styles, all autonomously.

NACE Career Competency Reflection:

TARS has been a wonderful opportunity for me to advance my leadership skills, as well as a project for me to demonstrate my technical skills. While working on the project, I have had to interview students, evaluate performance, and manage 10+ team members, all while directing the design, programming, manufacturing, and build teams.

OAI Collective Innovator:

David Vargas | Computer Science

Department:

Office of Academic Innovation

Project Title:

Concrete Dreams

Project Description:

A top-down 2D video game designed to raise the awareness of homelessness and the available resources that support individuals experiencing homelessness. The game places players in the role of a person experiencing homelessness as they navigate resources and work toward financial stability. Through exploration, dialogue and simple tasks, the player will explore the city learning about the services that resources like soup kitchens, health centers, homeless shelters, and many more services offer. Alongside learning about available services, players will also discover how to get involved by donating to or volunteering with these organizations, demonstrating how they can make a real impact in their community. The game aims to raise awareness of resources available to people experiencing homelessness. It helps individuals learn how to contribute through volunteering or donations, and how to access support services, many of which are free and accessible within their communities.

By creating a formal document for the project before development and clearly outlining the development process, I was able to improve my professionalism. This process allowed me to better approach projects and create a clear, actionable plan for the overall project that helped me stay on track as I got further into the development process. Weekly meetings with my faculty mentor, consisting of progress checks and weekly goal setting, allowed me to work on my career and self-development, allowing me to work on keeping myself accountable, while practicing communicating my progress and development with someone else in a meeting. Finally, throughout the entire development process, I sharpened my critical thinking skills by constantly fixing bugs throughout my project and also finding new and optimal designs for mechanics used in my game. The overall experience helped grow personally and professionally, making me more confident meeting and discussing my work and being able to set clear milestones for each week and for each period of the development process.

NACE Career Competency Reflection:

Because of this experience, I am more prepared to take on large projects that require more planning before development and multiple months to complete. I feel confident enough to also work with a team and clearly set goals for myself and the entire team so we can clearly approach the project.

OAI Collective Innovator:

Andres Vasquez Rosales | Aerospace Engineering

Department:

Student Innovation Idea Labs

Project Title:

Plushie Workshop

Project Description:

In the Fall semester of 2025, I was hired as a technician for the Maker Studio. During this time, I felt compelled to create an activity that would increase engagement with some of the studio’s least-used resources, particularly the sewing and embroidery stations. A workshop was formed and created with the intention of introducing students to sewing via working on Halloween-themed plushies. The workshop benefitted two parties: the students, who received an introductory lesson in hand sewing and design, and the student assistants, who developed valuable skills in communication, leadership, hands-on teaching, and event planning. Overall, the experience fostered creativity, collaboration, and a stronger sense of community within the Maker Studio environment.

By organizing and leading a beginner sewing workshop, I managed planning, coordination, and execution while balancing academic responsibilities. I communicated with team members, arranged supplies, and guided participants through the activity, though challenges such as delayed materials, limited preparation time, and underestimating the workshop timeline required quick adjustments. Despite these obstacles, the event was successful, increased student interest in sewing resources, and strengthened my ability to adapt and help lead in similar projects.

NACE Career Competency Reflection:

Because of this experience, I am more prepared to manage projects with stronger communication, plan ahead to avoid time constraints, and design activities that account for different skill levels. I am also better equipped to remain flexible, handle unexpected challenges, and contribute more confidently to future team-based projects and programs.

OAI Collective Innovator:

Quinlan Tobin | Architecture

Department:

Student Innovation Idea Labs

Project Title:

Revitalizing the iLab

Project Description:

Promoting iLab usage through formal stations, workshops, and club partnerships. Returning the community and user traffic that has dwindled since COVID.

NACE Career Competency Reflection:

This project required collaborative, creative brainstorming alongside proactive teamwork to implement the desired amount of change in short time. Clear goals and strategies were used to guide the team. Strategic delegation toward people's strong suits and interests made work exciting and helped the whole team develop professionally. For me, this project was my first real experience as a Lead or Managing role, and I am grateful for the opportunity to help evolve a space I have long cared about.

OAI Collective Innovator:

Anna Tong | Business Administration

Department:

Office of Academic Innovation

Project Title:

Duelt

Project Description:

A team of 7 fellow interns in SoCal was tasked to pitch a product in a presentation with its prototype in front of judges. The product we created was for students and young professionals, intended to combine multiple calendar platforms with additional features--gamification, smart scheduling, mental health wellness, and unifying platforms. 

By volunteering to take the initiative to create the why for "Our Solution", I improved my public speaking and redeemed my past failure. This experience reminded me that failures are necessary for growth and the lessons propel us forward. My project leader's significance showed me how a project leader can exponentially drive the team's preparedness for success.

NACE Career Competency Reflection:

Because of this experience, I am more prepared to be a leader.

OAI Collective Innovator:

Giselle Toth | Psychology

Department:

Career Center

Project Title:

Surveying Career Center Services: Measuring Impact, Feedback and Confidence

Project Description:

This project focused on developing and implementing surveys to evaluate key Career Center services, including drop-ins, in-class Career Center workshops, and Career Expos. Using Qualtrics, pre-, post-, and general surveys were created to assess CPP students’ confidence, preparation, overall experience, and feedback. The goal was to move beyond attendance tracking and establish a more consistent, data-driven approach to measuring service effectiveness. These surveys were/will be piloted through the Education Career Expo, Hospitality Management resume and interview workshops, and Career center drop-ins to test their effectiveness across different programs and formats. Survey data was analyzed to identify trends, highlight areas for improvement, and inform strategic recommendations. The project also emphasized scalability, allowing survey tools to be applied across multiple colleges and events. By capturing student feedback in a structured way, this work supports ongoing program improvement and strengthens the Career Center’s ability to better serve the student population.

NACE Career Competency Reflection:

This project helped me develop real-world skills in survey design, data analysis, and program evaluation by working with Qualtrics. It strengthened my ability to translate data into actionable insights and communicate findings to leadership. These experiences prepared me for future roles involving strategic problem-solving and data-driven decision-making, while maintaining efficiency and clear communication.

OAI Collective Innovator:

Reese Buckway | Environmental Biology

Department:

Career Center

Project Title:

Making Job and Internship Searching Easier for CPP Students Through Handshake Collections

Project Description:

This project focuses on developing targeted job and internship collections in Handshake to better support students in the College of Engineering (ENG) and the College of Education and Integrative Studies (CEIS). The team collaborated with career coaches from both colleges, evaluated trends from daily student drop-ins, and identified the types of opportunities students were actively seeking. Using this information, customized, industry-aligned collections were developed to meet the needs of each college. These collections are designed to simplify the job and internship search process by organizing relevant opportunities in a more accessible and user-friendly way. The project also includes engaging directly with students to gather feedback on the collections, increase Handshake activation, and promote greater utilization of Career Center resources. Overall, the project aims to help students efficiently find and Æðµã´«Ã½ to roles aligned with their academic background and career interests, ultimately supporting career readiness

NACE Career Competency Reflection:

This project required that I actively listen and collaborate towards a shared goal, demonstrating teamwork and collaboration. I also used digital tools to manage and present our work, increasing my confidence with professional technologies.