During the fall quarter, our outreach and communications team had an incredible experience visiting over 12 community colleges and high schools to attend college fair events. Alejandra engaged with future students, sharing the amazing opportunities in the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology (V & E). On these trips, our team brought new marketing material tailored for our different audiences that helped outline the major requirements and career opportunities. Connecting with counselors was key to planning inspiring campus visits to our winery and vineyard facilities. Karen Block also made strides in clarifying the UC Davis application process for eager students. 

A unique opportunity arose when V & E chair, Ben Montpetit, presented to the UC Regents Public Engagement and Development Committee on the importance of stakeholder partnership to the success of the V & E program. Ben was joined by student leaders, Naomi, Kait, and Sydney who also met with UC President Drake to talk about wine, student accomplishments, and department goals. The students were also able to share their experiences working in the vineyards, research labs, and winery at UC Davis. 

To wrap up the quarter, Alejandra partnered with the UC Davis Career Center to tailor a resume workshop focused on demystifying the resume writing process and sharing interview preparation techniques. This workshop prepared students for the culminating career fair organized by Karen and Liz. 13 wineries pitched their organizations and were able to meet and mingle with our undergraduate and master's students. This year, we’re excited to host more campus visits and explore regional wineries—showcasing how our program equips aggies with transferable skills and knowledge to continue shaping the wine industry.