June 13, 2024
MADO program participant Joshua Inhyuk Choi, a UCI computer science major, presented the work he did for OC VIBE, an Anaheim-based real estate development project.
Recently, student participants in CALIT2’s Make a Difference Opportunity (MADO) program ended their experiences by sharing with others what they gained from participating in the two-quarter opportunity.
MADO provides a unique path for full-time undergraduate and graduate UCI students to gain first-hand experience on a project in the workplace by matching students up with projects in a local business during winter and spring quarters.
UCI students Nathan Ravindra Samarasena and Alexander Yin co-presented their MADO accomplishments working at PathForce Technologies, a high-power IT diagnostics company in Irvine.
“The goal of this program is to provide UCI students an opportunity to make a difference and transition to the job market, and to enable local businesses to participate in workforce development,” explains G.P. Li, CALIT2 director. “Together we can build a robust workforce to meet the needs of our regional businesses.”
This year’s MADO program included 26 students and 16 companies. The students receive a small, monthly stipend provided by CALIT2 and can work up to 20 hours per week. The participating companies provide a project mentor who gives clearly defined goals and realistic expectations for the student before the start of the job and provides feedback during the duration of the program.
– Shelly Nazarenus
