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28 California Community Colleges added Google AI training into instruction, the top 45 students were selected out of 4,000 to envision and build AI-First Apps and videos using Google AI Studio that address challenges that can only be solved with AI. Students with no prior coding experience built AI-first apps such as: AI Fitness Coaches that you could converse with in real time that generated personalized videos for individual fitness goals, Yoga Instructors that correct poses, Veterinary Assistants for any animal, AI Interior Decorators, apps replacing investment banking analysts, and more.
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48 California Community Colleges integrated training about how to use HubSpot Breeze AI into classroom instruction and the top 300 students were automatically matched to micro-internships with HubSpot clients as part of an 8-week applied learning program in AI Digital Marketing. Students received specialized coaching on digital marketing and many continued onto additional roles following the program.
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California Community Colleges throughout the state integrated training materials developed in partnership with Citi into classroom instruction. Students that completed the materials in class were automatically recruited into the Citi program and the top 30 students received interviews directly from classroom instruction.
Community College students from this program went on to become the first JPMorgan Investment Banking Community College Intern, software engineers at Morgan Stanley, investment banking interns and analysts at Bank of Sumitomo, Credit Agricole, Risk Management at Citi, consultants at PwC, Ernst and Young, and more.
I spent my summers harvesting grapes with my parents. I never imagined I'd be working with Google engineers, building AI apps. This internship didn't just open doors, it showed me they existed. Programs like this are exactly what Kern students need. I want to come back to my community and help others like me see what's possible. We need more of it, not less.
I came into the program with almost no background in finance, and within weeks I was confidently building a generative AI app that automated a junior analyst's workflow. This experience completely changed what I believe I'm capable of.
I found this opportunity by total luck. Brodney posted it in our MESA program group chat at Grossmont. I had never seen anything like it promoted at my school before. And when I looked around, I realized I was one of the only students from the San Diego area. This kind of opportunity shouldn't be a surprise. It should be everywhere. San Diego has talent, we just need the access.
I don't come from a background where I have connections or people opening doors for me. But NexusEdge gave me one. This wasn't just a resume booster—it was a reminder that I belong in these spaces. I have the skills, the drive, and now the experience to back it up. That changes everything.
There's this quiet stigma around community college—you're made to feel like you won't get the same internships or the same chances, but getting into HubSpot flipped that entirely. Just being accepted gave me this huge sense of validation, like, 'Wait, I'm not behind. I'm actually ready.' I remember thinking: I belong here. I can do this.
Using the NexusEdge modules, I wasn't just studying. I was building real campaigns, learning how sales works, and figuring out how to use tools like automation to solve problems. One of our projects involved a healthcare client, and it felt like the work mattered. It wasn't just a class assignment, it was something real.
Completing the Citi internship marked a transformative milestone in my career journey. As a first-year community college student embarking on my professional path, I initially faced the all-too-common challenge of securing experience without having prior experience. This paradox often hinders those at the beginning of their careers, as internships require experience, yet experience is gained through internships. NexusEdge emerged as a beacon of hope, offering an equitable recruiting process—a rarity in today's job market. The opportunity to intern at Citi through this program laid a solid foundation for my future endeavors. Following my time at Citi, I was able to gain valuable experiences with Snap and PwC, which significantly bolstered my profile as a competitive applicant for transfer to Berkeley Haas.
NexusEdge played a pivotal role in kick-starting my career in finance, connecting me directly with Citi Ventures, where I developed my skills in innovation and data analytics. This unique platform stands out by offering students intimate connections across a wide range of career paths—from computer science to finance—allowing me to discover and pursue my interests in a way I never expected. Thanks to NexusEdge, I secured my first internship at Citibank headquarters in New York within the capital risk management team, an experience that laid a strong foundation for my future in finance.
Being part of the Citi CUPID program through NexusEdge was undoubtedly one of the most pivotal experiences I had as a community college student. I know firsthand how difficult it is for community college students to gain professional experiences and find mentors who can guide them throughout their careers. NexusEdge not only provided me with a world-class professional experience but was a hub where I met many great friends and mentors, all of whom I still talk to today and will for the rest of my life. I credit NexusEdge as being one of the most significant reasons why I was able to land opportunities at Ernst & Young and Cisco as well as eventually transfer to the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley.
