By Manuel Muñoz Jr.
On May 7th, the Port of Hueneme honored its Spring 2026 Global Trade and Logistics class with a graduation ceremony at Oxnard College. This award-winning program was designed to help prepare Oxnard Union High School District [OUHSD] juniors and seniors for lasting careers in maritime trade, logistics, and supply chain management.
Established over a decade ago, the Global Trade and Logistics [GTL] program is a proven workforce pipeline that has connected hundreds of local students to professional careers in the one of the most important economic sectors of the community. The Port of Hueneme supports thousands of jobs in the region and generates approximately $2.8 billion in annual economic activity.
The ceremony began with a musical performance by Inlakech, a celebrated Ventura County youth cultural art group led by Javier Gomez. President of the Port of Hueneme Jason T. Hodge spoke on the various ways the Port is investing in the local community to create new opportunities for its residents. Miguel Rodriguez, Director of Community Relations & Workforce Development, shared with the audience the certificate pathway program offered at Oxnard College in conjunction with the Port of Hueneme designed to help connect and train students for positions in the numerous departments at the Port.
Maripas Jacobo, Community Outreach Specialist and teacher, provided an overview of the GTL program and emphasized its overall mission of supporting the local community through education and youth development. She explained that the graduating class became actively involved in local events; such as the Color Run and the Banana Festival, as well as through the food distribution drives hosted by the Port. Student interns, Anthony Macias of Channel Islands High School and Danika Martinez of Oxnard High School each spoke on the various ways the GTL program has impacted their academic and professional careers.
Misha Osorio, a member of the graduating Spring 2026 class and student from Channel Islands High School, spoke on the way her curiosity to learn about the Port and its broader role in the community guided her to join the GTL program. Fellow graduate and student from Oxnard High School, Maria Peraza, highlighted the way her mother, who works at the Port, motivated her to become involved in the program with the goal of discovering new opportunities.
In addition to honoring the Spring 2026 class, the ceremony also served as way to highlight the Port of Hueneme’s broader SPEED [Sustainability, Prosperity, Education, Equity-Driven] initiative, a $2 million workforce investment designed to help connect local students with trade industries, the Ventura County Community College District, California State University – Channel Islands, and the U.S. Navy.
The presentation of certificates was conducted by the members of the Global Trade and Logistics program staff. In addition to their certificate, graduates received a graduation sash and gift bag from The Port. The ceremony concluded with a reception in the Oxnard College quad with a closing musical performance by Inlakech as well as delicious taquitos.