El Camino College Invites Public to a “Classic Cars” Show

Staying true to Southern California’s car-loving culture, El Camino College invites the public to cruise onto campus and participate in a “Classic Cars” Show as part of a student program geared towards formerly incarcerated and justice system-impacted students driven to earn a college education.

El Camino’s Formerly Incarcerated Re-Entry Students Thriving (FIRST) program and the Resiliency FIRST Student Club will present “Cruise With Us Into Higher Ed,” the second annual student program orientation and classic car exhibit/fundraiser.

Scheduled for Sept. 14 on campus in Parking Lot B (located at Crenshaw and Manhattan Beach boulevards), the event is open to the public. FIRST Program orientation runs from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Social Justice Center; the car show runs from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Classic car owners are invited to display their cars; registration is required to participate in the car show, along with a $20 entry fee that will go toward a “Second Chance Student Scholarship” award.

“This event is an open house for the community, so they can see how our program serves our formerly incarcerated and system-impacted students at El Camino,” said FIRST Program Coordinator Francisco “Pancho” Lopez. “Let’s welcome our FIRST students home with a taste of iconic cars, music, and ‘low-riding’ heritage.”

The event is also designed to create awareness and raise funds for El Camino’s FIRST Program, which launched in 2020 to provide a pathway from prison to college that helps students meet their educational goals.

Part of the “Rising Scholars Network,” a California initiative that serves incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students, El Camino’s FIRST Program offers personalized support, counseling, financial aid, job opportunities, and basic needs assistance, among many other services found in this welcoming community. The FIRST Program also introduces students to a variety of academic activities and offers workshops, guest speakers, and university tours.

The El Camino Community College District encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation, or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact the FIRST Program as soon as possible, but no later than seven days prior to the event.

For more information about the upcoming event or El Camino College’s Formerly Incarcerated Re-Entry Students Thriving (FIRST) Program, view: www.elcamino.edu/support/resources/first/.