Introducing LifeLaunch: A Bridge to College and Career Success

This fall marks an exciting new chapter — the official launch of  LifeLaunch, a free college and career programming initiative designed to help young adults take their next steps into college, career, and adulthood with confidence and support.

At its heart, LifeLaunch is all about connection — connecting students’ potential to real opportunities, and connecting learning to life beyond the classroom. It’s built for students who thrive in smaller, hands-on environments, where they’re known well by caring adults who coach, challenge, and cheer them on every step of the way.

The program offers two unique pathways to meet students wherever they are on their journey:

• LifeLaunch: Career focuses on career exploration, hands-on training, and industry certifications in high-growth fields like healthcare and aviation. Students earn college credit through El Camino College while learning professional skills in a supportive cohort setting.
• LifeLaunch: College, offered in partnership with Rivet School, helps students earn flexible, competency-based AA or BA degrees for free from Southern New Hampshire University. Students receive one-on-one coaching, peer support, and resources that help remove barriers — from financial aid and technology to basic needs.

Learning in Action

This year, we’re proud to welcome 46 students into LifeLaunch — 26 in the College pathway and 20 in the Career pathway, representing a mix of returning and new faces. Among the Career students are six future Emergency Medical Technicians, three future Certified Medical Assistants, and six future Pharmacy Technicians.

And they’ve hit the ground running.

LifeLaunchers have already participated in a Mock Interview event with professionals from Belkin International, Fabletics, and Da Vinci’s Central Office, practicing real-world communication and interview skills that will serve them well in their job searches. Our EMT students visited the El Segundo Fire Station, getting a firsthand look at fire and EMS operations, while the aviation students attended both the Pacific Air Show and the Miramar Air Show, witnessing the thrill of flight up close. Meanwhile, our healthcare students earned their Basic Life Support (BLS) certifications — a big first step in their medical careers.

LifeLaunch takes place at Belkin in El Segundo and at local field sites, giving students hands-on experiences in real professional environments — from fire stations to air shows — that complement classroom and cohort learning.

Building Community and Confidence

Beyond the credentials and career experiences, what really stands out is the community that’s forming.

Erik (Connect, Class of 2025), an aspiring firefighter, shared,  “I joined LifeLaunch because it was a stepping stone into the field I wanted to go into, and it gave me structure to achieve that goal. The community we’ve built around our goals has made the rigorous coursework a lot easier and just made the whole journey enjoyable.”

Joey (Communications, Class of 2025) agreed, adding, “If you asked me what the best part of LifeLaunch is on the first day, I would have said it’s free — but now I’d say it’s the community we’ve built. None of us EMTs knew each other before, and now we’re all pretty comfortable with each other.”

Emiliano (Design, Class of 2025) reflected, “The connections I’ve made with professionals have been really valuable. Talking to people in different jobs is helping me figure out what I actually want to do.”

Their words capture what LifeLaunch is truly about — helping young adults find direction, build confidence, and step into their futures surrounded by a community that believes in them.

Save the Date: LifeLaunch Webinar – Nov 5! 
Curious about LifeLaunch? Join us to explore this full-time, tuition-free college and career program and see how Class of 2026 seniors can get started for Fall 2026.

>> Learn more HERE