June 26 '26•Benjamin Demers•Artificial Intelligence• Intel• Foster Youth

Mission College, Intel Launch AI Program for Foster Youth

A student wearing a yellow sweater works on a laptop in a classroom at Mission College while smiling toward the camera. Other students are seated in the background, creating a collaborative learning environment.
A Mission College student participates in a technology-focused learning environment. Through a new partnership with Intel, Mission College is expanding access to artificial intelligence education and workforce opportunities for transitioning foster youth.

For Immediate Release

SANTA CLARA, CA - Mission College has announced a new partnership with Intel Corporation to pioneer an immersive AI learning experience tailored for transitioning foster care youth. This pilot program aims to bridge the digital divide, equipping an underserved student population with vital technology skills and pathways to high-wage workforce opportunities.

Mission College is one of a select group of just five community colleges nationwide chosen to launch this high-impact national pilot. Backed by an initial $50,000 grant from Intel, the college will collaborate directly with its Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) program and regional foster youth advocates to recruit, support, and train local youth aged 15 to 25.

Launched in strategic alignment with the White House Office of the First Lady’s “Fostering the Future” signature initiative, the program addresses an urgent socioeconomic gap by treating artificial intelligence literacy not as an elective luxury, but as a core basic need. By shifting participants from a mindset of survival to long-term professional thriving, the program prepares foster youth for the emerging automated workforce.

"This initiative is much bigger than just our campus; Mission College is proud to serve as the regional pilot testing ground for California," said Clement S. Lam, Ph.D., Dean of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics at Mission College. "Our collective goal is to build, document, and perfect an educational framework that successfully delivers advanced AI skills to our region's foster youth, creating a scalable blueprint that community colleges across the country can use."
The Mission College entrance sign stands at the front of campus in Santa Clara, California, with palm trees, campus buildings, and a sunset sky in the background. The image represents Mission College, one of five community colleges selected nationwide to partner with Intel on a new artificial intelligence education pilot for transitioning foster youth.
Mission College is one of only five community colleges nationwide selected to partner with Intel on a pioneering artificial intelligence education program for transitioning foster youth.

The curriculum will be delivered via a series of highly engaging, accelerated workshops running through December 2026. Students will participate in five 3-hour sessions covering critical disciplines such as:

  • Image & Pattern Recognition: Understanding the data foundations of AI decision-making.
  • Computer Vision (CV): Learning image segmentation and how to identify deepfakes.
  • Prompt Engineering: Navigating generative tools and refining precise machine communication.
  • Natural Language Processing (NLP): Analyzing sentiment and collaboratively designing text-based AI models.
  • Neural Networks: Acting as AI architects to audit algorithmic bias in community data.

Beyond classroom instruction, Intel’s grant fully funds wrap-around support services to eliminate traditional barriers to student attendance, covering essential transportation, ride-share access, meals, and lab expenses. Students who complete the training workshops will receive an official Intel AI Certification. Furthermore, participants will be mentored to build and submit original technology concepts directly to the prestigious Presidential AI Challenge and the Intel AI Global Impact Festival, showcasing local student-led solutions on a national stage.

"For our foster youth, navigating everyday basic needs is often a competing challenge against their education," said Katrina V. Hermoso, Ed.D., Program Director for Extended Opportunity Programs & Services (EOPS) and NextUP at Mission College. "By treating AI literacy as a basic need itself, this program empowers students to shift from surviving to thriving. Through Intel's grant, we are providing total wrap-around support, ensuring our students have a barrier-free environment to build confidence, gain industry credentials, and unlock future career pathways."

Mission College plans to debut an online waitlist and interest portal in the coming weeks to build regional engagement ahead of the first cohort launches later this summer. Faculty training and institutional documentation are already underway to ensure the program model can be seamlessly scaled to other community college districts across California.

If interested, potential students can register at tinyurl.com/foster-youth-ai

Benjamin Demers
Director of Marketing and Public Relations
[email protected] 
About Mission College

Mission College is a leading institution of higher education dedicated to providing accessible, high-quality education that empowers students to succeed.

With a commitment to student success, equity, and innovation, Mission College offers a diverse range of academic programs, exceptional faculty, and supportive services to foster a thriving educational community. 


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