BridgeYear’s Victoria Chen appeared on Great Day Houston to launch Energy Expressway, a new workforce program for 2026 grads in energy careers.
Houston, TX, United States, 15th Jul 2026 – BridgeYear, a Houston-based nonprofit connecting underserved youth to high-growth careers and educational pathways, introduced Energy Expressway on Great Day Houston (KHOU-11) on July 8. BridgeYear’s Co-Founder and Executive Director, Victoria Chen, appeared on the segment to unveil the new workforce initiative, which helps recent Houston-area high school graduates explore careers in energy and infrastructure.
The program is being developed in collaboration with CenterPoint Energy, Quanta Services, and the Greater Houston Partnership, and applications are open now through July 15.
The Gap in Living Wage
During the interview, Chen pointed to the gap her organization was founded to close: only 20 percent of local high school graduates reach a living wage within six years of finishing school. “Students cannot choose careers they have never seen,” Chen said on air. “What we do at BridgeYear is focus on the career piece, and if a certification or a college degree is on that path, that’s wonderful. But college is a step along the path to a career, not the final destination.”
About the Program
Energy Expressway is a two-week program designed for recent graduates of the Class of 2026 who are curious about energy and infrastructure careers but may not have prior experience in the field. Participants will build workplace readiness skills, earn industry-recognized certifications such as OSHA 10 and CPR/First Aid, and complete the program with a guaranteed employer interview. Training will take place August 17 through August 28 at the CenterPoint Training Center, located at 12045 Main Street in Houston.
Eligibility Requirements
“The biggest things we are looking for are reliability, coachability, resilience, and a willingness to work hard,” Chen said, noting that applicants do not need prior industry experience. Eligible students must be Class of 2026 graduates, turn 18 by September 1, 2026, and hold a driver’s license or state ID.
Application Process
The initiative builds on the same model BridgeYear has used since 2016 to connect students directly with employers, including its Career Cohort programs, which pair Houston-area seniors with tuition-free certification training and paid apprenticeships. Recent high school graduates interested in Energy Expressway can apply online or text ENERGY to 832-772-8328 before the July 15 deadline.
About BridgeYear
BridgeYear is a nonprofit organization founded in 2016 and based in Houston, Texas, connecting underserved youth to careers and educational pathways that provide economic stability and independence. BridgeYear operates Career Test Drive®, MorePathways®, and Career Cohort programs in partnership with Gulf States Toyota, Memorial Hermann, Phillips 66, Honeywell, and the Greater Houston Community Foundation. Since 2016, BridgeYear has served over 50,000 students across the Greater Houston area.
Learn more at www.bridgeyear.org.
Media Contact
Jocelyne Trevino
Senior Communications Manager, BridgeYear
Phone: (832) 579-0294
Website: www.bridgeyear.org
Facebook: facebook.com/BridgeYearProgram
Instagram: @bridgeyear
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/bridgeyear
YouTube: youtube.com/@BridgeYear
Media Contact
Organization: BridgeYear
Contact Person: Jocelyne Trevino
Website: https://www.bridgeyear.org/
Email: Send Email
Contact Number: +18325790294
Address:3414 Eastside St.
City: Houston
State: TX
Country:United States
Release id:47127
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