The Port of Long Beach has awarded a record nearly $400,000 in scholarships to 165 local high school and college students pursuing careers in port-related fields such as engineering, environmental science, maritime law, and technical trades. This significant investment aims to cultivate the next generation of the port's workforce.
The scholarships were announced during the annual Celebrating Education event, which also recognized the 2026 class of 31 summer high school interns. Dr. Noel Hacegaba, CEO of the Port of Long Beach, emphasized the importance of these programs, saying, "Building the Port of the Future starts now by recruiting and training the local workforce who will build and operate the cutting-edge infrastructure that will allow us to move cargo more quickly, efficiently and sustainably."
Long Beach Harbor Commission President Frank Colonna added, "We made a decision that education is at the core of what we do at the Port. Scholarships are an important tool to make sure we nurture tomorrow's workforce, grown from our own community, benefiting our neighbors and ultimately making our city better." Since 1993, the Port has distributed approximately $2.6 million in scholarships.
The Port's educational outreach includes high school pathway programs in collaboration with the Long Beach Unified School District, enrolling almost 1,000 students. These include the Academy of Global Logistics at Cabrillo High School, the ACE Academy at Jordan High School, and the new NOVA program at Long Beach Polytechnic High, which focuses on clean energy and sustainable innovation. These initiatives align with the Port's 2050 vision to double container volumes and become the world's first zero-emissions port.