Purpose

Identify colleges and universities near Glendora, CA where Zabaca can recruit interns focused on AI-first development, “vibe coding,” and modern software engineering approaches.

Geographic Overview

Glendora is strategically located in the eastern San Gabriel Valley with access to multiple educational institutions within 5-40 miles, ranging from community colleges to elite STEM institutions.

Key Institutions by Distance

Within 5 Miles

Citrus College (Glendora)

Distance: Located in Glendora Type: Community College Program Focus: Computer Science transfer program

Key Features:

  • Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) in Computer Science with guaranteed CSU admission
  • 95% UC transfer acceptance rate for Fall 2022 (top 10 among California CCs)
  • Designed to prepare students for 4-year university transfer
  • Latest methods of computer science implemented in solving problems

Recruiting Strategy:

  • Target students in their second year before transfer
  • Offer internships that complement their transfer preparation
  • Focus on students transferring to nearby universities

Contact: Glendora, California

Azusa Pacific University (APU)

Distance: ~5 miles Type: Private Christian University Program Focus: Computer Science BS with mandatory internship requirement

Key Features:

  • All engineering and CS students required to complete at least one industry internship
  • Past internship placements: JPL, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Goddard, Code 2040
  • Uses Handshake for internship connections
  • Hands-on experience emphasis

Recruiting Strategy:

  • Contact Career Services department via Handshake
  • Target juniors/seniors who need internship credit
  • Emphasize AI-first development approach to differentiate from traditional aerospace placements

Why Good for Zabaca:

  • Internship requirement = motivated students actively seeking opportunities
  • Christian university = potential values alignment
  • Proven track record placing students in technical roles

5-15 Miles

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona)

Distance: ~10 miles Type: Public Polytechnic University Program Focus: Strong CS and Engineering with dedicated AI initiatives

Key Features:

  • AI Innovation Center partnership with Avanade (industry partner)
  • BS in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Concentration
  • Machine Learning/AI Engineering internships (e.g., Qualcomm partnerships)
  • CS 4410 Internship course (1-2 units, min 60 hours/semester)
  • Micro-internships available (short-term, project-based)

Recruiting Strategy:

  • Contact the AI Innovation Center directly
  • Post opportunities through Career Center
  • Offer micro-internships as trial-to-hire pipeline
  • Partner with AI/ML concentration faculty for student referrals

Why Excellent for Zabaca:

  • Dedicated AI focus aligns perfectly with Zabaca’s needs
  • Industry partnership model already established
  • Large student body = bigger talent pool
  • Strong engineering reputation

Contact:

University of La Verne

Distance: ~8 miles Type: Private University Program Focus: Computer Science BS with multiple concentrations including AI

Key Features:

  • Artificial Intelligence concentration option
  • Additional concentrations: engineering, information science, internet programming, software
  • Certificates available: Computer Coding, Cybersecurity, Systems Engineering, Website Development
  • 4+1 Masters in Data Analytics program for qualified students

Recruiting Strategy:

  • Target AI concentration students
  • Partner with Computer Science and Computer Engineering Department
  • Offer pathways for students interested in graduate school (4+1 program compatibility)

Why Good for Zabaca:

  • AI concentration = students already interested in this focus
  • Smaller private school = easier to build direct faculty relationships
  • Multiple concentration options = diverse skill sets

Contact:

15-30 Miles

Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC)

Distance: ~15 miles (Walnut, CA) Type: Community College Program Focus: Artificial Intelligence for Business program

Key Features:

  • Associate of Science in Artificial Intelligence for Business
  • Certificate in Artificial Intelligence for Business
  • Curriculum covers: data science, data analysis, data mining, machine learning, deep learning, NLP
  • Focus on AI concepts, machine learning algorithms, and business integration

Recruiting Strategy:

  • Target AI for Business program students specifically
  • Offer internships that bridge business + technical AI implementation
  • Good for students interested in applied AI (not just theory)

Why Excellent for Zabaca:

  • Dedicated AI program = students self-selected for AI interest
  • Business focus = students understand product/market fit thinking
  • Community college = often more diverse backgrounds, non-traditional paths

Contact:

Harvey Mudd College (Claremont Colleges)

Distance: ~20 miles (Claremont, CA) Type: Elite Private STEM College Program Focus: Top-tier Computer Science with strong AI/ML research focus

Key Features:

  • Part of Claremont Colleges consortium (shared resources)
  • 50% women in CS faculty and students (exceptional for CS)
  • 18 tenure-track CS faculty serving ~120 CS majors per graduating class
  • Joint majors: CS+Math, CS+Physics, Climate+CS, Mathematical+Computational Biology
  • Active AI research with ethics/social impact focus
  • Machine Learning workshop series (7-8 two-hour sessions per semester)
  • New Scott A. McGregor Computer Science Center with makerspace

Recruiting Strategy:

  • Highly selective school = exceptional candidates
  • Contact CS department directly for recruiting events
  • Emphasize cutting-edge AI work and ethical considerations (they value this)
  • Offer challenging projects that match their academic caliber

Why Excellent for Zabaca:

  • Elite talent pool with strong fundamentals
  • High percentage of women = more diverse team building
  • AI ethics focus = thoughtful approach to product development
  • Makerspace culture = “vibe coding” could resonate

Contact:

Note: Harvey Mudd students are highly competitive candidates; consider offering above-market compensation and meaningful project work.

30-50 Miles

University of California, Riverside (UCR)

Distance: ~40 miles Type: Public Research University (UC system) Program Focus: Comprehensive CS and Engineering with research opportunities

Key Features:

  • UC-tier research programs
  • Larger student body = bigger talent pool
  • Strong engineering and CS programs

Recruiting Strategy:

  • Good backup option if closer schools don’t yield enough candidates
  • Distance may require remote/hybrid flexibility

Tier 1: Best Fit for Zabaca

  1. Cal Poly Pomona - AI Innovation Center, dedicated AI concentration, close proximity
  2. Mt. San Antonio College - AI for Business program, applied focus
  3. Harvey Mudd College - Elite talent, strong AI research, diversity

Tier 2: Strong Options

  1. Azusa Pacific University - Mandatory internship requirement = motivated students
  2. University of La Verne - AI concentration, smaller class sizes

Tier 3: Pipeline Development

  1. Citrus College - Local talent pipeline, transfer students
  2. UCR - Backup for larger talent pool (manage distance)

Outreach Strategies

For All Institutions

  1. Career Center Registration: Register Zabaca as an employer on each school’s job board/Handshake
  2. Faculty Relationships: Build relationships with CS/AI faculty for student referrals
  3. Info Sessions: Host “AI-First Development” workshops or info sessions on campus
  4. Project Showcases: Invite students to see real Zabaca projects and tech stack

Messaging for “AI-First / Vibe Coding”

  • Emphasize modern tooling (AI assistants, rapid prototyping)
  • Highlight autonomy and creative problem-solving
  • Show real impact: what they build will be used
  • Differentiate from “enterprise coding” (bureaucracy, legacy systems)
  • Appeal to students interested in startups, not just big tech

Competitive Advantages to Highlight

  1. Location: Close to home (Glendora proximity)
  2. Size: Small team = more responsibility, faster learning
  3. Technology: Cutting-edge AI tools and approaches
  4. Flexibility: Remote/hybrid options if needed
  5. Mission: Clear purpose at Zabaca (highlight company mission)

Next Steps

  1. ✅ Register with Cal Poly Pomona Career Center
  2. ✅ Register with Mt. SAC AI program coordinator
  3. ✅ Contact Harvey Mudd CS department about recruiting events
  4. ✅ Set up Handshake accounts for APU and other schools using it
  5. ✅ Prepare internship job descriptions tailored to each school’s culture
  6. ✅ Schedule campus visits or virtual info sessions (Spring 2026 recruiting cycle)

Additional Resources

Recruiting Timeline

  • Fall Semester (Sept-Dec): Post spring/summer internships, attend career fairs
  • Spring Semester (Jan-May): Interview candidates, make offers, onboard for summer
  • Summer: Active internship period

Compensation Benchmarks

  • Community College interns: $20-25/hour
  • State school (Cal Poly Pomona, La Verne, APU): $25-35/hour
  • Elite (Harvey Mudd): $35-50/hour + housing stipend if needed

Sources

  1. Cal Poly Pomona - Office of Academic Innovation
  2. Cal Poly Pomona - Artificial Intelligence at CPP
  3. Cal Poly Pomona - Career Center Internships
  4. Cal Poly Pomona - AI/ML Concentration
  5. Azusa Pacific University - Computer Science
  6. Azusa Pacific University - Engineering and CS Department
  7. Azusa Pacific University - Career Services
  8. University of La Verne - Computer Science
  9. University of La Verne - Computer Science BS
  10. Citrus College - Computer Science Program
  11. Citrus College - Transfer Options
  12. Mt. San Antonio College - Artificial Intelligence Program
  13. Mt. SAC - AI for Business Certificate
  14. Mt. SAC Computer Science Homepage
  15. Harvey Mudd College - Computer Science
  16. Harvey Mudd College - Research Computing Workshops