Cardinals Interact Program

Cardinals Interact Program We empower Hoover HS students to be leaders who achieve their maximum academic & personal potential.

Cardinals Interact Program is a partnership between San Diego Downtown Rotary and Price Charities. The program provides positive and supportive activities for Hoover students over a three year period (10, 11 & 12th grade). First year students attend camp and participate in workshops dealing with human relations and self esteem. Camp also provides students with the chance to get to know each other

while gaining an understanding of how the program can help them succeed in high school. Participants also go on field trips to local businesses, non-profit and public organizations. Students learn how these organizations function, and the many different career opportunities they offer. During the second and third years, Interact participants continue to attend camp once a year, visit community organizations, adopt a community service project and mentor younger children. The Cardinals Interact Program offers participants mentoring and tutoring services and provides students the opportunity to become part of a positive community outside of school and family. Cardinals programs are scheduled a minimum of once a month, taking place primarily on Wednesday afternoons. Students who successfully complete the three-year program are awarded a $1000 scholarship for vocational school or community college, or $1500 to a four year college or university.

Congratulations to our four Cardinals for recently competing in the  Regional 4-Way Test Speech Contest! We’re so proud ...
04/10/2026

Congratulations to our four Cardinals for recently competing in the Regional 4-Way Test Speech Contest! We’re so proud of your dedication, hard work, and bravery in this year’s competition!

We’re also thrilled to announce that three of them are advancing to the District Finals later this month!

04/07/2026

Congratulations to the students who have secured an interview for the Cardinals Interact Class of 2029 cohort! 🙌

In the meantime, here are some interview tips from current Class of 2027 Cardinals to help you prepare.

We look forward to meeting you and getting to know you TOMORROW!

Class of 2026 recently headed to the Julian Mountains last weekend for their Transitions Camp, a retreat centered on ref...
03/24/2026

Class of 2026 recently headed to the Julian Mountains last weekend for their Transitions Camp, a retreat centered on reflection, connection, and preparing for what’s ahead. ⛰️🏕️

Through workshops and group activities, Cardinals strengthened important life skills, shared their goals and experiences, and built lasting bonds with one another.

We’re excited to see all that the Class of 2026 will accomplish in the year ahead and look forward to celebrating them at graduation! ❤️🎓

Congratulations to our four Cardinals who represented us at the Rotary District 5340 Sub-Regional 4-Way Test Speech Cont...
03/20/2026

Congratulations to our four Cardinals who represented us at the Rotary District 5340 Sub-Regional 4-Way Test Speech Contest this past week! We’re proud of the preparation, confidence, and commitment each of you brought to the competition.

We’re also excited to share that all four students will be advancing to the Regional competition. Best of luck in the next round! Thank you to the Rotarians for their dedicated support throughout the Cardinals’ speech preparation.

San Diego Rotary Club

Class of 2027 led a hands-on day of service as part of their junior year community service project, joined by the Class ...
03/19/2026

Class of 2027 led a hands-on day of service as part of their junior year community service project, joined by the Class of 2028 at Manzanita and Cooper Canyon! Service Chair Emma (‘26) also joined in supporting the effort. 🌱

Cardinals supported restoration efforts across multiple sites, clearing brush, improving community spaces, planting native species, and contributing to a mural, while learning about watersheds and the importance of environmental stewardship. The day highlighted teamwork, leadership, and the impact of giving back to the City Heights community.

A big thank you to our community partners Ocean Discovery Institute, San Diego Canyonlands, Linda Pennington from Project CLEAN, Jody Carey and Dennis Wood from Carey Construction, and artist/CI alum Raul Arellano ('14), along with all volunteers who made this day possible.

Class of 2028 recently visited Cygnet Theatre to experience a live performance of Somewhere Over the Border, a musical a...
03/06/2026

Class of 2028 recently visited Cygnet Theatre to experience a live performance of Somewhere Over the Border, a musical about family, sacrifice, and the pursuit of the American Dream. 🎭 Students had the opportunity to engage with a professional theater production while learning about the many careers that bring a show to life on stage.

Thank you to Cygnet Theatre for welcoming our Cardinals and providing an inspiring look into the world of theater.

Class of 2026 recently visited San Diego City College to learn about the college’s degree programs, vocational pathways,...
03/05/2026

Class of 2026 recently visited San Diego City College to learn about the college’s degree programs, vocational pathways, support services, and the application and enrollment process. Cardinals toured the campus and participated in activities designed to introduce them to the different academic opportunities available at SDCC.

The visit aimed to motivate Cardinals to see themselves on a college campus and envision their future in higher education. Thank you to the San Diego City College staff for welcoming the Class of 2026 and sharing valuable information about their programs and opportunities.

Last week, we celebrated our Program Tutor and Class of 2019 alum, Emily, as she begins a new role as a Human Services S...
02/23/2026

Last week, we celebrated our Program Tutor and Class of 2019 alum, Emily, as she begins a new role as a Human Services Specialist with the County of San Diego’s Centre City Family Resource Center! 🙌💼 While we’ll miss her presence in the office, we’re excited to see her take this next step in her professional journey.

Thank you, Emily, for your dedication to helping our Cardinals reach their full academic potential!

Class of 2028 recently stepped into a professional networking experience during their Alumni Career Panel Program at the...
02/21/2026

Class of 2028 recently stepped into a professional networking experience during their Alumni Career Panel Program at the Sharp Prebys Innovation and Education Center! 🤝💼

Cardinals connected with CI alumni, as well as professionals from Sharp HealthCare, gaining insight into a range of educational journeys and career pathways. Through meaningful conversation and real-world perspective, students explored what it takes to navigate different industries and begin shaping their own goals. Experiences like this help Cardinals expand possibilities and strengthen the confidence to pursue them.

Thank you to Sharp HealthCare and their staff for hosting and to our alumni for sharing their time, stories, and guidance with the next generation!

Alumni and Sharp Speakers:
Sesy Enriquez (’05) - Licensed Optician LensCrafters
Carolina Bracamontes, MSW (‘07) - Clinical Social Worker at SD Virtual School
Stephanie Phung (’15) - Clinical Psychiatric Pharmacist, Veterans Affairs
Chris Howard - Chief Executive Officer, Sharp HealthCare
Paula Berberick - VP of Marketing & Communications, Sharp Healthcare
Daniel McConnell, MBA - Simulation Operations Coordinator, Sharp Healthcare James S. Brown Simulation Center
Peter Lopez-Perez - Cybersecurity Engagement Specialist, Sharp Healthcare
Tristan Cain - Civil Engineer, Michael Baker International

Class of 2027 officially took to the field to engage in a real-world, project-based learning experience designed to fost...
02/19/2026

Class of 2027 officially took to the field to engage in a real-world, project-based learning experience designed to foster leadership and collaboration as they planned, organized, and executed their Junior Year Community Service Project!

Through structured brainstorming and guided planning activities, students took ownership of their work while strengthening their leadership skills. As part of the project, Cardinals also developed a plan to mentor and guide underclassmen, emphasizing the importance of the City Heights Canyons as natural watersheds and vital community resources.

A big thank you to Ocean Discovery Institute, San Diego Canyonlands, and community members Dennis Woods, Jody Carey, and Linda Pennington for their invaluable support in driving positive change in City Heights.

Class of 2028 recently had the opportunity to explore San Diego State University! 🔴⚫🎓 Their day included a campus tour, ...
02/06/2026

Class of 2028 recently had the opportunity to explore San Diego State University! 🔴⚫🎓 Their day included a campus tour, connecting with Rotaract of San Diego State University students to learn more about the organization, a Q&A session with SDSU Provost Dr. William Tong, and some fun bowling at SDSU’s Aztec Lanes! 🎳

CI alum Hector Moreno (‘24), now part of SDSU Rotaract, joined the group throughout the program! Thank you to SDSU Rotaract for hosting our Cardinals and to Provost Dr. William Tong for taking the time to speak with them!

Applications for the Cardinals Interact Class of 2029 are due TODAY by 5 PM! Interested students can apply online at car...
02/04/2026

Applications for the Cardinals Interact Class of 2029 are due TODAY by 5 PM! Interested students can apply online at cardinalsinteract.org.

Join Cardinals Interact to build lasting friendships, take part in annual camps, and explore future career paths. Cardinals also engage in meaningful community service, receive academic support, and are eligible for stipends or scholarships.

Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions!

Address

4305 University Avenue
San Diego, CA
92105

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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Our Story

Cardinals Interact Program is a partnership between Price Philanthropies, San Diego Downtown Rotary and Hoover High School. The program provides positive and supportive activities for students over a 3 1/2-year period (9, 10, 11 & 12th grade). Our mission is to help Cardinals Interact students to achieve lifelong success.

The program offers participant academic support, tutoring, mentoring activities, as well as the opportunity to become part of a positive community.

During the first year students are required to attend camp and a two-week Summer Enrichment Program. Camp provides students with the chance to get to know each other while gaining an understanding of how the program can help them succeed in high school.

During the remainder of the time in the program students will participate in programs to local businesses, non-profits, and public organizations. Students will learn how these organizations function, and the many different career opportunities they offer.