Jovany Cardenas Vargas

Student at Allan Hancock College

Jovany Cardenas Vargas

About Me

Hello! My name is Jovany Cardenas Vargas, and I am years old. I come from a family with two younger brothers and two older half-brothers. My parents, originally from Mexico, work in the strawberry fields, and their work ethic has been a source of inspiration for me. I was born and raised in Santa Maria, CA, and first discovered my passion for Computer Science in high school through a Web Design class that opened my eyes to the creative and logical possibilities of coding.

I graduated from Pioneer Valley High School in 2022 with a 3.6 GPA and am currently pursuing an Associate of Science in Computer Science at Allan Hancock College. My coursework includes key foundational classes such as CS111 (Fundamentals of Programming 1), CS112 (Fundamentals of Programming 2), CS131 (Computer Organization), and CS161 (Discrete Structures). I plan to transfer to a four-year university like Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to earn a bachelor's degree in Computer Science and continue exploring software development, AI, cybersecurity, information technology, and system design.

Outside of academics, I actively participate in clubs and enrichment programs such as SkillsUSA, the Computer Science Club, and the Science and Engineering Club. I also benefit from support programs like EOPS, CAN-TRIO, and MESA, which have helped me grow both personally and professionally. Through SkillsUSA, I’ve had the opportunity to compete and lead at a high level—earning gold medals at the state level three years in a row and a silver medal nationally. I plan to remain active in the organization for all four years that I am at Allan Hancock College, I have served as the Chapter Secretary, Chapter Vice-President, and currently as Chapter President.

Professionally, I work at the Allan Hancock College Career Center as a student worker, where I support students with job searches, resume and cover letter writing, and preparation for meetings with career counselors. I also help facilitate events like the Career Expo and Career Carnival, and provide operational support to programs like College Corps and SkillsUSA. In Fall 2024, I stepped in as a Substitute Career Center Program Specialist, where I took on more advanced responsibilities, including coordinating with community partners, managing logistics, and assisting with onboarding and fellow support.

Work Experience

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Student Worker
Allan Hancock College Career Center / College Corps
October 2022 – Present

Serve as a student worker supporting both the Career Center and College Corps program with a wide range of student services and operational duties. Assist students with job searching, resume and cover letter writing, typing tests, and scheduling appointments with career counselors. Greet and guide students at the front desk, maintain appointments, organize materials, and ensure smooth daily operations. Collaborate with staff in planning and executing campus-wide events such as Career Carnival, Career Expo, and program-specific workshops. Support the College Corps program by maintaining contact with fellows, verifying hours, and organizing logistics for orientations, events, and merchandise distribution. Track inventory, manage file documentation, and help with onboarding and offboarding of fellows. Additionally, contribute to marketing efforts and digital communication across both departments, design outreach materials, and train incoming student assistants. This role has provided continual growth in communication, event planning, project coordination, and professional service delivery.
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Career Center Program Specialist – College Corps (Sub)
Allan Hancock College Career Center
September 2024 – December 2024

Temporarily filled the role of Program Specialist for the College Corps initiative, ensuring smooth operation of program activities. Maintained consistent communication with student fellows to verify timely submission of program paperwork and fulfillment of service hours. Coordinated site visits with community partners to address fellow progress and placement concerns, and helped facilitate monthly training sessions, planning meetings, and events. Designed visual materials for program outreach and organized logistical support for both internal operations and off-campus events.
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Student Intern
Santa Barbara County Education Office – Early Care & Education Program
January 2022 – April 2022

Provided general administrative assistance at a county office focused on early childhood education. Answered phone calls, greeted guests, sorted mail, and helped prepare packets and printed materials for families and staff. Accurately entered confidential data into digital systems and supported the team in keeping documents and records
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Agricultural Worker
Cardenas Bros. Farming Inc.
Summer 2021 & 2022

Worked seasonally in the strawberry fields performing physically demanding tasks such as harvesting, inspecting, and sorting strawberries to maintain high quality and freshness. Operated heavy agricultural machinery including tractors, forklifts, and trucks to transport and organize pallets and materials across the field. Supported supervisors with daily operations, including watering crops, preparing and mixing fertilizers and acids for distribution to plants, and maintaining safety protocols under extreme outdoor conditions. This hands-on role developed my physical endurance, time management, attention to detail, and the ability to work as part of a team.

Coding Projects

All of the programs below were developed as part of the SkillsUSA Computer Programming competitions I’ve participated in. Each competition presents challenges without any prior notice, requiring competitors to design and build functional programs entirely from scratch. At the state and national levels, we typically have around two hours to complete each task, and are usually given at least two distinct programming prompts. Below is a selection of projects I’ve created during these timed competitions.

SkillsUSA 2022-23
SkillsUSA 2023-24
SkillsUSA 2024-25

My Certificates & Awards

Memberships

Extracurriculars

  • Computer Science Club (2023–Present)
  • Science & Engineering Club (2022–Present)
  • SkillsUSA (2022–Present)
    • Chapter Secretary (2022–23)
    • Chapter Vice-President (2023–24)
    • Chapter President (2024–25)

Student Programs

  • MESA/STEM
  • EOPS
  • CAN-TRIO

Skills


Programming Languages

Java

  • Advanced
  • Proficient in designing and building a wide variety of applications, including games, utilities, and interactive tools. Strong understanding of object-oriented programming and Java frameworks.

Python

  • Advanced
  • Skilled in developing CLI and Web-based applications. Familiar with libraries for data manipulation, automation, and scripting, but actively working to strengthen advanced use cases.

HTML

  • Advanced
  • Well-versed in semantic HTML and responsive design. Capable of structuring professional-grade web content and optimizing accessibility and SEO.

CSS

  • Advanced
  • Proficient in styling web pages using modern CSS techniques, including Flexbox and Grid. Continuing to improve skills in animations and advanced layout design.

JavaScript

  • Intermediate
  • Comfortable implementing interactivity, DOM manipulation, and simple logic. Seeking to expand knowledge in frameworks and asynchronous programming.

C++

  • Beginner
  • Basic familiarity with syntax, control structures, and object-oriented concepts. Currently exploring more advanced features like pointers and memory management.

Assembly Language

  • Novice
  • Introduced to assembly language through coursework (CS 131, Fall 2023). Gained foundational understanding of registers, operations, and low-level logic.

Contact

📄 Download Full Resume (PDF)

📧 Personal Email: [email protected]

📨 Work Email: [email protected]

📞 Phone: 805-922-6966 ext. 5844

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