Bakersfield Californian | Sonya Christian's Blog

BC Featured: BC, that community gem up on the hill, celebrates 100 years

Sonya Christian

Check out the Community Voices section in today’s Californian http://tinyurl.com/l6eue5u

Here are a few excerpts:

Every business and every citizen is touched by what we do. Patients in hospitals are cared for by our nurses, and children watched over by our skilled, child care providers. Across generations we support the dream of advanced education of our students; our first graduate, Josephine Chase, went to UC Berkeley; 100 years later her great-great niece and nephew, Shelby and Colby Chase, are entering Bakersfield College with wide eyes and big dreams……….

I invite you to our Centennial Gala on Oct. 25, the night before the BC homecoming football game, for a proud celebration of this legacy………..Call the Bakersfield College Foundation at 395-4800 to reserve your seats.

I also invite you to join me on Sept. 14 for our football team’s home opener at Memorial Stadium against archrival Mt. San Antonio College. Wear your Renegade red! That week, we’ll also celebrate the 59th annual Alumni Association BBQ at Stramler Park. Get your tickets by calling 395-4326.

BC has no fewer than18 different sports. Check them all out at www.gogades.com. In fact BC has a rich menu of events for all — the Renegade Room, which is the learning laboratory for our culinary students, our performing arts programs, the gallery that displays our fine arts, the Levan Institute and the Levan lecture series, the Planetarium and the GardenFest, just to name a few.

Bringing the community back to BC: July 4, 2013

July 4, 2013 — To the delight of residents young and old, Bakersfield College Memorial Stadium brought back the July 4th fireworks spectacular after a four-year hiatus.

Bringing the community back to campus via events is one of my areas of focus and the BC M&O department responded immediately with the necessary support and coordination to make it happen. A big thank you to Tarina Perry who was at the front and center of all the events coordination.

I had the greatest feeling of pride and peace driving up Mt. Vernon to the campus at 8:00 p.m. to see families and their friends outside their homes, even south of University, waiting for the fireworks. As I got closer to campus the energy was palpable. And then entering the packed stadium and seeing all those lights was absolutely euphoric. I recalled many July 4ths from 10 years ago when we as a family did the BC fireworks as a family tradition.

Bakersfield College partnered with Canyon Hills Church, SC Anderson, Grimmway Enterprises, San Joaquin Community Hospital and other sponsors to present the I Love America Liberty Festival & Freedom Celebration on July 4, 2013.

It was a day of games, activities, booths and food for all, along with competitions held including a patriotic photo contest, singing, kid’s talent, best-dressed bicycle and everyone’s favorite…baby photos!

Festivities inside Memorial Stadium kicked-off at 7:30 p.m. with a crowd estimated at 8,000. There was so much to see! A parade, marching band, skydivers, the BC drum line, military and veterans’ honors, remembrance of the victims of 9/11, music by a 150-voice singing flag, and the grand-finale fireworks show beautifully choreographed to music.

Fourth of July is back at Bakersfield College Memorial Stadium, and with the continued support of our sponsors and community, the tradition of lighting up the sky at the stadium will live on for years to come.

Photo: The Bakersfield Californian