Tag Archives: Butte College

September 7, 2024

Uncategorized September 7, 2024 Leave a comment

Yesterday I read a fun piece in the NY Times “Readers Told Us Their Favorite 1999 Movies. Here’s What Came Out on Top.”
I could have told you that The Matrix would be #1.  Also, if you were wondering why I picked the name Neo for my 8-week old puppy 7 years ago…. now you know.


Movie buffs, check out the full article.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/06/movies/readers-favorite-1999-movies.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Good morning California.
It is September 7, 2024.
A good day to be a Community College Champion

From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

MovieMaker Names Santa Monica College
to Top 30 Best Film Schools List

MovieMaker magazine has once again named Santa Monica College one of the best film schools in North America. This year, SMC appears on the 30 Best Film Schools in the U.S. & Canada list, alongside institutions such as AFI Conservatory, Columbia University School of the Arts, Northwestern University, New York University, UCLA, and USC, among others.

» Read more!

Oxnard College Receives $50,000 Grant Renewal from Metallica’s All Within My Hands’ Scholars Initiative

Oxnard College has received a $50,000 grant renewal from the Grammy Award-winning band Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands (AWMH). The award follows an initial grant of $100,000 issued last year and will continue supporting students in the college’s Culinary Arts, Dental Hygiene and Fire Academy programs as the band continues its multimillion-dollar investment in critical workforce programs at community colleges nationwide.

» Read more!

Breaking New Ground in HIV Research:
A Southwestern College Student’s Journey at Scripps Research Institute

Barbara Zazueta, a Southwestern College (SWC) student, has made significant strides in HIV research during her time in the Scripps Research Mentorship Program made possible through the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) Program at SWC. Over the course of 10 weeks, Zazueta worked on a cutting-edge project focusing on how a key component of the HIV-1 virus assembles, which could be crucial for future treatments.

» Read more!

In Case You Missed It

California Guided Pathways Project Insights

New resources to support Guided Pathways implementation are now available on the Chancellor’s Office website. The Guided Pathways Playbook is a guide to actionable, student-centered and equity-focused strategies for college professionals to implement Guided Pathways and achieve the bold goals outlined in the Vision for Success (2017), the Governor’s Roadmap (2021) and Vision 2030 (2023). 

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Monthly Accessibility Training Series

Please join the California Community Colleges Accessibility Center for an update on Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and how services provided by the Accessibility Center support the upcoming changes.

Thursday, Sept. 12, from 2-3 pm
Zoom link

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

From Contra Costa College:

Congrats to our Math Jam graduates!

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From Butte College:

Meet our College Connection class of 2025! These students from Chico, Pleasant Valley, Las Plumas and Oroville High Schools are getting a jump-start on their college education by completing their senior year at Butte College.

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From Los Angeles Valley College:

LAVC Opening Day 2024–We’re excited to welcome you to the start of our 75th new school year on Monday! Give a shout out to your favorite faculty & staff who made a difference in your educational journey.

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From Chabot College:

Way to cool off! Chabot’s Alpha Gamma Sigma (AGS) Honor Society brought a sweet treat to campus today by teaching students how to make homemade ice cream.

And From the Home of the Renegades

Fall 2024 Semester Begins with Series of Welcome Week Events

Bakersfield College faculty and staff were excited to welcome new and returning students to campus for the Fall 2024 semester. To create opportunities for student involvement and community building, Student Life hosted several Welcome Week events during the first two weeks of classes.

» Read more!

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Remember – our greatest challenges enable us to do our greatest work.

That’s all for today.

See you next Saturday!

With much hope and joy, 

Your Chancellor,

-sonya

#OurTimeisNow
#NuestroTiempoEsAhora

California CCs advancing Vision 2030 Workforce Development

Uncategorized August 10, 2024 1 Comment

The Fastest Man in the World.

Last Sunday, The US’s Noah Lyles took gold in the men’s 100M final. It was a photo-finish; he beat the silver medalist, Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson, by only .005 seconds. It was another in a series of amazing finishes and great story lines that have been all over these Olympic Games.

A huge congratulations to Diablo Valley College student Amit Elor, who took gold in 68kg women’s wrestling. Her cumulative score during the Games? 31-2.

20-year-old Amit is the youngest American to ever win wrestling gold at the Olympics.

Former Giant Quincy Hall made College of the Sequoias proud with a comeback win to take the men’s 400M gold. College of the Sequoias hosted a watch party –

Check out the race video from NBC Sports.

And congratulations to MiraCosta College student Bryce Wettstein, who made the finals for Women’s Sktateboarding Park, ending up in 6th place.

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As for me …..

This week I signed a MOU with Jensen Huang of NVIDIA and Governor Gavin Newsom as we launched a new state initiative to expand AI tools and resources for students, educators and workers.

This initiative will help our more than 2 million students get prepared with industry aligned skills in AI, and will support our Vision 2030 work about Generative AI and the Future of Learning.

Next I made a stop in Orange County to attend the Credit for Prior Learning workshop. It was a great conversation of how we can scale this work and bring it from the margins to the mainstream.

Valerie Lundy-Wagner, Erin Larson, Gar Adams, Sam Lee, Gina Browne, Don Daves-Rougeaux, Michelle Smith, David O’Brien, Sonya Christian, Billy Wagner, Ginni May

Then I headed south to San Diego to speak at the Hunt Institute. I try to always squeeze in a walk when I am in San Diego.

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Good morning California.
It is August 10, 2024.
A good day to be a Community College Champion

From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

U.S. Department of Commerce Leader Alejandra Castillo
Tours Chaffey College’s InTech Center

U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Castillo visited the Industrial Technical Learning Center with Congresswoman Norma Torres on July 26 to learn how the federal government can support workforce development in the Inland Empire.

» Read more!

College of the Canyons Aerospace and Science Team
Receives $136,000 Grant from NASA

It’s all systems go for the College of the Canyons Aerospace and Science Team (AST), which has received a $136,000 grant from NASA to support its High-Altitude Student Platform (HASP), RockOn, and RockSat-X suborbital rocket programs.  To date, COC is the only community college that has successfully participated in HASP eight years in a row, as well as four RockSatX missions and two RockOn missions.

» Read more!

Norco College’s Rising Scholars Program at CRC
Achieves Unprecedented Success

In June 2024, 52 students graduated from Norco College’s Rising Scholars Program at CRC with Associate Degrees for Transfer. This milestone was marked by the first graduation ceremony since 2019 that allowed the presence of family and friends, making it a particularly special event for the graduates and their loved ones. According to the 2024 Rehabilitative Programming Report by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), Norco College’s Rising Scholars Program at CRC has awarded more college degrees than any other CDCR institution.

» Read more!

MSJC’s Roger Schultz Elected as League Board Chair,
CEOCCC Board President

Roger Schultz, Ph.D., Mt. San Jacinto College’s President/Superintendent, has been elected as the President of the Chief Executive Officers of the California Community Colleges (CEOCCC) Board of the Community College League of California. Schultz will also serve as the Chair for the Community College League of California (League) Board of Directors.

» Read more!

In Case You Missed It

California Community Colleges Expanding Nursing Programs
to Meet State’s Regional Nursing Shortages

The California Community Colleges announced the launch of a new initiative to increase the number of nurses to meet the growing needs of California’s aging and diverse population.

Twelve community colleges convened in a virtual kick-off of the associate degree for nursing demonstration project led by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. The goal of the initiative, part of the community colleges’ Vision 2030 strategic framework, is to increase enrollment in associate degree nursing programs to address the shortage of registered nurses in rural and remote areas while ensuring equity in access to the profession.

The 12 colleges participating in the demonstration project are: Butte College, Cabrillo College, Monterey Peninsula College, Bakersfield College, Modesto Junior College, Cuesta College, Ventura College, Golden West College, Saddleback College, Mt. San Jacinto College, Riverside City College, and College of the Desert.

» Read more!

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

From Los Angles Harbor College:

Harbor College celebrating DSPS pride month College President, Dr. Dorado and VP, Dr. Dorado welcoming students Go Seahawks!!

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From Bakersfield College’s Kimberly Bligh:

Love love love our Bridge to BC team. One week to go for Summer 24… 10 years and over 15,000 students served!

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From Allan Hancock College:

The Santa Maria Valley YMCA, in collaboration with Allan Hancock College, hosted a RiseUP Bridging Ceremony Aug. 2 celebrating the achievements of local youth as they transition to higher education and future careers.

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From Ventura College President Claudia Lourido-Habib:

I’m grateful for my admin team’s openness & contributions during a productive leadership retreat. Grounded in the student experience, we worked towards increasing team cohesion and collaboration so we can lead and support our colleagues

And From the Home of the Renegades

BC History Highlight: Memorial Stadium

The Bakersfield College Memorial Stadium was not an easy feat for those credited with its creation, but certainly a triumph! The stadium was the first structure completed on Bakersfield College’s Panorama campus, and the construction plans were meticulously assembled. It required intensive research and close attention to detail by Theron McCuen, then Superintendent of the Kern County Union High School and Junior College District and its Board of Trustees, and then BC President Ralph Prator, who contributed significantly to realizing Grace Bird’s vision of a college on a hill.

» Read more!

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Remember – our greatest challenges enable us to do our greatest work.

That’s all for today.

See you next Saturday!

With much hope and joy, 

Your Chancellor,

-sonya

#OurTimeisNow
#NuestroTiempoEsAhora

Wrapping up an academic year

Uncategorized June 22, 2024 Leave a comment

I started my week in DC for a White House AI summit. And of course did my Washington Monument photo ritual…

Back in Sacramento, the executive team had a two-day planning meeting, and we also celebrated Deputy Chancellor Daisy Gonzales who is transitioning to lead the California Student Aid Commission:

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It was also a time to honor Juneteenth, a federal holiday to commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas at the end of the Civil War.

Good morning California.
It is June 22, 2024.
A good day to be a Community College Champion

From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

Coalinga College Advances to Community College Innovation Challenge Finals

Coalinga College was one of 12 finalist teams selected to advance to the final round of the Community College Innovation Challenge. The Coalinga team’s project – “Got Calcium: The New Battery Innovation” – seeks to switch from lithium to calcium batteries to improve cost-effectiveness, safety, and battery performance offering an eco-friendly alternative for energy storage solutions.

» Read more!

Shasta College & Reach University Partner to Increase
Local Bachelor’s Degree Attainment for Rural Working Adults

Shasta College and Reach University today announced a partnership to offer Shasta College graduates a fully transferable, job-embedded, and paid pathway to a bachelor’s degree in their local community. In the partnership’s “Associate to Bachelor’s Degree Transfer Pathway,” Shasta College graduates from 70 programs can transfer 100% of their associate credits into Reach University’s liberal studies degree program. 

» Read more!

Sacramento State Partners with Community Colleges to Create
Guaranteed Pathway to Black Honors College

The California State University, Sacramento (Sacramento State) signed a deal with 15 California community colleges to guarantee the admission of all eligible transfer students to its first-in-the-nation Black Honors College (BHC).

Sacramento State signed the partnership agreement with the participating community colleges during a Juneteenth Symposium on June 13. Eligible students will be able to transfer smoothly into the BHC from Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2030.

The colleges include:

American River College
Butte College
Cosumnes River College
Folsom Lake College
Fullerton College
Merritt College
Mission College
Modesto Junior College

Moorpark College
Palomar College
Sacramento City College
San Diego College of Continuing Education
San Joaquin Delta College
Sierra College
Yuba College

» Read more!

In Case You Missed It

Stanford Report: Monica Hicks’ about-face

Once an inmate in California’s state prison system, Monica Hicks graduated from Stanford with a bachelor’s degree in computer science.

The Stanford Report published this great story about a student who graduated after completing a prison sentence and forging a new path by starting at a community college.

» Read more!

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Cal Chamber: Local Workforce Development and Economic Mobility Have Extensive Community College Underpinnings

Through diverse and innovative workforce development programs and initiatives, California Community Colleges are directly shaping the future of the state’s workforce by addressing industry needs, bridging skill gaps and providing students with practical training and opportunities for economic advancement and career success.

» Read more!

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

From the Student Senate for California Community Colleges:

Thank you to the 2023-2024 Board of Directors for a wonderful year. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors and continued success

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From Cañada College:

On Tuesday, June 18th, the Black Student Union (BSU), TRIO Student Support Services, and Promise Scholars Program (PSP) collaborated to help our campus celebrate Juneteenth. As a way to commemorate this day, we supported a Black owned business, Everett and Jones (located in Oakland), and participants enjoyed barbecue and soul food as they watched Netflix’s High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America. The series explores the throughline of food, tradition and culture that survived the Transatlantic Slave Trade and became staples in American cuisine. The documentary series proved impactful as folks dried their eyes as the episode ended. Next, participants teamed up for a game of Kahoot! to learn more about the significance of the Juneteenth holiday. Juneteenth not only celebrates the freedom of enslaved Africans but is a celebration of progress in our community. Thank you to the BSU, TRIO, and PSP for creating a moving event!

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From MiraCosta College:

Congrats to Kat Parra, MiraCosta alumna, on her Emmy Award win! She received the Emmy for her exceptional work as a Newscast Director at @fox5sandiego and @KUSINews. Her success is a testament to the strong foundation laid at MiraCosta College.

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From El Camino College:

CA State Senator @SteveBradford recognized the ECC Men’s soccer team for being named the 2023 Nat’l Champions by @UnitedCoaches for the Junior College D3 Men’s Soccer Rankings.

And From the Home of the Renegades

BC Theater Program To Present Something Rotten!

Bakersfield College’s Theater Program announced today the details of their annual summer musical, a traditional collaboration with the Choral and Instrumental Music programs. This year’s presentation will be Something Rotten, with a book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell, music and lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick, directed by Professor Brian J. Sivesind, with Vocal Direction by Professor Caley Mayhall and Music Direction by Dr. Scott Dirkse. The musical will play in the Edward Simonsen Indoor Theatre on the Bakersfield College campus from July 12 through July 21; asdf

» Read more!

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Remember – our greatest challenges enable us to do our greatest work.

That’s all for today.

See you next Saturday!

With much hope and joy, 

Your Chancellor,

-sonya

#OurTimeisNow
#NuestroTiempoEsAhora

Moments that take our breath away – May 2024

Uncategorized May 5, 2024 Leave a comment

This week, we had the Board of Governors retreat. Thank you so much to the Santa Monica Team team for your hospitality!

I also spoke at the ZTC (Zero Textbook Cost) Summit at the College of the Canyons:

Last weekend I was in Cabo … loved waking up to this:

Beautiful Cabo:

Desert Rose:

At home, too, it’s a season of roses:

It’s also commencement season – with exercises for some of our community colleges happening this weekend!

Life Is Not Measured By the Number of Breaths We Take,
But By the Moments That Take Our Breath Away

Good morning California.
It is May 4, 2024.
A good day to be a Community College Champion

From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

Chico State, Northern Community Colleges Streamline Transfer Process

Chico State President Steve Perez and leadership from Butte College, College of the Siskiyous, Feather River College, Lassen Community College, Shasta College, Woodland Community College and Yuba College signed Memoranda of Understanding to formalize dual admission and streamlined transfer for students interested in pursuing their bachelor’s degree at Chico State. This guaranteed admission and accompanying support mechanisms lay the groundwork to simplify and ease transfer students’ pathways to pursue four-year degrees, credentials, and further education within their region.

Celebrating College of San Mateo’s HSI Status and Black Excellence

On April 22, 2024, as part of California Community College’s Black Student Success Week, CSM’s Title V Grant team hosted an event to celebrate their designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) while spotlighting Black excellence in higher education.

» Read more!

Calbright College Launches Project Management Program

This spring, Calbright College launched its new Project Management program. This skills-based program will serve as an entry point into project management-based careers, which have an expected job growth rate of 10.5% over the next decade and can span multiple industries. 

» Read more!

San Joaquin Delta College Invites Public to View “Eyes of Science”

San Joaquin Delta College is the only community college in the U.S. to offer training in electron microscopy. With magnification of 100,000 times or greater, these powerful microscopes are known as the “eyes of science” because they are used for critical research in many scientific fields. Graduates of Delta’s electron microscopy program have landed high-paying, in-demand jobs at laboratories across the country. SJDC recently held an open house showcasing their electron microscopy program.

» Learn more about Electron Microscopy at SJDC!

In Case You Missed It

Expanding Horizons: How California’s Community Colleges
are Shaping the Future of Education

In a recent episode of the Capstone Conversation, hosted by Jared Asch, a special three-part series on community colleges and local education was kicked off with Tom Epstein, a member of the California Community College Board of Governors. The series explores the unique roles and innovative programs within the California community college system, emphasizing their efforts in local education and community engagement.

» Check out the podcast!

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

Thank you Paul Medina for sharing this:

Wishing a Happy 21st birthday to Board of Governors member Casey Chang! Casey celebrated this milestone with her fellow BOG colleagues during a retreat.

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From Moorpark College:

Jamaal Brown hosted an exhilarating trivia-style Black History quiz competition at Moorpark College. The Black 365 Knowledge Bowl, a fast-paced, buzzer-beating event challenged participants to answer a series of questions related to African American history. The spirited contest crowned the Black 365 Knowledge Bowl Champ and was an inspirational celebration of Black history and achievements. The hour-long event was designed to entertain and inform attendees with rich historical content and stories of prominent Black individuals.

Winner of the Black 365 Knowledge Bowl: Student -Wren Grant. Special recognition to Tristin Fowler Counseling Service Specialist (Black Student Success) for organizing and implementing this event.

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From Reedley College:

2024 STEM Conference! Over 500 students from our local elementary, middle and high schools on our campus today. Lots of workshops and a lot of fun!

Blast from the Past

As we begin commencement season, I wanted to share my Welcome Remarks from the Bakersfield College 2021 Virtual Commencement:

And From the Home of the Renegades

BC Receives Generous Donation of 2023 Lincoln Aviator
Thanks To Jim Burke Ford

Bakersfield College’s Automotive Technology Program has received a generous donation of a 2023 Lincoln Aviator from local dealership, Jim Burke Ford Lincoln. This contribution marks a significant enhancement to the College’s training fleet, providing students with hands-on experience with the latest in automotive technology.

» Read more!

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Remember – our greatest challenges enable us to do our greatest work.

That’s all for today.

See you next Saturday!

With much hope and joy, 

Your Chancellor,

-sonya

#OurTimeisNow
#NuestroTiempoEsAhora

Recognizing alternative forms of learning

Uncategorized April 27, 2024 1 Comment

Another wonderful action packed week.. testified at the Senate Fiscal Committee …
and Bessie came to visit.

Bessie and Neo

Good morning California.
It is April 27, 2024.
A good day to be a Community College Champion

From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

Pasadena City College, PUSD Celebrate Seven Dual Enrollment
High School Students Earning College Degrees

Local leaders and Pasadena educators gathered at PCC to celebrate seven students, who between them are earning 13 associate degrees in addition to their high school diplomas this spring. The event marked a major milestone for the college’s partnership with the Pasadena Unified School District. This is the first time that multiple dual enrollment students are earning their associate degrees in the same year.

» Read more!

Clovis Community College, Madera College
Join Achieving the Dream

Clovis Community College and Madera College are among eight community colleges that have joined the ATD Network of more than 300 institutions across the country as part of the 2024 Network cohort. The colleges will enter into ATD’s Foundations of Transformation core engagement, an intensive three-year program.

» Read more!

Final Beam Signed for Butte College’s
New State-of-the-Art Science Building

The Butte College Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, and students celebrated a major milestone in the construction of the college’s new science building by signing the final beam that will top off the 72,276-square-foot facility. The campus community gathered at the construction site at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 17.

» Read more!

Rio Hondo College Community Unites
to Celebrate Grand Opening of Campus Pride Center

Río Hondo College students, staff and community leaders gathered for a ribbon-cutting celebration to mark the grand opening of the institution’s first Pride Center on Feb. 15.  The Pride Center provides students with a place to bond in community and access support resources.

» Read more!

In Case You Missed It

Equity in Support: Strengthening Behavioral Health Services
through Partnerships

Join us on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. for the California Community Colleges System Webinar, “Equity in Support: Strengthening Behavioral Health Services through Partnerships.”

» Register online!

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Application Period Open for California Community Colleges
Chancellor’s Climate Fellows Program

Are you passionate about climate action and sustainability? Would you be excited to make a two-year commitment to support statewide level climate related work with Chancellor Sonya Christian and the Chancellor’s Office?

If so, please apply for this exciting opportunity to become a Chancellor’s Climate Fellow. Fellowships are available in four focus areas including community engagement, curriculum development, workforce and campus facilities.

» Read more!

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

From Calbright College – it was great seeing the Calbright team at the ASU+GSV Summit!

The Calbright team was thrilled to participate in the conversation at the recent @asugsvsummit to discuss the intersection of AI and equitable education design! Our thanks to the organizers for convening a group of inspiring professionals to advance these important ideas.

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From Shasta College:

Shoutout to our Forestry & Natural Resources club for their work in cleaning up a mile-long stretch of Old Oregon Trail near campus. 7 students & 2 faculty filled 3 55-gallon bags and collected large waste items. What a fantastic way to honor Earth Day! Way to give back

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From Hartnell College:

#ThrowbackThursday: In March, Hartnell MESA students explored Elkhorn Slough Reserve and attended the impactful Black Men in White Coats Conference. Proud of their learning journey!

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And check out this amazing dancing from Rock The School Bells Hip Hop Conference at Skyline College:

Blast from the Past

Here are my remarks about Competency Based Education and recognizing alternative forms of learning, from Day 2 of Bakersfield College’s virtual Opening Day 2021:

And From the Home of the Renegades

Bakersfield College Performing Arts Presents Metamorphoses

The Performing Arts Department is pleased to announce their latest performance for the Spring semester entitled Metamorphoses. Based on the original writings from legendary director Mary Zimmerman, adapted from the classic Myths of Ovid, the play combines both the modern and mythical for a must-see spectacle of love, loss, and transformation.

Performances will be held in Bakersfield College’s Edward Simonsen Outdoor Theatre: Saturday 4/27, and Sunday 4/28 at 7:30 PM. Tickets are now available online: $12 for general admission; $8 for students, staff, seniors, and veterans. Visit BC’s Online Events Calendar for additional information!

» Read more!

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Remember – our greatest challenges enable us to do our greatest work.

That’s all for today.

See you next Saturday!

With much hope and joy, 

Your Chancellor,

-sonya

#OurTimeisNow
#NuestroTiempoEsAhora

Sonya Christian's Blog