Tag Archives: Cerro Coso Community College

California Community Colleges supporting working California

Uncategorized October 18, 2025 Leave a comment

Over two days, the event brough together leaders statewide to  explore how noncredit programs are transforming lives and strengthening communities.

Mt SAC Trustees along with President Martha Garcia, President Tina King, BOG member Bill Rawlings, Madelyn Arballo

Chancellor Greg Smith, Exec Vice Chancellor Chris Ferguson, Secretary Stewart Knox

It was especially great to hear from some of our adult noncredit students –

President Martha Garcia with students

Thank you to host Mt. San Antonio College, co-host San Diego College of Continuing Education, the Association of Community and Continuing Education, and everyone at the CCC Chancellor’s Office for all your work putting this great event together!

Good morning California.
It is October 18, 2025.
A good day to be a Community College Champion

From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

College of Marin Foundation Receives Landmark $10 Million
Matching Grant from The Jay Pritzker Foundation

The College of Marin Foundation is proud to announce a transformative grant and endowment fund agreement with The Jay Pritzker Foundation, establishing the Jay Pritzker Foundation Centennial Endowment Fund. This landmark agreement with The Jay Pritzker Foundation will commit up to $10 million to create a permanent endowment dedicated to providing crucial needs-based scholarships and grants to College of Marin students. For every dollar donated to this fund, the Jay Pritzker Foundation will provide a one-to-one match creating the potential for a $20 million endowment.

» Read more!

West LA College Launches More Accessible
Home Appraiser Training Program

West Los Angeles College has been awarded a $100,000 grant from Wells Fargo to launch a groundbreaking real estate appraiser education program this Fall. This is a first-of-its-kind, Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers (BREA)-approved program that provides aspiring appraisers with an innovative pathway to licensure without the traditional supervisory requirement. Students will engage directly with licensed appraisers and gain exposure to real-world property appraisal assignments.

» Read more!

Contra Costa College’s Laura Lozano Elected to National I‑CAR Board of Directors

Contra Costa College collision repair program lead Laura Lozano has been elected to the I‑CAR Board of Directors, representing the Education segment in a national leadership role. I‑CAR, the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair, is a leading nonprofit that provides education, resources, and standards to ensure safe, high-quality vehicle repairs. The Board guides strategic direction for the organization, helping shape training for technicians, educators, and industry partners nationwide.

» Read more!

In Case You Missed It

California expanding early childhood education apprenticeships

California will spend $1.4 million to expand the Early Care and Education Pathways to Success apprenticeship program, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office.

Apprentices study curriculum for teaching and child care credentials while gaining hands-on experience in the classroom at child care centers such as Head Start.

» Read more!

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Glendale Community College Awarded $640K
to Promote Fire Prevention and Recovery Careers

Glendale Community College’s Career Education Department was recently awarded two grants totaling $640,000 from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office aimed at strengthening such efforts in the region through expanded career training opportunities.

Federico Saucedo, the dean of Instructional Services who oversees the Career Education & Workforce Development Department, said both grants highlight a common theme supporting fire programs and rebuilding efforts in the region, in light of the Eaton and Palisades fires in January.

» Read more!

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

From College of the Redwoods:

The third regional Healthcare Education & Workforce Summit was held on October 10th @bluelakecasino . The event addressed critical workforce education and training gaps affecting local healthcare employers and developing solutions to strengthen Humboldt County’s healthcare workforce.

This was an inspiring event, collectively bringing educators and healthcare providers together to strategize and improve the healthcare workforce to meet the needs of our community. Many thanks to @humboldtpolytechnic @humboldtcoe @northfarnorth @crcareercenter and our numerous local sponsors: we could not do this without your support!

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From Folsom Lake College:

Kikkoman executives toured our new science building today and we are so appreciative of their generosity and contribution to the new building and to the support of our students.

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From Copper Mountain College:

The first Color Run at CMC was a fun success! Thanks to all who participated!

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And check out this video from Reedley College promoting their Flight Science Program:

And From the Home of the Renegades

BC Hosts 2025 Agriculture Career Expo & Manufacturing Day

Bakersfield College was proud to host the 2025 Agriculture Career Expo & Manufacturing Day on Friday, October 10th. This annual event brought together more than 30 local employers to showcase a variety of career opportunities in the dynamic world of agriculture and manufacturing.

More than 1,000 students from local high schools and BC programs attended the event, which featured interactive stations, networking with industry professionals, an introduction to BC Programs, and more. Attendees also had the chance to gather in BC’s Indoor Theater to view an informational video on careers in the Ag and Manufacturing industries, and the anticipated growth of those industries in the years ahead.

» 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

Hello October 2025

Uncategorized October 4, 2025 Leave a comment

I had a wonderful time at the C3CONVERGE: The Community College Climate Summit this week in Anaheim. It was a great discussion on climate leadership and workforce innovation with Josh Fryday, GO-Serve Director.

Check out these pictures from BOG member Dr. Cirian Villavicencio:

We also visited Feather River College this week.

We got a look at their student housing, as well as fire management and equine programs.

Thank you to BOG member Joseph Williams, who shared this video:

As Joseph said, “Feather River College is proof that rural colleges are anchors of opportunity — preparing students, protecting communities, and shaping California’s future.”

Good morning California.
It is October 4, 2025.
A good day to be a Community College Champion

From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

Golden Globe Foundation Awards Grants to Santa Monica College
Journalism & Film Programs

The Golden Globe Foundation has given the Santa Monica College Foundation two grant awards to support the award-winning Santa Monica College film production and journalism programs. The Foundation provided a renewed grant award of $17,000 for SMC journalism students who work for/intern on the award-winning student-run media outlet The Corsair and $43,000 to help fund the film production program’s capstone class, “Making the Short Film.”

» Read more!

College of the Canyons Faculty Member Honored with NEA Award 

Wendy Brill-Wynkoop, chair of the College of the Canyons photography department, has been named a 2026 National Education Association (NEA) Foundation Global Learning Fellowship Traveler’s Award recipient for California, joining a distinguished cohort of just 48 educators nationwide. Wendy Brill-Wynkoop, chair of the College of the Canyons photography department, has been named a 2026 National Education Association (NEA) Foundation Global Learning Fellowship Traveler’s Award recipient for California, joining a distinguished cohort of just 48 educators nationwide.

» Read more!

Cerritos College Secures $1.25 Million Grant
to Break Barriers for Women in Construction

Cerritos College is breaking new ground for women in construction. The college has secured a transformative $1.25 million Equal Representation in Construction Apprenticeship (ERiCA) grant from the California Department of Industrial Relations to expand pathways into one of the region’s highest-paying and fastest-growing industries. This funding will help women and underrepresented populations access stable, high-wage careers, uplifting families and communities across Southeast Los Angeles.

» Read more!

Riverside City College Donates Backpacks to Central Middle School Students

On Thursday, September 25, the Riverside City College (RCC) Black Faculty & Staff Association (BFSA), in partnership with Umoja, donated backpacks filled with school supplies to students at Central Middle School in the Riverside Unified School District (RUSD). The event highlighted RCC’s ongoing commitment to equity, inclusion, and community connection.

» Read more!

In Case You Missed It

Contextualizing Completion Gaps for First-Generation Students

irst-generation students are twice as likely to leave college without completing a bachelor’s degree than their peers, even if they come from higher-income backgrounds and come to college academically prepared, according to a new report from the Common App. The findings suggest these factors do make a difference for student success outcomes but don’t erase other barriers first-generation students might face.

The report, released Thursday and the fourth in a series on first-generation students, used data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center to track enrollment, persistence and completion rates for 785,300 Common App applicants in the 2016–17 application cycle. (Students whose parents didn’t complete bachelor’s degrees made up 32 percent of the sample.) The report also took into account how a range of factors could affect student outcomes, including students’ incomes, their levels of academic preparation and how well-resourced their colleges are.

» Read more!

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

From Cabrillo College:

What a celebratory morning! Cabrillo College and UC Santa Cruz broke ground on their 624-bed, affordable student housing project! Special thanks to State Senator John Laird, UCSC Chancellor Cynthia Larive, and all of our project partners and members of the Cabrillo and UCSC housing teams! Leases will be available in Summer 2026 for move-in Summer 2027!

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From San Jose City College:

Yesterday, the Vietnamese Student Association (VSA) hosted its Mid-Autumn Festival! The event featured music, tasty food, and even lantern decorating!

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From Cerro Coso Community College:

What a Night Under the Stars! A huge thank-you to everyone who came out and made the Cerro Coso Foundation’s Astronomical Star Party & Barbecue such a success!

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From Columbia College:

Columbia College is happy to welcome over 1,000 High School Juniors and Seniors from 26 different High Schools to Claim Jumper Day! This annual preview day gives prospective students a glimpse of everything Columbia College has to offer with special presentations and tour stops all over campus.

And From the Home of the Renegades

BC Hosting Series of Events to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

Bakersfield College is hosting a series of exciting events and activities to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. The festivities began on September 15th with the Hispanic Heritage Month Kick-Off and will continue through October 15th. Students, faculty, staff, and community members are coming together to enjoy a variety of Hispanic-themed games, crafts, food, and more.

There will be a Noche de Familia at BC’s Arvin Campus, another Talavera Tile Painting at BC’s Delano Campus, a community mural project celebrating the life of Frida Kahlo at the Panorama Campus, and more!

Please visit the BC online events calendar for a full list of activities and events. We hope you can join us! Somos BC!

» 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

Cherish the good times and let go of the bad. Life goes on.

Uncategorized August 9, 2025 1 Comment

This week was hectic with Thursday being even more so…

A team from the Chancellor’s Office (Chris Ferguson, Tony Cordova, and me) headed to Google San Francisco for a press conference with Governor Newsom on cultivating tech and higher education partnerships for workforce development.

You see us in the photo before hanging out with some of our favorite people — Amy Tong, Stewart Knox and a new addition to the Governor’s cabinet Randi Michel.

Clearly we are having a good time prior to the press annoucement.

Chris Ferguson, Amy Tong, Sonya Christian, Stewart Knox, Randi Michel, Tony Cordova

We then rolled into a roundtable conversation with the Governor who was in high spirits, relaxed and fully engaged.

That was followed by the press event outdoors. checkout the breathtaking view in all the photos of beautiful San Francisco … even the sun came out to celebrate the day, to celebrate this partnership.

It is mind blowing to hear about the new developments in the tech world. I read about them, but to actually hear it from the company leaders directly is something else. We had four of the tech giants there – Google, Microsoft, Adobe and IBM.

In case you missed this blurb on the LAist website

To succeed in the workforce, it’s essential for students to become “AI-fluent,” said California Community Colleges Chancellor Sonya Christian.

Gov. Gavin Newsom noted that even careers that were recently very lucrative, like software engineering, have rapidly transformed, in part because AI can do the work that recent grads were traditionally hired to take on.

Photo from the LAist website

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I’d also like to take a moment to remember former BC President Rick Wright, who passed away this week at the age of 81.

Rick was the president who hired me as a math faculty at BC and later went on to sign all the papers required by INS to get me a green card. I was sorry to hear about his passing.

Here’s a wonderful picture from back in 2014, during BC’s centennial celebration kickoff at Opening Day. I was joined by former BC presidents Richard Wright, Sandra Serrano, and Greg Chamberlain as we cut the Centennial Cake.

Rick Wright, Sandra Serrano, Sonya Christian, Greg Chamberlain

And I’d like to extend my thoughts to colleagues at Santa Barbara City College, as their longest-serving president, Peter MacDougall, passed away at age 85. He served for 21 years before stepping down in 2002.

Cherish the good times and let go of the bad. Life goes on.

Good morning California.
It is August 9, 2025.
A good day to be a Community College Champion

From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

Contra Costa College Launches New Civil Engineering Apprenticeship Program

Contra Costa College is proud to launch the Civil Engineering Degree Apprenticeship Pathway (CEDAP), a groundbreaking new program that offers students a supported, debt-free route into high-demand infrastructure careers. The program officially kicked off on July 7 with an on-campus celebration that welcomed the first 20-student cohort into the new five-year pathway. CEDAP is designed to open doors in civil and transportation engineering. Funded by a $5 million federal grant, this initiative is a partnership between CCC, the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County (WDBCCC), Growth Sector, Caltrans, and other regional employers and universities.

» Read more!

Lemoore College Jump Start Internship Program Gives High School Students
a Head Start on College and Career Goals

Since July 1, more than 50 local high school students have been gaining hands-on college and career experience through Lemoore College’s summer Jump Start internship program—a dynamic, dual enrollment opportunity that allows students to earn college credit while exploring high-demand career fields.

» Read more!

Santa Ana College Introduces Innovative AI For Business Degree and Certificate

The Santa Ana College Business Division has announced the new Associate of Science (AS) Degree in Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Business which will be launched this upcoming fall. With AI’s growing implementation in the world of business, this forward-thinking program will prepare students to use AI tools like ChatGPT, automate business tasks, and gain career-ready skills in marketing, finance, human resources, and many more.

» Read more!

Cerro Coso Community College Honored with Beautification Award
at 79th Annual Ridgecrest Chamber Community Awards

Cerro Coso Community College proudly accepted the Beautification Award at the 79th Annual Ridgecrest Chamber Community Awards held on June 13, 2025. This honor celebrates businesses, property owners, and organizations that have significantly enhanced the appearance and aesthetic value of properties within Ridgecrest. Cerro Coso earned this recognition for its Outdoor Sports Complex Renovation.

In Case You Missed It

Press Release: Study Finds California Community Colleges Support
Nearly 1.7M Jobs and Deliver Major Returns for Students, Taxpayers, and State

Powering nearly 1.7 million jobs and contributing $173 billion last fiscal year, California’s community colleges account for approximately 5% of California’s total gross state product, a new study reveals. The data reinforces that California’s community colleges are an investment fueling the state’s economic engine and creating meaningful impact in the lives of millions, every single day.

The Economic Value of the California Community Colleges System report examined a wide range of factors such as payroll, job creation, and alumni’s improved standard of living. According to findings, for every $1 invested in the community colleges, students gain more than $13 in earnings, taxpayers gain just under $2 in added tax revenue, and society gains $14 in added income and social savings.

» Read more!

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LA Times: Undeterred by tough restaurant times, students are lining up for this college culinary program

It has been a brutal stretch for L.A. restaurants. Since 2023, hundreds of notable spots have shuttered amid escalating costs for food and labor, and a weakening economy.

More recently, the local scene has also been roiled by the January wildfires, which torched several restaurants, caused some to temporarily close and displaced workers. Then, this summer, federal immigration enforcement raids led many undocumented workers to leave their posts over fear of detainment.

It’s a dicey environment in which to launch a restaurant industry career. But Los Angeles Trade-Technical College’s culinary program tells a different story — enrollment grew by 13% last academic year, and it is up nearly 30% since 2019.

» Read more!

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

From Clovis Community College:

Happy Monday! President Kim Armstrong excited to pose with athletes for the NEW 10th anniversary new uniform reveal! Visit http://gocloviscrush.com to stay up-to-date with our athletic events. 

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From Modesto Junior College:

MJC’s CalWORKs program honored and recognized students at the 2025 end of year ceremony. This annual event celebrates the success of the students, who are also parents, that have participated in the MJC CalWORKs Program. This Program works collaboratively with Stanislaus County Community Services Agency (CSA) to provide support services, such as priority registration, ongoing career and academic counseling, and CSA Case Manager(s) on site.

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From Napa Valley College:

Unveiled this past spring, Freedom to Love by Dina Angel Wing now sits in the McCarthy Library lobby as a lasting tribute to LGBTQ+ history and community. The bronze sculpture honors rainbow flag creator Gilbert Baker alongside his patrons Tom Taylor and Jerome Goldstein, reflecting a legacy of visibility, generosity, and love. Special thanks to Donna Sachet, the “First Lady of the Castro,” for helping welcome this meaningful addition to Napa Valley College.

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From Mission College:

THANK YOU to all the incredible performers and everyone who joined us this year for Mission College’s 2025 Summer Concert Series! Your energy, passion, and love for live music have made every night unforgettable so far.

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And check out this video from Sacramento City College’s PACE/Umoja Fashion Show:

And From the Home of the Renegades

Academic Highlight: Commercial Music Program at BC

Bakersfield College is proud to offer a variety of academic programs and pathways that provide educational opportunities for students of all ages and career aspirations. Among its many offerings, BC features a focused Commercial Music Program, perfect for students looking to turn their love of music into a professional career.

The Commercial Music Program was first offered in 2017 with a focus on music used in advertising, film, television, video games, and other media. The program is still going strong, and each semester it equips students with training to build a career in the commercial music industry. Commercial music encompasses a diverse range of musical styles, including pop, rock, hip-hop, jazz, and others, and generally appeals to a broad audience.

» 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

With much hope and joy, 

Wrapping up May 2025 strong

Uncategorized May 31, 2025 Leave a comment

Started my week in Santa Barbara for the Vision 2030 Workshop. Woke up to this …..

As always, the Chancellor’s Office team found time to have some fun!

Flowers for you from my morning walk.

Back at home to my boy Neo …. the morning ritual …. after our walk Neo greets the pool dragon with a “woof”.

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Ms Rosamma Babu, my high school history teacher, passed away. She taught Indian history and was an amazing teacher.

Good morning California.
It is May 31, 2025.
A good day to be a Community College Champion

From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

Cerritos College Team Wins National Award for Transformative High School Partnership

Cerritos College’s commitment to meeting students where they are at once again earned national recognition from the League for Innovation in the Community College. The 2024-25 Innovation of the Year Award was presented to Assistant Director of Admissions and Records Laura Estrada, Interim Director of Educational Partnerships and Programs Sasha Leonardo, Assistant Director of Financial Aid Jamie Quiroz, and Counselor Dr. Clara Ross-Jones for their work launching the College Bound Buccaneers. In collaboration with Bellflower High School, this pilot program provides a direct pathway into Cerritos Complete, the college’s award-winning Promise Program.

» Read more!

American River College Professor Jesus Valle Honored
with 2025 Wilma Mankiller Memorial Award

American River College is proud to celebrate one of its own, Professor Jesus Valle, as the distinguished recipient of the 2025 Wilma Mankiller Memorial Award for Human and Civil Rights from the National Education Association. This national honor, named after the legendary Cherokee Nation leader and fearless advocate for American Indian children, recognizes individuals who have profoundly impacted education and the achievement of equal opportunity for American Indians/Alaska Natives. Professor Valle’s dedication spans 28 years of advocacy, mentorship, and an unwavering belief in the potential of tribal youth. 

» Read more!

Orange Coast College Partners with MM-SEAS to Enhance
Maritime Professional Licensing Support for Students

Orange Coast College is proud to announce a new partnership with MM-SEAS, a leading provider of U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) licensing software. This collaboration aims to enhance professional licensing support and tools for students enrolled in programs at the OCC Waterfront Campus, further demonstrating the College’s commitment to preparing students for successful careers in the maritime industry.

» Read more!

Sierra College Receives CAL FIRE Partnership Award

Sierra College and Superintendent/President Willy Duncan were honored by the CAL FIRE Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit with its 2024 “Partnership Award” for the college’s commitment to public safety and community service, its longstanding Fire Academy program, and recent efforts to bring a Regional Public Safety Training Center to Placer County.

» Read more!

In Case You Missed It

5 creative ways California colleges are feeding students beyond food pantries

To improve CalFresh outreach and enrollment, California started setting aside annual funds in 2021 for public colleges and universities to establish and operate basic needs centers with food pantries, where students obtain free food staples. The California State University and University of California systems each receive $15 million and California Community Colleges receives $30 million annually. As of 2023, every public higher education campus in the state has a basic needs center and food pantry.

However, for many campuses, these solutions still aren’t enough. To fill the gaps, some have created their own innovative solutions. From free meals to food lockers, staff and students at five campuses – including CCCs Compton College, Contra Costa College, Antelope Valley College, and Cerro Coso Community College – around California offer creative alternatives.

» Read more!

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

From West Valley College:

We’re incredibly proud of the creativity, drive, and business acumen our students demonstrated at the Entrepreneurship Center’s Business Pitch Competition. Their ideas are not just future-ready, some are already making an impact.

Leading up to the event, students participated in pre-sessions with mentors and industry experts to shape and strengthen their ideas. Each team delivered an 8–10 minute pitch to a panel of esteemed judges and the results were nothing short of impressive.

Congratulations to all the winning teams, each awarded a $5,000 startup grant to help launch their businesses. We are deeply grateful to Howard Gore and Kimberly Hawkins-Gore for generously sponsoring these grants and serving as judges during the event.

Special thanks to all the mentors, panel of judges, volunteers, E-Center Director Teresa Thompson, and our Dean of Professional Studies Eric Grabiel for bringing student innovation and entrepreneurship to center stage.

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From Coastline College:

To wrap up #AAPIHeritageMonth students and employees joined a peaceful Ikebana workshop last week. Led by Ayako Ariga and Miyako Arao, 35 participants created beautiful flower arrangements while learning the art and symbolism of this Japanese tradition.

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From Copper Mountain College:

We’re thrilled to announce that the Criminal Justice Club at Copper Mountain College is officially up and running — and growing fast! Our April launch event, “Anatomy of a Murder,” was a huge success, bringing students, staff, and local law enforcement together for an engaging evening of insight and discussion. We’re proud to share that the club already has 17 active members!

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From Chaffey College:

So much pride celebrating the accomplishments of our Black/African American students at our Rites of Passage graduation celebration.

And From the Home of the Renegades

Bakersfield College Celebrates 2025 Transfer Students

Bakersfield College proudly hosted the 2025 Transfer Celebration late last month, honoring students who will be continuing their academic journeys at four-year universities across California and beyond.

Representatives from the CSU Office of the Chancellor and UC Merced, speaking on behalf of the UC Office of the President, offered welcoming remarks and words of encouragement as students prepare for the next step in their educational journey.

» 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

Hope in not an illusion. Hope does not disappoint.

Uncategorized April 26, 2025 Leave a comment

Pope Francis passed away on April 21st (Easter Monday). He was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in 1936 in Buenos Aires.

Pope Francis led with humility, focusing on big reforms, and embracing modern ways to connect with people. His social media posts felt more like personal messages from a caring pastor rather than an official declaration. He shared prayers, encouragement, and called for a caring society.

Pope Francis was not afraid to take bold stands. He made it clear that issues like climate change aren’t just political debates — they’re moral responsibilities. He called on everyone to care for the planet. He has been a strong voice for migrants and refugees and has shown more openness toward LGBTQ than past popes, stressing that the Church welcomes everyone.

At a time when so many institutions feel out of touch, Pope Francis stood out by showing that leadership grounded in humility, action, and real human connection still matters.

His last message was read out on April 20th, Easter Sunday.

Here are two excerpts:

The resurrection of Jesus is indeed the basis of our hope. For in the light of this event, hope is no longer an illusion. Thanks to Christ — crucified and risen from the dead — hope does not disappoint! Spes non confundit! (cf. Rom 5:5). That hope is not an evasion, but a challenge; it does not delude, but empowers us.

On this day, I would like all of us to hope anew and to revive our trust in others, including those who are different than ourselves, or who come from distant lands, bringing unfamiliar customs, ways of life and ideas! For all of us are children of God!

Read more: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/urbi/documents/20250420-urbi-et-orbi-pasqua.html

Good morning California.
It is April 26, 2025.
A good day to be a Community College Champion

From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

College of the Desert hosts panel for students to
Connect with Hollywood professionals

COD’s Career and Workforce Solutions Center partnered up with Palm Springs Women in Film & Television to host a Careers in Art, Media & Entertainment Panel on April 2, featuring speakers from Hollywood. The panel gave students a sneak peek into a career in the industry. The panel featured an award-winning, producer, audio specialist and cinematographer. Some notable speakers included “Modern Family” production manager Sally Young and “Mission Impossible” cinematographer Alan Gitlin.

» Read more!

Santa Ana College Prepares Future Generation of College Students
at 31st Annual Kindercaminata

On March 28, 2025, Santa Ana College (SAC) hosted its 31st annual KinderCaminata, a college readiness and youth empowerment program that brings nearly 1,000 kindergartners from Santa Ana and Garden Grove Unified School Districts and several charter schools to visit the community college. The children, along with their teachers, experienced interactive activities, exhibits and other entertainment to learn about various career opportunities made possible through college education. 

» Read more!

Building a Bridge to Success: Southwestern College’s Men of Color Initiative

Southwestern College has taken another significant stride towards educational equity with the launch of its Men of Color Success and Excellence program. This initiative is not merely a program; it’s a commitment to fostering a sense of belonging and empowering Black, Latino, Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islander male students to thrive in higher education.

» Read more!

In Case You Missed It

California Student Aid Commission and the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Announce Partnership to Support Student Access to Aid

The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) is excited to announce a new collaboration with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (Chancellor’s Office). This new partnership will bring financial aid opportunities to students enrolling at California’s 116 community colleges through expanded data sharing. Last week, the two organizations finalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to provide CSAC with additional data to enhance opportunities for outreach to community college students that have not yet applied for aid, as well as supporting greater analysis of financial aid access across student groups and regions of our state.

» Read more!

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California community colleges receive Hearst Foundations grant
to enhance forestry and wildfire prevention

The Foundation for California Community Colleges in Sacramento has received a $150,000 grant from the William Randolph Hearst Foundation and The Hearst Foundation Inc. to support and expand its Resilient Careers in Forestry program.

The program partners with colleges throughout California to develop the forestry workforce, including wildfire preparedness. The foundation plans to use the grant to expand resources to Southern California.

» Read more!

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

From Clovis Community College:

We joined forces on Wednesday for Earth Day and the Black Student Success Week Spring Mixer .

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From Reedley College:

Thanks to everyone who came out to our cook-out for a fun day on the library lawn!

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From Cerro Coso Community College:

Black Student Success Week at Cerro Coso

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From Cuyamaca College:

CONGRATS to our men’s soccer team, state champions, and THANKS San Diego District 4 Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe for proclaiming April 25th as Cuyamaca College Men’s Soccer Team Day!

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From Norco College:

Hi Mustangs! A heartfelt thank you to our amazing Student Employees! We hope you enjoyed the Student Employee Appreciation Breakfast. Your hard work and dedication fosters community and continued success for all students at Norco College!

And From the Home of the Renegades

Shafter Library Adds Braille Books to Promote Inclusivity and Learning

The Shafter Library, a public library and satellite campus of Bakersfield College, recently acquired a collection of braille books, thanks to a Friends of the Shafter Library contribution. These books provide readers with the story written in English with clear braille lettering taped on each page. This makes the books inclusive to children who are blind or visually impaired, as well as to older family members reading to young children. It also provides a learning opportunity to those who are not visually impaired to learn more about braille.

Ariel Dyer, a BC Reference Librarian and Shafter Library Liaison, was excited about the new books. “The addition of this braille collection expands our reach to blind and visually impaired people and their families,” she said, “Additionally, it enriches the informal learning of sighted people and families through exposure to braille.”

» 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