Did you know that it was 63 years ago today – May 25, 1961 – that President John F. Kennedy gave his famous speech before Congress that the US “should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth.”
That goal was realized on July 20, 1969, with Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.
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I began my week in Sacramento with the Board of Governors meeting. I want to extend a very special thank you to Paul Medina, who is ending his time as our student BOG member.
Back at home, I had a fun visitor in my pool:
I so enjoy the visiting ducks.
Neo…not so much.
Good morning California.
It is May 25, 2024.
A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!
Miramar College Earns Career Innovation Award
Miramar College is a proud recipient of the 2024 Career Innovation Award from The Career Leadership Collective. The team at The Career Leadership Collective was impressed by Miramar College’s innovative and equitable practices that the Career Education team is leading such as the Discover Series events which include Discover Your Passion, Discover Your Drive and Discover Your Superpower.
Ohlone Celebrates Junior Leadership Academy 2024 Graduation and Showcase
Ohlone College, held a graduation ceremony for its Junior Leadership Academy (JLA) students. This event marks a significant triumph for the students who have dedicated themselves to this transformative 15-week Spring semester series, emerging as equipped leaders ready to conquer challenges in the classroom, workplace, and community.
Sierra College Presents Dinosaur Day and Science Fest
Sierra College welcomed the community May 5 to the annual Dinosaur Day and Science Fest – a festival for all ages, focusing on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics), education, and so much more. The event featured hands-on activities, demonstrations, dissections, live animals and educational games.
Cypress College Students Coach Junior Chef Academy
From April 22 to 26, 11 Hotel, Restaurant, Culinary Arts students and graduates volunteered as Culinary Coaches for the third annual Junior Chef Academy (former Maple Master Chef Competition) at Commonwealth Elementary School in Fullerton. This event was organized by teacher Melissa Zaucha, and is the third time that Cypress College has helped mentor the budding bakers and cooks.
In Case You Missed It
California Community Colleges Honor Four
With Classified Employee of the Year Award
Four classified professionals, committed to equitable student outcomes, have been honored with the Classified Employee of the Year Award from the California Community Colleges Board of Governors.
The honorees, Yvette Garcia, Melissa Jauregui, Amanda Mellett and Anissa Mitchell were recognized at the Board of Governors meeting in Sacramento on May 20.
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AP: Community colleges offer clean energy training
as climate-related jobs expand across America
West Los Angeles College student Sarah Solis was featured in a recent AP piece about clean energy job training at community colleges.
“The 1,000-acre Inglewood Oil Field, near West Los Angeles College, where she first enrolled, was what pushed Solis to pursue environmental studies. She later switched to the school’s climate change degree, which was new at the time. Its climate offerings have grown since then; it now hosts the California Center for Climate Change Education.“
Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media
From BOG Member Harry LeGrande:
Spent the morning at David Weir Elementary School in Fairfield assisting Principal Guerney handing out K-2 Awards for attendance, academics and citizenship. Totally inspiring to see parents and students there. Then went Teacher Julie Bictor’s 2nd grade class and signed and handed out promotion certificates to her class. Her class has Cal as it’s adopted college. Thanks to the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office for providing the swag. Several second graders used the notebook to capture me and Ken Montgomery’s signatures to document the day.
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From Mission College:
What a wonderful time it was celebrating our international students at their Graduation Luncheon put on by the International Student Center on Wednesday, May 22! It was an inspiring event where we honored the incredible journeys and achievements of our students!
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From Compton College:
This past Sunday, our Head Baseball Coach, Shannon Williams, was the recipient of the 2024 Los Angeles Dodgers Teacher Appreciation Award!
Former and current student athletes he mentors, along with some our athletic staff, joined to celebrate and watch the head coach throw the first pitch for the LA Dodgers vs Cincinnati Reds game
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From Folsom Lake College:
Today we were excited to welcome a team from Mercy Hospital of Folsom including President/CEO Lisa Hausmann to discuss FLC’s Allied Health career education programs, bridging Mercy Folsom and FLC’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion efforts and improving access to healthcare for the Hispanic community, exploration of partnership opportunities, and touring the campus and the new science building.
Blast from the Past
Four years ago, I shared this video letter with my Bakersfield College colleagues following the death of George Floyd on Memorial Day 2020:
And From the Home of the Renegades
BC Hosts Campus Stories: Voices of AANHPI Scholars at Bakersfield College
In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, BC’s Student Government Association recently hosted Campus Stories: Voices of AANHPI Scholars at Bakersfield College.
The event featured a panel of three BC faculty and staff members and two BC students and was moderated by Bryan Hirayama, Professor of Communications at BC, all of whom are of AANHPI heritage. Each panel member shared stories from their individual experiences and answered questions about their families, cultural backgrounds, and educational and career journeys. Their stories of perseverance, overcoming obstacles, and personal achievements were truly inspirational and resonated strongly with those who gathered in the Renegade Events Center for the afternoon.
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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
This a great place to gather your thoughts and to end a busy week. 
