This week, I was at UCLA at the STEM Transfer Pathways meeting and as I was settling down for the evening, I heard the Westminster Clock strike 8:00 p.m. and paused and to remember that familiar sound in my home, as a young girl, in Quilon, India.  My dad would wind the clock regularly and the richness and vibration of the sound has since them been comforting… Moments that take my breath away.

The Westminster Chimes, or Westminster Quarters, is a melody for a set of four quarter bells to mark each quarter hour. It was originally written in 1793 for a new clock in Great St. Mary’s in Cambridge. In 1851, the chime was adapted for a new clock at the Palace of Westminster – where the Big Ben bell is. Its popularity spread, and it is now one of the most commonly used clock chimes.

Listen to it here on YouTube:

And while on the topic of music, I watched the movie La La Land with beautiful music and visuals. Here are two songs from the movie that keep repeating in my head and tugging at my heart. Enjoy.

Mia & Sebastian’s Theme Song

City of Stars

And here is photo #2 of the tree that I’m watching leaf out that I mentioned in last week’s blog. The story of the tree again – over the last five years I have been watching a beautiful tree in our neighbor’s front yard go through the cycle of shedding leaves in the fall, going dormant in the winter, coming back to life in spring, and providing glorious shade in the hot summers. I enjoy this tree each morning and evening during my Neo walks. I have started taking photos to chronicle its annual rebirth. First photo, March 15, 2023, second photo March 23rd.

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

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Good morning friends.
It is March 25, 2023.
The sun shines bright over Kern CCD.

Porterville College

PC Day at Stafford’s

The community celebrated Porterville College day at Stafford’s Chocolates in downtown Porterville last week with free medium drinks and one-on-one help from PC Staff.

A steady flow of potential students came into the shop looking for a warm drink on a cold and wet day and spent time talking about their futures.

“We really enjoy these events in the community. It gives us a chance to meet with people one on one and really tailor our help to their specific needs. Whether someone needs help applying to PC so they can get their degree for transfer, or they just want to see if they can take a few classes, or earn a certificate so they can move up in their current career, we have something to help everyone at PC,” said Roger Perez, Director of Communications and Community Relations for Porterville College.

We would also like to remind everyone that all PC Students & Staff get 10% off at Stafford’s Chocolates every day. Just show your Campus ID at the checkout!

“PC Family” Honored on the City Wall of Fame

Maria C. Roman and Milt Stowe were recently inducted onto the City of Porterville Wall of Fame, along with Don Dowling, David Gong, and Cam Hamilton. They both hold special places in our “Pirate Hearts” as they are part of our Pirate family with Stowe being a PC Alumnus and PC Hall of Fame Athlete, and Roman being a PC Alumnus and now a Professor Emeritus for the institution.

The city recognized these individuals for their significant efforts and service to the community. With the addition of this year’s nominees, there have been a total of 69 honorees inducted since the inception of the program.

Councilmember Don Weyhrauch said a few words about former Porterville Mayor and councilmember Milt Stowe before presenting him with the honor. He said, “Milt Stowe’s love for the community goes beyond all barriers, and it would be hard to find someone more universally beloved than Milt Stowe. He is an inspiration to colleagues, friends, and citizens.”

Stowe was inducted into the Porterville College Athletic Hall of Fame for his achievements on the baseball diamond. He has worked for years in Porterville Parks and Leisure Services and has worn many hats during his long, distinguished career in community service. Stowe was a Division 1 basketball official for 30 years. He has been involved with the Porterville Breakfast Lions Club for years and is involved with many major service projects.

He has coached in various capacities throughout the years, including as an assistant coach with the Monache softball team. He’s also on the PC Foundation Board and Hall of Fame Committee.

He was Porterville Mayor from 2014-2018 and completed two terms on the City Council, where his efforts were extensive and contributions are legendary with so many accomplishments and successes,

Vice Mayor Kellie Carrillo then said a few words recognizing Maria Roman, “She has always been guided by principles of compassion, equity, and inclusion, and sharing that with everyone she encounters.”

Her hard work and friendly personality has earned her several leadership roles over the years. She immigrated with her family from Mexico at a young age. She was raised in Porterville, attended local schools, and went on to earn her bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Roman spent the majority of her professional career at Porterville College, spending 34 years helping students with financial aid, and as a professor and counselor. In 2021 she retired and was awarded the prestigious title of Professor Emeritus by the Kern Community College District. She also provided the Tule River Tribe with 30 years of exceptional service to tribal residents in financial aid and educational counseling.

At PC she was the lead for many departments and clubs related to helping Hispanic and other minority students, notably with EOPS/CARE and CalWORKs.

Maria continues to serve on the board of PC’s Cultural and Historical Awareness Program (CHAP), is on the Board of Directors of Imagine Arts Center, is involved with the Tule River Parkway Association, and is an active member of the Latina Leadership Program (LLN). Her motto has always been “faith, family, and friends”. She said she’s grateful for the nurturing and successful life she has experienced in her beloved City of Porterville, with her husband, Rudi, and their large family.

Congratulations to the Wall of Fame honorees.

Cerro Coso Community College

Spring at Cerro Coso

It is officially Spring! The hills around Cerro Coso Community College in Ridgecrest are full of beautiful wildflowers! Some great locations to check out local wildflowers are the Rademacher Hills, Lone Ridge Trail, Brady’s Trail, and College Blvd. Loop. Spring truly is a magical time of year for Ridgecrest

Virtual Open House

Can’t make the in-person Open House on April 6th? No worries! We are holding a Virtual Open House on Tuesday, April 4th from 6 PM to 7:30 PM! Be sure to take advantage of these awesome resources to help you get registered for Summer/Fall 2023!

Please use this zoom link to register and connect.

Bakersfield College

BC’s Ballet Folklorico Ritmo y Sabor Place in First Competition

On March 18th, Ballet Folklorico Ritmo y Sabor represented Bakersfield College in their first ever dance competition in Los Angeles. Our dancers competed in three different categories and placed in two of them. Performing danses from the region of Jalisco, our dancers brought home 3rd place, and performing danses from the region of Baja Norte California, our dancers brought home 2nd place. The competition was close with over 30 other dance companies in attendance. BC students also won scholarships through this event, including Kimberley Villatoro who won a dance scholarship. We are so proud of our students and their well deserved achievements! 

Industrial Automation Buzzing with Activity

Over the last month, BC’s Industrial Automation Department has continued to make industry connections and garner support from local partners like Aera Energy.

A Boeing representative from Everett, Washington also visited the Bachelor of Science in IA program students to discuss internship and employment opportunities with their company! BC students made up the largest group in the nation of applicants to the Boeing summer internship program. Boeing was so impressed with our students’ drive and the BS in IA program that they have asked to become more involved with BC’s program and expand their partnership! 

Celebrating Title IX

It was my great pleasure to bring together student athletes, coaches and faculty from across the county for a conference recognizing the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the landmark legislation that established equal rights for women in education and athletics. Kern CCD’s celebration of Title IX was an inspiring, joyful day of recognizing how far women have come in sports and higher education.

The young women at the conference were especially delighted to meet and hear from Hall of Fame basketball star Cheryl Miller, who was also the first woman to be an NBA analyst for national television. Other panels during the day featured local athletic legends like WNBA assistant coach Nikki Blue and softball phenom Megan Langenfeld. Prof. Olivia Garcia brought a historical component into the proceedings with a panel on Patsy Mink, the author of Title IX and the first woman of color to serve in Congress. The panel featured UC Irvine professor Judy Wu and Patsy’s daughter Gwendolyn Mink.

I’d like to thank everyone who put together the conference, especially Tarina Perry and Stephanie Vega for coordinating the programming and logistics. I’d also like to thank Stan Green from the Kern High School district for bringing 181 student athletes to the conference, as well as our additional sponsors from the Kern County Superintendent of Schools and Ordiz-Melby Architects. I hope all of the women who attended our Title IX celebration were given motivation they need to be successful in the classroom and on the field.

Thank you Coach Paula Dahl for coming up with the idea and getting some of the national athletic starts to come to our event. Thank you Athletic Director Emeritus Sandi Taylor for being such a great advocate for Title IX and putting in so much time into the planning. Thank you Michelle Miller-Gallaz, president of AAUW, for coming up with the idea of inviting Gwendolyn Mink and Judy Wu to the event to talk about the work of Patsy Mink.

Check out this video from CBS Sports about Patsy Mink’s contributions.

Department Of Energy visits Kern CCD

This week, two top officials from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management visited Kern CCD. Assistant Secretary Brad Crabtree and Deputy Assistant Secretary Noah Deich came to the District Office and held public meetings in Arvin and Taft to talk about a vision for carbon management in Kern County.

From California Renewable Energy Laboratory (CREL) Executive Director Nicole Parra:

Thank you Asst. Sec Brad Crabtree & Deputy Asst. Sec Noah Deich from the Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management & Sarah Forbes, Director, CCUS – Council on Environmental Quality Executive Office of the President -for spending the day in Kern County with us.

Our meetings in Arvin, Bakersfield, and Taft were informative, engaging and our community came out in numbers. With over 75 people representing government agencies, labor, non-profit organizations, industry leaders, Grandma Whoople, students, national labs (NREL) and community members- who all came together to hear about our Carbon management future and opportunities.

I want to thank the County of Kern Supervisors Zack Scrivner and Leticia Perez and Lorelei Oviatt County of Kern Director of Planning and Natural Resources for speaking-Taft Mayor Noerr, Arvin Mayor Trujillo for hosting us, Les Clark Director Taft Westside Recreation Center, the Dolores Huerta Foundation, CRPE, OpenDoor, Greenfield Walking Group and local Pastors, Dee Slade and so many others for attending.

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

From the Red Cross of Central California’s Twitter account (@RedCrossCCR)

Mason Anthony is a graduate of @PCollegePirates & his Communications internship came full circle this week while volunteering at the Red Cross shelter at his former school. He’s been helping share evacuees’ stories while they receive comfort & care from @RedCross volunteers.

The Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce recognized Nicole Alvarez in their Celebrating Latinas in Business & Leadership series:

In honor of Women’s History Month, the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is proud to introduce you to Nicole Alvarez, as part of our Annual Latinas in Business & Leadership spotlight series.
Nicole Alvarez is a Program Director in the Office of Student Life at Bakersfield College. She has worked at BC for 3 years and in higher education for 15 years. During her career in higher education she has served in diverse roles ranging from faculty to college director. In her current role Nicole oversees student organizations and clubs, co-advises for BC Student Government Association, assists the Dean of Students with special projects, and runs the Student Life social media accounts (IG:@BCSGARENEGADES TikTok:@BCSGA).
Nicole enjoys working directly with students to mentor, advise, guide, and create equitable opportunities for them. She believes that higher education should be affordable, accessible, and attainable for everyone. It was her own struggle obtaining higher education and being lost in the application processes and procedures that ignited this desire to help others and simplify the process as much as possible. Nicole has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and a Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration & Leadership.
Nicole was born and raised in Bakersfield and moved away for 10 years before relocating back in 2018. She has been married to her husband Alex, a US Air Force Veteran and IT Professional, for 16 years. They have one son, Isaac, who is the perfect mix of his mother’s outgoing personality and his father’s determination. Nicole is the 5th of 5 children and the first in her family to earn a Master’s Degree. When she is not working she enjoys spending time with her family, watching Bravo’s Real Housewives Franchise, and exercising on her Peloton. Nicole’s motto is #shesepuede and she is proud to be featured in this series among fellow Latinas in Business and Leadership!

Nick Strobel shared this photo –
Past, present, and future Renegades at the Spring 2023 Equinox party. First Equinox party since Fall 2019!

Chris Cruz Boone – first generation students who became faculty. 

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That’s a wrap for now.
See you next Saturday!

The future is bright at Kern CCD.

-sonya
a joyful and grateful Chancellor

#KernCCDDaringMightyThings

Last weekend, all eyes were on Hollywood during the 95th Academy Awards. What fun to see a Indian Telugu song “Naatu Naatu” from the movie RRR take the Oscar for the Best Original song. History making as the first Indian movie song to win an Oscar.

And, I absolutely can’t wait to watch Everything Everywhere All At Once with Jamie Lee Curtis and Michelle Yeoh winning Oscars — a total of seven Oscars for the movie.

Here is the trailer.

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And spring has arrived after a wet winter, with nature responding in all its glory.

Check out visitors in the backyard pool.

Over the last five years I have been watching a beautiful tree in our neighbors front yard go through the cycle of shedding leaves in the fall, going dormant in the winter, coming back to life in spring and providing glorious shade in the hot summers. I enjoy this tree every morning and evening during my Neo walks. This week, I thought I would snap a photo and chronicle its annual rebirth. Here is a first photo, March 15, 2023.

Here is a post from Nick Strobel bragging about the flowers in his front yard – African Daisies, and the first patch of poppies:

Good morning friends.
It is March 18, 2023.
The sun shines bright over Kern CCD.

Porterville College

PC Writer and Poet Speaker Series Kicks Off Spring Events

The PC Writer & Poet Series proudly announces the next in its year-long series of presentations from some of the most amazing authors and poets working today.  On March 28^th, we will welcome Erika Sánchez for a virtual event.

Erika L. Sánchez is a novelist, poet, feminist, and cheerleader for young women everywhere. Her most recent book is “Crying in the Bathroom” which Publisher’s Weekly called, “another satisfying addition to Sánchez’s deeply moving body of works.” She is also the author of the New York Times bestselling Young Adult novel, “I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter”, which was a finalist for the National Book Award, and the acclaimed debut poetry collection, “Lessons in Expulsion”, which the Washington Post called “a fierce, assertive debut”.

Sánchez’s poems have appeared in many literary journals, including Poets.org, Vinyl Poetry, Guernica, diode, Boston Review, the Paris Review, Gulf Coast, POETRY Magazine, and The New York Times Magazine.

When asked about her work, she states, “What I hope people gain from my work is a sense of beauty, a way of looking at the world that is different—a shift of perspective developing a sensibility in which beauty is the basis of your life. That’s how I approach writing, always: it’s all about the truth, and truth and beauty are one and the same for me.”

To register for this virtual event, visit: https://tinyurl.com/ywypwhfc

SAVE THE DATE: The Job Fair Returns to PC on April 18

We are excited to announce that Porterville College, the Workforce Investment Board, and Porterville Adult School are once again collaborating to bring the 2nd Annual Joint Job Fair to Porterville College!

This event will take place Tuesday, April 18, 2023, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm in the PC Quad.

Over 1000 jobs will be available from a wide range of employers! This event will be held outdoors and is open to the public.

PC Students Tour UC Merced

This past week PC staff took a group of students for a tour of the UC Merced campus. Students got a full campus tour and then listened to a student panel on the UC Merced experience. They also learned about dorm life, student life, and the services available to students, among other things, as they enjoyed the beautiful day in Merced. The day was more than just a chance to get away from the rainy skies and flooding of Porterville, giving real insight into what could become the fruits of their success at Porterville College.

Cerro Coso Community College

CC Marketplace addresses food insecurity

Have you checked out CC Marketplace? CC Marketplace was created to address food insecurity for students. It is Cerro Coso’s belief that no student should have to learn on an empty stomach. Bags of food and hygiene resources are for ANY student who may want it. There are no requirements to receiving a bag of food or hygiene resources, CC wants to make sure food and toiletries go to ANYONE who needs them.

We have the CC Marketplace program at all of our Cerro Coso campuses:

– IWV/Ridgecrest: room 145, across from the fountain on the first floor.

– ESCC Bishop/Mammoth: contact your counselor for more information!

– East Kern/Tehachapi: contact your counselor for more information!

Click here: https://www.cerrocoso.edu/studentservices/cc-marketplace for more information!

Cerro Coso Outreach Visits Burroughs High School

In between answering questions and letting everyone know about this week’s Virtual Open House, the Cerro Coso Outreach team challenged an endless string of brave burros to a few intense rounds of Roshambo.

Check out the video below!

Bakersfield College

Delano Learning Resource Center Nearing Completion

Construction for the new Learning Resource Center at the Delano Campus is nearing completion! The new facility is expected to hold classes beginning in the fall, and the two-story, 40,000-square-foot multipurpose center will feature 9 lecture classrooms, 2 computer labs, and 2 HyFlex classrooms. It will also feature plenty of resources for students to take advantage of, like a library, writing center, tutoring center, and faculty/staff office space. The LRC will offer designated spaces for comprehensive student services including counseling, advising, DSPS, student employment, and financial aid to support the needs and future student growth throughout the Delano and Northern Kern community.

2023 Spring Play Festival at BC

BC’s Theater Program announced the details of the 2023 Spring Play Festival, featuring four contemporary plays directed by BC Theatre students. The festival will run from March 22nd to April 2nd with all shows taking place in the Edward Simonsen Indoor Theatre at Bakersfield College. 

The first weekend will feature the critically-acclaimed and widely produced play ART by Yasmina Reza, directed by Victoria Gomez, playing March 22nd, 24th, and 25th. Also showing in the first weekend is Neil LaBute’s contemporary classic Reasons to be Pretty, directed by Liz Bomar, on March 23rd, 25th, and 26th.

The second weekend will feature  Alan Ball’s comedy Five Women Wearing the Same Dress, directed by Marina Gradowitz, playing March 29th, 31st, and April 1st. Along with it, Diana Son’s Stop Kiss, directed by Manuela Torres-Orejuela, plays March 30th, April 1st, and 2nd. Please note that all four of these plays contain strong language, adult themes, and discussions of sensitive issues. No one under 14 is permitted.

Purchase your tickets and come support BC’s Theater students as they begin to explore directing early in their education! 

BC Outreach Hosts Workshops for Graduating High School Students

BC Outreach held a New Renegade workshop on campus for graduating high school seniors. During the event, advisors shared information with our incoming Renegades about successfully getting started on campus, including: Bridge to BC, Financial Aid, how to view their Starfish CSEP, how to register, and so much more! Over 40 students and their parents came to learn what BC has to offer during their educational journey.  Those who attended qualified for Priority Registration for summer and fall 2023! Outreach and over 100 BC staff will lead Registration Rocks at over 30 high schools, assisting students with registering for their courses.

Transfer Pathways Partners with CSUB

Transfer Pathways invited the CSUB Admissions and Outreach team to BC on March 8th to meet  with students and answer questions regarding admissions requirements, upcoming events, and programs available when the students are ready to transfer! 

KernCCD Presents at Kern Tax Board

A team from KernCCD – including Romeo Agbalog, Kylie Campbell, and Steven Watkin – presented on Dual Enrollment and the Early College Program to the Kern Tax Board this week.

Here’s a note from KCCD Chancellor Emeritus & incoming Interim Chancellor Tom Burke, who is on the Kern Tax Board:

“Romeo, Kylie and Steven did an excellent job representing and presenting the program.  It was very well received by the Association with the District receiving many compliments for the success and effectiveness of the program.”

Kern CCD District IT Cloud Team Earns Award

Kern CCD DO IT Cloud team earns CISOA Technology Excellence award by moving all our applications to the cloud! We are the first district in the state to accomplish this task providing significant benefits in scalability, agility, security, and business continuity. 

Starting in 2018, KCCD’s Core Cloud Team consisting of Mike Arnold, Suyun Ding, Dana Tusaw, Joseph White, Patrick Ferree, Justin Wallace, Armando Martinez, Ian Mason, Hernando Mondragon, and Marco Galvez and with the help of additional team members, embarked on a Journey to identify as many on-premise IT applications and services as possible for migration to our AWS cloud.    

The team embraced and preserved through many challenges along the way including learning new skills, building out and optimizing KCCD’s AWS environment, automating deployment, addressing Security requirements, and optimizing costs all while managing day-to-day reactive duties such as Network/Systems troubleshooting and Help Desk tickets. 

The Journey culminated in June 2022 with a tally of 147 applications migrated and 13 new applications deployed to AWS cloud environment including AWS AppStream for remote Instructional use.   

In the News

Community Voices: Longevity — a wish come true

Dr. Brijesh Bhambi penned this Community Voices piece for The Bakersfield Californian.

“In a long-term Harvard study, a random variable demonstrated more power than a diet. A goal and passion in life, along with companionship, mattered more. It’s been correctly stated that the key to longevity is relationships, relationships, relationships.”

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

Lincoln Day Dinner 2023 at the Bakersfield Marriott:

Check out these pictures from PC Day at Staffords – PC staff were on hand to answer questions and help those new students get started with classes this summer or fall.

And here’s the KernCCD team at the Chief Student Services Officers Conference:

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That’s a wrap for now.
See you next Saturday!

The future is bright at Kern CCD.

-sonya
a joyful and grateful Chancellor

#KernCCDDaringMightyThings

This week Kern CCD celebrated Black History Month with a Breakfast Celebration. We enjoyed an amazing program, great food, and fellowship. Thank you Steve Watkin and the planning team!

The district also recognized Dee Slade, Pastor Hayward Cox, and Nick Hill for their extraordinary service to our community.

And on Wednesday, the Kern CCD Board of Trustees announced that Chancellor Emeritus Tom Burke will serve as interim chancellor, and BC Interim President Zav Dadabhoy as deputy chancellor, when I begin my new position in June.

Our Board President, Trustee Agbalog commented:

“Whether increasing student enrollment and achievement, expansion of classes and programs, or development of new innovative projects to build and strengthen our local area workforce, the Board of Trustees knows that it is critical to have the right leadership in place that knows our community, understands the needs of our students, has institutional knowledge and deep understanding of our district and its mission to keep our work going, this is the same type of work that has earned our district statewide and national acclaim,” said Romeo Agbalog, Kern CCD Board President. “The Board of Trustees is confident that Tom Burke and Dr. Dadabhoy will keep Kern CCD at the forefront of driving continuous innovation to meet the academic, workforce and industry needs of our communities,” Agbalog said.

Good morning friends.
It is March 4, 2023.
The sun shines bright over Kern CCD

Porterville College

CHAP Highlights Mayan Culture at Latest Event

Dr. Ed Barnhart, Director of the Maya Exploration Center, spoke on “Maya Hieroglyphs-The Story of How the Code was Finally Broken” for the latest CHAP event, this past Friday, March 3, 2023, from 7:00 – 8:00 pm.

The Porterville College Cultural and Historical Awareness Program (CHAP) was organized in 2002 to enhance students’ awareness of certain important aspects of our society to which they may previously have had little or no exposure.

Maya Exploration Center Director Dr. Ed Barnhart is a renowned American archaeologist who has appeared on History Channel, Discovery Channel, and in multiple documentary films. He is a Fellow of the Explorer Club and a widely recognized authority on ancient astronomy, mathematics, and calendar systems.

During his over 25 years in American archaeology, he’s discovered the ancient city of Ma’ax Na in Belize, mapped over 4,000 ancient buildings, and published over a dozen articles and books.

Cerro Coso Community College

Cerro Coso Outreach visits Burroughs High School

As part of Cerro Coso’s continued effort of increasing visibility, expanding access to our incredible services and offerings, and engaging our local communities—the Outreach department made the first of its scheduled bi-weekly lunch visits to Burroughs High School.

They had so much fun speaking and hanging out with the amazing BHS students. Conversations were had about their future plans and countless Cerro Coso swag items were won thanks to our hypnotic Spinning Prize Wheel.

SSUC Students Give Back

The SSUC Club (Student Services United Club) at Cerro Coso Community College is trying to gather donations now until the end of March for the Ridgecrest Women’s Shelter.

Please scan the QR code or click this link: https://www.amazon.com/…/ls/2YI80CUE8YIIR/ref=cm_go_nav_hz to view list of needed supplies.

Feel free to reach out to Renee Santamaria or Rachel Barksdale with the Access Programs at 760-384-6250 for additional information about giving donations.

Bakersfield College

BC Represented at the Chamber of Commerce Galas

Faculty and campus leaders attended both the Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce Gala as well as the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Gala in February.

BC’s NaTesha Johnson and Professor Olivia Garcia served as emcee/presenter respectively, and we are so proud to see our campus and district represented so well. The partnerships we have forged with these organizations have been a huge part of creating an environment in which our students can learn and become the next leaders of business and entrepreneurship in our community.

BC Student Awarded Law Scholarship

Viridiana Santa Cruz of Bakersfield College has been awarded the $1000 Ruthe Ashley Pathway to Law Scholarship for her outstanding commitment to her education and her passion for the law. Viridiana, a student in the Pre-Law Program, is pursuing her dreams despite the many barriers she has had to overcome. Viridiana was born in Pueblo Viejo, Mexico and moved to the United States with her family when she was just 7 years old. She graduated from Mira Monte High School in Bakersfield and is now a full-time student at Bakersfield College majoring in American Sign Language and Political Science. Viridiana is a single parent to a 6-year-old daughter and works full-time to support her family. Her drive and dedication to her education has not gone unnoticed by her professor, Christian Zoller, who credits her with being an “outstanding student and a class leader”. 

BC Alum and Quarterback Hired to Coach Denver Broncos

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton has assembled his staff of 6 coaches, including BC’s very own Logan Kilgore, who will serve as Quality Control/Passing game Coordinator. From the time he played in high school, Kilgore has been credited with having obvious leadership qualities. During his time at BC he was known for playing a particularly cerebral game of football. His strategy was calculated, earning him 2,512 passing yards and 22 touchdowns. 

We are all looking forward to the continued successful career of a fellow Renegade!

Chancellor’s Seminar Series

This week, we continued the Chancellor’s Seminar Series with “Fueling Faculty Fires for Learning: How Side Projects Impact the Classroom Experience.”

Porterville College’s Bob Simpkins led the discussion with panelists Matt Andrasian-Jones (BC), Matt Flummer (PC), Ben Makino (PC), and Yvonne Mills (CCCC).

Check out this video from the seminar:

Bob also shared information about the upcoming TALE Fest, which will be held on April 14.

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

I’d like to share a few more photos from last week’s Board of Governors announcement:

Kern CCD was out in full force to support Kris Tiner at the CSUB Hall of Fame:

Ricardo Marmolejo, PC’s Director of Equity and Student Success, shared this post:

A huge congratulations to our @PCollegePirates Puente faculty, Dustin, Patty, and Elizabeth on completing year one and earning their stoles during @PuenteProject’s 40th anniversary.

PC’s Puente Team: Patricia Serrato, Dr. Dustin Acres, Dr. Elizabeth Buchannan

Check out this photo of the foothills from the BC Panorama campus at the end of the recent storm. What a beautiful place to be.

And Cerro Coso shared this update after their storms:

Today, our ESCC Mammoth Campus is finally able to dig the sidewalks out from the crazy storms that have occurred the past couple of days. There is currently 10 FEET of snow built up outside the front doors of the campus. Stay SAFE and WARM out there to our Mammoth Lakes students and community

Blast from the Past

In honor of Women’s History Month, I wanted to share this video from Bakersfield College’s Closing Week 2020, when we honored Sandi Taylor with a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award:

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That’s a wrap for now.
See you next Saturday!

The future is bright at Kern CCD.

-sonya
a joyful and grateful Chancellor

#KernCCDDaringMightyThings

Like many of you, last Sunday I tuned in for Super Bowl LVII. What a game. I particularly tune in for the performances …. so here they are for you once again ….. sit back and enjoy!

Check out these videos on the NFL’s YouTube channel:

Lift Every Voice and Sing

performed by Sheryl Lee Ralph

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Babyface sings America the Beautiful

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National Anthem – Chris Stapleton

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And of course, the Halftime show with Rihanna

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What amazing talent!

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This week, Kern CCD hosted the first-ever Kern Community College Districtwide Conference. Born out of the KCCD Leadership Academy, this conference will provide universal sessions that promote district collaboration and innovation between classified, management, faculty, and adjunct staff.

Colleagues from across the district met at Bakersfield College for a day of meaningful engagement.

Check out the welcome remarks – special thanks to Roger Perez from Porterville College for serving as emcee!

Good morning friends.
It is February 18, 2023.
The sun shines bright over Kern CCD

Porterville College

PC Athletics has 79 student-athletes named to fall honor roll

Porterville College athletics is proud to announce that 79 student-athletes were named to the fall honor roll by earning a 3.0 grade point average or higher.

Porterville College Director of Athletic Joe Cascio is excited for the success of his student-athletes off the field.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our student-athletes for their hard work and dedication in the classroom,” said Cascio. “Our entire staff has created a culture where academic success is encouraged, supported, and celebrated. All of our student-athletes have fully embraced that culture.”

Of the 79 student-athletes, 26 earned Dean’s List honors with a GPA of 3.0-3.49 while 53 achieved President’s Honor with a 3.5-4.0 GPA.

A complete list of student-athlete recognized on the honor roll is below:

PC Welcomes New Executive Director of Maintenance and Operations

Please join Porterville College in welcoming the new Executive Director of Maintenance and Operations, Fernando Jimenez!

Fernando Jimenez joins the PC team with over 13 years of experience at a community college campus, supporting maintenance and operations with expertise in custodial management. Prior to PC, Fernando worked at State Center Community College District as part of the administrative team, serving as the on-site district liaison for construction, and maintenance & operations. Fernando has participated in the planning and development of bond projects including academic and Career Technical Education (CTE) buildings.

Additionally, Fernando has coordinated and supported the arrangements of many college-related events such as commencement, extreme registration week, convocation, and other student-related events. Fernando is proud of his role in creating avenues for student success and was involved in Guided Pathways implementation at his previous campus. He worked closely with the Financial Aid department in developing a student worker mentoring program.

Fernando has managed teams of multiple sizes and focuses on a student-centered approach with proactive communication and collegiality. Prior to his years working in higher education, he served on a K-12 campus for 4 years providing leadership and guidance to a custodial department. Fernando has worked in sales in the private industry, including 12 years at Pepsi Co. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to the formation and management of a successful distributing business for over a decade.

For many years, Fernando has coached and volunteered in numerous roles, including board member and president, of various Youth Softball organizations.

Fernando joins us with much enthusiasm and a desire to be a resourceful member of the team.

Cerro Coso Community College

CORE Ensemble: Of Ebony Embers – Vignettes of the Harlem Renaissance

A chamber music theatre work for actor and trio celebrating the lives of the great African American poets, Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, and Claude McKay as seen through the eyes of the great muralist and painter Aaron Douglas. The musical score includes works by jazz giants Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton, Billy Strayhorn, Thelonius Monk, and Charles Mingus as well as concert music by Jeffrey Mumford and George Walker.

Tuesday, February 21, 2023 | 6pm to 8pm (Virtual)

Please sign up for this virtual performance today! » www.cerrocoso.edu/ofebonyembers

(You will receive the performance link a few hours before the event at the email used to sign-up.)

Visit the Core Ensemble website to learn more about this performance group.

Work with Naval Security Forces or Ridgecrest Police Department!

Naval Security Forces are doing on the spot interviews during this event, and Ridgecrest Police Department will be taking applications!

Cerro Coso will be there with information about our Module 3 Academy course which starts March 3rd in Ridgecrest.

Where: Kerr McGee Center, Ridgecrest

When: Saturday, February 25th, 10am-2pm

Don’t miss it!

Bakersfield College

Umoja Hosts Step Afrika! 

Umoja Community ASTEP at Bakersfield College hosted a Black History Month kick-off event featuring the internationally renowned Step Afrika! The dance troupe traced the history of stepping from Africa to the present day. 

Stepping is a percussive dance form that uses the body, such as clapping one’s hands, hitting one’s thigh, and stomping one’s feet to create a beat. It was used by South African mine workers to communicate and by today’s Black sororities and fraternities to demonstrate unity and pride. The full house of faculty, staff, students, and community members were educated about African-American culture and amazed by the jumps, splits, and energetic routines. 

Professor Bryan Hirayama’s Commitment to Justice-Impacted Students

Professor Bryan Hirayama is the Faculty Lead for the Rising Scholars Program for Justice-Impacted Students. Recently released students often face a range of challenges in the classroom and college environment, including difficulty adjusting to a new environment, lack of access to resources, and stigma from their past experiences. Professor Hirayama’s leadership in the Rising Scholars Program aims to address these challenges.

Justice-impacted individuals include those who have been incarcerated, detained, convicted, charged, or arrested. To support these students, Professor Hirayama is partnering with the CityServ Network and the Unite Us Network, both of which offer job skills certifications and life skills training to help individuals reach their full potential. In addition to these partnerships, Professor Hirayama is also the advisor for the Free On The Outside (FOTO) student club, which was specifically founded to assist justice-involved students. FOTO provides a supportive and inclusive community for these students, offering them a place to connect with others who have faced similar challenges.

The justice-involved population in Kern County, California is a growing concern, with over 7,000 individuals on probation and many more incarcerated in local jails and state prisons. The support provided by the Rising Scholars Program and Professor Hirayama’s partnerships with community organizations have the potential to make a significant impact on this population, helping to reduce recidivism and provide individuals with the resources they need to succeed outside of the criminal justice system.

BC Manufacturing Technologies Receives Gift

BC’s INDA program has formed a wonderful relationship with the Haas Automation and the Gene Haas Foundation. Students are familiar with Haas Automation name as featured on campus, at Manufacturing Day, and in local facilities our students have toured. 

The Gene Haas Foundation has generously given the program a $15,000 donation to support students through course completion and skill development, making it possible for students to enter the workforce with fewer barriers and more confidence. Our partnership with Haas and their monetary support aids us in the fulfillment of the College’s Mission to bring opportunity to every student.

In the News

College district approves $5M contract for planning regional economic roadmap

The Bakersfield Californian reported on the $5 million contract between the Kern Community College District and the state Economic Development Department to develop a plan for diversifying the local economy in a way that promotes sustainable industries while creating quality jobs.

“For many of the residents we serve through our district, this economic and workforce development initiative will have generational impacts on communities that we strive to uplift in all our work,” said Kern CCD Board of Trustees President Romeo Agbalog.

Four Kern schools top in state for dual enrollment

The Bakersfield Californian also reported on our Kern schools that received honors as 2022-23 Exemplary Dual Enrollment Schools. Arvin, Delano, Robert F. Kennedy and McFarland Early College were all honored.

“I am very grateful for the tireless efforts of the comprehensive teams at both Bakersfield College and Kern High School District in helping tackle the challenges of building such a robust and innovative program that allows our students to leave in a position to realize their dreams,” Arvin High principal Ed Watts said.

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

Porterville College’s Ricardo Marmolejo shared this snap with Davis Jenkins at Achieving the Dream’s DREAM 2023 event:

And Kern CCD Early College Director Kylie Campbell at Linked Learning Conference 2023:

Cerro Coso Community College posted these photos from their Student Government Valentine’s Day Event on their Instagram page:

From the PC Twitter Account (@PCollegePirates):

“February is “Boost Your Self-Esteem” Month, and these Wellness Wednesday tips will help you build better mental health habits in your life. Learn more about Student Health and Wellness here: https://www.portervillecollege.edu/student-health-wellness“

From BC Financial Aid:

Thank you to everyone who made our Financial Aid Fest 2023 a huge success! We hope you enjoyed the festivities, food, & community resources. Remember, Beat the Clock, Get the Money! 2023-2024 applications for Financial Aid are being accepted through March 2nd, 2023.

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That’s a wrap for now.
See you next Saturday!

The future is bright at Kern CCD.

-sonya
a joyful and grateful Chancellor

#KernCCDDaringMightyThings