Here are a few glimpses from the ebb and flow of my week — shifting tide from lighthearted laughter to quiet reflection.
Happy Seventh Birthday Bessie
Watch this 1-minute reel of Bessie that I posted on instagram. I have created only two reels ever. The first one last year on her birthday. Now the second one… again on her birthday.
Bessie crossed the Rainbow Bridge on February 10, 2025. She was my daughter’s baby.
Last weekend was the finals for the French Open…. my mom’s favorite.
American Coco Gauff took the women’s singles title. Although she was down against world Number 1 Aryna Sabalenka, she claimed her second career grand slam singles title – becoming the youngest American to win the title since Serena Williams in 2002.
Carlos Alcaraz won the men’s singles title in an epic comeback over Jannik Sinner. It was a great match – a six hour instant classic.
Alcaraz, 22, defended his title by coming back from two sets down and saving three championship points to win 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(2).
On June 6, 1944, photojournalist Robert Capa captured one of the most iconic images of World War II during the D-Day invasion at Omaha Beach.
Amid chaos and gunfire, Capa took a series of photographs as American troops stormed the shore. One of the most famous, often referred to as “The Face in the Surf,” shows a lone soldier struggling through the water…. Despite technical issues that damaged most of his negatives, the surviving images became powerful symbols of war and human endurance.
Check out this YouTube video about it –
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As for me, this week I was able to make it to Los Angeles Trade-Tech College for their 100th anniversary celebration.
Fun selfie snapped by Chancellor Alberto Roman.
Good morning California.
It is June 14, 2025.
A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!
Santa Barbara Community College School of Extended Learning students
offer community comfort via aprons and quilts
The SBCC School of Extended Learning’s Home Economics programs are doing much more than sewing and quilting … they’re giving back to community members who are struggling with illness and other life challenges. After discovering that local clinics did not have aprons available for patients, SBCC sewing instructors Judi Brooks and Emily Adams asked for volunteers and got students to work making colorful aprons from leftover fabric and ribbon. Dozens have been donated to the Breast Cancer Resource Center of SB and Ridley-Tree Cancer Center and will be available to UCLA as well.
Laney College Journalism Student Earns National Fellowship & Full Ride
Laney College is proud to celebrate a landmark achievement by The Citizen’s co-editor in chief, Lylah Schmedel-Permanna, who has been selected as one of only three national IRE/ProPublica fellows. The prestigious fellowship includes an all-expenses-paid trip to the Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) Conference this June in New Orleans, where Lylah will join a select group of journalists from across the country.
Oxnard College hosts the first Latina GDP report
Oxnard College hosted an event April 15 on the first Latina GDP report, with remarks by two of the authors: Matthew Fienup, the executive director of CLU’s Center for Economic Research and Forecasting; and David Hayes-Bautista, the director of the Center for Latino Health and Culture at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine.
In Case You Missed It
EdSource Commentary: Eliminating programs that improve
higher education access is a huge mistake
President Donald Trump’s “skinny budget” proposal aims to eliminate a group of eight federally funded programs known as TRIO that support higher education access and success for individuals from “disadvantaged backgrounds.”
Eliminating these programs would be a huge mistake.
How was I, a daughter of migrant farmworkers whose parents have limited formal education and live in poverty, able to beat the odds and land a faculty position at a selective university in the U.S.? TRIO.
» Read more from Mayra Puente’s commentary piece!
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Zora Elling, age 10, is Irvine Valley College’s youngest grad
Check out this recent article from The Orange County Register –
Ten-year-old Zora Elling is an avid reader who enjoys taking care of the family chickens, solving puzzles and convincing her family to join her in adopting a vegetarian lifestyle.
She’s also about to become an Irvine Valley College alumna — the youngest in school history, in fact. She’s slated to graduate from the community college on Thursday, May 22, with an associate’s degree in science for transfer in mathematics.
And she’s breaking the record set last year by an older sister, Athena. And Athena, who graduated at 11 years and five months, beat the record set by their oldest brother, Tycho, who was a few days shy of his 12th birthday when he graduated from IVC in 2023.
Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media
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From Norco College:
The pre-demolition ceremony at the Corona Education Center marks the first step toward bringing more CTE and STEM education to our region. Thanks to our community’s support through Measure CC, Norco College is one step closer to opening new doors of opportunity.
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From El Camino College:
Last week, the ECC Fashion Department hosted its annual showcase of Warrior couture! Take a look at some of our favorite designs from Premiere Night.
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From Ventura College:
Congratulations to the Ventura College Chamber Singers on their performance in London’s iconic Cadogan Hall! Next up for this crew is Florence, Italy! This extraordinary concert brings together choirs from around the world in a celebration of music, art, and innovation.
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And check out this video highlighting Lassen College’s Early Childhood Education program:
And From the Home of the Renegades
BC Celebrates Grand Opening of Renegade Athletic Complex
On June 11, 2025, Bakersfield College (BC) celebrated a significant milestone with the official ribbon cutting of the new Renegade Athletic Complex, followed by the dedication of the weight room in honor of legendary coach Carl Bowser. The event, held on the Panorama Campus, showcased BC’s commitment to enhancing student-athlete experiences and honoring its rich athletic history.
The Renegade Athletic Complex, a 58,904-square-foot facility funded by Measure J, is designed to support BC’s growing athletic programs. The complex includes a full-size basketball court, locker rooms, a sports therapy wing, concessions, and more, providing state-of-the-art resources for student-athletes. This facility underscores BC’s dedication to fostering teamwork, competition, and growth among its students.
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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
