Tag Archives: Peralta CCD

Celebrating first day of summer June 21, 2025

This Thursday marked the 4th year that the United States recognized Juneteenth as a federal holiday.

Check out this short video from The New York Times about it:

As for me ….

One of the best moments this week was attending the prison graduation at the California Rehabilitation Center on Tuesday.

Board Members Jennifer Perry and Bill Rawlings with our students graduating from the CRC.

Good morning California.
It is June 21, 2025.
A good day to be a Community College Champion



From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

Mt. San Jacinto College Stem Cell Internships
Launch Future Scientists into Elite Research Labs

Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) continues to transform students through life-changing internship opportunities in cutting-edge biomedical research labs, thanks to the college’s participation in the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) Bridges to Stem Cell Research Internship Program. Under the guidance of Dr. Nick Reeves, Associate Professor and Chair of Biological Sciences, this prestigious internship prepares MSJC biology students for advanced degrees and impactful careers in science and medicine.

» Read more!


Barstow Community College Partners with 160 Driving Academy
to Expand Access to Commercial Driver’s License Training

Barstow Community College is pleased to announce a new partnership with 160 Driving Academy to bring their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training program to Barstow Community College. This collaboration will make truck driver training more accessible to local students and community members interested in joining the transportation industry.

» Read more!


Palomar College Professor Selected as U.S. Deaf Olympics Head Coach

Palomar College students might just know David Hamilton as an American Sign Language Assistant Professor, but he also has a lifelong love of basketball that led to five gold medals in the Deaflympics and a recent selection as the head coach of the U.S. Deaflympics basketball team.

» Read more!


Berkeley City College “Tops Off” New West Campus

Berkeley City College celebrated a milestone achievement in the construction of its new Berkeley City College West campus. One year after breaking ground on the project, the superstructure of the six-story, 60,000 square foot academic and administration building reached its highest point. To mark the occasion, Berkeley City College and Peralta Community College District leaders, students, faculty, and staff joined its construction partners KitchellXL Construction, and Ratcliff, and city leaders and community partners in signing a ceremonial beam.

» Read more!



In Case You Missed It

First-of-Its-Kind Partnership will Support Older Adults
in Higher Education and Workforce Development

The California Community Colleges, the California Department of Aging, and the Labor and Workforce Development Agency have launched a new statewide effort to support adult learners. This collaboration ensures older adults have access to higher education, job training, and opportunities to build new skills.

The agencies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that provides guidelines on how to work together with regional partners to establish career pathways for older adults. Whether going back to work or starting a new career, learners will have access to education and hands-on job training that opens new doors and builds a stronger workforce. Through this partnership, agencies are also expanding opportunities for caregivers by connecting them to health care career pathways and creating more job opportunities for older adults and people with disabilities, a key priority within the California Community College’s strategic plan, Vision 2030.

» Read more!


Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

From Folsom Lake College:

We’re so excited to share that FLC’s Oak Hall Science Building is being recognized by @Sacbiz as one of the “Best Real Estate Projects of the Year”!

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From Gavilan College:

Gurleen Khajuria, a STEM tutor and aspiring materials scientist, has been honored with the $20,000 2025 Karl S. Pister Leadership Opportunity Scholarship. This prestigious award supports community college students transferring to UC Santa Cruz who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to service.

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And check out this episode of Victor Valley College’s RAMPLIFI:


And From the Home of the Renegades

BC Theatre Students Attend Oregon Shakespeare Festival

Recently, Professor Cody Ganger and 18 Bakersfield College Theatre students traveled to Ashland, Oregon, to attend the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF). This unique educational opportunity was made possible through the support of the Renegade Innovation Fund. Nestled in the tiny town near the California/Oregon border, the OSF is in its 91st year of operation, making it one of the oldest and largest professional non-profit theaters in the nation.

The festival is home to the oldest existing full-scale Elizabethan stage in the Western Hemisphere, and in 1983, it received the Tony Award for Outstanding Achievement in Regional Theatre.

» Read more!

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

That’s all for today.

See you next Saturday!

With much hope and joy, 

Your Chancellor,

-sonya

#OurTimeisNow
#NuestroTiempoEsAhora

California Community College Students on the move – March in March

Spring is in bloom! A friend shared this pic with me, with a text –

“Flowering Plum Trees are in bloom. When there’s a slight breeze the flower petals  sometimes fall off as if there are snow flakes.”

I started my week in San Francisco, presenting at the CISOA conference on Monday – the annual conference for the Chief Technology Officers of the California Community Colleges.

Monday afternoon, I dropped by for the student March in March event. Here are some photos.

The fabulous Linda Vasquez selfie.

With Board of Governors Member Cirian Villavicencio

With Ivan Hernandez – SSCCC President

On Thursday, I spoke at the A2MEND Conference with Board of Governors member Pam Haynes.

Chris Ferguson, Rowena Tomenang, Sonya Christian, Ebony Jeffries
Chris Ferguson, Rowena Tomenang, Sonya Christian, Don Daves-Rougeaux

And with a group of students from Southwestern College:

Good morning California.
It is March 8, 2025.
A good day to be a Community College Champion



From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!


The Human Library® Returns to Cuesta College

Cuesta College, in collaboration with the Cuesta College Library, Cuesta College Student Health Services, and San Luis Obispo County Behavioral Health, is proud to announce the return of The Human Library® to its San Luis Obispo campus on March 5.

Originating in Denmark over two decades ago, The Human Library® is a global movement designed to challenge stereotypes and biases through open and meaningful conversations. The event creates a safe and inclusive space where topics are discussed openly between the human books and their readers, providing an opportunity to connect, share experiences, and foster deeper understanding. 

» Read more!


Peralta CCD Hosts Event With House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries

On February 21, 2025, the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center in partnership with the Peralta Community College District hosted a forum dedicated to civic engagement, bringing together community leaders, elected officials, and citizens to discuss the vital importance of defending democratic principles in today’s challenging political climate. 

» Read more!


Mt. San Antonio College Turf Teams Sweep Contest

Mt. SAC Turf Teams recently mowed the competition at the annual Sports Field Management Association (SFMA) contest, taking first, second and third place and beating out major universities. Three teams of four competed in the Student Challenge, a two-hour exam testing knowledge of the sports turf industry, covered subjects as diverse as Turfgrass Identification, Selection and Morphology, Soil Management, Soil Fertility, Water Management, Drainage, Turfgrass Mathematics, Pest Identification and Management, and both turf and non-turf Sports Field Management. 

» Read more!


Mendocino College Announces the Purchase of Property
for Future Student Housing

Mendocino College is pleased to announce the purchase of a property at the corner of Perkins and Main Streets in downtown Ukiah, marking the first phase of a multi-year initiative to develop future student housing. This project aims to increase the availability of affordable housing for students and support the local community.

» Read more!



Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

From Victor Valley College:

Victor Valley College’s inaugural Community Education — Paint Night Experience in VVC Performing Arts Center Black Box Room was a sold-out success! It was incredible to watch our lead instructor, Theresa Shellcroft, guide and inspire participants as they brought their unique Desert Sunset masterpieces to life.

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From San Diego College of Continuing Education:

What an amazing afternoon we had celebrating Women’s History Month! We came together to share inspiring affirmations, create uplifting messages, and take home a beautiful flower. Thank you to everyone who joined us in spreading joy and empowerment!

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From Madera Community College:

On February 25, we held another CAMP Seminar for the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) 2024-25 Cohort at Madera Community College! This event offered a valuable opportunity to engage with CAMP students. They received essential information regarding academic advising, CSU/UC transfer requirements, financial aid, health services, psychological services, and tutoring resources available on campus.

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From Imperial Valley College:

Step right up! We’re all set inside the Preble Building at the California Mid-Winter Fair, ready to hear your big ideas for Imperial Valley College’s future.

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From Rio Hondo College:

This weekend, we hosted the LA Regional Science Olympiad Tournament, where Division B & C teams from across LA County showcased their STEM skills! Congrats to those advancing to the State Tournament in April! Thanks to Ryan Wong & all the volunteers!

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And check out this video from Evergreen Valley College –

McTate Stroman, a staff member at Evergreen Valley College, whose hometown of Altadena was devastated by the Los Angeles Fires, wrote and recited this poem. McTate also curated an art exhibit in his hometown.



And From the Home of the Renegades

BC Students Travel to Arizona for Theatre Arts Festival

Recently, twenty-seven BC Theatre students traveled to Mesa, Arizona to participate in the Region 7/Region 8 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (ACTF) at Mesa Community College. This Festival is a celebration of the work in Theatre Arts that college students in these regions have done throughout the year, as well as a place to audition and compete for scholarships, gain knowledge and skills through workshops, see plays, and network with students from other schools.

Three BC students – Riss Halbwachs, Savanna Lux, and Jesse Magdaleno – and their partners advanced to the Semi-Final Round of the Irene Ryan auditions, which is a huge accomplishment! Out of hundreds of preliminary participants, only sixty make it to the Semi-Final Round. Then, Jesse Magdaleno and his partner Nathan Armendariz made it to the Final Round of the audition– the top fifteen participants of the entire festival. This is the first time a BC student has made it to the Final Round of the Irene Ryans.

» Read more!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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