Greetings, Valley College!

Summerfest and the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra was spectacular! Valley College at its best. Special thanks to our VPAS Keith Bacon, Blake Bonnet, Sergio Zazueta, Paul Bratulin, Mike Layne, and all of our teammates who made this tremendous community celebration a huge success.

 

On a personal note, I completed my first year at Valley College! Each day, I am inspired by the work we are doing together. I am so thankful for the opportunity to serve this community and to work alongside each of you. We are building something special at Valley College: right people, right place, and right time.

Here are some highlights for this week:

1. SUMMERFEST 2025: A SPECTACULAR EVENING UNDER THE STARS

What a night! SummerFest 2025 this past Saturday brought together thousands of community members for fireworks, music, food, and fun, giving us a spectacular kickoff to the celebration of our Centennial year. Thank you to our Marketing team for leading the planning and coordination, our Facilities team for making the campus shine, and our Campus Police for helping ensure a safe and seamless event. Thank you to everyone who attended to celebrate. Valley showed up in full force and created very special memories for the College and the community.

2. COFFEE WITH THE PRESIDENT’S EXECUTIVE CABINET

Thank you to everyone who joined us today for our latest “Coffee with the President’s Executive Cabinet.” These conversations are an important way to stay connected and share ideas. If you couldn’t make it, don’t worry - our next session is Tuesday, July 22 from 1–2 PM in B-100. Coffee and refreshments will be provided. We will see you there!

3. SBVC PARTNERS WITH VARP FOR VETERAN STUDENT SUCCESS

SBVC has launched a new collaboration with the Veterans Alcohol Recovery Program (VARP) to support our justice-impacted and veteran learners through the Rising Scholars initiative. A recent outreach visit generated high interest in areas like aviation, welding, HVAC, and more. Big thanks to VPSS Yvonne Gutierrez and Frank Dunn for helping lay the groundwork for this powerful new partnership. I am excited to see this partnership develop further as we continue to open doors and create pathways for every learner.

4. SBVC’S FRANCISCO GONZALEZ NAMED TOP 40 UNDER 40 IN AVIATION

Congratulations to Francisco Gonzalez, SBVC Aeronautics faculty, for being named to the prestigious 2025 AMT Top 40 Under 40 list by AviationPros. This national recognition honors rising stars who are shaping the future of aviation maintenance and technology. We are proud to have leaders like Francisco inspiring our students and representing Valley College at the highest level. Read more here.

 

5. CALLING ALL ALUMNI & FRIENDS: SHARE YOUR SBVC MEMORIES!

As we celebrate our 100-year anniversary, the SBVC Foundation and Marketing teams are gathering photos, memorabilia, and memories from alumni, retirees, employees and community members. Have an old yearbook, graduation photo, or letterman jacket tucked away? We'd love to feature it in our Centennial Retrospective Exhibit. Submit items or questions to emulhall@valleycollege.edu.

 

6. PLANETARIUM SHOW SERIES CONTINUES JULY 10

Our Planetarium continues to serve the community by providing free and family-friendly evening shows and stargazing opportunities. Thank you to Tom Varden for preparing and hosting these fascinating educational opportunities. This Thursday, July 10, is the Perseid Meteor Shower Show, part of our Summer 2025 planetarium show series. Shows are from 7–9 PM and open to all ages. See the attached flyer for more information.

I hope you are having a memorable and enjoyable summer, both on and off campus. Thank you for your passion and commitment to Valley College. Let’s keep climbing, together!

valley up

Gil