Greetings, Wolverines!

 

Last week was another eventful week here at San Bernardino Valley College. I want to especially recognize the meaningful work in Counseling. Our Counseling Department put on a fantastic Grad Check Fest for students, helping hundreds of students complete grad checks, apply for graduation, sign up for various recognition ceremonies, and access resources. Special thanks to counseling faculty Debbie Orozco, Erica Begg, and Yesica Bernardo. I would also like to acknowledge classified professionals Nancy Bulgarelli, Fabiola Treto, and Shaneikah Grant. We appreciate all the hard work and leadership from Dean Marco Cota and VPSS Yvonne Gutierrez-Sandoval.

 
This week will be another busy week at SBVC. Among many commitments, I will be meeting with Rialto Superintendent Dr. Alejandro Alvarez, participating in an Educators Roundtable, and throwing out the first pitch at our home baseball game on Thursday. On Friday, please join us for the topping-off ceremony for the Student Services Building.

 

Some highlights for this week: 

 

The Reimagining SBVC reorganization plan is making progress. Please see the implementation timeline that was shared with the College Council last week here. As always, thank you all for your participation and feedback throughout the process as we shape SBVC’s future together.  

  1. PROFESSOR ALMA LOPEZ PUBLISHES POEM 

English professor and Puente co-coordinator Alma Guadalupe López’s poem is part of the soon-to-be-released JOTA: A Queer Latina y Latinx Anthology. Her poem explores fragmentation and its aftermath. Learn more about the anthology here. 

 

The Asian & Pacific Islander Association is holding a Lunar New Year pop-up celebrating the Year of the Horse at the Gresham Art Gallery from 12 to 2 PM on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. All are welcome to come learn about Lunar New Year traditions, participate in activities, and enjoy light refreshments. Special thanks to Bethany Tasaka and Ula Matavao for their ongoing leadership at SBVC.

 
4. STUDENT SERVICES BUILDING TOPPING-OFF CEREMONY:  FEBRUARY 20, 2026 AT 12 PM 

You’re invited to celebrate the progress of the new Student Services Building with a topping-off ceremony at 12 PM on Friday, February 20, 2026. Guests will have the opportunity to sign the beam before it is lifted into place and becomes part of SBVC history. Attendees will also take a short tour of the site. Please RSVP here. Box lunches will be provided after the ceremony while supplies last. I look forward to celebrating this historic moment with you.

 

5. CENTENNIAL GALA SOLD OUT! 

Our March 27, 2026 Centennial Gala is sold out! This is a credit to the hard work of the SBVC Foundation and gala committee, including chairs Gloria Macias Harrison and Dr. Yolanda Moses. I hope many of you can attend this wonderful event to celebrate our 100th anniversary and support our students. More information about the gala is posted here.

 

  1. FACULTY MEMBER SCREENING “THE INLAND EMPIRE” – FEBRUARY 18 

FTVM co-chair Lucas Cuny is screening his independent short film, The Inland Empire, at 7 PM on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at Ritual Brewing Co. in Redlands. The screening is free and serves as a “proof of concept” for a neo-noir murder mystery feature film. Read more about it in the Inland Empire Community News.

 

  1. MEN’S BASKETBALL WINS CONFERENCE TITLE 

The men’s basketball team clinched the Inland Empire Athletic Conference title with a win against Barstow on Saturday! The Wolverines finish the regular season this week: Wednesday at Cerro Coso and Friday at home vs. Palo Verde. Congratulations to Head Coach Quincy Brewer, coaches Rawlston Charles and Devon Davis, and all the players! Playoff information will be forthcoming. It is a great year to cut some nets down!

 

8. CATCH UP ON EVERYTHING HAPPENING AT VALLEY COLLEGE 

I shared our monthly board report with the SBCCD Board of Trustees at their February 12 meeting. Read all about what’s been happening on campus and catch up on previous editions here. Valley Up!

9. CENTENNIAL MOMENTS CONTINUE 

As we continue celebrating 100 years with 100 events, our marketing team is capturing the lived centennial experience through photos, videos, and weekly recaps. These moments reflect the heart of Valley College: our people, our students, and our community. You can watch the latest Centennial Moments on SBVC’s YouTube channel.

 

  1. “VALLEY UP!” CENTENNIAL MEMORY  

We’ve been inviting students, employees, alumni, and community members to share what “Valley Up!” means to them as part of our centennial storytelling.

 
Professor Melissa King recently shared this reflection: “In the early 1960s, Margaret Mead spoke in SBVC’s auditorium. In the audience was a young sociology major who was inspired by Mead to earn a doctorate in anthropology. And she did so, after obtaining her AA at SBVC and BA at CSUSB, graduating with honors from UCR in 1976. Yolanda Moses is today a preeminent scholar, anthropologist, educator, and leader in higher education administration. From taking graduate seminars with her at UCR to now serving as faculty chair of anthropology at the community college she attended—teaching anthropology in the shadow and legacy of a local woman who became the first Black female president of the American Anthropological Association—is a great honor for me.”
 
Thanks to Melissa for sharing this reflection with us!
 
Submit your reflections and memories at SBVC Historic Highlights.

 

Valley Up! 

 

Gil