Week of June 11, 2026

Commencement 2026 was absolutely epic. Thank you to everyone who helped make this commencement the best commencement in our 100-year history. I greatly appreciate everyone who worked on commencement and everyone who supported our students.

I will be out of the office starting tomorrow (June 12, 2026) and return on Monday (June 22, 2026). VPI Leticia Hector will be in charge.

Here are some highlights for the June edition of the Summer Scoop:

Institutional milestones, programs, enrollment, and strategic progress

1. CENTENNIAL COMMENCEMENT 2026 RECAP — SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2026 | SBVC STADIUM

▶  SBCCD Goals: 1, 2, 3, 4   |   SBVC Priorities: All four SBVC priorities   |   Guiding Principle: Advancing Community

As I stood on stage at Commencement, I reflected on the fact that that moment was 100 years in the making. Our students, faculty, and staff were standing on the shoulders of many who came before. Those people laid the foundation of decades of educational excellence and service to the community, and made it possible for us to be the right people, in the right place, at the right time. It’s a moment that will stay with me forever.

I want to highlight that our 1,500-plus graduates on May 16, 2026 were the largest graduating class in Valley College history! The percentage of first-generation, veteran, foster, Black, Hispanic, Pacific Islander/Hawaiian Native, and multiracial students and students with disabilities also rose this academic year.

Our keynote speaker, state Senator and Distinguished Alumna Eloise Gómez Reyes, captured it perfectly: “For a century, this institution has opened doors to Dreamers, workers, parents, immigrants, veterans, first-generation students, and anyone willing to believe an education could change the trajectory of their life.”

Relive the magic, including the drone show, on our YouTube page and by visiting our photo gallery.

Programs removing barriers, measurable outcomes, and high-impact student stories

2. CONGRATULATIONS TO PRESIDENT’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER, PAINTER FRANKLIN RODRIGUEZ

▶  SBCCD Goals: 1, 2   |   SBVC Priorities: Career & Transfer, Opportunities for All   |   Guiding Principle: Advancing Community

In May, I gave out the President’s Choice Award, a celebration of student artistic achievement, to Franklin Rodriguez.

Franklin’s main artistic inspiration was his uncle, a photographer and cinematographer. In high school, he began creating landscapes at the encouragement of a teacher who gave him leftover art materials. At Valley College, he initially majored in psychology, and registered in an art class to combat stress. After one of his paintings won an award in the annual student art exhibition, he began studying painting seriously, and sold some of his work. His painting, “Fallen From Grace,” won the 2026 President’s Choice Award and will be displayed in my office over the next year. Both of his entries in the student art exhibition sold before the end of the showing. Stop by my office to see his painting, it is already up.

Congratulations, Franklin, and thank you for sharing your talents with our campus. I look forward to seeing where your creativity takes you!

 

3. TRACK & FIELD ATHLETES FINISH STRONG AT CHAMPIONSHIPS

▶  SBCCD Goals: 1   |   SBVC Priorities: Opportunities for All   |   Guiding Principle: Advancing Community

In May, six members of the San Bernardino Valley College track and field team participated in the 3C2A Track and Field Championships May 15-16, 2026 at Mt. San Antonio College.

The top finisher for SBVC was Micah Watson in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Watson finished third in a tight race down the stretch to the finish, finishing with a time of 9 minutes, 20.01 seconds -- just .75 seconds behind the first-place finisher.

Freshman Tamia Hardwick finished fifth in the women’s long jump, posting a best jump of 18 feet, 3 inches. In the men’s triple jump, freshman Jordan Carter turned in a leap of 46 feet, 8 inches for eighth place.

Freshman Callie Frias stumbled over one of the barricades during her run in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, finishing 10th with a time of 12:26.44.

Two athletes ran in the 10,000 meters on Friday night, with Savannah Flores becoming the first SBVC female to complete the race in under 40 minutes, as she finished sixth with a time of 39:14.25. Sophomore Zach Calderon, in his second state championship race, finished eighth in the 10K with a time of 32:50.03.

I’m proud of each of them for their hard work, and want to thank coaches Kenneth Lawler and Jim Ratigan for training our Wolverine athletes to succeed!

Read about the achievements of athletes in each of Valley College’s sports here.

 

4. VALLEY COLLEGE EXPLORING HSI GRANT

▶  SBCCD Goals: 1, 2, 3, 4   |   SBVC Priorities: Career & Transfer, Boldly Student Centered, Opportunities for All   |   Guiding Principle: Advancing Community

Valley College is exploring the opportunity to compete for a Title III HSI grant focused on strengthening institutions. The application period did not provide much time, but we are rallying to see if we can make the June 23, 2026 deadline. You can read more about the grant opportunity here.

 

5. MEN OF COLOR INITIATIVE PILOT

▶  SBCCD Goals: 1, 2, 3   |   SBVC Priorities: Career & Transfer, Boldly Student Centered, Opportunities for All   |   Guiding Principle: Advancing Community

Valley College will pilot support for our Men of Color Initiative. We are in the final stages of designing the program to include a professional expert, student workers, and community building programming that connects with our transfer objectives, completion of math and English in the first year, and the Valley Up Initiative. I want to especially thank Keenan Giles, Ula Matavao, James Griffin, and Quincy Brewer for their leadership and hard work.

Partnerships, K-12 pipeline, and civic leadership in the region

6. SUMMERFEST — SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 2026 | FOOTBALL FIELD | 4:00 PM

▶  SBCCD Goals: 1, 2, 3   |   SBVC Priorities: Opportunities for All   |   Guiding Principle: Advancing Community

SummerFest 2026, an evening of food, music, vendors, and fireworks under the stars, will be presented Saturday, June 20 in collaboration with the San Bernardino Symphony. Enjoy one of our most beloved campus traditions and celebrate the country’s 250^th birthday, along with our centennial!

The event starts at 4:00 PM. Doors for the concert open at 7:30 and the concert starts at 8:00. Kids 12 and under get free concert admission. Find more details here.

 

7. COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS: KIWANIS CLUB, TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2026 & ROTARY CLUB OF RIALTO, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2026

▶  SBCCD Goals: 3   |   SBVC Priorities: Career & Transfer, Opportunities for All   |   Guiding Principle: Advancing Community

On June 2, 2026 I presented to the San Bernardino Kiwanis Club about the work that we are doing here at Valley College and on June 16, 2026 I’m presenting to the Rialto Rotary. This is part of our ongoing engagement with a partner city and civic outreach to the broader Inland Empire.

 

8. SBVC SERVES AS COMMUNITY POLLING PLACE — TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2026

▶  SBCCD Goals: 1, 3   |   SBVC Priorities: Opportunities for All   |   Guiding Principle: Advancing Community

I’m proud to say Valley College was a local polling place for the primary election on June 2, 2026! I’m grateful that we can support voting access in our community. Thank you to political science Professor Lisa Henkle for spearheading this.

 

9. CONTINUING TO BUILD ON SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS

▶  SBCCD Goals: 1, 3   |   SBVC Priorities: Boldly Student Centered, Opportunities for All   |   Guiding Principle: Advancing Community

A few weeks ago, we received the San Bernardino City Unified School District Board of Education’s Outstanding Community Partner Award. Our partnership with SBCUSD reflects one of the most important responsibilities we hold as a community college: building clear, supportive pathways from K-12 to higher education, career opportunity, and lifelong success.

I also recently visited Belvedere Elementary School in Highland with Vice President of Student Services Yvonne Gutierrez-Sandoval and Blue. We were invited to celebrate Belvedere’s student awards ceremony and spend time with the incredible students, educators, and staff who make this school community so special. One of the highlights was stopping by the kindergarten classrooms, where we taught them the Valley Up! cheer. I am grateful to all the educators in the region for their passion and hard work helping prepare students for academic success.

Events, performances, and announcements from across the college

10. JUNETEENTH EVENT — WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2026 | GREEK THEATRE LAWN | 12:00-4:00 PM

▶  SBCCD Goals: 2   |   SBVC Priorities: Opportunities for All   |   Guiding Principle: Advancing Community

Celebrate Juneteenth with a campus-wide day of community, remembrance and resilience Wednesday, June 17, 2026 12:00-4:00 PM at the Greek Theatre lawn. There will be food, live entertainment, community resources, vendors, guest speakers and more.

Also, a reminder that campus will be closed June 18-19 in observance of Juneteenth, which is June 19, 2026. We are proud to observe Juneteenth as a Black-Serving Institution!

 

11. SBVC FOUNDATION RETIREE SUMMER SOCIAL — TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2026 | B-100 | 1:30-3:30 PM

▶  SBCCD Goals: 2   |   SBVC Priorities: Opportunities for All   |   Guiding Principle: Advancing Community

The SBVC Foundation is hosting a summer social for our retirees on Tuesday, June 16, 2026 1:30-3:30 PM in B-100. There will be bingo with prizes, snacks, and time to connect. We’re happy to give our retirees fun ways to spend time together on campus. Reserved parking will be available in Lot 12. If you’d like to join, please RSVP to alumni@valleycollege.edu or (909) 384-4471.

 

12. MURAL PROJECT UPDATE

▶  SBCCD Goals: 1, 2, 3   |   SBVC Priorities: Opportunities for All   |   Guiding Principle: Advancing Community

Mural Many Voices, One Sky is a two-phase public art installation planned for the Greek Amphitheater at San Bernardino Valley College, made possible through a partnership between SBVC, the SBVC Foundation, donors James and Judy Watson, and muralist and educator Alison Ragguette of Cal State San Bernardino. Phase I, beginning summer 2026, will feature a large ceramic tile mural centered on the amphitheater’s lower curve wall, depicting a chorus of colorful figures whose individual “frequencies” rise and converge into a single radiant light — a symbol of every campus voice being heard and held equally. In Phase II, multiple framed panels encircling the back wall will be filled with community-created artwork selected through an open Request for Proposals process guided by an SBVC committee, bringing together students, alumni, staff, and community partners to celebrate the diversity at the heart of our campus. Thank you to our colleagues here at Valley and the DSO who have played a part in this project: Foundation Executive Director Mike Layne, VPAS Keith Bacon, Ernest Guillen, Mary Valdemar, and Abel Favela in Facilities Planning.

 

13. CATCH UP ON EVERYTHING HAPPENING AT VALLEY COLLEGE

▶  SBCCD Goals: 1, 2, 3   |   SBVC Priorities: Opportunities for All   |   Guiding Principle: Advancing Community

I’ve been sharing our monthly reports with the SBCCD Board of Trustees at their monthly meetings. Read about on what’s been happening on campus and catch up on previous editions here and read stories here.

Gil