KVCR Staff standing in front of a Route 66 California backdrop
SBVC Votes staff dressed up in voting atire
Connie Leyva KVCR Director giving a speech

San Bernardino Valley College has been recognized as one of a select number of college campuses honored by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge as a Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting in 2024. The ALL IN Most Engaged Campuses designation is awarded to institutions demonstrating a strong commitment to voter participation.

SBVC got the ball rolling with SBVC Votes’ first-ever sticker design contest, inviting students to showcase their creativity. To foster informed dialogue, SBVC hosted a virtual watch party for the US presidential debate, featuring moderators leading engaging discussions and providing live fact-checking to ensure a meaningful experience for attendees. In September, SBVC Votes Week featured a dynamic series of events that brought nearly 400 participants together to celebrate civic engagement. The main attraction was Rock the Vote, which drew over 345 attendees to enjoy music, food, and voter education activities. National Voter Registration Day received a special boost from Pizza to the Polls, which donated food to energize participants. The college also partnered with CalMatters to host an in-person Voter Education Workshop at KVCR, featuring former State Senator and current Executive Director of KVCR, Connie Leyva, who shared insights on California’s propositions and the importance of voting. The momentum continued into October with National Voter Education Week, a series of events aimed to deepen students understanding of the electoral process. The semester culminated in an Election Night Watch Party at KVCR, uniting the campus community to witness democracy in action.

Throughout the semester, SBVC Votes prioritized voter registration efforts, participating in the California University and College Ballot Bowl Competition. These efforts yielded impressive results, with 159 students registering to vote - a significant increase from the 27 registrations in 2022. Additionally, SBVC Votes launched a new website, valleycollege.edu/sbvcvotes, and a dedicated email address to enhance voter outreach. These initiatives were supported by generous funding, including $750 from National Voter Registration Day, $2,500 from the Arts, Lectures, & Diversity Committee, and $10,000 from the First Year Experience program. SBVC Votes’ achievements this semester demonstrate the college’s commitment to fostering an informed and engaged student body. Through creativity, education, and active participation, SBVC continues to empower its community to make meaningful contributions to democracy.