San Bernardino City Council honors SBVC’s centennial with official proclamation recognizing 100 years of community, education, and opportunity.

SBVC's Excutive Team with Mayor Helen Tran
San Bernardino Valley College’s Executive Team joined Mayor Helen Tran and the San Bernardino City Council on March 18, 2026, as the City presented an official proclamation declaring March 26 “Valley College Day.”
Photo credit: Angel Castillo
 

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — The City of San Bernardino has officially proclaimed March 26, 2026, as “Valley College Day,” honoring San Bernardino Valley College’s 100 years of service, leadership, and transformative impact on the Inland Empire.

 

The proclamation was presented on March 18, 2026, during a San Bernardino City Council meeting, where Mayor Helen Tran welcomed the college’s Executive Cabinet to City Hall and formally recognized the institution’s century-long commitment to community, education, and opportunity. Blue the Wolverine was on hand to accept the framed proclamation alongside college leadership.

 

Founded in 1926 as California’s first purpose-built community college campus, SBVC has played a pivotal role in shaping generations of students, families, and industries across the Inland Empire. The proclamation recognizes the college’s historic contributions, including launching the Inland Empire’s first public nursing program, becoming the first college in California to carry the name “Valley College,” establishing California’s first Dreamers Resource Center at a community college, and being among the first institutions in the nation recognized as a Black-Serving Institution.

 

“San Bernardino Valley College was built by this community, for this community — and for 100 years, that commitment has never wavered,” said President Dr. Gilbert J. Contreras. “This proclamation belongs to every student who walked onto this campus with a dream, every faculty member who believed in them, and every community partner who invested in what we are building together. We are deeply grateful to Mayor Helen Tran and the San Bernardino City Council for honoring the role Valley College plays in this community. San Bernardino is not just where we are located. It is who we are.”

 

As part of the centennial celebration, SBVC will host its official 100th Birthday Celebration on Thursday, March 26, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. at the Lois Carson Campus Center Walkway. The event will include cake for the campus community and a commemorative “100” group photo on the lawn at 12:45 p.m. The celebration is free and open to all.

 

Community Invited to Celebrate "Valley College Day"

Alumni, students, employees, and friends of the college are invited to celebrate both on campus and online. On March 26, the community is encouraged to post a photo, video, or story reflecting their SBVC experience, tag @sbvalleycollege on their favorite social media platform, and use the hashtags #ValleyCollegeDay and #SBVC100. Select posts may be featured on the college’s official channels as part of the centennial celebration.