"I believe that academic support for students of color is essential for their academic attainment. I found that at ARC." Kelvin Burt Student / Sociology / American River College

Kelvin Burt is an African American student who is studying to help other students of color living in poverty to find school, stay there, and finish. Kelvin is majoring in sociology at ARC with the hope of discovering the social forces that prevent the upward mobility of people of color, a topic he unfortunately already knows a lot about.

Along with working full-time to help support mom and his six brothers and sisters, Kelvin keeps his academic pursuits in good standing so he can be involved in ARC student leadership and participate as a leader/mentor at school. Kelvin is committed to helping ARC be inclusive and diverse, and is interested in equitable policies, strategies, and practices to reduce the achievement gap.

Kelvin says ARC strives to make sure students feel safe and secure both inside and outside of the classroom. And, he says if you are first generation, low income or even simply new to campus, that caring is important because of the challenges students face. Kelvin will say to anyone who will listen that at ARC, the students feel like they are being supported.

"The honors program is a great way to meet mentors who can help as you move through college and beyond. " Sarah (Hutter) Wilterson Alumna / Psychology/Neuroscience / Princeton University

CRC's Honors program's alumna and Sacramento native, Sarah (Hutter) Wilterson is a graduate student at Princeton University, where she is a Ph.D. candidate in psychology and neuroscience scheduled to defend her dissertation in 2021, embodying the spirit of inquiry she acquired while at CRC.

As Wilterson explains, “For me, CRC was so many things. I started taking my first classes on campus when I was about 14—homeschooled growing up, I was able to start enriching my education through courses like math by the time I was in high school. After this initial introduction to community college, I graduated [high school] and enrolled as a fulltime student at CRC studying in equine science, believe it or not. I originally intended to spend my life working with horses.” 

Wilterson marvels at her transformation from a teenager pursuing supplemental advanced general education, to pursuing an associate’s degree in equine science, to her current passionate work as a psychology doctoral candidate at Princeton. This evolution, she says, was made possible largely by the flexibility and support she enjoyed as a student at CRC. When asked why she initially elected to explore Psychology, she answers:

“No great philosophical reason— I just wanted to take one of the courses. I ended up talking to a lot of people. My time in the honors program offered a group of dedicated mentors. Finding people who will support you is important. Really important. The Honors Program is a great way to meet mentors who can help as you move through college and beyond.” Looking back on her CRC experience as a whole, Wilterson adds, “Being involved in such a diverse range of programs over the course of so many stages of my academic and professional career, I truly feel I got the ‘full experience’ at CRC.”

Reflecting on some of the differences between life at Princeton and while at CRC, Wilterson notes that the CRC Honors Program’s, “Small classes, and material that professors are genuinely excited about, are great for exploring topics in the way that the experts wish you could.” In comparing her time at Princeton and CRC, she says “The experience is a bit like the difference between swimming laps and a water park: sure you enjoy swimming, but the water park is special.”

Speaking of the connection between her academic past and present, Wilterson says:

“We've just started our fall semester [at Princeton] and every new group of students makes me think of [CRC Honors Program faculty member Dr. Rick Schubert] as I strive to pass on the gift that [he] gave me. I teach a Research Methods Lab, and my favorite phrase this year is, ‘But why—who cares?’ The students seem to respond well to the challenge of that question.”

Still connecting on a regular basis with the academic orientation she developed while at CRC, Wilterson reaches back to concepts from her time at CRC to connect to her students at Princeton today—carrying forward the spirit of critical inquiry she internalized as a student in CRC’s Honors Program.

Schubert explains that there is a question he asked of Wilterson and her fellow students on a weekly basis in the Honors seminar she took with him while at CRC and still asks of his Honors students today. After requesting a summary of the reading and receiving a ready answer from his seminar students, he always follows up with “But why—who cares?"

His question is an invitation to Honors Program students to go beyond a surface understanding of the reading to a critical engagement with the material that leads students to do their own original work alongside the author of the material. The Honors Program at CRC invites students to think beyond the surface what to the why, transforming students from passive consumers of academic information to actively productive scholars in their own right.

Schubert explains how excited he is to see the impact this approach has on the academic progress and growth of students like Wilterson:

“I’m deeply gratified to know that Sarah is still carrying forward, and sharing with her own
students at Princeton, the spirit of critical inquiry that she acquired as a student in CRC’s Honors Program. That spirit is central to what our Honors Program is all about.”

He emphasizes that all interested CRC students are invited to apply to the Honors Program, which offers not only enhanced IGETC-satisfying General Education courses, but an array of co-curricular opportunities and support services. Honors students have the chance to attend and even to present at academic conferences and symposia, to participate in special field trips and social events, and to receive support from the program’s counseling and academic advising services.

Explaining how CRC acted as a vehicle for change for her and what she continues to gain as a CRC Honors alum, Wilterson says:

“CRC is a continued source of support and guidance. I only ever took one actual Psych class,  during my time at Cosumnes, but I got the full experience. I got to talk to a lot of people I might not have met otherwise. I asked questions. Professors took the time to explain to me what each career path could look like. That made the biggest impact--to have people sit down and actually talk with me and together we outlined what I want my career path to look like.”

Wilterson is proud to count herself a member of the CRC family who continues to actively benefit from her robust educational experience at CRC and who continues to grow professionally with the support of her mentors at CRC.

"Taking classes at FLC changed how I was able to take classes at the university." Alyssa Seeley Alum / Advanced Education / Biology and Pre-Med / Folsom Lake College

Alyssa Seeley graduated in spring 2022 with her high school diploma from Ponderosa High School and also with two associate degrees in Math and Science and Social and Behavioral Sciences from Folsom Lake College and a step ahead of the other freshmen at the University of Nevada, Reno before even taking her first class there.

She had initially started taking college classes for fun but soon began to realize the educational opportunities available to her.

"In the beginning, I saw taking classes at Folsom Lake College as a fun thing – I really enjoyed it," Seeley said. "After I found out that I could graduate with the classes I was taking, it motivated me to graduate early and try and get more things done quickly."

As Seeley is studying a competitive field – Biology and pre-med, working toward becoming a neurologist – being able to take FLC classes online while still in high school through the college's Advanced Education program has helped her significantly in staying on top of her goals.

"It changed how I was able to take classes at the university," she says. "I can choose different classes due to the ones I've already previously taken at FLC. I can take more junior-level classes instead of freshman classes."

It was challenging balancing two online college courses, along with her regular high school work and extracurriculars, but she made it work. She remembers, at one point, having a conflicting schedule – rehearsals for a play and a Spanish class at the same time – but she communicated with the director and her professor to come up with an alternative plan so she could meet both obligations.

Through it all, Seeley has maintained her sense of humor. She recalls posting a photo on Snapchat and immediately getting bombarded with questions from friends about what she was doing.

Seeley's reply?

"You're telling me you don't take trigonometry over the summer?"

"If you do the work and challenge yourself and ask for help...you can do anything you set your mind to." Chris Adams Alum / 2019 / Sociology / Cosumnes River College

CRC and Honors Program alumnus, Chris Adams, is a true community leader. He runs an educational non-profit. He is a civil rights activist, serving as Sacramento Chapter Leader for the People's Alliance for Justice. He provided community support surrounding the Stephon Clark case. He helped get AB392 (The California Act to Save Lives) signed and was present at the bill's signing.

Having graduated from CRC in Spring 2019, Adams, now living in West LA, is pursuing his Bachelor's degree in sociology at UCLA, where he continues his devotion to political activism and community service. Adams is also extremely passionate about football. He began college after finding out that the career in collegiate football he envisioned for himself at the time would require a foundation in his own college education. As he explains, "I came into wanting to football coach and just needed my BA for that. Earning my degree in sociology is really going to help with any of my future goals."

One thing Adams has learned from his work in advocacy is how to work with a variety of people. Given his experience with many diverse community groups in Northern California during his time at CRC and now with the people in his growing community in LA, Adams says he's been able to figure out how different groups of people work with each other. He describes his recent education in and outside of the classroom in terms of "Learning a lot about how to interact with people. Getting a degree will help me if I want to get into law school, getting a BA will help me do the things I want to do with education and employment beyond where I am today."

Growing up, Adams claims he was never good at school, "I said I couldn't do it," Adams explains, commenting on his self-doubts. "I never thought that I would be an honors student. But then, I did really well for two semesters and got invited to join honors – I think you get a note that you're eligible. And so it was ironic, because just as I was saying I couldn't do it [...] I got the notice. So, when I was finally invited to honors, I was scared initially. I was scared to challenge myself – I thought if I took honors, my GPA would drop and I wouldn't get into the universities." But Adams' successful transfer to UCLA underscores how the CRC Honors Program opened doors for him and increased his self-confidence.

Reflecting on his experience in Honors, Adams notes "The CRC Honors program is really like a close community – everybody kind of knows each other, you'll end up sharing a lot of the same classes. Honors is not a requirement – [program participation is elective], so everyone has chosen to be there – they want to challenge themselves. As Adams explains, "Most of these people wanted to go to university and many of them end up going to those universities. The honors community as a whole [has] bigger goals outside of their immediate experience. It's a like-minded group – they all understand there is a lot of work, but we all try to help each other. We are to share openly with one another without fear of judgment and to help one another. We know it's going to be hard, so we're all sharing this experience and want to be there for one another. If we saw someone struggling we had others there to make sure we [are] okay, to check in on each other." Reflecting more broadly on the program, Adams notes the level of educational support Honors provides: "They are able to prepare you for any university."

While Adams currently getting himself established in LA, Adams notes,"Keeping active in Sacramento is still important to me." His focus is on continuing to grow his network of strong mentors. "I've been meeting a lot of professionals who've studied law and are able to give me a lot more information. Making a bigger impact on the community as a whole is my immediate plan for the future."

Adams already runs a non-profit called Game Changer. "It's supposed to be able to train people with life skills including how to interview, etiquette, study habits, ways to network. Eventually, I'd like to turn it into a general education preparation school that offers counseling and other resources. There's a grant coming up I am applying for to see what little steps I can start to take to make it bigger than it already is." When asked how his time in the CRC Honors program has contributed to his success, he replied "I just really got a great experience. I got to understand that if you do the work and challenge yourself and ask for help...asking for help is the main thing. Just put in the work – you can do anything you set your mind to."

"I know that giving to Los Rios will benefit the entire Sacramento region." Jim Allen Donor / Los Rios Colleges Foundation Chair / COO, SAFE Credit Union

I give because...

I know that giving to the Los Rios District will benefit the entire Sacramento region. An education can mean a better job, a more stable financial situation, or fulfillment of a dream to the many students served by our four colleges. Whenever and however I donate, I want to know that my time and resources are benefiting my neighbors, coworkers and peers in our communities. The Los Rios colleges make a difference for individuals and all of us who call the Sacramento region our home.

"I’ve never shut the door to education, because there is still so much that I do not know. If you’re not learning, you’re not growing." Cory Lantay Alum / 2014 / Computer Information Systems Security / Cosumnes River College

1. How did you choose CRC?

I graduated from CRC with my Associates of Science in May 2014.
I began attending CRC in spring of 2011 knowing that there was a lot I wanted to achieve. Professionally, I didn’t have very much going for me, and I needed to change that.

I always had a love for computers, particularly information security, so I began by taking some general requirement classes as well as some CIS classes to get myself back into education.

My major was Computer Information Systems Security, in which I attained my Associates of Science. It was always something I had a huge passion for, and with the growing field of Information Security/Cybersecurity being needed by nearly any organization conducting business over the internet, it was also a lucrative degree in which to invest my time.

2. In what ways are instructor(s) at CRC different?

When I was taking my CISS 310 class, I chose to go with the hybrid course, which was more of an online class than on-grounds. I was surprised by the abundance of engagement the professor of this course, Lance Parks, had with the students (including myself). He was always there to answer questions about topics or concepts, and always made sure to follow-up with me so that I understood them.

There were times where I would meet with him during office hours to discuss things that didn’t make sense to me, and every time I would walk away having a much better understanding. Even after I completed CISS 310, I would continue to take my other required CIS classes with him. Over the years, he has become my mentor while navigating my educational and professional career.

Since then, we have become good friends and communicate often. It is this level of commitment professors of CRC and the Los Rios Community College District possess regarding the success of their students.

3. Were there any surprises/struggles along the way, and what did you learn from them?

At one point, I began getting frustrated with the educational path I was on to the point that I made the decision to stop attending college and focus on gaining professional experience.

This is something that I still struggle with, but I have learned that continuing your education leads to pathways previously unknown. There have been topics and areas of study that have fascinated me and led me to pursue more knowledge about them. I’ve never shut the door to education, because there is still so much that I do not know. If you’re not learning, you’re not growing. That has been my take-away with regard to higher education.

"I’m ready to tell everyone community college is where I realized my dream." Evelina Rybin Student / Fire Technology and Paramedicine / Cosumnes River College

Evelina Rybin is one of the lucky ones. Even in high school, she knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life. Evelina was going to go to American River College (ARC) and become a paramedic. She knew but didn’t care that college was going to be hard – but what she didn’t anticipate was a predisposition against community colleges coming from (of all people) a high school teacher, and a bias against her career choice harbored by her family and friends.

Yet, Evelina persevered. She enrolled at ARC after finishing high school and went to work on her prerequisite courses. But one of the preconditions for the ARC paramedicine program is a year of first-responder field experience as an emergency medical technician. Undeterred, Evelina found an EMT internship class that sent her to a few Cosumnes Fire Department stations. At the fire stations, Evelyn learned all about a fire internship offered at Los Rios’ Cosumnes River College. She took a fire technology class and was hooked!

Evelina is planning to graduate with an associate degree in paramedicine, one in fire technology, and another one in foreign language studies. She hopes to get hired at a local fire department, and she wants to pursue a bachelor's degree in fire science; maybe even a master's. While fighting fires, Evelina envisions teaching fire tech for the Los Rios Community College District, a place where she found shared passion, friendship, and a place to belong.

The doubters in Evelina’s life who disapproved of her choices have come around to accept Evelina’s determination to follow her passion, and are even proud of her accomplishments. And to the high school teacher who snubbed community college? Tell your students there are options for everyone at Los Rios, so they should enroll in classes, find an interest, and follow their hearts – Just like Evelina did.

"FLC was the right choice; with quality guidance from wonderful professors the opportunities for my future began to open up." Jason Ward Student / Psychology for Transfer / EDC Student Activities Club / Folsom Lake College

Jason Ward, an amateur psychologist who always wondered why people do what they do, wanted to broaden his small-town view of things. So, he became a student at Folsom Lake College. And through his participation in several on-campus clubs and social events, Jason was offered an opportunity to study abroad via the Los Rios Study Abroad program.

As he toured the sights and observed the people in Rome and Florence, Italy, his worldview changed. " The most important lesson I learned from studying abroad, is that life is full of opportunities. Opportunities can be easily overlooked and then they pass. It would have been easier to stay in the comfort of my home in Placerville. But then I would not have walked the streets of the Renaissance, not seen The David, not made new friends and not experienced life in a foreign country," Jason shares.

Back home with world travel tucked under his belt, Jason was excited by opportunities that stretched ahead and where his college education could take him. He had a plan.

Jason believes that his degree from FLC in psychology will give him an edge when it comes to getting into UCLA, law school, and his desire to practice criminal law. He says the supportive staff, faculty, and student-led clubs he discovered at FLC, “a community hidden gem,” has given him the tools he needs to make big leaps in his education and career.

Jason advises that community college is a great place for someone who wants to explore everything the world has to offer. Community college is the perfect place to start, Jason says, it’s easy to get the classes you need, has a relaxing atmosphere, and is just a stop along the way to your bigger career ambitions.

"I was thrilled to be sitting with the graduating class." Quynhnhu Nguyen Former Student / Sacramento City College

Sacramento City College graduate Quynhnhu Nguyen’s collection, “Entropy,” recently won first place at the college Fashion Department’s annual fashion show. She also won in the Most Marketable category at American River College’s fashion show in 2017 with her collection called “Controlled Chaos.” As suggested by the dark, moody, urban style of both collections, Nguyen is intrigued by fluctuations of emotions and how slivers of optimism and hope can be found in the darkest of places. We asked her a few questions about herself and what inspires her.

Tell us about your experience at SCC. When did you start and why?

My experience at SCC started in 1998. My firstborn was three years old and I just received my GED. I didn’t want to be a waitress all of my life so I decided to go to college and do something better with my life. My mom also drilled it into my brain that I had to go to college and I was floating in the sea of academia for a good while before I found out what I truly enjoyed doing.

How did you become interested in Fashion? Did you have any fashion or design experience prior to SCC?

I wasn’t interested in fashion until I took my first sewing class with SCC Professor Lynne Giovannetti back in 2013. I was a Biology major and focusing on taking courses to get into the Nursing program. I couldn’t get into one of my science classes so I decided to take a sewing class. My mother has an AA in Fashion Design from West Valley College and she would make me fix my own clothes and help her sew basic shirts and pants when I was a child but I wanted to learn from the beginning. The course was fun for me, we started out with basic sewing stitches and learned to make potholders, a drawstring bag and an apron or bag. I ended up making two aprons, one was simple and the other one was a reversible one.

How would you describe your general aesthetic?

My general aesthetic is applying the skills I have learned and allowing myself to be creative with my designs from concept idea to the final product. I love to challenge myself with new ideas and playing around with techniques that I have not worked with before. I like classic designs with a play on my own interpretation of current styles.

What is the concept behind your designs that ended up winning the grand prize at the fashion show?

Is there a story to the designs? Where did you draw inspiration? Did you have a goal in mind when conceptualizing these designs?

I express visual story with my collection. I had just won the Most Marketable category with my Controlled Chaos collection from ARC in 2017 and I wanted to showcase the Entropy collection at SCC the following year. Both collections were about an array of emotions that I was experiencing during my journey. The idea was to tell a story of how emotions always fluctuate and that one moment you are feeling all of these negative emotions and the next you are calm and rational. I worked with real leather, lace and textured fabrics. Four pieces were mainly black with hints of white which was my color story of how dark my emotions were with hints of white which represents serenity and hope. The middle garment was a simple A-line dress which was color block with diagonal seams and a square neckline. The bodice was made out of corded lace and the skirt was a black and white woven wool textile. The white was more pronounced and evoked innocence. The Entropy collection focuses on the strong sensual female. My goal is to have my client feel empowered and beautiful when they wear my designs.

Do you remember the first thing you designed?

The first thing I designed was a tote bag. I created a basic pattern by analyzing the paper bags at the grocery store and drafted a paper pattern to use as my template. I’ve come a long way from that project.

You graduated in the spring. How did that feel? What did it mean for you?

It felt awesome. It took me over twenty years off and on being in college. I was thrilled to be sitting with the graduating class of 2019 along with my peers. It was a difficult journey struggling to finish college with the demands of life. I say, “Better later than never.” Graduating from the Los Rios Community College District meant that I had the power to showcase my skills and creativity because I was tenacious with my studies and I discovered that I also loved to teach other students who wanted to experience what the Fashion Programs had to offer.

When you think of your future, what do you see yourself doing next year? Five years from now? 10 years from now?

I plan to teach in the future. I have been a teacher’s assistant for three years and I plan on applying for an Instructional Assistant job and gain more experience. After that, I would love to get accepted into the Faculty Diversity Internship Program and become an adjunct professor at LRCCD. I have met so many wonderful people along my journey and I plan on networking and reaching out to explore the fashion industry, the art industry and our community. I’ve been working on a community project with the fashion club called Hopefull Totefull where we would make tote bags for first time chemotherapy patients from Sutter Memorial Hospital. We have donated over one hundred totes so far so I would love to have a chance to expand on that project.

"The SCC Music Department totally changed my life." Emily Perez Former Student / Sacramento City College

It’s not an overstatement to say that the SCC Music Department totally changed my life. I changed careers because being at SCC rekindled my love for music, taught me to sing and gave me the opportunity to develop my skills as a voice teacher.

"I'm making more out of life–my way." Carlo Lopez Student / Computer Science / Sacramento City College

Life isn’t easy for Carlo Lopez. Like many community college students, his family struggles, and money, housing and food are mostly a daily focus. Determined, Carlo fends for himself by relying on hope, ambition and services available, especially the STEM Equity & Success Initiative (SESI).

SESI is a comprehensive, multifaceted program intended to increase the participation and success rates of Hispanic and low-income students in STEM fields and careers. With SESI’s help, Carlo now knows the joy of academic achievement and wants people who are growing up in similar circumstances to know that joy too. His wish is for kids like him to hear what he heard at SCC: the sweet sound of a voice that says, I have your back.

Even when Carlo was just in middle school, he knew he could rely only on himself for a decent life. Nobody was around to expose him to life’s possibilities, so he took it upon himself to discover a world he knew little about. He applied for a library pass and researched jobs that require technology skills. He was looking for an alternative to a life of limited choices.

That library pass opened a world of possibilities. Carlo taught himself to code by poring over free tutorials. His accomplishment had moved him to accept SESI’s help and pursue a college education at SCC despite his life’s brutal reality and an average GPA.

Now, Carlo is a full time student, studying computer science, and looking forward to earning a degree and transferring. He plans on a career of helping people, beginning with those who think college is not for them.

It can be done, Carlo tells those students. There is a way financially, and there is help academically. Follow your dream, think big and go to college.

"ARC gave me the toolkit and self-confidence to handle the academic rigor at places like UC Davis and Princeton." Jasanté Howard Alum / 2018 / Political Science / American River College

I started at American River College in January of 2016, when I was 18, after moving to Sacramento from Williamsburg, VA on my own. Moving here alone brought with it some great struggles that I couldn't have foreseen at that age, but which had a profound impact on me personally. These difficulties ultimately left me homeless/at-risk for a large portion of the time that I was attending ARC, but both during this period and during the period which led up to it, I met some of the most amazing and inspiring professors who were always willing to stay after class to chat with me. Professors like Frank Araujo, Kathleen Collihan, and Betty Chan all advised and mentored me at the most difficult and isolating times in my life, and I can never thank them enough for that.

It was through these reaffirming experiences with the amazing professors at ARC that I, as someone who hated school growing up (I had something like 120 absences throughout high school), ultimately became the student and person I am today. Likewise, growing up, the opportunities for academic clubs like Model United Nations (MUN) were pretty limited or inaccessible for me – but it was at ARC that I came to see their value. Even though I was working in AmeriCorps as a VISTA and still at-risk as far as housing, I decided to join MUN – which is run by Professor Collihan – during my last semester at ARC. While my other responsibilities ultimately prevented me from being able to go to the MUN conference, the experience of getting to work with others in an extracurricular academic context pushed me to continue doing so at UC Davis. Plus, Professor Collihan made it fun, which always makes learning and engaging easier (I'll never forget the classes I took with her as well)! Similarly, it was through the creative-writing festival hosted at ARC, SummerWords, that I learned how much I loved writing. Were it not for the scholarship the school awarded me to attend two years in a row, I might have never found my love for poetry and likewise my love of making music/rapping.

Now, I'm finishing up my last quarter at UC Davis, where I transferred in 2019. Through a variety of research experiences and extracurricular activities here – including doing stories for the university radio station and working on a documentary about institutional racism – I found my home in studying American politics. Last quarter I completed my senior honors thesis on Black respectability politics in the US Congress, and I plan to continue researching this and related topics in graduate school. To that end, I also recently accepted an offer to attend Princeton University this fall to pursue a ( fully funded!) PhD in American Politics with an emphasis on Black politics, class conflict, and political behavior.

While writing my thesis I was also awarded my first fellowship via the American Political Science Association's Minority Fellowship Program. I also got the wonderful opportunity to present my thesis proposal at the Emerging Scholars Conference at the University of Michigan, which helped introduce me to more amazing scholars in my cohort and faculty across the discipline. As a first generation student who grew up poor and often was told by teachers that I was a disappointment (or that I had potential but didn't apply myself), my experiences at ARC with such kind and passionate faculty were incredibly healing and life-affirming. It was there that I learned not only that it was possible for me to love school, but that I might want to give back and teach or research myself one day. Now, I have the opportunity to do so, and I can definitely say that despite the turmoil I went through to get here, I wouldn't be at this point without ARC and I'm forever grateful for that experience. At the very least, I'd have a lot more debt and probably be more cynical about the prospect of higher education otherwise.

Personally, my experiences in community college led me to believe that more people should attend community college first. Contrary to the prevailing advice when I was growing up, I felt that ARC gave me the toolkit and self-confidence to handle the academic rigor at places like UC Davis and Princeton. Lastly, I cannot underscore enough how positively impactful my overall experience was at ARC – the communal environment and incredibly genuine, thoughtful, and caring faculty changed my life – professors and support staff alike! I felt I had the freedom there to pursue all of my academic interests (I started off in English and anthropology before coming to politics). This ultimately gave me the means to find my calling.

"Community college created confidence in me and gave me a sense of belonging." Michael Casper Alum / COO, Improve Your Tomorrow / Cosumnes River College

Alumni Michael Casper found a community at CRC that helped him springboard to success as co-founder and chief operations officer of Improve Your Tomorrow, an organization that focuses primarily on helping young men of color attend and graduate college.

Looking back, Casper sees how attending CRC laid the groundwork for him to get to where he is today.

"What community college did for me was to create a level of confidence and it gave me a sense of belonging," he says. "Through having some autonomy and being able to pick my schedule, what I learned was that I actually enjoyed college a lot more than I expected."

Casper attended Valley High School, only a quarter of a mile down the road, so CRC was a familiar setting that created a great deal of comfort.

At CRC, he was able to take ownership of his education and use the resources provided to do well within his courses. He found the small class sizes allowed for more support and guidance within courses.

"Academics didn't always come extremely easy for me, but I was a student who was willing to work hard," Casper says. "I think CRC did a good job with making me familiar with some of the resources that were on campus."

He came to discover more and more benefits to attending CRC as time went on. He found a well-rounded community, with supportive staff, financial aid, and the ability to stay at home and take online classes.

Casper recalls a number of defining moments while at CRC that helped him build self-esteem and a sense of belonging. This helped him as he transferred to Sacramento State and continued on afterward with his professional career.

To future and current community college students, Casper advises using the many resources available at CRC and staying focused on your path to transfer.

"Throughout it all, Ariz gives nothing but credit to the professors at SCC whom he says truly care about him and his experience, especially when life almost became too much to bear." Ariz Ebrat Alum / Nurse / Sacramento City College

Ariz Ebrat has an associate degree in nursing, is a registered nurse and a full-time student at Sacramento State. His career path is set and he is well on his way to achieving it. Ariz’s accomplishments are admirable, but what is outright inspiring is how he overcomes his extreme circumstances, follows his inner compass that always points positive, and makes a remarkable journey each day to get through school. 

It’s no wonder why Ariz wanted to become a nurse. He’s essentially been one since he was 14. After his family escaped the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and migrated to America as refugees, Ariz and his mother have been trying to make a go of it, despite mom’s disabling poor health, financial difficulty, and little encouragement. In fact, Ariz was his mother’s sole caregiver throughout high school and still is.

Knowing he wanted to advocate for people like his mother, Ariz joined Sacramento City College’s (SCC) Allied Health Learning Community just two weeks after he graduated from high school (the first in his family to do so). While completing prerequisite courses, Ariz balanced his family obligations, studied, scrambled for scholarships, and worked part-time on campus as the lead student ambassador for the health learning program he had joined.

Ariz completed his general education units and attained an associate degree in nutrition and another in biology. And after volunteering at UC Davis Medical Center and observing first-hand his “dream” profession of nursing, he applied and was offered a spot in a collaborative project that helps nurses bridge the transition between SCC and Sacramento State.

Throughout it all, Ariz gives nothing but credit to the professors at SCC whom he says truly care about him and his experience, especially when life almost became too much to bear. They lent a much-needed hand when he needed it most, and were sincere in their interest in his success.

Ariz tells younger students that a college degree is the new high school diploma and so much more. The main purpose of college, he says, is to become educationally well rounded and discover a career path. He also confirms – without hesitation – if he can do it, others can too.

"All my work revolves around questioning equity in our systems." Anthony Hopkins Employee / RISE / Former Student / Sacramento City College

Anthony Hopkins was six years out of high school and sporting several failed attempts at college. Even dead-end jobs were elusive. He was 24 when he returned once again to Sacramento City College, this time placed on academic probation due to his poor GPA. He knew he needed a confidence boost in his ability to learn.

So, Anthony changed the equation. This time he found “family” support at RISE. RISE (Respect, Integrity, Self-Determination & Education) is an SCC campus organization that welcomes students with a holistic set of support services. The staff and classmates were there for Anthony socially and emotionally, along with study techniques and tactics to adjust his mindset toward academics.

Anthony was and continues to be motivated to solve racial disparities in society. He reengaged with college at SCC because he says he had professors who he felt represented him and truly cared about his success as a man of color. He knew he wanted to study social systems to ponder why Black and Brown people weren't succeeding at the same rate. Anthony chose the field of education where he could make the most impact.

Anthony received his AA in sociology from SCC, a BA in American studies/education at UC Berkeley, and an MA in social studies teaching and curriculum at New York University. And he studied photography along the way too.

After a decade of schooling and working in New York, Anthony has come full circle and returned to RISE, this time as a professional in a paid position.  He is grateful to the organization that gave him his start and savors the opportunity to pay it forward by helping students — who he understands to be walking a similar path.

"You can take AP classes and college classes together, and that can be enough for an AA degree." Amelia Warzecha Alum / Advanced Education / Folsom Lake College

While many high school students struggled in the transition to online schooling, Amelia Warzecha saw an opportunity. She decided to make use of some of her extra time and take classes at Folsom Lake College, while still attending Ponderosa High School through the college's Advanced Education program.

What started out as just one online theater class, resulted in three associate degrees and counting – all before graduating high school.

"I just sort of started taking more classes and then after a while, my mom realized that, 'Oh, if you keep getting more classes, you can take AP classes – and together that can be enough credits for an AA degree,'" Warzecha says.

With this discovery, Warzecha looked back at the units she had already completed and realized that she had enough credits for associate degrees in Math and Science, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Arts and Humanities.

Warzecha has found her FLC professors to be very helpful and flexible. She also noticed that there was a lot more independence than she expected in the online community college classes she takes. While some of her high school teachers insist that college will be stricter, so far Warzecha has found that that usually is not the case. Instead, she finds there is less supervision and more trust that students will work on assignments responsibly and complete them on time.

One of the many things that Warzecha has enjoyed is when her high school classes and college courses intersect. Seeing the same or similar ideas taught in different ways is enjoyable and engaging. It gives another way of understanding course materials.

If enrolling in college courses feels overwhelming, Warzecha recommends starting with classes that seem interesting and then going from there.

"At first, I tried to pick classes at FLC that I knew would be easier," she says. "One time, I took a yoga class – a fun class. And then I took harder classes when I had more free time. I took a physics class over the summer when I had more time to put more effort into it."

"If one road isn't the right road for you, try a different path." Rebecca Vail Alum / Geography / American River College

In Rebecca Vail's journey at American River College, she changed majors four times, starting off with Aerospace Engineering before moving on to Mechanical Engineering, then trying out Computer Science before realizing she wanted to study Geography.

"I originally chose ARC because I didn't have the funding to go to a university. ARC was local and affordable and my mom had gone there," Vail says. "It's a great place to get started. And now I had changed my major quite a few times while I was there. And I'm glad that I went to ARC because if I went to a university I would have wasted so much money trying to figure out what I enjoyed."

One of the things that Vail noted is that at ARC, she had the support she needed while she figured out exactly what she enjoyed learning. She found that she was able to complete her undergraduate studies through the school, and that the transfer to Sacramento State was relatively easy.

While transferring, Vail says ARC counselors were able to tell her exactly what she needed to get done.

Looking back, Vail advises current and future students that they find their own path and are open to adjusting as needed.

"If you find yourself at a roadblock and you don't think you can do it, maybe find a different route. The goal is to get through it," Vail says. "If one road isn't the right road for you, try a different path."

After graduating in May from Sacramento State with her Bachelor's degree in Geography, Vail plans to come back to ARC. She wants to take classes needed for Sac State's Master's in Biology program.

"I just really love learning," she says. "I'm hoping maybe one day I can use my education to make the world a better place. I don't know where I'll end up."

While Vail isn't sure where she'll end up, she is sure where she is going to be spending the fall semester and is excited to be coming back.

"If I can earn a degree, you can too." Becky Yang Student / Dental Hygiene / Sacramento City College

Becky Yang is on a mission. She wants everyone to have access to a dentist and understand the importance of taking care of their teeth. That’s why she went to Sacramento City College and earned an associate degree in Dental Hygiene.

Her hope is to find a job helping her community by offering her newly acquired expertise and find a work family like the circle of friends she counted on at SCC. Community college rescued Becky from heartbreak and gave her the support she needed to pursue her goals. She says her counselors were extremely helpful by encouraging her to persevere, even after two rejections to the dental hygiene program and the unbearable grief of losing her parents during that time.

Becky gives credit to the open-door policy of counselors, where she often went to simply have a good cry. When she was considering college, she knew she didn't want to go far from home. Her parents needed her, and money was certainly an issue. Becky is the oldest of eight children, and she grew up in a home where English is not the primary language and her dad’s earnings were stretched thin. She needed to help them, and she needed extra help at school.

Becky did finally get into the dental hygiene program. Every step of the way, counselors, instructors, the staff, and colleagues supported her through all her difficult circumstances. She says she is so grateful for their empathy and and their offers of a shoulder to lean on while insisting she not fall behind in school. And now Becky is a role model for her seven younger brothers and sisters. She can stand tall and prove to them that if she can overcome all the obstacles she faced while earning her degree at SCC, they can too. It will be special moments for Becky when her siblings, one by one, walk the stage to receive their degrees.

"The memorable moments for me were when I got to watch each student fulfill their dreams and find what truly makes them happy." James Mar Alum & Emeriti / 2019 / Shown with fellow alum Luba Pislar / American River College

For students entering college for the first time, usually the main goal is to discover purpose and go on to find success. Retired American River College counselor James Mar, also known as “Mr. American River,” believes his work as a counselor, and helping students gain clarity and direction, was fulfilling his destiny and true passion.

“Students mainly need to hear to follow their heart and to follow their curiosity. Those two will give you happiness in the future,” he said reflecting on how one encounter with a counselor at Sacramento City College changed his entire perspective on higher education.

Straight out of El Camino High School, Mar was accepted to the University of California, Berkeley to study engineering, but declined the offer and instead enrolled in Sacramento City College.

As an engineering major, Mar said he felt like he was a bit misguided and was struggling with some of his required courses. He said he worried that if he continued into the profession things would collapse. This led him to meet with a Sacramento City College counselor to explore his options.

Mar said that even today, he remembers how impactful meeting with a helpful and kind-hearted counselor was for him.

“She asked me the question, ‘What do you love to do?’ and this really paused me because in Chinese philosophy I don’t think that way,” Mar said. “You think of other people and fulfilling what their desires are. To think of what I wanted was very foreign to me.”

Mar was raised by what he calls “Old Chinese” parents with a culture very familiar with fulfilling the parent’s desires academically and professionally, which caused an immense amount of stress and pressure when it came to decision making. Ultimately Mar felt that his parents played an important role in creating a drive for success that stuck with him as he pursued his career, but the counselor he met with played an important role in choosing to put his dreams first.

After that meeting, Mar changed his major to psychology and went on to graduate from Sacramento City College. He furthered is education by obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from San Francisco State University in 1970 and a Master’s degree in Counseling (School; and Marriage, Family & Child emphasis) in 1974 from Sacramento State University. After receiving his Master’s degree, he took a part-time counseling position at Encina High School which led to a full-time crisis counseling position at McClatchy High School where he worked with Asian gangs.

“I wanted to help people in some capacity, whether that was in social work, high school counseling, a community-based organization; I was involved with student advocacy work while in college and strongly felt I needed to change society,” Mar said.

His passion for helping misguided students eventually led him to a part time counseling position with ARC in 1975 and various other roles including Dean of Student Development for a decade.

“The memorable moments for me were when I got to watch each student fulfill their dreams and find what truly makes them happy,” he said.

Even though Mar officially retired in 2014, he has still volunteered part time, continuing to benefit student success and academic fulfillment as a counselor.

Mar went on to become an ARC donor and developed three different student scholarships, the Jane Mar Leadership Role Scholarship, the Albert Mar Veterans Scholarship and the Judy Mays/James Mar Psychology Scholarship as his lasting legacy and contribution.

“I’ve helped many women and people of color go through the process of unfolding their cultural and religious impact and help put clarity in their own thoughts and hearts,” Mar said. “That is the main skill of a counselor to me. It’s not just giving advice, but helping them see what’s truly in their heart.”

Mar has advised and consoled students of all statuses, backgrounds and life-stages; students pressured to enter certain career fields where they would not be fulfilling their real passion. His goal as a counselor is to remind students that following their own dreams over a family member’s expectation for them is an important part of finding true happiness.

He has also donated towards plaques under two of his top female student’s names; one a Russian-Ukrainian student whose dream was to go to Berkeley and to an international Moroccan student whose dream was to go to Stanford.

“All of it taught me to teach from experience. I’ve had a very rich life and am very blessed. I loved what I was doing every minute at American River,” Mar added. “As I get older, I feel very fortunate in my life, and wouldn’t change a bit.”

"It is never too late to change your career path. I went back to school and started my new career in my mid-thirties." Tyler Wierzbicki Alum / Information Systems Assurance / Cosumnes River College

What has been the key motivating factor or factors in your life to pursue your goal(s)?

I wanted financial independence and to have a career that will last me the rest of my life. I also wanted a career that was challenging and that I would be making a difference in the world. Wierzbicki says he’s inspired by, “All of the anonymous people who push through adversities because they don't allow any obstacles to write their life stories.”

How do you think CRC prepared you for your future?

My major was Information Systems Assurance. I was attracted to the cybersecurity aspect of computer science because of political events happening all around the world centered around information warfare and cyber-crime. The various courses offered allowed me to test the waters of what interested me. I was able to pinpoint which direction I wanted to take in my new career.

Cosumnes River College classes were affordable. The staff seemed to enjoy their jobs and take their students seriously. I always felt safe on campus.

What advice do you have for students and future students?

I graduated from University of San Francisco in 2005 with a BA in Media Studies. After graduating, I worked in commercial real estate and insurance for ten years. I decided to go back to school to explore my passion of computer science and technology.

It is never too late to change your career path. I went back to school and started my new career in my mid-thirties.

"Music really does connect you to people forever." Alexa Irvin Former Student / Sacramento City College

Being in the Music Department at Sac City was a huge way that I made friends – I would even say soul mates – in college, a huge component of how I found myself in college. Music really does connect you to people forever.

Susana’s plan is especially remarkable because when she graduated from high school (barely), she had no plan at all. She’s the eldest in an income insecure immigrant family, and her parents expected her to work after high school. She entertained the idea of community college only because her best friend was going, so she enrolled at SCC.

Susana’s ambitions changed when she was selected to attend the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities' (HACU) Capitol Forum as a SCC representative. Each spring, SCC students at this forum lobby their elected Congressional representatives hoping to shape and promote future legislation that will benefit all students, particularly those in underserved communities. SCC is the only campus in the region to expose students to these opportunities.

Attending the HACU Capitol Forum changed Susana’s view of what she could dream and even impacted her entire family. Susana understands now that growing up in an immigrant household doesn’t predispose her to the types of jobs her parents have, and she is worthy of the opportunities offered to anyone with an education.

Now that she has her AS in Business Administration from SCC and a degree in economics at Sac State, Susana is giving back at SCC. She is working with the HSI-STEM Equity and Success Initiative Project, a federal grant made available to recognized, Hispanic-serving institutions. Her job now is to support/mentor underserved and low-income students in school by being an advocate for them and an advocate for equity.

Through education, Susana learned that her heard voice can be heard, and she can advocate for herself, her family and her community. Barraza for Congress? Why not?

"I can get through the day because I know I have somewhere safe to sleep at night." Brittany Tipton Student / Fire Technology and Paramedic / Veteran / American River College

Brittany Tipton didn’t believe she was cut out for college. “I didn’t think I was going to be able to go to college, I didn’t think I would be able to get through college, so I joined the Marine Corps, ended up blowing out my knee and came home. [The Marine Corps] changed the way I thought about the world, the way I thought about myself as a person.”

After Brittany returned home, she decided to enroll in American River College, in large part because of the large veteran population. She credits much of her success so far at ARC to Mike Robinson and the Veterans Resource Center. “Mike Robinson is a huge support at ARC. I wouldn’t still be in school without him. [The] Veterans Resource Center helps students all the way through. Not many colleges have that.”

Despite the support she received from the Veterans Resource Center, Brittany unexpectedly found herself homeless and faced with the choice of paying bills or buying food. She applied for a grant from the Veteran Student Emergency Fund and was awarded $450 to help her buy food and move into safe housing. It allowed her to stop stressing and be able to focus on school.

“I encourage anyone who needs it to apply. Without that boost, I wouldn’t have been able to stay in school full-time and work full-time,” says Brittany. “I can get through the day because I know I have somewhere safe to sleep at night.”

Brittany expects to finish her degrees in Paramedics and Fire Technology in a few years, and then hopes to get hired at a Fire Department. With a few years of experience under her belt, she then plans to take the investigators exam.

"There was a tribe with me along the way." Susana Barraza Employee / HSI-STEM Equity and Success Initiative Project / Former Student / Sacramento City College

Susana Barraza has a plan. She has specifics and a timeline and she radiates full confidence that it will happen. She wants to gain experience in Washington D.C. (where she interned with the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute), reach the PhD level, return back home and run for public office.

Susana’s plan is especially remarkable because when she graduated from high school (barely), she had no plan at all. She’s the eldest in an income insecure immigrant family, and her parents expected her to work after high school. She entertained the idea of community college only because her best friend was going, so she enrolled at SCC.

Susana’s ambitions changed when she was selected to attend the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities' (HACU) Capitol Forum as a SCC representative. Each spring, SCC students at this forum lobby their elected Congressional representatives hoping to shape and promote future legislation that will benefit all students, particularly those in underserved communities. SCC is the only campus in the region to expose students to these opportunities.

Attending the HACU Capitol Forum changed Susana’s view of what she could dream and even impacted her entire family. Susana understands now that growing up in an immigrant household doesn’t predispose her to the types of jobs her parents have, and she is worthy of the opportunities offered to anyone with an education.

Now that she has her AS in Business Administration from SCC and a degree in economics at Sac State, Susana is giving back at SCC. She is working with the HSI-STEM Equity and Success Initiative Project, a federal grant made available to recognized, Hispanic-serving institutions. Her job now is to support/mentor underserved and low-income students in school by being an advocate for them and an advocate for equity.

Through education, Susana learned that her heard voice can be heard, and she can advocate for herself, her family and her community. Barraza for Congress? Why not?

"I've found a home at the Veterans Success Center, a place where I feel I belong." Jeff Landay Student / Communication Studies / Veteran / Folsom Lake College

For the first assignment in his public speaking class in fall 2016, 30-year-old Jeff Landay was instructed to introduce himself to his Folsom Lake College (FLC) classmates via a three-minute presentation. He began by showing a startling photo of himself taken in 2006 as a patient at Bethesda Naval Hospital. To him, this one snapshot encapsulated what he had endured and would also serve to motivate him for what was to come.

Following a tumultuous childhood, Jeff enlisted in the United States Marine Corps immediately upon graduating from Oak Ridge High School in 2004. In January 2006, his Camp Pendleton-based 3/5 unit (3rd Battalion, 5th Marines) was deployed half a world away to Fallujah, Iraq. During a routine patrol on May 21, 2006, the humvee he was traveling in struck a roadside bomb that left one member of his platoon dead and seriously wounded three others. Jeff was barely alive, but somehow summoned the strength to drive the battered vehicle out of harm’s way. "They all thought that was Jeff's last act, to get that truck back to safety to get his comrades out," his mother, Michelle Landay, said.

Marine Cpl. Jeff Landay was transported to a hospital in Baghdad, then to Germany, and eventually back to the States. Jeff was in a coma for nearly a month having suffered a traumatic brain injury in which they had to remove the left side of his skull to alleviate the swelling. “By every account, I should have died. Technically, I was clinically dead three times,” Jeff recalls.

Upon his hospital release and at the age of 19, Jeff returned to Citrus Heights and faced a long recovery that included relearning to speak, struggling with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and the physical and emotional toll of a cumulative 52 surgeries to repair his injuries. Jeff’s harrowing life-and-death story was featured in the 2007 documentary, To Iraq and Back: Bob Woodruff Reports, and in a segment on ABC World News. The battle scars on his body became his badges of pride alongside the three Purple Hearts he had been awarded for his service to his country.

It was also during this time that Jeff began taking classes at Folsom Lake College using education benefits provided by the G.I. Bill and with additional support from the college’s Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) department. He appreciated that the structure and self-discipline that had originally been ingrained in him as a Marine also fit well with that of academia. Jeff quickly endeared himself to students and staff with his combination of brutal honesty and unbeatable optimism.

The natural class clown also found comradery and compassion from other student veterans that frequented FLC’s Veterans Success Center. He enjoyed helping the “kids,” as he refers to them, most only several years his junior, with their coursework. “Jeff has inspired many veterans and non-veterans here at FLC. His ability to look beyond his injuries and stay focused on the future inspires everyone he comes into contact with…including myself!” shared Veterans Success Center staff member and fellow veteran Ken Walker. “When students get overwhelmed, they can always think about how Jeff has the same commitments and does not give up or even skip a beat. He inspires others to stay in the fight and press on!”

It was also at FLC in that same communications course where he was tasked to tell his story that he discovered he had a knack for public speaking. After receiving an associate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies: Social & Behavioral Sciences in December 2015, he returned to FLC to earn a second degree in Communication Studies. He plans to transfer to Sacramento State and pursue a career as a motivational speaker to hopefully inspire veterans and civilians alike. “We all have struggles,” notes Jeff.

It was that first public speaking engagement that gave him the confidence to share his inspiring story with others. When asked who would play him if his story one day gets the Hollywood treatment, Jeff said with a laugh, “Ryan Reynolds, because it would have to be someone pretty.”

"The MESA Student Leadership Retreat provided us a platform to expand our network beyond just our own community." Jun Li Student / Mechanical Engineering / MESA / Cosumnes River College

At Cosumnes River College, the MESA program provides math, engineering, and science academic development to underrepresented community college students. The goal is to help them excel academically and transfer to four-year institutions as science, engineering, and math majors. This support is crucial in helping students from low-performing high schools reach their academic potential and become technical professionals.

Thanks to generous donors, the MESA Program received a mini-grant from the Los Rios Colleges Foundation to help them attend the Student Leadership Retreat (SLR). The SLR is chance for community college students to interact, network, and build leadership skills with other MESA students. This leadership and skill-building conference features hands-on STEM sessions, including chemistry study, engineering design, and coding.

CRC student Jun Li says, "The MESA Student Leadership Retreat provided us a platform to expand our network beyond just our own community. I befriended students all over California. We collaborated to solve problems and learned about interesting subjects that we would otherwise not be able to learn. But most importantly, my fellow MESA members shared stories that resonated with my experience and motivated me to be a better leader."

"Root for yourself and be clear about your goals." Marianna Sousa Student / Communications / Former Student Trustee / Sacramento City College

Marianna was a babe in arms when her mother graduated from Sacramento City College’s hygienist program. Decades later, as a mother herself, Marianna returned to school and hit the books 17 years after her last math class. At the beginning, she felt out of place, being surrounded by students that were half her age. But then she figured out that at community college you can customize your experience – if you root for yourself, are clear about your goals, and seek out the people who are willing to advocate for you.

SCC provided Marianna a place to practice and learn to be better. She was able to merge her visual, creative, and leadership skills with a new understanding of the value of relationships. She even went out and established enough of those relationships to get elected as the student body president – then later as student representative to the Board of Trustees.

Marianna knows life can get tough. But she says the professors that truly cared, helped her keep on her trajectory and never lost faith in her – and that’s the true value of community college.

"The people you're able to meet, the classes you're able to take – it really sets you up for a UC experience." Muzamil Ahmad Alum / Pre-Med / American River College

For Muzamil Ahmad, going to American River College meant following in his family's footsteps. Wanting to pursue a pre-med education, Ahmad applied to ARC after hearing the science education at the college was unparalleled.

"I took almost all my science courses at ARC and I really enjoyed them," Ahmad said. "I thought I got a really good education and had some of the best professors at ARC."

In addition to wonderful professors, Ahmad found a community at ARC, building friendships with fellow students following the same pre-med track that he was pursuing. He also found a home in the ARC Student Senate where he put his mind to making a difference.

"In every aspect, I had such a great time," Ahmad said. "Some of my best friends I met at ARC."

Ahmad found that serving 30,000 students while on the Student Senate was an incredibly rewarding experience, and it put his pre-med knowledge to work. One of the projects that he focused on was placing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) campus-wide and working with EMTs to host basic life support training for staff.

Ahmad then transferred to UC Berkeley and once there, he was elected to a seat on the Cal student senate, which as a transfer student was very uncommon.

"What I kept hearing was, 'Oh, well, you're a transfer student – transfers don't win,'" Ahmad said. "What helped me get elected was the experience I had at ARC."

As Ahmad works with his staff on things such as meetings, planning and different projects on the Cal campus, he has found that his experience at ARC was not only rewarding but prepared him to successfully transfer and engage in his new campus community. Although it wasn't easy at first to see beyond the stigma of attending a community college, it is a decision he wouldn't change for anything.

"I would see all my friends – they went straight to 4-year universities. I'm living with my parents still," Ahmad said. "But I would do it over again the same way every single time because it's so worth it. The people you're able to meet, all the classes you're able to take. It really builds you up and sets you up for a UC experience."

"Academically, SCC is very structured and it's very clear what you need to transfer." Rose Shoen Alum / Economics / Sacramento City College

Rose Shoen cannot stop encouraging those around her to consider going to community college, specifically any of the colleges within the Los Rios Community College District.

"I've been a soccer coach for 12 years," Shoen says. "And I always recommend the Los Rios district for the student athletes I work with, just because I think it's a very streamlined process. I think academically it's very structured, very clear what you'll need to transfer."

Shoen's own experience with the schools was primarily with Sacramento City College, earning an Associate Degree in Economics. Although she attended 7 different colleges, Sac City was the one where she found she had the best experience.

One of the experiences she particularly values was the Hispanic Association of College Universities (HACU) conference in Washington, DC, which she attended under Professor Sandra Camarena. The conference was a chance for Shoen to spread her wings, and learn to promote herself as a businesswoman as well as refine her academic skills.

All throughout college Shoen worked while taking classes, and she found that classes at Sac City were designed for working adults.

For example, the classes are affordable, parking passes for students are valid at all four colleges in the district, tons of scholarships are available, and classes are taught by a professor rather than a teaching assistant.

When Shoen discusses college options for her student athletes, she always highly recommends Los Rios colleges. With smaller class sizes and a myriad of resources for students, Shoen believes that the opportunities at Sac City set the foundation for her success.

"I think for a lot of people, they look at community college – especially if they come from a family where education is prioritized – and they're like, 'Oh, community college, whatever,'" Shoen says. "To be honest, I just had my son – he's 7 weeks old – I just told my husband, I really want him to consider community college when he's older."

"Los Rios provides pathways to success for people from all walks of life." David Diepenbrock Donor / Los Rios Colleges Foundation Immediate Past Chair / Principal, Diepenbrock Elkin Gleason LLP

I give because…

I believe in the crucial work that Los Rios is doing in our region. Each of the district’s four colleges provides exceptional academic programs and technical training, creating a stronger workforce and more informed public. Los Rios provides pathways to success for people from all walks of life, as demonstrated by alumni luminaries such as Tani Cantil-Sakauye, the California Supreme Court chief justice. The Los Rios Colleges Foundation’s Student Emergency Fund makes a profound difference in students’ lives, helping them to overcome unforeseen hardships, stay in school, and pursue their dreams.

"I was a Student Equity Advocate my last semester at FLC, it was an amazing experience and I felt welcomed by my peers and I made a lot of friends that I think I’ll have for a long time." Micaela Stafford Student / Student Equity Advocate / Folsom Lake College

Micaela always thought school was difficult. She would sometimes get anxious about taking tests and would shut down rather than take on what she considered an overwhelming experience — making it through school.

Like many of her high school peers living in Elk Grove, Micaela moved along after graduation to Cosumnes River College. It seemed like the logical next step for a young woman who grew up with high expectations, but who did not see herself as a student, and considered a degree only a mirage on a distant horizon.

Those first few semesters of community college felt like an extension of high school and an extension of the anxiety Micaela use to face there. But then she made a significant discovery about herself and took advantage of an important opportunity that only Los Rios Community College District could offer her.

Micaela transferred to Folsom Lake College, a Los Rios campus with a smaller population located in a serene setting. It was there she was able to make a plan, and with the help of an attentive counselor and life lessons in time management, Micaela began to see herself differently. Her parents always told her she could do anything, and now she believed it too.

Micaela became adamant about going to class, turning assignments in on time, and getting involved on campus. She spent a lot of time in the tutoring center getting help with science and math, and a lot of time helping others as a Student Equity Advocate.

Micaela is now on her way to the University of San Francisco, transferring there as a junior, where the sky is the limit and advanced degrees are now part of the conversation. Her tenacity to stay in the ring and keep trying is a story those who struggle should hear, and a tribute to a community college system that can give students the help they need to achieve.

"College has been one of the best experiences of my life." Breece Phillips Student / Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering, Mathematics, and Interdisciplinary Studies / Sacramento City College

Breece Phipps’ life is on the up side. And for someone whose life has experienced more than its share of downs, his journey is quite remarkable. Breece graduated recently with degrees in mechanical/aerospace engineering, mathematics and interdisciplinary studies. The first-generation college student even plans to someday assist in the advancement of multi-planet exploration. He credits maturity and tenacity for his success, and the new beginning he found at Sacramento City College (SCC).

As a teenager, Breece became a statistic of America’s battle with opioids. Like so many others, his addiction was leading him down a path of self-destruction. Bad decisions led to dropout status at college — and for a while — even incarceration.   

Breece now says college is the catalyst to changing the trajectory of his future. And when he looks back at his years at SCC, he realizes that his success came not just from his own persistence to learn, but also from the community he found there. He loved hearing the multitude of languages on campus and learning of the different ethnic backgrounds of his fellow students. He looked forward to getting on campus every day because he knew everybody there was supportive and cheering him on. For Breece, SCC provided the faculty, administration and vast amount of resources he needed to thrive throughout his time there, and he says, it felt like family.

"I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing if it weren’t for the SCC Music department." Daniel Silva Former Student / Sacramento City College

I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing if it weren’t for the SCC Music department. Not only did it provide me with the foundation on which to build a professional career from scratch, it was a safe environment to really explore my instrument, make mistakes, and build my confidence as a performer.

"ARC served as a buffer to the shock of being a newcomer on so many levels." Clarissa Laguardia Alumni / 2012 / Liberal Arts / American River College

I emigrated from El Salvador and arrived in California fresh out of high school in 2003. Back in those days, the internet was not what it is today. I had not been exposed to other languages or cultures. My early years in El Salvador encompassed a life of limitations and an ongoing brutal civil war, which meant poverty, insecurity, scarcity, and political unrest. Those were uncertain times, and when you are so young it really stays with you. My parents worked extremely hard but there were few opportunities around.

Once in the U.S., I began working at a grocery store in North Sacramento. I remember people’s looks because I did not understand enough English or could not express myself. I clearly remember pranks by co-workers, their put downs such as “go back to your country,” and other discriminatory behavior. All of this made me feel unwelcome and small. For example, when asked to go grab “clam chowder or ravioli,'' I had no idea what that meant. I did not know idiomatic expressions or pop culture. All I knew was the volcanoes, tropical jungle, and the Latin American history, culture, and cuisine of my homeland. It is a terrifying situation for a young woman.

A few months in, I was able to secure a better job at a large school district. This allowed me to have the headspace to think a bit ahead. I learned about American River College. I went in and it was quite intimidating. I had never been to a learning institution that big ever. All my schools in El Salvador were so tiny in comparison to American schools. I had to ask strangers as to what to do to enroll or how things worked around here. I had no concept of a counselor. I had no idea what that meant. I would meet with them and leave still confused, simply because I had no context to what they were talking about. Finally, I took placement tests and proceeded to take ESL classes. I could have never guessed this would be a decisive moment in my life. Had I not taken the time to learn English well, I would not be where I am today. ARC served as a buffer to the shock of being a newcomer on so many levels. I was among peers who shared a similar experience. I was lucky to learn from dedicated professors. The student support service centers helped me navigate an otherwise intimidating situation.

Unless you are an immigrant, you have no concept of what it is like to walk around not knowing anything. I mean that literally. I did not know cultural norms, which meant I did not know how to act or dress American. I stood out. I had to couch surf as I did not have a place to live just months after arriving. I did not know there were stores that had discounted groceries or places to buy used furniture. My first apartment was empty for a while. For years, I scrambled to make ends meet. Many times, filling my belly with water because I had no food. I had no extra money. I was not financially literate. I lacked most survival skills. The great side of this story is that somehow I learned to navigate everything. This experience made me tough, resilient, and fearless.

After earning an Associate’s Degree at American River College, I was able to transfer to Sacramento State University. Once again, I was truly lost. I still did not understand the higher education system and the difference between community college and a 4-year college. At that point, I had decided to leave my stable job at the school district to pursue my undergraduate degree, which motivated me to start my own business. I worked as a translator and interpreter for about eight years and so it was the logical type of business to go into. I am proud my business has been active and gradually growing over the last 15 years.  

In 2015, I was able to successfully graduate with a B.A. in Communication Studies with a concentration in international and intercultural communication. Around the same time, I started volunteering for various causes in the community. I was awarded Inspiration Estrella by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 2018. That same year, I went to Italy to participate in a highly specialized training on intercultural communication research. In 2019, I served as a Governor appointee as Language Access Manager for the California Complete Count - Census 2020 Office. I developed the Census standards and Census methodology used by the state of California in their outreach campaign. The work I did was so meaningful to me. I hope to build upon it in the future. 

My community activism led me to realize I wanted to do something about injustice and inequality. I enrolled at Sacramento State University to pursue a masters in public policy and administration. In May 2021, I joined the 4 percent of Latinas who have attained a master's degree or higher in the United States. I was nominated as CSUS’ Newman Civic Fellow in 2020. I have a deep gratitude for Sac State because that is where I found mentors among peers and faculty, but also made lasting friendships. Over the span of almost 17 years in the language access realm, I have learned a lot and can provide new insights on this topic. As part of my graduate work, I developed www.rethinklanguageaccess.com. A space to discuss and think of innovative ways to address the language gap affecting over 25 million Americans.  

Of course, this journey has not been easy. I have put myself through college while supporting my mother back home. There were months I did not know how I would pay the rent or bills. At times, I had to work multiple jobs. I had to still show up in hostile environments despite inner battles with deep trauma. I doubted my ability to succeed. I was ashamed of my accent. I dealt with racist treatment almost everywhere I went. I had to learn content and language at the same time, which meant reading the same sentence too many times to count. It involved being the recipient of microaggressions.

In the end, I can say that this immigrant experience gave me an edge few people have. In fact, I developed a sense of setting goals and mapping a plan to achieve them. I became keenly strategic and intentional. Sometimes I cannot believe how much my life has changed. I grew up having so little. I own a small business, and I am getting ready to open a second venture. I intend to do public policy and/or civic engagement consulting. I continue to give back and serve on community organization boards. I am so pleased I am at a place where I can walk away from hostile environments because of my knowledge, education, and experience. I can choose where I work and what I do. None of it would be possible if I had not been able to learn English and earn my transfer prerequisites at ARC. 

To all my fellow immigrants and queer people of color, never give up. Also, once you do achieve your dreams, take the time to help others along the way.