‘No One Can Take An Education Away’
Iracema Camargo Garcia has faced challenges that most of us can’t fathom. “I suffered a lot in my country,” she remembers. But Iracema is a fighter. No matter what challenges faced her, she persevered. Iracema emigrated from Mexico when she was 20 years old. “It was really hard,” Iracema says. “I came here and there […]
Digital Film Grad Hector Ortiz Wins Filmmaking Grant
This week, CCC graduate Hector Ortiz began principal photography on Announcement, the film for which he was awarded a grant by the Richmond Arts Commission. The short will focus on how the end of DACA impacts one Dreamer’s family. “Whether you support immigration rights or are against,” Hector says, “it’s definitely not going to be […]
‘I Was Able to Overcome What I Imagined to Be Impossible’
Josielyn Bustamante plans to become a civil engineer, in order to help others. “My aspiration,” Josielyn explains, “is to one day be able to help communities meet their basic human needs.” “Being a civil engineer will allow me to be able to design and build ways to facilitate transportation and access to water, such as […]
Kristin Lobos Found Self-Confidence at CCC
Kristin Lobos didn’t come to CCC for an associate degree. Inspired by her daughter’s struggle, Kristin had planned on earning a certificate in addiction treatment. “I had been through this experience with my daughter,” Kristin explains, “and I wanted to help other families. I did some research on where would be a good place to […]
Aspiring Novelist Gwendolyn Bullocks Says, ‘This is My Time!’
Gwendolyn Bullocks came to CCC with the goal of becoming a writer. “I used to always write. I have one book published. I want it where I travel with my books. I want to be a full-fledged novelist,” Gwendolyn explains. Gwendolyn will be graduating this May with degrees in English, Arts & Humanities, and Social […]
Duy Masuno Went from Business Major to Biotech Pro
Duy Masuno was born in Vietnam. When she was a teenager, her mother asked if she wanted to study abroad. Duy jumped at the opportunity. She moved to Los Angeles, where she completed high school. When family in the Bay Area told her mother that there was a community college right next to their home, […]
Marisol Contreras Discovered Her Potential at CCC
Marisol Contreras joined the Metas program later than most. She was unhappy at her regular school, where eighth grade classmates weren’t as interested in learning as she was, and some of the teachers actually discouraged her from trying. “I wanted to learn,” she remembers. “I was so curious.” Marisol heard about Middle College High School–a […]
Early Childhood Education Grad Jannika Wagner Says Stick With It
Jannika Wagner has a message for you: “It’s okay to take baby steps.” “Think big,” she says, “and figure out the small steps to get there.” Jannika graduated from Contra Costa College recently, but she first came here back in the late 90s, when she took a dance course to satisfy a high school PE […]
Lavonn Ambeau Changed Her Life at CCC
Lavonn was a stay-at-home mom. Her twins were born prematurely and their medical problems required special care. “I was on welfare,” she remembers, “living in the projects. I knew I wanted more for my kids. They couldn’t even go outside to play. But I knew nobody was going to hire me, because my skills weren’t […]
Trixy Arambulo Found Her Calling at CCC
Trixy Arambulo wasn’t sure what she wanted to do when she first came to Contra Costa College. She’d been studying kinesiology at San Jose State University, but decided it wasn’t for her and moved back home to San Pablo. Inspired by friends who struggled with addiction and mental illness, Trixy decided to take a Health […]
‘Pay It Forward,’ Says Health + Human Services Grad Keith Hall
For years, Keith Hall struggled with drug addiction and mental illness. “Three things come out of that lifestyle,” he says. “Jails, institutions or death. You’re looking over your shoulder for the cops, you’re looking over your shoulder for people trying to rob you. It’s no way to live.” Now, Keith is a mental health professional […]
Auto Services Professor Laura Salas Came to CCC as a Student
Laura Salas grew up around body shops. Her father has been a collision service tech for over forty years. “He took me to work with him one spring break,” she remembers, “and I got to experience a full body shop work week. I was in love.” Laura knew exactly what she wanted to do with […]
CCC Helps Healthcare Pro Better Connect with His Clients
Michael Sarvi already had a bachelor’s degree from UC Davis and was well on his way to medical school when he decided to come to CCC. He was working as a Reproductive Health Specialist at Planned Parenthood and felt he wasn’t connecting with patients as well as he’d like. While looking into local programs, he […]
Carmen Santana Is the Kind of Role Model She Needed as a Kid
Growing up in Richmond, Carmen Santana struggled with poverty, domestic violence and hopelessness. Her parents never graduated high school, and didn’t know how to help her succeed. She had to work a lot just to buy basics like clothing, and missed so much high school that she got kicked out of more than one. She […]
Andrew Almacen is Off to UCLA Nursing
Meet Andrew Almacen, a CCC graduate from the class of 2016! Some fast facts about Andrew: Grew up in Pinole Attended Ellerhorst Elementary, Pinole Middle and Pinole Valley High Schools Studied at Contra Costa College from 2013 – 2016 At CCC, Andrew was a Student Ambassador, USDA Scholar, Anatomy Teaching Assistant, tutor (in calculus, statistics, chemistry, and […]
