In a Donor’s Words: An Interview with Contra Costa College Retiree Susan Lee
By Sara Marellino, CCC Foundation Dr. Lee, tell us about your history with Contra Costa College. I am very connected to Contra Costa College (CCC). I have lived in this community for 39 years, with 27 years of my professional life at CCC as faculty and as a dean. I essentially raised my kids here: […]
Akim Henderson Is Here for His Fellow Students
This isn’t the first time Akim Henderson has pursued higher education. In fact, Akim’s journey stands as a testament to the power of perseverance. “I grew up with an absent father,” he recalls. “My mom was killed when I was 10. And, I have lived through gun violence and substance abuse.” “I went to Cal […]
Elisha Patterson Says ‘You’re Not Alone’ at CCC
For Elisha Patterson, CCC was a second chance and a transformative experience. Like about 30% of current CCC students, Elisha enrolled as an older, returning student. After high school, she felt she needed to focus on work. “In Richmond, I think we’re raised to do K through 12,” she explains, “but, also asked, ‘How are […]
Victor Bolan Jr. Came Back to Make a Difference
Victor Bolan Jr. was born and raised in Richmond. Like many of his peers, he came to Contra Costa College (CCC) after high school unsure of what path he wanted to take. “I was just doing small courses here and there,” Victor says. “Sometimes part-time, sometimes full-time. My courses were scattered. I had over 85 […]
New CCC Foundation Funds Back Campus Improvements, Student Support
You might notice a few interesting improvements around the Contra Costa College campus this year, like soundproofing of the tutoring area, and a new state-of-the-art drinking fountain in the Student Services Building. Those are just two of the eight projects being funded in 2019 through the Contra Costa College Foundation’s new Program Innovation Fund (PIF) and […]
Genirberg Family Scholarship Established with $50,000 Gift to CCC Foundation
On a dreary February day in 2018, Contra Costa College Foundation Director Sara Marcellino answered her phone. Sam Genirberg, a 93-year-old Jewish activist and resident of El Cerrito, was on the other line. He was calling in response to a personal note he had received from the foundation, thanking him for the donation he had […]
Scholarships Created in Memory of Richmond Resident Whose Estate Gifted $835,000 to CCC Foundation
The Contra Costa College Foundation has received a gift of $835,000 from the estate of Geraldine M. Packard. The donation will fund 12 annual scholarships through the newly established Packard-Zell Scholarship Fund. “We are thrilled to be able to support even more students from our community looking for a second chance, thanks to the generosity […]
Meet Study Abroad Scholar Jonathon Torres
The Contra Costa Community College District has a great study abroad program – but some years, no one from CCC applies at all! Retired Chancellor Dr. Helen Benjamin and retired Senior Dean of Research & Development Tim Clow want more students to be able to take advantage of this experience. That’s why they decided to create […]
Supporting the Students That I Cared So Much For: A Bequest to the CCC Foundation
I was introduced to Contra Costa College (CCC) when I was a one-year sabbatical leave replacement. I was then lucky enough to get hired full-time the following year. While my work life at CCC spanned everything from reference librarianship to teaching German, directing the choir to sponsoring the students’ academic honor society, the most gratifying […]
‘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 […]
‘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 […]
Emergency Fund Helps Students Stay in School
Mayra Magana came to Contra Costa College to take English as a Second Language courses and pursue higher education. But she hasn’t had consistent access to a computer, which made doing coursework difficult. “I cannot stay here [on campus] to use these computers,” she explains, “because I need to get to work each day, too.” […]
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 […]
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 […]
Student Emergency Fund Featured on Forbes Civic Nation
CCC’s New student emergency fund has been featured on Forbes’ Civic Nation Voice blog! In a post published this morning, Sara Marcellino, Development Officer for the Contra Costa College Foundation, describes the program in detail: If an otherwise dedicated student suddenly goes missing from class or confides in struggling to continue, faculty members, or college counselors are […]
