• 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…

    Bruce Carlton
  • ‘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…

    Iracema and Julie
  • 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…

    Digital video camera
  • ‘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…

    Josielyn Bustamante
  • 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…

    Kristin Lobos
  • 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.”…

    Student and Administrative Building
  • 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…

    Gwendolyn Bullocks
  • CCC Singers Get Standing Ovation, Two Curtain Calls at Carnegie Hall

    Three college ensembles had the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall last week, and one of them was from CCC! Our very own Contra Costa Singers were chosen to perform at Gotham Sings!, an annual concert series spotlighting musicians from around the country. On Collegiate Choral Showcase night, CCC’s group, pulled from our vocal chamber…

    Carnegie Hall
  • 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,…

    Duy Masuno
  • 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…

    Marisol Contreras