In 1953, Bárbara Flores entered kindergarten at Washington Elementary School in Madera, California, a small city in the Central Valley surrounded by farm fields. Her mother and grandmother had talked it up: You’re going to learn a lot. You’re going to like it. She believed them. A little girl who would one day become a … Read more
In many ways, Tyree Jackson was atypical. He was biracial. He was gay. He had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). He was epileptic. When he was 15, his father, Terry, died. Then, his surrogate father died just six years later. But perhaps his biggest peculiarity was that none of this dampened his spirit. “It never … Read more
Students in the West Valley – Mission Community College District (WVMCCD) have scored a major victory – free tuition. At the end of September, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 3158, legislation that allows WVMCCD to waive tuition fees to all students living within its service area. The bill will expand access to higher education to … Read more
Luis Valdes, an 18-year-old student at Mission Early College High School and Mission College, struggled with obesity. In 2022, he weighed 300 pounds. Within two years, by identifying areas for improvement, he halved his weight. “The best part is that I haven’t gained it back,” Valdes said. At a TEDx conference at Mission College this … Read more
Artist Hadi Aghaee has been making art since he was a child living in Iran. “I have some experience creating sculptures,” Aghaee said. “I am the son of a blacksmith. My father and I created tools from scrap metal. I looked at what my dad did.” Since coming to America in 1976, Aghaee has lived … Read more
In March 2020, an art exhibit titled “Bamboo & Haiku” was supposed to open in the Vargas Gallery at Mission College. According to the exhibit’s curator, Dotti Cichon, sheltering in place during the onset of the pandemic conflicted with plans for the exhibit opening. So, the live exhibit did not open. This exhibit can now … Read more
When wearing her jeans and shouldering a backpack on campus, Seher Awan has sometimes been mistaken for a student rather than Mission College’s 12th president. She doesn’t fit the traditional stereotype. Her nonconformity—added to a Doctor of Education Degree from Pepperdine University and 16 years of community college work experience—just may be what will give … Read more
Chef Shubert Ho has made a name for himself when it comes to dining in the Pacific Northwest. A managing partner in the Feedme Hospitality and Restaurant Group, Ho oversees 8 restaurants. It’s a long way to come for the man who graduated Mission College in 2004 with the simple dream of becoming a chef. … Read more
Less than a year ago, Mission College graduated its first ever class from the Firefighter 1 Academy and already, those graduates are making an impact. Many of the 30 cadets accepted into the Academy last fall have found places in local fire departments. Two found their way to CalFire. Others joined local agencies, including Palo … Read more
Mission College in Santa Clara will host its final free concert series of the summer on Wednesday, August 10, as part of City of Santa Clara and Ukrainian Family Night. The featured artist will be Bay Area vocalist Masha Campagne, who will bring the timeless sounds of Brazil to the Mission College Plaza. Her soulful … Read more