June 2021

Vol. 4

Honors Celebration 2021

It’s been a challenging year for students, making it even more important to honor those who excelled and earned scholarships and awards for 2021 and the upcoming academic year.

Normally, the Foundation and the Office of Financial Aid host an in-person Honors Celebration on campus to recognize scholars in front of family and friends. This year’s event was presented in two segments: a virtual awards ceremony on the Bakersfield College YouTube channel, and a drive-thru Honors medal distribution on campus the following day.

The pre-recorded YouTube event, created in partnership with BC’s Marketing & PUblic Relations team, featured BC administrators, a keynote address from Bakersfield City Councilmember Andrae Gonzales, and name recognition for student recipients. The presentation can be viewed on YouTube. and the Honors Celebration program and the 2021 Commencement Video can be found on the Bakersfield College 2021 Commencement Tribute page. Special thanks to Amanda Stone, Scholarship Manager, for her leadership in coordinating this recognition of the 2021 Honors Students.

Nearly $500,000 will be awarded to almost 500 students, and these opportunities are made possible through generous support from individual and corporate donations and endowments.

Congratulations to all that received scholarships and awards. We are proud of you! We Are BC!

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From the Executive Director

As my first year at the BC Foundation comes to a close, and as COVID lessens its grip on our daily routines, I am finally having the chance to experience life on campus! Our Foundation team recently moved into the brand-new Campus Center (the first new construction project funded by Measure J) and we are working on campus at least a couple of days each week.

Our Foundation offices are on the second floor of the building, sharing space with the college’s executive leadership team which is wonderful for allowing collaboration between the Foundation and the college!

Speaking of leadership, we are all excited about the recent announcement that Bakersfield College’s President, Dr. Sonya Christian, will soon be assuming the role of Chancellor of the Kern Community College District! Sonya has taken BC to new heights over the past eight years and I am very thankful to have worked so closely with her over the past 11 months.

Dr. Zav Dadabhoy, no stranger to the BC Foundation team and board of directors, has been announces at the Interim President of Bakersfield College. Zav has served as Vice President of Student Affairs at BC since 2012, and he is also considered a leader by his peers throughout the state as he is president of the California Community College Chief Student Services Officers (CSSO) Association.

Looking ahead to the fall we are excited to welcome our students and faculty back to campus, and we hope you – our supporters – will come visit us too! We’ll be thrilled to show you around our new building, and to give you a peek at the construction taking place on our new Science and Engineering Building. Bakersfield College is in a state of growth and transformation and it’s all thanks to you, our faithful supporters. We appreciate you!

Stay safe and be well this summer!

Cheryl

Cheryl Scott

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Why Philanthropy Matters:

Donations from Bank of America and Phillips 66 give high school students a head start on their college education.

Contributed by Kylie Campbell – Program Director, Outreach & Early College

Bakersfield College’s program gives high school students the chance to earn credit towards college degrees while they are still in high school. Collaborations with local high school partners like Kern High School District have allowed BC to design pathways for students to complete entire associate degrees over the four years while earning their high school diploma. Two of the newest pathways, Public Health science and Industrial Automation, were designed with the community needs and job demands of Kern County at the heart of them and have been generously supported through the philanthropic efforts of Bank of America and Phillips 66.

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Long Time BC Foundation Board Member Fran Florez to Retire in September

Loyal Bakersfield College Supporter Fran Florez will soon bid the BC Foundation Board of Directors adieu after nearly two decades of devoted service on the board.

Fran joined the board in 2003, when then-executive director Walt Howell convinced her that she would be a good addition. “The years have flown by, ” Fran said. Looking back, she said participating in fundraising, helping with bond measures, and “doing all that is needed to offer students the best education facility possible” have led to what was the ultimate goal for her: student success. “I am so proud of the major improvements to the campus today.”

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CELEBRATION OF LIFE PLANNED FOR BECKI WHITSON

Beloved Professor Emeritus, long-time BC Alumni Association President, and Cheer Coach Beck whitson passed away in December after a long courageous battle with cancer. A celebration of Beck’s life will be held in the new Campus Center at Bakersfield College on the evening of Monday, July 26 (her birthday).

Proper safety measures will be taken, and attendance will be limited. All guests must register to attend the celebration.

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Sterling Silver 2021-That’s a Wrap

The Bakersfield College Foundation presented the thirteenth annual Sterling Silver event on March 6 as a televised event on KGET/Channel 17. Channel 17 and their talented staff was a wonderful partner on this project. Sterling Silver is the BC Foundation’s signature fundraising event, and the virtual format provided the opportunity to share the mission of the BC Foundation with more viewers. We are thankful for our partnership with the Bakersfield College Marketing and Public Relations (MPR) team. Their video and editing talents were critical in helping us pivot to a virtual format!

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BC Foundation Welcomes New DA III

Contributed by Susan Hubbell

Teh BC Foundation is excited to announce our newest team member Graciela “Gracie” Magallanes. Gracie was raised in Bakersfield and is a proud alum of Bakersfield College, and holds three Associate degrees from BC. She is currently working on her bachelor’s degree in liberal studies at CSUB. Gracie started working at Bakersfield College in the HR department as a student and gained additional experience in other jobs within other departments at BC. In July 2019, Gracie became a temp employee for KCCD and served in the District HR department for a while, and then was selected to serve in a temp position with the Foundation at the start of 2020. That temp position was short-lives as the COVID-19 stay-at-home order ended her employment with the Foundation.

Panorama Feature: Your BC Story

In every issue of Panorama we will be highlighting a few of our proud BC alums. You share “Your Story” at Tell Us Your BC Story.

Sally Hill – BC Class of 1966

As a young child in the 1950s, I have fond memories of my Mom and Dad taking me on Sunday drives to watch as the Bakersfield College stadium was under construction. There was such an air of excitement! Subsequently, in middle childhood they would occasionally take me to watch Renegade football whenever their season-ticket-holding friends were unable to attend. The stadium was alive and full of fans in the stands, burley football players knocking heads, and beautiful cheer leaders dancing around gracefully. This is still a vivid memory formed at the age of nine.

Little did I know that I would one  day be a not-so-graceful cheer leader dodging the gallant white horse that encircled the  track after every touchdown, as my MVP fullback fiancé scampered around the field. We were so in love that we sacrificed scholarships to the Air Force Academy and UC Santa Barbara in order to stay together and attend BC. However, Bakersfield College proved to be a solid foundation for our further educational pursuits.

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