December 2024

Vol. 18

From the Executive Director

Dear Friends of BC,

As the new year approaches, we at Bakersfield College are looking forward to the official opening of some long-awaited projects, including the opening of the new campus in Arvin, and the Renegade Athletic Complex at the Panorama campus. Both facilities will be ready to use soon and community open houses will be held in the spring. 

These two projects were made possible thanks to support from voters in 2016. Measure J funding has transformed BC’s Panorama, Delano (and created the new Arvin) campuses, with state-of-the-art buildings that enhance students’ learning and create even more opportunities for our region’s future leaders. 

Even as we are grateful for our new and improved facilities, we know there is more to be done. I meet regularly with President Fliger and BC’s other executive team members. In those meetings, I hear about space limitations and other campus funding challenges that arise in serving a growing student population (which is already 40,000-plus!). 

Students’ individual needs are a continuing reality, many stemming from their personal financial struggles which then, of course, overflow into their efforts to complete their education. The BC Foundation has created a Student Emergency Fund to help students who are at risk of halting their education because of an unusual or extreme situation. 

If you are considering options for year-end donations, please consider the life-changing impact you can have on Bakersfield College students.  Perhaps you would like to donate to the Student Emergency Fund, or maybe you’d like to create a new scholarship for students majoring in a particular area (or add to your existing scholarship fund if you already have one). Maybe you’d even like to learn about naming opportunities for programs and/or buildings, labs, and classrooms.

Please feel free to call us at (661) 395-4800 to talk about options, or visit our website at www.supportbc.org.

Warmest Holiday Wishes,

Cheryl

Bakersfield College Philanthropists and Supporters to be Honored at 17th Annual Sterling Silver Saturday, March 15, 2025

Highlights from the 2024 Sterling Silver Dinner

Renegade Innovation Grant Funds
New Performing Arts Piano Lab

By Kevin Boles-Lohmann, BC Program Manager, Performing Arts

The BC Performing Arts Department is thrilled to announce the opening of our brand new, innovative, state-of-the-art Piano Lab! For a couple years now, the BC Music program’s piano classes have been bursting at the seams with enrollment and interest. To meet the demand of students interested in learning piano, we have converted the Fine Arts 60 classroom space into a fully equipped teaching space for our Piano classes and more, thanks to support from the Bakersfield College Foundation’s Renegade Innovation Fund!

With funds awarded through the grant program, we purchased 24 brand new Yamaha keyboards and benches, as well as the innovative Yamaha LC4 Music Lab, an almost-futuristic teaching kit that uses a network of headphones and microphones to allow each student to feel as if they are isolated in their own private practice room; but with the touch of a button, our professors can remove the “practice room walls,” communicate with individuals or multiple students all at once, and allow students to collaborate in isolated pairs or groups, all controlled from a simple iPad. Rather than having to plug individually into each keyboard one at a time, our professors can revolutionize the way instruction is provided in our Piano classes.

Over the next few years, we anticipate that the demand for our Piano classes will increase significantly; the ability to accommodate more students, and to provide them with higher quality experiences in the classroom, will be transformative for our department. We are immensely grateful for the ability to serve more students, whether they’re fulfilling a degree requirement or seeking personal enrichment. As a department, we greatly value our role in serving the entire campus population as a resource for artistic enrichment and expression, and we are now ready and able to serve even more students with this newer, bigger, and more innovative Piano Lab.

We’re also excited about the benefits our Commercial Music program will see, now that the Commercial Music lab in PAC 115 will no longer have to double function as a piano lab. We estimate that the Commercial Music certificate program could see as much as a 50% increase in capacity for some courses. As a department that has seen steady growth over the last few years, this funding has truly allowed us to transform our spaces in a way that will serve the most students we possibly can.

The Performing Arts Department would like to offer our most sincere thanks to everyone involved in the process. Thank you to the Bakersfield College Foundation team and the Bakersfield College Foundation Board, as well as Vice President of Instruction Billie Jo Rice and her office, for their support in securing funding for this project. Thank you to Marcos Rodriguez, Justin Berhow, & the entire M&O Department for ensuring the classroom was transitioned successfully. Thank you to Brett Redd, Kristin Rabe, and the whole Technology Support Services team for fitting the classroom with the necessary technology to make the system run smoothly. Thank you to Dean Emmanuel Mourtzanos, Performing Arts Department Chair Tim Heasley, Dr. Scott Dirkse, John Calanchini, Patrick Bender, and Kevin Boles-Lohmann for providing input and keeping the project moving forward on the department side. And thank you to Joe Haworth and Nick Rail Music as our supplier and installation crew for the keyboards.

They say it takes a village, and in this case, that was absolutely true. The teamwork and camaraderie displayed during the last year and a half was a true sign of the Renegade spirit on our campus. We sincerely appreciate the support from beginning to end and can’t wait to enrich the lives of the thousands of students who will utilize our new Piano Lab.

BC Archives Keeps Renegade History Alive

By Bethany Rice, BC Archives Faculty Director

About the BC Archives

Bakersfield College had been open for almost 90 years when a group of four retirees came together on a mission to preserve and share their favorite college memories in 2001. After a couple of years, what began as an oral history preservation project bloomed into the Bakersfield College Archives in 2002.

Since then, the Archives has collected over 30,000 artifacts including publications, interviews, photographs, memorabilia, and so much more. Today, the Bakersfield College Archives continues their mission of collecting the history of Bakersfield College to showcase our rich heritage and continued impact on the community. 

General College Information  

Looking for information about BC history? We’re here to help! Whether you’re looking for information on a family member that previously attended BC, general information for a corporation, or are simply curious about the artifacts we have available, just send in a  research request form on our website. We’ll get back to you within just a few days on updates of our finding adventure for you!  

We’re looking to add to our collections! If you have pieces of the Renegade legacy and would like to donate them to archives, send us an email at  bcarchives@bakersfieldcollege.edu or fill out the  donation form  on website. We’d love for you to share your history with us!  

Share your favorite BC memories with us by submitting the Renegade Recollections form on our website. We’d be thrilled to add your story to the historical record and with your permission, share your narrative with the community.   

Schedule a tour or contact us at  bcarchives@bakersfieldcollege.edu or write to the BC Archives at 1801 Panorama Drive, Bakersfield, California 93305.  

Online Collections 

Renegade Rips – Check out scanned copies of BC’s student newspaper going back over 100 years! 
Raconteurs – Browse copies of the Raconteur- BC’s yearbook that began publishing in 1932 
Course Catalogs – View different courses in BC’s catalog archives, going back as far as 1980 
Archives Newsletter – Read past copies of the archives semi-annual newsletter that includes research articles about Bakersfield College, historical photos and so much more! 
BC Architecture – Check out artifact renderings of the 1955 Panorama campus and learn more about the architects that brought our main campus to life! 
Clayton Rippey – Learn more about the internationally known artist that dedicated so many years to BC as an art professor and creator of the 10-foot-tall mosaic Renegade Knight.
Bill Thomas Collection – Congressman Bill Thomas and BC political science Professor from 1965-1975, donated his congressional papers upon his retirement from politics and they are now available to the public! Learn more about his life and request to view these documents on his webpage. 

Alumni Spotlight: What’s Your BC Story?

Bethany Rice, Class of 2010

Bakersfield College serves over 40,000 students every semester and the reality is that BC is not just changing those students’ lives, but their families’ too. I know because I’m part of one of those families that’s course was forever altered, thanks to the opportunities afforded by Bakersfield College.  

My journey as a Renegade didn’t begin with my own enrollment in 2005, but well before that when both of my parents became returning students while I attended middle school.  

One of my earliest memories of BC was going with my mom to the campus bookstore to pick up her first set of textbooks. Even then, I was a reader and couldn’t wait to go through the books with her when we got home. Soon after, my dad started his journey as a Renegade and I would occasionally attend his courses with him, like English at the Weill Institute and geography in a forum class on the Panorama campus. Topics of their courses were discussions around our dinner table and the entire family did homework together every night. (In fact, they both tended to take an overload of courses and what better way to involve their daughter in education than paying her $.10 for each flashcard she copied!) 

I remember each of their graduations at Memorial Stadium and being so proud of them from the stands. I simply couldn’t wait for my turn to enroll at Bakersfield College so I could finally call it my school too. In 2005, I had my chance and became a concurrent student taking health and history as ITV courses (yes, I had to record lectures to a VHS tape from a special channel so I could rewatch them later. I suppose it’s fitting that one was a history course since it’s ancient technology now). I made it to the main campus in 2008 with my first full course load and jumped right in.  

As a full-time student, I took jobs on campus, working as a teaching assistant for one of my favorite anthropology professors and finally became a part of student government, going from senator to Activities Liaison. I loved planning events for our students and particularly loved creating the magic of Homecoming when I took my passion for our Renegade history and made it that year’s theme- working with Jerry Ludeke, a former BC Archives Director, to find one of the school’s original logos for our shirts that year and sharing tidbits about BC history throughout the week.  

During my time on campus, Bakersfield College continued to be a family affair, and I would frequently stop by mom’s office in the LA building as she had become a psychology professor in the years since her own BC graduation. In 2010, I finally walked across that same stage my parents did, with my AAs in history and anthropology and it was an amazing experience seeing my mom on the field with other faculty members and the rest of our family in the usual spot in the stands.  

While attending the University of California, Davis for history and anthropology and then San Jose State University for my master’s in library and information science, I never forgot I was a Renegade at heart. In fact, one of the first lectures I held while working as Curator of the Kern County Museum was on the history of Bakersfield College and its origins in Bakersfield High School. To be honest, I’m not sure if a month has ever gone by in my adult life when I haven’t worn some variation of a BC t-shirt, or our signature red and white.  

Coming back to Bakersfield College, to my home, as first a librarian and now part of the BC Archives has been more than I could ever hope for. As a librarian, it thrills me to be part of the team that supports our students and their dreams of success. In my role as Archives Director, I’m fortunate enough to support our entire Renegade community by sharing our history as Bakersfield College and I look forward to continuing to document the many more historic moments we will have over the years, and record how our campus continues to transform student lives. 

From Renegades to Role Models: Alumni Inspiring Change

The Bakersfield College Alumni Association (BCAA) is proud to launch the Alumni Speakers Bureau, an exciting resource connecting our talented alumni with the BC community. This webpage showcases alumni who are passionate about sharing their expertise and experiences with students, faculty, and the greater Bakersfield area. Whether you’re an educator seeking an inspiring guest speaker for your class or a community group interested in hearing from professionals in various fields, the BCAA Speakers Bureau is your gateway to impactful connections. 

Are you an alum passionate about a specific topic or area of expertise? We invite you to join the Speakers Bureau and share your story! Sign up today to be featured and help inspire the next generation of Renegades. Stay tuned for a webpage available in January to explore our speakers. Let’s celebrate and leverage the incredible knowledge within our BC alumni community!  If you would like to connect with one of our registered speakers or to become an alumni speaker, please email us at Foundation@BakersfieldCollege.edu.

BC Alumni BBQ Recap

The Bakersfield College Alumni BBQ on October 19 was a fun-filled afternoon for alumni and the community! With Harris BBQ as the presenting sponsor, guests enjoyed delicious tri-tip, mac & cheese, potato salad, and hot dogs, all served up with the help of the BC Culinary team.

The day was full of live entertainment from BC’s jazz band, drumline, choir, and cheer, plus fun activities provided by community exhibitors. Each meal ticket also included admission to the homecoming football game, where BC faced off against Hancock College and was victorious with a 48 to 35 win.

Proceeds from the event supported the BC Alumni Association, benefiting scholarships and alumni engagement. The fun, food, and football proved to be the perfect way to celebrate BC spirit!

Back to BC Golf Tournament Recap

The 4th Annual Back to BC Golf Tournament, held on October 18 at Rio Bravo Golf Course, was a day full of friendly competition and community spirit. Alumni, supporters, and friends of BC hit the greens for a fun-filled round of golf, all while supporting Bakersfield College.

Proceeds from the event helped benefit the BC Football program and the BC Alumni Association, ensuring continued support for current and future Renegades!

 Bakersfield College Foundation Secures $100,000 Grant from Chevron

The Bakersfield College Foundation is thrilled to announce a generous $100,000 grant from Chevron to support our programs and initiatives. This contribution highlights Chevron’s dedication to education and community development, providing transformative opportunities for hundreds of students who will now have access to resources and programs that might otherwise be out of reach.

Chevron’s support has a far-reaching impact, empowering students with advanced technologies and hands-on learning experiences that prepare them for success in their fields and meaningful contributions to their communities. We are deeply grateful for Chevron’s continued investment in education and its role in shaping a brighter future for our students.

Get to Know the BC Foundation Team