Greetings, Wolverines!

We are officially in the final month before Commencement, and the energy on campus is undeniable! From large-scale events to intimate celebrations, our community is showing up for one another and for our students.  Among the numerous campus events this week, on Thursday, SBVC will host College and Career Day facilitated by the Office of Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr.  On Friday, I will participate in Final Interviews for an Assistant Professor in Geography.  Thank you for continuing to lead with love, humility, and hope.

Here are this week’s updates:

1. SBVC CELEBRATES 10 YEARS OF THE DREAMERS RESOURCE CENTER
Yesterday, we were proud to celebrate the 10th anniversary of SBVC’s Dreamers Resource Center in B-100. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this space over the past decade, providing a place of belonging, safety, and empowerment for undocumented students navigating higher education. Thank you, Evelyn Ruiz, for organizing this special commemoration and to everyone who joined in to honor a decade of advocacy, support, and community-building for our undocumented students. We are grateful to all who have contributed to the DRC’s continued growth and success.

2. SBVC WELCOMES INCOMING CLASS OF FALL 2025
Last Wednesday, we hosted Senior Day 2025, welcoming hundreds of high school students to campus for an immersive introduction to SBVC. Our teams came out strong, showcasing programs, support services, and the vibrant culture that makes Valley feel like home. Special thanks to April Dale and the team for creating such a welcoming event full of positive energy!  Thank you to every department and team member who helped make this event a warm, welcoming, and informative experience for our future Wolverines!

3. SBVC STUDENTS SHINE AT APAHE CONFERENCE
Last week, a group of SBVC student leaders had the privilege of representing our college at the Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education (APAHE) Conference. Their powerful presentation, "Understanding Humanity Through Student Leadership: Amplifying NHPI Student Voices with Joy and Cultural Pride," highlighted the vibrant culture of our Pacific Islander (Pasefika) community and the intentional programming and collaboration that continues to uplift NHPI students at Valley. The presentation echoed SBVC’s “Lead with Love” theme and served as a call to action for institutions to better support visibility, belonging, and cultural pride. We are proud of this amazing group of students and grateful to Ula Matavao, Bethany Tasaka, Francine Blacksher, and all who helped make this moment possible.

4. SBVC PRESENTS AT NACCS 50TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Dr. Irene Sanchez recently presented at the National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies (NACCS) 50th Anniversary Conference in Albuquerque, NM. Her presentation, “Our Communities' Stories of Resistance and Justice: Looking to the Past to Reimagine the Future,” focused on high school curriculum development and mentoring pathways for Latinx students. We are so proud to see Dr. Sanchez representing SBVC and the Inland Empire on the national stage!

5. PRESIDENT CONTRERAS REPRESENTS SBVC AT COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP BREAKFAST
On April 9, I had the honor of representing SBVC at the Arrowhead United Way 2025 Annual Meeting & Awards Breakfast. Held under the theme “Planting the Seeds of Community Growth,” the event recognized local leaders and organizations advancing education, health, and economic opportunity. SBVC was proud to be in the room for such an inspiring celebration of regional impact!

6. REGISTRATION SEASON IS HERE
Registration for Summer and Fall 2025 is going strong—and for many of our students, this is the time they need us most. Please help remind students to check Self Service for their registration date, create a balanced schedule, meet with a counselor for questions and guidance, and resolve any holds or payment issues before the semester begins. Let’s continue to surround our students with encouragement and the resources they need to stay on track and thrive.  I was happy to share with the Board of Trustees last Thursday that Summer enrollment is up 34% and Fall enrollment is up 29% when compared to the same day in the enrollment cycle 1 year ago.  This is a result of intentional efforts across the campus.  I especially want to thank our special programs with priority registration for helping our students enroll.

7. COMMENCEMENT COUNTDOWN: JUST OVER 1 MONTH TO GO!
Commencement 2025 is right around the corner, and thanks to the hard work of our Commencement Committee, plans are well underway to make this year’s ceremony truly unforgettable. The excitement is rising across campus as we prepare to celebrate our students and the journeys that brought them to this milestone. If you have ideas or suggestions to help make this moment even more special this year, please reach out to Dr. Ray Carlos at rcarlos@valleycollege.edu . For event details and updates, visit the official Commencement page at valleycollege.edu/commencement. Let’s make it a celebration to remember!

8. CENTENNIAL PLANNING IS UNDERWAY
Thank you to everyone who has already submitted ideas for SBVC’s Centennial Celebration in 2025-26! From special exhibits to commemorative events, we are already seeing incredible creativity and heart. If you have an idea to help make this historic year unforgettable, I invite you to reach out to me directly. This is our moment to honor the past, elevate the present, and envision the future.

9. HEADS UP: CONSTRUCTION ZONE PREP BEGINS NEXT WEEK
Next week, SBVC will begin installing fencing around the Liberal Arts Building in preparation for the construction of the new Student Services Building. This phase will limit access to the building but will not yet impact parking. Thank you for your patience and support as we prepare this space for transformation.

10. STRENGTHENING COLLABORATION WITH CSUSB
Last Friday, President’s Executive Cabinet met with the team from CSUSB to discuss ways to strengthen collaboration. Our goal is to become the #1 feeder community college for CSUSB.  We explored ways to align our HSI and BSI objectives as well as opportunities to connect our faculty.  Moreover, we explored opportunities to connect our student life with CSUSB student life.  Moving forward, Vice President of Student Services, Yvonne Gutierrez-Sandoval, will be the Valley College lead with these efforts and both CSUSB and SBVC will extend invitations as the conversation moves to planning.

Finally, last Friday, President’s Executive Cabinet, met with the Nursing Department to explore opportunities to showcase Nursing as part of the SBVC Centennial 100 Events.  Among the numerous outstanding ideas, SBVC Nursing will host a celebration during International Nursing Week in May 2026 and will participate in the collegewide branding initiative as part of centennial planning.

Valley Up!

Gil