dvc 60th anniversary magazine

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D V C DIABLO VALLEY COLLEGE CELEBRATES 60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

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celebrating 60 years of diablo valley college in pictures and words

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DVCDIABLO VALLEY COLLEGE

C E L E B R A T E S 6 0 Y E A R SO F E X C E L L E N C E

advertising supplement • baY area neWs grOupP2 mOndaY, maY 3, 2010901

The greatest resource ever developed is still being developed.

Knowledge is the most powerful tool in life. Which is why at Chevron, we’re committed to supporting education around theworld. In California, Chevron Energy Solutions has partnered with the Contra Costa Community College District, installinginfrastructure and renewable energy technologies to help Diablo Valley College reach a new level of energy efficiency. Theseand other improvements are expected to help save the Contra Costa Community College District $70 million over the next25 years— improving the quality of education and the environment. To learn more, visit us at chevron.com.

Chevron Energy Solutions congratulates Diablo Valley College on 60 years of educational excellence.

CHEVRON, the CHEVRON Hallmark and HUMAN ENERGY are registered trademarks of Chevron Intellectual Property LLC. ©2010 Chevron U.S.A. Inc. All rights reserved.

As we celebrate the 60th anniversary of Diablo Valley College and the establishment of our District in 1948, I remain in awe of the vision our founders had for the District and its colleges. Thanks to so many people, that vision is continu-ing to be fulfilled sixty years later.

Residents and educational leaders of Contra Costa County first began discussing the forma-tion of a junior college district in the late 1930s. After losing the first countywide vote, residents approved what was then called the Contra Costa Junior College District in 1948.

When Contra Costa Junior College-East Campus (now Diablo Valley College) opened its doors in 1950 in the old Martinez Grammar School, it served 350 students. Today, DVC is meeting the higher education needs of more than 34,000 students annually.

Our District is proud of its role in helping students continue their education at four-year institutions. Diablo Valley College is the top transfer institution to the University of California, Berkeley, and is a major contributor of stu-dents to California State University, East Bay.

We also provide the training for critical jobs in our community including firefighters, law enforcement, emergency medical technicians, and nurses; and we are now poised to lead California’s economic recovery by educating the emerging clean energy workforce.

Despite our successes of the past, the state is now imposing funding reduc-tions that will have an impact on access, programs and services. Although very daunting, these fiscal challenges do not signal the end of higher educa-tion in our community. Rather, they provide the opportunity to reevaluate what we have done right in the past, and what we must do differently in the future to continue meeting the needs of our students.

On behalf of the Governing Board, faculty, staff and administrators, I want to thank you for the opportunity to serve the Contra Costa County commu-nity. Your ongoing support, demonstrated by the passage of bond measures in 2002 and 2006, is a testament of the value higher education contributes to the future success of our community, the economic recovery of our state, and our overall quality of life. We commit to you our continued focus on keeping these educational options available.

Sincerely,

Helen Benjamin, Ph.D.

a message FROM THE PRESIDENT

Diablo Valley College has been the foundation of higher education in our community for just over sixty years. An overwhelming number of people have been touched by the college, either through their own education, the educa-tion of their children or grandchildren, or through their professional contributions either teaching or working to support our students at the college. The celebration of this momentous milestone belongs to all of us.

When any of us at the college travel outside our immediate service area, or

even out of state, it is not unusual to meet someone who has had a personal connection with Diablo Valley College. These people often have great stories to tell us about their experiences.

Last year I had the privilege of visiting and speaking with the city councils in all of the communities in DVC’s immediate service area. At each meeting I asked for a show of hands of how many of these community leaders had a personal connection with Diablo Valley College. Everywhere I asked the question, I received a heartwarming response that gave me a reaffirming sense of the great value that we bring to our community through the work we do at the college.

Recently many of us at the college, representing a variety of departments, disciplines and student support areas, came together to review our college mission statement. What we came up with is what we call our “pocket mis-sion statement”. We believe it gets right to the heart of what the faculty, staff and administrators of Diablo Valley College stand for:

DVC is passionately committed to student learning through the intellectual, scientific, artistic, psychological, and ethical development of its diverse student body. Diablo Valley College prepares students for transfer to four-year universities; provides career and technical education; supports the economic development of the region; offers pre-collegiate programs; and promotes personal growth and lifelong learning.

While we have no control over the recent decisions by the California State Legislature concerning our budget, we are continuing to do everything we can to offer the courses and services most needed by students to complete their educational goals.

I cannot think of a greater honor or privilege than to lead our dedicated and highly qualified faculty, administrators and professional staff at Diablo Valley College as they work every day with students to change lives, and bring greater opportunity to our community, while improving the economic health of our region.

Sincerely,

Judy E. Walters, Ph.D. President, Diablo Valley College

a message FROM THE CHANCELLOR

Diablo Valley College is one of 110 California Community

Colleges serving 2,897,531 students, as compared to

CSU with 23 colleges serving 316,370 students, and UC

with 10 colleges serving 172,774 students

24% of all the community college

students nationwide are enrolled

in a California community college.

LOOkINg bACkWhen Contra Costa Junior College East Campus (now Diablo Valley College) held its first classes in the fall of 1950, it bore no resemblance to the cam-pus as it exists today. In fact, there was no campus. And today, sixty years later, DVC has plans to demolish some of its earliest buildings to make way for exciting changes in the future.

The first “east campus” classes were held in a con-demned elementary school leased from the city of Martinez, while other district classes were taught in an American Legion Hall, a bank, Camp Stone-man, a church, a club house, Martinez City Hall, the Court House, and a labor hall, among others.

A site for a permanent East Campus was identified in the fall of 1950 in a rural area between Concord and Pleasant Hill - originally part of the 19th Cen-tury Mexican land grant. It was purchased for $1,725 per acre, and in August of 1951, architects began planning the campus.

The first building had originally been an officers’ club at the Concord Naval Weapons Station, and was relocated to Pleasant Hill to serve as class-rooms and laboratories, and later the Viking Theater. Quonset huts brought over from the Lawrence Science Center in Berkeley as well as bright red and white circus tents also served as early classrooms while permanent buildings were under construction.

District Superintendant Drummond McCunn in-sisted that no new taxes be levied for the campus, and a series of bond issues failed in the polls, so the district made a commitment to build the new campus on a “pay as you go” plan, so progress moved slowly.

The first campus Master Plan was completed in 1951 and the first new building on campus was the Library, completed in 1955. It later became the Business Education Building and today serves as the Student Services Center. A Student Activities Building constructed in 1956 provided a cafeteria, meeting area, and headquarters for the Associated Students and Student Council. By 1958, a new gymnasium, Maintenance Building, and Technical Education Building were completed.

The original campus Master Plan was finally com-pleted nearly 20 years later, in late 1970s. Nothing new was built until the new Margaret Lesher Stu-dent Union Building opened in January of 1998, almost 20 years later. This kicked off a new phase of building and remodeling that continues to the present.

DIAbLO VALLEy COLLEgE - buILDINg A COMMuNITy COLLEgE

New construction projects following the Student Union Building include: the Math Building (1999), Physical Science Building (2001), Business and Foreign Language Building with separate Confer-ence Room (2002), the new Book Center (2006), the permanent DVC campus in San Ramon (2006), and the new athletic track and field (2008). Campus renovations breathed new life and modern func-tionality into the Life Health Sciences Building, the Advanced Technology Center, Student Services Center Building, Technical Education Building, and the Planetarium.

Much of the new construction has been made possible through the passage of two district-wide facilities bonds - $120 million in March 2002, and $286 million in June 2006. Thanks to Contra Costa County voters, all three campuses in the district have been able to work on renovating aging facili-ties and build new ones.

While the construction and remodeling is essential to the learning environment, equally important is the landscaping. The early campus was nothing more than a wide, rugged expanse of bare clay, with gradually rising slopes and a few scattered oak trees.

Artist’s rendering of the upcoming DVC Commons

Original DVC site

Aerial view of

DVC campu

s

Walking up “Cardiac Hill” to the planetarium

Planetariu

m

Early DVC parking lot

Solar paneled DVC

parking lot 2010

French club - DVC club day 2010

DIAbLO VALLEy COLLEgE - buILDINg A COMMuNITy COLLEgE

The first area to be landscaped was near the Plan-etarium, which, at that time, was a major entrance for community visitors. Two botany students began the project, but when they didn’t finish, they told their teacher, “Dad will take care of it.”

“Dad” was Harry Nagawara, a successful Danville landscaper. He completed the museum project, and then was hired on a project-by-project basis until he was hired as DVC’s full time head garden-er also serving as a consultant to all the architects who worked on campus. His visionary legacy lives on in the beauty of the campus as it exists today.

LOOkINg FORwARDOne of the most important objectives of the current DVC Facilities Master Plan, approved in 2007, is to provide a new central campus area. This objec-tive has been achieved with the recently completed design of the new DVC Commons Project. This two-building complex funded by the 2006 bond measure will replace two of the oldest buildings on campus - the original Library (now the Student Services Center) and the Cafeteria, both at the heart of the original campus.

At a cost of $50 million, the two-phase project will provide a new Student Services Building on the site of the existing quad, which will house all student services. When that is complete, the Stu-dent Services Center will be demolished, and the second phase, which will house food services and HRM, will be built in its place. When that phase is complete, the current Cafeteria and Culinary facili-ties will be demolished to make way for construc-tion of the new Commons central open space.

The project responds directly to the goals of the Facilities Master Plan: to improve campus way-finding, maximize land use, highlight and inte-grate the history of the campus, improve pedes-trian access, create opportunities for synergies, improve disabled access on campus, and welcome the community.

Further, this project will incorporate sustainable LEED gold standard design principles and seek carbon neutrality in building operations. The col-lege is incorporating sustainable building design strategies such as green roofs, building integrated photovoltaics, radiant heating and cooling, natural evaporative systems, natural day-lighting and air ventilation, low-flow water fixtures, recycled content building materials, and efficient artificial lighting and controls. ❖

Artist’s rendering of the upcoming DVC Commons

Margaret Lesher Student Union

Temporary DVC bui

ldings 1957

DVC Book Center

STuDENT LIFE on campusDiablo Valley College students have been involved in campus life from those very first classes in fall of 1950, forming the first committees and student clubs almost immediately.

The first student newspaper, East Contra Costa Junior College, also began in the fall of 1950. The paper has continued through the years, as East Campus, the Viking Reporter, and today as the Inquirer.

The Associated Students of Diablo Valley College (ASDVC) is the student government at the college. The ASDVC is responsible for advocating for and representing students’ perspectives on college and district committees, councils and task forces.

Currently there are 55 clubs on campus to meet students’ current needs and interests. Clubs range from lacrosse, soccer and Kendo, to nursing, busi-ness and architecture; from cultural, political and religious clubs, to free enterprise, clean campus, Red Cross, and International Students clubs.

For more information, visit www.dvc.edu/students. ❖

French club 1954

Chess club 1954

A graduate with an associate degree

earns $400,000 more over the course

of a lifetime than someone with a high

school degree.

Community college students who earned a vocational

degree or certificate in 2003-2004 saw their wages jump

from $25,856 (for the last year before receipt of the

award) to $57,594 three years after earning their degree

(2007), an increase of over 100 percent.

DVC FACuLTy… not only excellent instructorsThe faculty at DVC is a very hardworking and dedicated group of people, who are quite passionate about fostering the success of their students. We are continuously told by former DVC students who have transferred to a four-year college how much they miss the quality of teaching and individual attention they received while they were at DVC. But classroom instruction isn’t the only thing our faculty does well. Among their countless accomplish-ments the following is a small sampling of the many published authors we have on our campus:

FANTASTIC THEATER at affordable prices, and much moreFrom its very humble beginnings, Diablo Valley Col-lege has always sought to be a “community” college, with educational programs designed for not only the students, but also for the surrounding community.

One of the first programs to engage the community was drama, which has been in existence for more than 50 years. DVC drama continues to thrive and grow, providing excellent theatrical education opportunities to its students as well as a passionate display of artistic excellence. DVC drama produces five shows each season, with each season selected to reflect the current student and community interests and needs. Its offer-ings range from classical Greek dramas to experimen-tal comedies, and everything in between. DVC offers fantastic theater at affordable prices.

Other DVC programs that encourage community participation include the culinary arts program with its dining room open to the public; horticulture, with the community garden and plant sales; music, both choral and instrumental, including the jazz, classical and more; dance, film (with the free film series), the art gallery, dental hygiene, and ethnic storytelling festival. And of course, DVC offers intercollegiate athletics, with probably the most visible being Viking football, basketball and baseball.

There truly is something for everyone at DVC. Visit www.dvc.edu/events to find what interests you. ❖

Jayne Stahl’s first collection of poet-ry, Riding With Destiny, will be published in the spring.

Marcia Renée Goodman has published a number of poems, essays, a short story, and academic articles.

Kathryn Abajian is the author of a memoir-biography, First Sight of the Desert: The Life and Art of Ella Peacock. She was also recently named the San Ramon Valley Rotary Club Educator of the Year.

Jessica Barksdale has published 12 novels since 2001, including the best selling Her Daughter’s Eyes, The Matter of Grace, and When You Believe.

David Vela has been cited in a number of publications for his writings on Latin Americans.

Jim Jacobs has been named five times to the Who’s Who Among College Teachers, and will soon publish a novel, “Transgressions”.

Michael Lester published a book, How to Have Fun with Your Body, with Houghton Mifflin, and his work has been published in more than two dozen major publications.

Susan Browne has won numerous awards, and has ap-peared in Ploughshares, Subtropics, River City, The Mississippi Review, Mar-gie, and other literary journals and antholo-gies. Her second book of poetry, Zephyr will be published in fall 2010.

Top art gallery, drama Bottom culinary arts, football

Debra Stevens published Making Sense: A Guide to Sound Reasoning and Critical Thinking (Pearson) which is now in its 5th edition. ❖

advertising supplement • baY area neWs grOupP6 mOndaY, maY 3, 2010901

Community college students who earned a vocational

degree or certificate in 2003-2004 saw their wages jump

from $25,856 (for the last year before receipt of the

award) to $57,594 three years after earning their degree

(2007), an increase of over 100 percent.

DVC FACULTY…not only excellent instructorsThe faculty at DVC is a very hardworking and dedicated group of people, who are quite passionate about fostering the success of their students. We are continuously told by former DVC students who have transferred to a four-year college how much they miss the quality of teaching and individual attention they received while they were at DVC. But classroom instruction isn’t the only thing our faculty does well. Among their countless accomplish-ments the following is a small sampling of the many published authors we have on our campus:

FANTASTIC THEATER at affordable prices, and much moreFrom its very humble beginnings, Diablo Valley Col-lege has always sought to be a “community” college, with educational programs designed for not only the students, but also for the surrounding community.

One of the first programs to engage the communitywas drama, which has been in existence for more than 50 years. DVC drama continues to thrive and grow, providing excellent theatrical education opportunities to its students as well as a passionate display of artistic excellence. DVC drama produces five shows eachseason, with each season selected to reflect the currentstudent and community interests and needs. Its offer-ings range from classical Greek dramas to experimen-tal comedies, and everything in between. DVC offers fantastic theater at affordable prices.

Other DVC programs that encourage community participation include the culinary arts program with its dining room open to the public; horticulture, with the community garden and plant sales; music, both choral and instrumental, including the jazz, classical and more; dance, film (with the free film series), the artgallery, dental hygiene, and ethnic storytelling festival. And of course, DVC offers intercollegiate athletics, with probably the most visible being Viking football, basketball and baseball.

There truly is something for everyone at DVC. Visit www.dvc.edu/events to find what interests you. �

Jayne Stahl’sfirst collection of poet-ry, Riding With Destiny, will be published in the spring.

Marcia Renée Goodmanhas published a number of poems, essays, a short story, and academic articles.

Kathryn Abajianis the author of a memoir-biography, First Sight of the Desert: The Life and Art of Ella Peacock. She was also recently named the San Ramon Valley Rotary Club Educator of the Year.

Jessica Barksdalehas published 12 novels since 2001, including the best selling Her Daughter’s Eyes, The Matter of Grace, and When You Believe.

David Vela has been cited in a number of publications for his writings on Latin Americans.

Jim Jacobs has been named five times to the Who’sWho Among College Teachers, and will soon publish a novel, “Transgressions”.

Michael Lester published a book, How to Have Fun with Your Body, with Houghton Mifflin, and hiswork has been published in more than two dozen major publications.

Susan Brownehas won numerous awards, and has ap-peared in Ploughshares, Subtropics, River City, The Mississippi Review, Mar-gie, and other literary journals and antholo-gies. Her second book of poetry, Zephyr will be published in fall 2010.

Top art gallery, drama Bottom culinary arts, football

Debra Stevens published Making Sense: AGuide to Sound Reasoning and Critical Thinking(Pearson) which is now in its 5th edition. �

Brandman University in partnership with Diablo Valley College provides aunique opportunity for students working toward completing their degree.

Through engaging online instruction and unique in-class interaction, weare innovating adult education. We offer degree, certificate and credentialprograms, in addition to professional development credits.

Call 800-581-4100 or visit us at www.brandman.edu/walnutcreek formore information.

Brandman University Congratulates Diablo Valley College on its 60th Anniversary

2950 Buskirk Avenue, Suite 200Walnut Creek, CA 94597

In celebration of our 60th year anniversary, DVC is kicking off its new DVC Alumni Association!

If you or someone you know has completed 12 or more units at DVC, then you’re a DVC Alumnus...go Vikings!

Visit our website at www.dvc.edu/alumni and find out how you can get involved.

COMMuNITy OuTREACH programsIf you live in one of the communities surrounding Diablo Valley College, then it is likely that you are acquainted with at least one of the many and varied DVC programs that provide opportunities for students of all ages.

College for Kids is a summer program that provides challenging enrichment classes at affordable price for students entering the 4th through 9th grade.

Summer Theater Program for any college-eligible stu-dents, including high school students, offers transfer-able college credit, and provides professional instruc-tion in acting, scenic design, lighting, costuming and make-up. Auditions are required.

Engineering, Construction and Manufacturing Camp offers summer enrichment opportunities for high school students and teachers. This week-long activity blends hands-on exploration, field visits in industry, problem-solving, and expert industry view-points.

Expanding Your Horizons targets middle school girls, and exposes them to a variety of accomplished women in relative and interesting careers and occupations that have math, science and engineering at their educational foundations. The program is usually in March.

Educational Talent Search seeks to recruit, motivate and retain low-income high school students on a path to becoming first generation college students. The goal of the program is to lay the foundation for these students early and then offer necessary support services through col-lege graduation. This program is year-long with a special summer program.

Emeritus College offers not-for-credit classes to older adults and is taught in many convenient locations throughout DVC’s communities. ❖

College for K

ids

Expanding

Your Hori

zons

Transfer students from community colleges to

the University of California account for 48% of

UC’s bachelor’s degrees in science, technology,

engineering and mathematics.

80% of firefighters, law enforcement

officers, and EMTs are credentialed

at community colleges.

Educational Tal

ent Search

BAY AREA NEWS GROUP • AdvERtiSiNG SUPPlEmENt P7901mONdAY, mAY 3, 2010

In celebration of our 60th year anniversary, DVC is kicking off its new DVC Alumni Association!

If you or someone you know has completed 12 or more units at DVC, then you’re a DVC Alumnus...go Vikings!

Visit our website at www.dvc.edu/alumni and find out how you can get involved.

COMMUNITY OUTREACHprograms

If you live in one of the communities surrounding Diablo Valley College, then it is likely that you are acquainted with at least one of the many and varied DVC programs that provide opportunities for students of all ages.

College for Kids is a summer program that provides challenging enrichment classes at affordable price for students entering the 4th through 9th grade.

Summer Theater Program for any college-eligible stu-dents, including high school students, offers transfer-able college credit, and provides professional instruc-tion in acting, scenic design, lighting, costuming and make-up. Auditions are required.

Engineering, Construction and Manufacturing Campoffers summer enrichment opportunities for high school students and teachers. This week-long activity blends hands-on exploration, field visits in industry,problem-solving, and expert industry view-points.

Expanding Your Horizons targets middle school girls, and exposes them to a variety of accomplished women in relative and interesting careers and occupations that have math, science and engineering at their educational foundations. The program is usually in March.

Educational Talent Search seeks to recruit, motivate and retain low-income high school students on a path to becoming first generationcollege students. The goal of the program is to lay the foundation for these students early and then offer necessary support services through col-lege graduation. This program is year-long with a special summer program.

Emeritus College offers not-for-credit classes to older adults and is taught in many convenient locations throughout DVC’s communities. �

College for K

ids

Expanding

Your Hori

zons

Transfer students from community colleges to

the University of California account for 48% of

UC’s bachelor’s degrees in science, technology,

engineering and mathematics.

80% of firefighters, law enforcement

officers, and EMTs are credentialed

at community colleges.

Educational Tal

ent Search

BACHELOR’S

2013Getting in and getting the coursesI need to graduate on time madeall the difference.

NDNU and You!

It’s possible to get the education you deserve at NotreDame de Namur University in Belmont, CA. Withsmaller classes, personal attention, and qualityinstructors, NDNU is the answer to your college plans.

Accepting applications for Fall 2010.

Visit www.ndnu.edu or call (650) 508-3600.

1500 Ralston Avenue, Belmont CA 94002

advertising supplement • baY area neWs grOupP8 mOndaY, maY 3, 2010901

...on 60 years of educating anentire community of students.

Diablo Valley CollegeKaiser Permanente congratulates