One employee was recognized for putting together goodie bags for the homeless. Several others received a shout-out for volunteering to read to toddlers at the campus Child Development Center. A student was saluted for filming a video of sunrises and sunsets and collecting sand in a small bucket for an elderly senior who had shared his dismay about not being able to visit or walk on the beach during the pandemic. All are among those being acknowledged and honored as part of the Grossmont College Random 60 initiative, a yearlong endeavor highlighting 60 random acts of kindness taking place during the college’s 60th anniversary.
“Grossmont College has been an integral part of East County for the past six decades, and we launched this undertaking to shine a light on the goodness that permeates our campus and remind us of all the good we have done and will continue to do for our community,” said Grossmont College President Denise Whisenhunt. “It has certainly been inspiring.”
Grossmont College opened its doors to the East County community in September of 1961 at what was then the brand-new Monte Vista High School campus in the community of Casa de Oro and moved to the current location in El Cajon’s Fletcher Hills on September 14, 1964. The college has served more than 1.6 million students since opening, and is now the largest provider of education and job training in San Diego’s East County, providing a dependable stream of skilled employees to the area’s workforce and dramatically boosting the lifetime earnings of its graduates.
Sometimes overlooked, however, is the kindness that permeates the campus and has proven integral to its success. Hence, the Random 60 initiative, with students, faculty, and classified professionals encouraged to report random acts of kindness not only on campus, but in the surrounding area. It is, President Whisenhunt said, “our way of giving back to our community.”
Among the submissions posted on the Random 60 initiative website at www.grossmont.edu/campaigns/2022/spring/2022-random-60.php :
- “El Cajon fire stations 7 and 34 were hit with random ice cream treat deliveries by the Grossmont College community on the morning of May 2. What a wonderful gesture!”
- “While walking the campus with David, a student inquired about receiving cash back from the Bookstore in order to purchase food from the campus grill. The campus ATM machine was down and the Bookstore could not give cash back. Overhearing the transaction, David sprung to action and asked the student how much he needed for food. The student stated a couple dollars. David reached in his wallet and gave the student much more than requested. The student at first declined and then asked how he could repay David. David’s response was… pay it forward.”
- “Tim Cliffe supported my career path by encouraging me to not give up and always complimenting me on my notes and the amount of effort I was putting out during the semester. He always would have a positive attitude and a smile for his students, which inspired me to have a better outlook on my future and it actually paid off. I have been accepted into SDSU in the fall and I am totally grateful for his unlimited support.”
- “A big Grossmont College shout-out to the Grossmont CalWORKs Club, which is engaging in a random act of kindness by seeking donations of graduation caps and gowns for our amazing students who will be graduating this spring.”
Said President Whisenhunt: “With all the challenges in the world today, it’s nice to know you could come to Grossmont College and be enveloped in care.”
East County relies on Grossmont College and the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District for high quality, affordable college education, job and career training and retraining, and job creation with facilities that meet the needs of today’s college students, returning veterans, and employers seeking qualified applicants. As East County and our state and nation recover from COVID-19, we need even more flexible, up-to-date college facilities and technology to meet existing and emerging needs and demands.