EL CAJON – Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges are going green with the start-up of solar panels on both campuses that are expected to save $43 million over 20 years for the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District.

The panels located in parking lots at the two East County colleges include storage systems that allow the district to buy power at lower prices in the early morning, then store the power until it is used later in the day when rates are higher. The district has also installed electric vehicle charging stations for students and employees at the Grossmont and Cuyamaca College campuses.

“This is a win-win for the district,” said Lynn Ceresino Neault, chancellor of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District. “We’re helping the environment by using a renewable energy source and we’re also saving taxpayer money.”

The district is expected to save about $600,000 in the first year that the panels are working, and the savings will exponentially increase over the 20-year life of the contract, with the largest savings occurring in the later years.

The district had the solar panels built through a partnership with ForeFront Power, a leading developer of commercial and industrial-scale solar energy and battery storage projects in the US and Mexico. The district pays for the electricity generated by the panels, and the rate for the power through Forefront is set for the next 20 years. This set rate from ForeFront removes the effects of any rate increases which may be approved by San Diego Gas & Electric Company in the future for 69% of the district’s electricity needs.

The solar panels have been in place for about a year as the district worked to get interconnected with SDG&E and finished up the last items of the project. In addition to the solar savings, students and employees have appreciated being able to park their vehicle in the shade provided by the structures

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The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Governing Board selected Debbie Justeson to serve as its board president for 2024, which will be her third year in the post. Julie Schorr was elected board vice president and Elena Adams will continue as board clerk.

The five-member board selected their officers for 2024 at their meeting held Tuesday night at Cuyamaca College.

Justeson, who was elected to the Governing Board in 2010, has served as board president since 2022. Justeson, who has been an educator for more than 35 years, represents District 2, which includes La Mesa, Mt. Helix, Casa de Oro, and Rancho San Diego.

Schorr, a public school teacher for about 30 years, is serving her first term as vice president. She was elected to the board in 2020 and represents District 3, which includes El Cajon and Bostonia. Adams will be serving her second yearlong term as board clerk following her election to the board in 2016. She was an educator for 38 years in the San Diego Community College District. She represents District 4, which includes rural East County, Alpine, Jamul, and all the way to the Imperial County line.

Other board members are Brad Monroe, who served as board president in 2021 and as vice president the past two years, was elected to the Governing Board in 2018. He has 48 years of experience as a community college educator, and served as the founding chair of the Cuyamaca College Ornamental Horticulture program for 32 years. He represents District 5, which includes Lemon Grove, Spring Valley, and La Presa. Board member Desiree “Desi” Klaar was elected in 2022 and served as a human resources professional in public education for 15 years, and most recently a community college faculty member. She represents District 1, which includes Santee, Winter Gardens, and Lakeside.

The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District serves about 18,000 students at Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges in eastern San Diego County. The 1,138-square mile district has served East County since 196

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For the second year in a row, the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District got a perfect grade of A+ from the San Diego County Taxpayers Association for the East County college district’s transparency relating to its $398 million Proposition V bond program. The district was one of 6 out of 26 school districts that were reviewed in the 2023 School District Transparency Report Card to get a perfect score from the nonprofit organization that promotes accountable and efficient government. It received a top grade in 2022, and near-perfect records the previous two years.

“We are so thankful to East County voters for supporting our district with the Proposition V bond,” said Lynn Ceresino Neault, chancellor of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District. “We are committed to being careful stewards of taxpayer money and remaining completely transparent about how taxpayer funds are spent. I’m pleased that our efforts were recognized by the San Diego County Taxpayers Association.”

Districts were rated on factors including online information to the public; posting committee members, meeting agendas and minutes; annual reports; performance and financial audits; project lists and descriptions; oversight committee vacancies, and other resources.

East County voters approved the district’s Proposition V bond measure in 2012. Bond funds have enabled the district to make major upgrades at the Grossmont and Cuyamaca college campuses. Completed projects at Grossmont College include the Performing and Visual Arts Center and a renovation of the Science, Math & Career Technology complex. At Cuyamaca College, a new Student Services building was constructed, along with a renovation of the Ornamental Horticultural Complex. Visit the Bond Oversight Committee website at propsrv.gcccd.edu.

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The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District will be demonstrating support for undocumented students by joining community colleges across California in Undocumented Student Action Week October 16-20. Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges will be holding a wide range of events in support of undocumented students and immigrants.  

Students are encouraged to visit the Together We Rise Center at Cuyamaca College or the Dream Center at Grossmont College, which offer programs and services to help empower undocumented students to achieve their academic and personal pursuits.  Both centers serve as a resource to help students with access to higher education, advocacy and educational materials, campus-based and community services, current events, engagement activities, legal aid referrals, legislative updates, and more. 

“The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District wants to ensure that every student, regardless of their immigration status, can pursue the education and training they need to reach their career goals,” said Chancellor Lynn Ceresino Neault. “Our undocumented students should be informed about their options and always feel that our colleges are a safe place to learn.”  

Among the week’s events: 

Monday, October 16 

Undocumented Action Week Kickoff Event  

Cuyamaca College, in front of the F Building 

Visit the table in front of the F Building from 8 a.m.-11 a.m. and from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Free coffee and sweet bread will be offered.  

4 p.m.-6 p.m. 

Transferring to a 4-year University 

Grossmont College Building 31, Room 128 

Free pizza and drinks 

Tuesday, October 17 

Noon-2:30 p.m. 

Rising Together  

Together We Rise Student Center 

Cuyamaca College  

Meet and greet for students to get to know their Success Team, as well as have the opportunity to build community with their peers. Food and drinks provided.  

1 p.m.-3 p.m. 

Mental Health Workshop  

Grossmont College Building 34, Room 150  

Free pizza and drinks  

Wednesday, October 18 

Noon-2:30 p.m. 

How to Create Your Own Business 

Together We Rise Student Center 

Cuyamaca College 

This workshop will provide you with the information you need to pursue your small business certificate at the college.  

11 a.m.-1 p.m. 

Grossmont-Cuyamaca Entrepreneurship 

Grossmont College Building 34, Room 150 or by Zoom 

Thursday, October 19 

5 p.m.-7 p.m. 

Noche de Familia Family Night  

Together We Rise Student Center 

Cuyamaca College  

This bilingual presentation will create awareness about the different opportunities available for undocumented/DACAmented students and mixed-status families. Food and drinks provided.  

Noon-2 p.m. 

Higher Education Legal Services  

Grossmont College The Village/Tech Mall, Second Floor 

Friday, October 20 

Noon-1 p.m. 

Honoring the Stories and Challenges that Undocumented Student Face 

Zoom 

A discussion on the vital contributions and unique challenges faced by undocumented students in the United States, with the goals of raising awareness and advocating for the rights of undocumented individuals, fostering inclusivity, promoting dialogue and inspiring collective action for all students. 

10 a.m.-Noon  

Meet and Greet Dreamers Resource Center  

Grossmont College The Village, Tech Mall, Second Floor 

Free pizza and drinks  

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A recent study has found that the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District has a $1.3 billion economic impact on San Diego County, enough to support almost 13,500 jobs and providing an education leading to higher-paying careers for hundreds of thousands of alumni.

The East County college district’s economic impact is equivalent to the financial boost that San Diego County would receive from hosting the World Series 193 times, the study found.

The study also concluded that Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges are a great investment for their students, taxpayers and society, with high value returns on the money invested. Students fare particularly well, with a lifetime return of $7 for every dollar they invest in their education – an annual return rate of 22%, far better than the stock market.

The study was conducted by Lightcast, a leading provider of economic impact and labor market data to educational institutions and workforce planners. It was based on data from the 2021-2022 academic year.

“This study quantifies what we see every day – students whose lives have improved and are making a greater contribution to the world because of the education they got at our colleges,” said Lynn Ceresino Neault, chancellor of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District. “An investment in education at our colleges pays off for our students and our community.”

The study found that the total economic impact of the college district is $1.3 billion, the equivalent of supporting 13,477 jobs in the community. It noted that the district promotes economic growth in San Diego County through its direct expenditures and the resulting expenditures of students, alumni and county businesses.

The study found the following economic impacts:

· Operations spending: $190.8 million, the equivalent of 2,707 jobs, for the day-to-day operations of the district for facilities, supplies and professional services.

· Construction spending: $26.2 million, the equivalent of 296 jobs.

· Student spending: $50.7 million, the equivalent of 701 jobs, for bringing in students from outside the county and retaining students who would otherwise have left the county.

· Alumni spending: $983.6 million, the equivalent of 9,774 jobs. As a result of their education, alumni receive higher earnings and increase the productivity of the businesses that employ them.

Lightcast also conducted an investment analysis comparing the amount spent with the return on investment. Students with an associate degree earn about $10,000 more each year than those with a high school diploma, which amounts to $410,000 over a lifetime of earnings.

For the almost 24,000 students who attended Cuyamaca and Grossmont colleges in 2021-2022, the cumulative higher lifetime earnings for their education are a whopping $492.3 million. For every dollar that students spend on their education at Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges, they will receive a return of $7 in higher future earnings.

Taxpayers also benefit from the higher tax revenue that alumni will pay because of their higher paid jobs. By the end of the working lives of the 2021-2022 students, state and local governments will have collected $197.6 million in added taxes because of their education.

Society also benefits because those with better jobs are less likely to end up in prison or need income or unemployment assistance. The study found $23.5 million in savings to taxpayers because of the reduced social costs.

“The results of the analysis demonstrate that GCCCD is a strong investment for students and society,” the study said. “GCCCD benefits society as a whole in California by creating a more prosperous economy and generating a variety of savings through the improved lifestyle of students.”

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Grossmont, Cuyamaca and region’s community colleges begin new school year

It’s back to school for the 10 community colleges in San Diego and Imperial counties, as thousands of students return to campus or pursue online classes at the start of the Fall 2023 semester.

Many colleges are providing new programs to enhance support to students as they pursue their education. Several are offering new degrees and certificates to train students for well-paying careers, such as a new laboratory safety and health technician certificate at Cuyamaca College and a new Global Studies program at Palomar College. 

“The last few years have taught us a lot about the resiliency of our students and the new and dynamic environments of learning online, on campus, and in hybrid courses. All of the colleges have increased the flexibility within their course schedules to better serve students, who often have competing responsibilities,” said Dr. Star Rivera-Lacey, Superintendent/President of Palomar College and CEO of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Community College Association (SDICCCA).  “We continue to be the reliable source for students to achieve a degree or certificate, or the training they need to join fast growing industries.”

SDICCCA comprises the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District (Grossmont and Cuyamaca Colleges), Imperial Valley College, MiraCosta College, Palomar College, the San Diego Community College District (City, Mesa, and Miramar Colleges, and San Diego College of Continuing Education), and Southwestern College. Imperial Valley College begins the 2022-23 academic year on August 14, while the Grossmont-Cuyamaca, MiraCosta, Palomar, San Diego, and Southwestern Community College Districts start on August 21. San Diego College of Continuing Education (SDCCE) begins September 5.

In partnership with California Assemblymember David Alvarez and Senator Steve Padilla, SDICCCA has led advocacy efforts for Assembly Bill 91 (AB 91) which will exempt nonresident tuition fees for people that reside within 45 miles of the California-Mexico border. The legislation will provide another pathway to higher education for hundreds of binational local students.

Here are a few highlights of what is planned this coming semester:

Cuyamaca College
With a more than 70 percent increase in the number of engineering students over the past five years, Cuyamaca College will again be welcoming many new and aspiring computer, electrical, and aerospace engineers. Cuyamaca is the second largest feeder of engineering majors to San Diego State University in the region.

Cuyamaca is also offering a new certificate in Laboratory Occupational Safety and Health Technician, in response to industry demand. The college is providing late-start classes that begin September 5, including in Physics, Math, Kumeyaay Studies, and Ethnic Studies.

Cuyamaca students in need of food or housing support can access it through Cuyamaca Cares, which provides customized support to students struggling with food or housing insecurity. With support from donors, Cuyamaca provides food care baskets located in sites all over the campus so that students and staff have quick and easy access to basic needs support.

Grossmont College
A Week of Welcome starts August 21,with support for new students from the Associated Students of Grossmont College, Career Services, and student clubs.

Grossmont is offering a new program, a bilingual drone flight school, as part of its short-term class offerings. This program is just one of many that offers short-term, 8-week classes, which start at the beginning and the middle of the semester. Grossmont’s highly successful Computer Science program is developing new courses to help students master Artificial Intelligence skills which are in-demand by local tech employers.

Grossmont College is also launching “the Village,” in the Learning Resource Center, to provide individualized support to students who have traditionally been underserved in higher education including through A2MEND, Umoja, Puente, Dream Center, MESA, and for former foster youth, justice impacted students and more.  The Village will be a safe space where students can be themselves, relax, and receive a wide range of support.

Imperial Valley College
Imperial Valley College, recently recognized as a co-recipient of the 2023 Aspen Award as the best community college in the nation, will be offering new courses to train lithium plant operators in response to Imperial County’s burgeoning lithium industry. Imperial Valley College has been partnering with lithium producers to ensure a trained workforce is in place. The college also received a $1.4 million grant to enable a multi-year agriculture training program in partnership with three other colleges. The project aims to advance equity in high-skill agriculture occupations for educationally disadvantaged, low-income, and Hispanic residents.

MiraCosta College
MiraCosta College launched Ask a Spartan, a live chat available during business hours at //miracosta.edu/#bot.  The chat bot is designed to assist students as they pursue their path and get the answers they need when they need it.

Through the support from a $3 million federal grant, MiraCosta College is increasing academic and social supports for Latinx students. The grant funds will also be used to support paid internships, allowing low-income students to obtain an internship who might otherwise need a job to support themselves in college.

MiraCosta College’s Technology Career Institute is launching the Uniquely Abled: CNC Operation Program, designed to provide career preparation and employment opportunities for individuals on the autism spectrum. The initiative will allow individuals with autism to succeed in careers such as computer numerical control machine operators.

MiraCosta College is offering dual enrollment that allows high school students to earn college credits. The classes are free, including textbooks and materials. Any students who has completed eighth grade or is 15 years old is eligible.

Palomar College
Palomar College is launching three new programs this fall:  an associate degree in Elementary Education Preparation; an associate degree for transfer in Global Studies; and a certificate in Coaching.  The Elementary Education Preparation program helps students more easily transfer to teacher preparation programs at 4-year institutions. Global Studies is an interdisciplinary program that provides students with the knowledge to engage with an ever-changing global society, allowing students to transfer into the California State University system.  The Coaching certificate prepares students for immediate entry-level employment in the field of individual, group, or team coaching.

Palomar College also reestablished a noncredit Certificate of Completion in Reading Skills for English language learners this fall. Non-native speakers of English will develop the reading skills needed for academic reading and for success in their careers.

Students who have college-level skills and knowledge gained outside of the classroom can obtain college credit in over 200 courses through Palomar’s Credit for Prior Learning program.  Palomar College is partnered with dozens of high schools to offer college-level courses for free to high school students.

San Diego City College
San Diego City College is offering more than 200 programs with classes taught in person, online and hybrid. Its nursing program is ranked second in the state and third in the nation by RNCareers.org It also offers a variety of sports teams, including soccer, basketball, baseball, tennis, and volleyball for student athletes.

San Diego College of Continuing Education
This fall, the College of Continuing Education is launching a new ICOM7 (Interactive Competency-based Online Microcredentialing) Academy. It is opening a new student lounge with WiFi access, desks, expanded vending options and wall-mounted flat screen televisions at its flagship Education Cultural Complex on Ocean View Boulevard. The college is also offering one-stop enrollment centers at each of its seven campuses with hands-on support in completing an application, registering for classes, and accessing resources. A new tutoring center is being unveiled at the complex and a new research center is opening at the North City Campus.

San Diego Mesa College
San Diego Mesa College is launching new programs to support students and provide career exploration, including the Small Business Virtual Incubator and Mesa Impactship Program. Additionally, in partnership with FamilyU and Generation Hope, Mesa has hired a Student Parent Fellow, who will receive a $20,000 stipend to help enhance Mesa’s programs to enhance student parent support over the next year.  New academic certificate programs include certificates in Information and Communication Technology, Software Engineering Foundations, and Foundations of Fashion Merchandising. These certificates provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to gain entry-level employment or can provide working students with additional knowledge and skills for career advancement.

San Diego Miramar College
San Diego Miramar College will begin its first fall semester as an official Hispanic Serving Institution. Miramar College received a $2.7 million DHSI/Stem Exito Project grant from the U.S. Department of Education that will allow the college to participate in the development of expanding programs and improving Latino/a and low-income students’ success outcomes, specifically in STEM fields. The objectives of the project include clarifying and enhancing a STEM guided pathway to degree completion, integration of student support services and academic interventions in STEM, and professional development for faculty and staff. About 30% of Miramar College students identify as LatinX, and 86% of those students continue in their courses. 

Southwestern College
Southwestern College is developing a dual enrollment program at its Higher Education Center in San Ysidro. The San Ysidro Middle College will focus on students from Sweetwater Union High School who have historically been underserved.  The college is also creating a Binational and International program to support these students’ needs.

Southwestern College is also creating Smart Schedules, which allow students to enroll full-time in classes that are guaranteed to be available for a four-semester sequence and prepare students to graduate quicker. The college is opening the Landscape and Nursery Technology Department’s South Bay Botanic Garden, a classroom and resource for learning about design, construction, maintenance, nursery production, and all kinds of landscape related professions.

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EL CAJON – Resilience, determination, and vision characterize this year’s graduating classes at Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges, and their commencement ceremonies in early June will highlight inspiring stories from students who overcame great odds and found paths to success.

This year, commencement at Grossmont College is scheduled for 9:30 am June 7 at the Viejas Arena at San Diego State University, 5500 Canyon Crest Drive in San Diego. Commencement at Cuyamaca College is scheduled for 5:30 pm June 8 in front of the college’s Communication Arts Building on campus, 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway in Rancho San Diego. The ceremonies will also be livestreamed at Grossmont College Commencement and Cuyamaca College Commencement.

A total of 2,250 students from both colleges are set to receive 5,146 degrees and certificates at the commencement ceremonies.

“The strength and courage of our students is nothing short of remarkable, said Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Chancellor Lynn Neault. “So many have overcome significant obstacles to complete their degrees and certificates. I could not be more proud of how much they have accomplished.”

At each ceremony, a student commencement speaker selected by their college will give an address. Below are short profiles on these two standout students.

Grossmont College student speaker

ShannaRai Diaz is graduating from Grossmont College with an associate degree for transfer in Psychology, an associate degree in University Studies Social & Behavioral Science and a certificate of achievement in University Studies. San Diego State University, Cal State San Marcos, Cal State Fullerton, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and Cal State Long Beach have all accepted Diaz for admission this fall. Diaz aims to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

There was a time when her future seemed far from certain. Diaz started at Grossmont College back in 2001 as a nursing student, but an addiction to methamphetamines resulted in failed classes, dropping out of college, and jail time. “I continued a downward spiral for the next 20 years,” she said. During this time, she had several glimpses of what a life could be without drugs. She gave birth to two beautiful children, her son Dyami, and her daughter Alayja. She went to adult school where she received a license in phlebotomy. But after working as a phlebotomist at Alvarado Hospital Medical Center in San Diego, Diaz relapsed and ended up in state prison. Upon release, she went directly to a rehabilitation facility and stayed clean for a little more than two years. But then she relapsed again.

Her turning point came on October 18, 2018, when she found herself in the back of a police car and once again headed behind bars. “It was while I was incarcerated this time that I knew I needed to change my life,” she recalled. “I needed to find a purpose.” She found it when she signed up to take a class through the Pathways to Success program at Grossmont College. By spring 2021, Diaz was enrolled full time in classes, “ready and determined to create a new life for my children and myself,” she said. She made the President’s List, and she continued to make the President’s or Dean’s
lists every semester. Today, as Diaz heads for college and a career, she says her goal is to work with at-risk youth who have been affected by incarceration.

Cuyamaca College student speaker

Benjamin Hart is graduating from Cuyamaca College with an associate degree in Automotive Technology and as 
a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, an international honor society that recognizes students for their academic achievement. He is notably the first Career Education student to be the commencement ceremony student speaker at Cuyamaca. Hart already runs his own auto shop, TBH Complete Auto Care, and he plans to one day attend U.C. San Diego and earn his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.

He has come a long way since his days as a freshman at Mission Bay High School in San Diego. It was then that he dropped out of school, and his mother sent him to live with his father in Texas. There, he completed his GED in 2003 – the same year he would have graduated from high school – scoring exceptionally high on standardized tests. But instead of moving on to college, Hart drifted from job to job, eventually moving back to San Diego at 21. By this time, he was drinking and using drugs every day, and before long he found himself homeless. He would remain that way for a decade. While he worked odd jobs driving food trucks, painting, cleaning, and making money where he could, Hart was still sleeping on the streets and spending all his money on his addictions. “I was comfortable where I was,” he said.

But Hart eventually realized that his alcoholism was killing him. “I couldn’t even get my shoes on,” he said. “It became a chore. I had to drink to be okay.” In 2012, Hart checked himself into a year-long detox program and became sober. He landed a job as a case manager for the Alpha Project, a nonprofit organization assisting unsheltered San Diegans, and then another job for an organization called PATH (People Assisting the Homeless). At PATH, Hart wanted to move up in the organization, but his supervisor told him he first needed a college degree. “I was so crushed,” Hart said. “I felt inadequate. It was horrible.”

He left and got a job working at an auto repair business in Normal Heights in San Diego. But it wasn’t long before he realized he wanted more. “I told my boss I want to work on the cars,” said Hart. A Cuyamaca College Automotive Program alumnus, his boss recommended that he attend Cuyamaca and pursue a degree. Hart immediately enrolled in the Automotive Technology program at Cuyamaca, where he relished the camaraderie in his classes, and being surrounded by bright and motivated classmates and instructors.

Today, he wants to share his story with others – people who may be facing challenges of their own and want to find another path in life. “I want to inspire people,” Hart said. “If I can do it, you can do it too.” The district’s two colleges, Grossmont College in El Cajon, and Cuyamaca College in Rancho San Diego, together serve about 25,000 students. For information about the college district, go to www.gcccd.edu

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EL CAJON –  Thousands of community college students in San Diego and Imperial counties will be celebrating their newly earned degrees and certificates in joyful commencement celebrations to be held across the region in the coming weeks.

More than 12,700 graduates from the nine credit colleges in the two-county region will be honored, while over 10,000 vocational program certificates will be awarded to San Diego College of Continuing Education graduates.

“We are so proud of these graduates who persevered with their studies during a challenging time as we dealt with the COVID-19 epidemic,” said Sunita V. Cooke, superintendent/president of MiraCosta College and president of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Community College Association. “Now they have gained the education and training they need to transfer to a university or begin their careers.”

Below is the schedule for the community college commencements in San Diego and Imperial counties, listed in chronological order.

San Diego Miramar College: Friday, May 19 at 10 a.m. at the college campus.

San Diego City College: Thursday, May 25 at 5 p.m. at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park.

Southwestern College: Friday, May 26 at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at DeVore Stadium on the Southwestern College campus. A ceremony will also be held Thursday, June 15 in Tijuana at Preparatoria Federal Lazaro Cardenas for graduates whose families cannot cross the border to attend the campus ceremony.

San Diego Mesa College: Friday, May 26 at 2 p.m. at Merrill Douglas Stadium on campus.

MiraCosta College: Friday, May 26 at 5 p.m. at the Track & Field at the Oceanside campus.

Palomar College: Friday, May 26 at 5 p.m. at the football field on campus.

Grossmont College: Wednesday, June 7 at 9:30 a.m. at the Viejas Arena at San Diego State University.

San Diego College of Continuing Education: Wednesday, June 7 at 5 p.m. at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park.

Cuyamaca College: Thursday, June 8 at 5:30 p.m. in front of the Communication Arts Building on the college campus.

Imperial Valley College: Saturday, June 10 at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the DePaoli Sports Complex on the college campus.

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EL CAJON – April is National Arab American Heritage Month, and Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges are celebrating the rich diversity of cultures, histories, and contributions of the many peoples from this part of the world who are represented on the two campuses.

All events listed below are free and open to the general public.

Cuyamaca College:

Wednesday, April 19: Middle Eastern Ethnic Identities Statistically Invisible in America. Presenter Daniel Kakish will lead a discussion on Middle Eastern ethnic identities, what these identities are, who decides them, and kinship of ethnic-linguistic groups. 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Online.
ZOOM LINK: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYsfuqvqTwqGtD2dUuaHluUywfBovYY0sDQ

Wednesday April 19: Shahrazad Dream, Resin and Geode Art. Presenter Salwa Almodares will showcase artwork and discuss this unique art. It is considered as advanced painting and a new addition to the arts of the modern world. 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Samuel M. Ciccati Performing Arts Center.

Saturday, April 22: We are pleased to showcase two performances honoring the rich culture and traditions of our local Middle Eastern community through dance and song. Both will be held at Cuyamaca College’s Open House event on campus.

Musiqa from East (Arabic Traditional Music). The Fouad Sawa Group will perform the “Arabic Traditional Music” with Ensemble. This performance will include Arabic instruments Oud, Qanun, Nay, and Tabla. 11-11:30 a.m.

Dabka Folk Dance, Symbol of Love, Life, and Unity. Presented by: Fouad Bodak Dabka originated from repairing the roof of one’s house. People to make their roofs with tree branches and mud. When the weather would change, the mud would crack. Legend says that family members and the community would come together to help patch it by forming a line, joining hands and stomping the mud into place. This tradition was passed through generations as a reminder of the importance of family, community, and tradition. 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Thursday, April 27: Understanding the Diversity of Arab-American Community. Presented by Roula Aoneh, this workshop will address the importance of Arab-American diversity in building the U.S. constructive, genuine, and multicultural community. There, every citizen develops in a framework of diversity, history, language, ethnic, cultural, and religious identities. The workshop is also an attempt to shed light on the understanding of Arab-Americans and commemorating their many contributions to this country’s identity, economy, education, and culture. 10 – 11 a.m. Online.
ZOOM LINK: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEpcuChqD4jG9x948949iYYeech6UbXBvXD 

Grossmont College:

Monday, April 17: Day in the Life. 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Career Center 60-140.

Wednesday, April 19: Arab Countries Showcase. Crafts, food, music, singers, calligraphy, a fashion show, and vendors. 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Quad.

Thursday, April 20: Middle Eastern Music with the Al Zaytoona Dabke Group. 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Performing & Visual Arts Center.

Monday, April 24: Arabian Tea & Coffee Gathering. 1 – 3 p.m. Career Center 60-140. Sponsors of the events at Grossmont College include the Arab Language Program, the Arabic Club, and the Career Center.

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EL CAJON – Grossmont College has been named a Military Friendly School for the high-quality service it provides to student veterans and military-affiliated students. The college received a ‘silver’ designation among large-sized community colleges across the country for the 2023-2024 year. The honor is given by the organization Military Friendly.  

The recognition highlights Grossmont College’s commitment to East County’s veteran community and is based on methodology including academic policies, military student support and retention, graduation and career outcomes, and admissions and orientation.  

“Grossmont College is committed to helping veterans transition into civilian life through extraordinary services and support,” said Grossmont College President Denise Whisenhunt. “We are honored to welcome veterans to our college, and we hope to serve them with the same passion and excellence they have served our country with.”  

Through Grossmont College’s Veterans Services, veterans and military dependents can gain access to their Veteran Affairs educational benefits, priority registration, a dedicated counselor, textbook assistance and more.  

The Veterans Resource Center, located in building 21, room 253, is the home for student veterans at Grossmont College. The center is staffed by program specialists and counselors and is the hub for many veterans’ services on campus, including assistance with applications, registering for classes, financial aid and computer labs. 

For more information about Grossmont College’s Veterans Services and the Veterans Resource Center, visit the Veterans Services website.  

About Military Friendly Schools

The Military Friendly Schools list is created each year based on research using public data sources from more than 8,800 schools nationwide, as well as input from student veterans, and responses to the proprietary, data-driven Military Friendly® Schools survey from participating institutions. The survey questions, methodology, criteria and weighting were developed with the assistance of an independent research firm and an advisory council of educators and employers. The survey is administered for free and is open to all postsecondary schools that wish to participate.  

About Grossmont College

Grossmont College is the leading provider of higher education and career training in San Diego’s East County and has served the diverse educational needs of the region since 1961. Grossmont College is the number one transfer school to San Diego State University, and home to signature career education programs that train the region’s workforce in in-demand careers. For more information, visit www.grossmont.edu.

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