What was your major? 

Culinary Arts 

What year did you graduate? 

2023 

Tell us a little about yourself. 

Hello, my name is Ashley! I am a pastry chef at Animae located in downtown San Diego. My journey has been a lot of switching majors and finding my true passion and culinary called me. I’ve always loved cooking and baking, but I never thought I would turn it into a career until I took the jump and signed up for culinary school. I was doing my research and stumbled upon Grossmont College (and I was living 5 minutes away) and decided this is the school l want to go to. Day 1, and I already fell in love with the program and the instructors. COVID-19 hit the first year I attended (literally two months into the semester), and we had a lot of transitions we went through. Luckily enough, we were able to pull through and continue online. I was a full-time student, so being at school Monday through Thursday all day was so much fun. Fast forward two years, I graduated alongside my colleagues, and I must say those were the most memorable years of my life! The studying, learning, anxiety, being on my feet 8-10 hours a day, stressing while having fun with my friends, and being alongside my mentors/instructors were amazing! I cannot thank them enough!

During the time I was a student, I forced myself to showcase what I’d learned and started baking on the side and selling my desserts. I was getting so many inquiries that I was overwhelmed with happiness. At first I was only doing this for fun! I was gaining confidence and I reached out to a few organizations and collaborated with them for fundraisers and bake sales. Which I’m currently still doing. I love being around my community, helping the community, and getting to know everyone while they enjoy my desserts!  

So here I am, from switching my major three times after high school and following my dreams and passions. I’m so happy I chose this for myself. Food, cooking, and baking make me so happy. 

What person, course, or experience most influenced you while at Grossmont College?  

Wow, such a loaded question because I literally loved all my instructors the moment I met them. And all the classes I took! Since I took both savory and pastry, I had the best of both worlds. To name my favorite courses though: Chocolate, Breads, International, Buffet & Catering, and Fine Dining. Funny story, when I first started culinary school, I was so determined that I was going to focus on savory. Until I had my first pastry class, and my teacher, Chef James Foran, encouraged me to do pastry. I always told him no and that I’m not so much of a baker, but here I am, a pastry cook. (Thank you, Chef James, for converting me.) When I met my teacher, Chef Valarie Carlone Baker, I was like, “Wow, she makes me want to learn how to butcher a pig.” And then when I met Chef Josephine “Jojo” Rossi, I was nervous and was probably quiet the first semester with her. She gave me that tough skin that made me want to challenge myself more. I loved the discipline she taught me. (Creme fraiche is our little inside joke.) All my mentors/instructors have had such a huge impact on who I am today. Not only have they seen me grow in the kitchen but personal life as well. They have been nothing but supportive, and they believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. They have taught me so much that I have held onto every piece of advice and skill they have taught me. Thank you, Chef James, Chef Jojo, and Chef Valarie, for your guidance, care, and laughs we shared during my school journey. I love you all so much!   

What are some of your favorite memories? 

I have a lot, but here are the ones that strike me the most and are unforgettable. Let’s start with making macarons for the first time. I was super excited to finally learn how to make macarons until I did it. I was super discouraged and tried countless times and just couldn’t get it. I legit cried, and I knew I didn’t want to give up. I asked Chef James if he could help me and if I could try again, and after my billionth time, I finally got it! Remember folks, practice really does make perfect.  

Last but not least, creme fraiche will forever be funny to me now. However it was not funny when it was happening. I was quenelling creme fraiche on the carrot soup, and Chef Jojo was already telling us to hurry up with our ticket times, so when the soup was ready to fire, she asked, “Why is there so much creme fraiche, are we eating creme fraiche soup or carrot?” Then she asked who did this, and as scared as I was, I admitted, “I did, Chef.” It was a “you had to be there” kind of moment, and it’s hilarious now.

Another great memory was meeting my friends and developing friendships with them throughout school and even until now. Culinary school wouldn’t have been the same without you! 

What was your journey after Grossmont College? What do you do now? 

I’ve been working as a pastry cook at Animae, a modern Filipino Asian American restaurant for two years now. I’m still doing local fundraisers, bake sales, events, and hosting my own pop-ups here and there. 

How did Grossmont College prepare you for what you do today? 

The Culinary Program at Grossmont College prepared me in so many ways. The kitchen terms, vocabulary, tips and tricks on how to be efficient in the kitchen, how to organize yourself in the kitchen and workstation, how to be clean, how to understand safety regulations with temperature control, etc. My instructors shared their background and their stories in the kitchen, the good and bad, which helped me be aware of what to observe and pay attention to. I felt so ready that most people asked me which school I went to because they were so impressed. That makes me feel proud to be a Grossmont Culinary Alumni. I am so proud of my instructors for being the greatest at what they do as mentors and teachers. 

What are some of your most notable accomplishments? 

As I sit here reflecting on how far I’ve come and manifest and dream of my future goals, I must say being a part of the community and getting recognition for my work. It’s so rewarding to have so much support and it brings me joy that people want to try my desserts and keep coming back for more. I have been networking with many local chefs and chefs worldwide, and I never thought this would happen to me. Last year, I was honored to have my desserts served for the President and First Lady at a fundraiser twice. Also, being a featured chef for Friendly Feast for four years now has been an accomplishment of mine. I have so many other accomplishments I can’t wait to achieve! 

Is there anything else you’d like to add or anything else about yourself you’d like to share? 

For those who are planning on taking courses at Grossmont College and the Culinary Program, do it. You won’t be disappointed. You will actually be sad when it’s over. And for those who are attending Grossmont College, you have chosen the right school. Don’t forget, follow your dreams and passions, and believe in yourself. Trust me, it’s hard but it’s so worth it.

The post Alumni Spotlight: Ashley Del Rosario appeared first on Grossmont-Cuyamaca News Center.

What was your major? 

Geography 

What year did you graduate? 

2018 

Tell us a little about yourself. 

I was introduced to Grossmont College when I was a junior in high school attending Grossmont Middle College High School, located on the Grossmont College campus. In this program, high school students are dually enrolled with Grossmont Union High School District and Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District to gain college credits while finishing their high school diploma. This educational experience assisted me in transitioning from teenage life to adulthood by learning new study habits that support succeeding in college and university. Eight years later, I work full-time for the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency as a Senior GIS Analyst. I have experienced the full breadth of the ups and downs of life. With the experience I gained at Grossmont College I am able to fully support myself and surpass my professional goals. 

What person, course, or experience most influenced you while at Grossmont College?    

I would not be where I am without the following professors: Judd Curran, Mark Goodman, Tim Cliffe, and Gary Jacobson. In 2016, I enrolled in Geography 130 – Human and Cultural Geography with Professor Goodman and that course changed the trajectory of my life. The class exposed me to the interdisciplinary study of geography and taught me how to succeed in such a challenging academic environment. 

What are some of your favorite memories? 

One day I was walking into the Earth Sciences office to meet a professor for office hours, and Professor Judd Curran stopped me and recommended I apply for an internship position focusing on Geographic Information Systems/Science (GIS) with the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency. At that time, I am not sure I believed in myself and my abilities. However, Professor Curran offered to be my reference. I applied for the position in 2017, and I have worked for the County ever since. While that was a huge accomplishment for me, I have so many memories of laughing so hard it hurt with my peers in late-night study groups that will always stick with me. I met so many nice individuals during my time at Grossmont. 

What was your journey after Grossmont College? What do you do now? 

From Grossmont College, I transferred to San Diego State University to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Geography with Emphasis in Environment and Society. While at SDSU, I enrolled with Mesa College to earn a Certificate of Achievement in Geographic Information Systems. I graduated from Mesa in May of 2019 and used my certificate to promote from student worker to full-time employee with the County of San Diego Land Use and Environment Group. From there, I completed my B.A. with SDSU in May of 2020. In April of 2021, I was promoted back to the County Health and Human Services Agency as a Senior GIS Analyst and have worked with them since. 

How did Grossmont College prepare you for what you do today? 

I would have no idea what to do with my life or what career path to embark on without Grossmont Middle College High School and Grossmont College. I totally empathize with the experience first-time college students have of not knowing what to do with their professional lives. It is really scary transitioning from high school to college or changing career paths. At Grossmont College, I had so much support and encouragement. My professors, in every area of study, went above and beyond to help me succeed and work with my schedule. As a former tutor and teacher’s assistant for Earth Sciences, I spent days building comradery with my peers and supporting their success. In that experience, we as students were able to support each other in setting career goals and meeting those goals. 

What are some of your most notable accomplishments? 

I have built a very impressive professional resume for myself. In 2020 and 2021 of the COVID-19 pandemic, I worked as an emergency responder mapping cases in the County for the Emergency Operations Center. To the present day, I still work in emergency response mapping incidents such as wildfires to power outages. Yet, one of my proudest accomplishments revolves around the security and stability my education and career have provided me. According to a 2018 report by the California Speaker’s Office of Research and Floor Analysis, “an estimated 40% of community college students experience very low or unstable access to food.” I was one of these students, and it is my responsibility to share my story with my peers to bring this conversation to the forefront. My job and my education allow me to live a fulfilling and healthy life. 

Is there anything else you’d like to add or anything else about yourself you’d like to share? 

I implore students and prospective students to reach out for help, resources exist to make our lives easier. The community college system has abundant resources from mental health counseling, food pantries, tutoring, career fairs, to community building. I am so grateful I attended Grossmont College and was honest about my life experience – the professors cared and guided me to the resources I needed. 

The post Alumni Spotlight: Carmen Leedham  appeared first on Grossmont-Cuyamaca News Center.

As you walk into Building 10 you will see that in between the Grossmont College Counseling and Transfer Center, you’ll find the First Year Experience program (FYE). 

Grossmont College offers tons of resources across campus, and for incoming students it may be hard to navigate. FYE offers an immense amount of help to first-year students with support that ranges from dedicated counselors, learning communities, and the ability to answer any question you may have.  

We had the opportunity to speak with Jordan Cummings, a forensic science major and a former FYE student turned FYE mentor.  

Cummings hopes to finish her forensic degree at Grossmont College, begin interning in her field and get a bachelor’s in chemistry at San Diego State University.  

How were you first introduced to FYE? 

“At my high school (Patrick Henry High School), Grossmont College had outreach come and help us out with applications. There were some FYE mentors there and they told me ‘Because you are applying you should also sign up for this program. It is a first-year program and will be there for you if you need any help.’ At the time I thought that I might as well sign up for it, what do I have to lose.” 

How did First Year Experience help you? 

“It helped me build connections on campus. I would’ve not gotten my FYE mentor position if I wasn’t a part of the program. Just interacting with my mentors, meeting with counselors helped me out in the sense that I had people I could trust on campus when I had an issue going on. It was also really nice because when I would stress about meeting with a counselor, I could text my mentors and she would make an appointment for me.” 

What made you want to start working with the program as a mentor? 

“Honestly, I wasn’t thinking about work at all. It was during COVID quarantine and I thought nobody would want to be hiring, if anything I was hearing people were being fired instead of hired. When I filled out my application to the college, I put that I was interested in work study. But I didn’t know what any of that was. Then during one of my last counseling appointments that semester they told me that they thought I would be perfect for this position, here I am thinking it is a volunteer thing and saying ‘yeah, I would love to’. Then she said it was paid. I was like ‘whatttt.’ Now, I am super glad I made the decision and can help students.” 

What do you hope to achieve while working there? 

“When you help students when they are super stressed, taking that weight off their shoulders is just a really nice feeling. I’m helping these students and then I get to see them succeed.” 

Anything you would like to add? 

“When you start college, you think you are very alone in the sense that you have to figure everything out by yourself, especially if you don’t have family that has gone to college. I think our program is a good thing to have in your back pocket. I went to my mentor a lot and sometimes it was just to talk. It is always good to have that person you can reach out to.” 

The post Student Spotlight: FYE Mentor Jordan Cummings appeared first on Grossmont-Cuyamaca News Center.

More than 15 years on, Kevin Kinyanjui can still see the blank sheet of white paper that Grossmont College counselor Pearl Lopez held before her. He had come to her office to talk about his aspirations to attend UC San Diego and go on to become a physician like the missionary workers he met as a boy in his native Kenya. 

“She had a clear, white paper with nothing written on it,” Kinyanjui remembers. “And so, we had a journey.”

Lopez and Kinyanjui charted a path to UC San Diego, marked with the academic requirements he would complete at Grossmont College.

“You can definitely complete these requirements,” he remembers her telling him.

She would work closely with him to stay on track, and each semester they’d meet to go over the next batch of requirements he needed to tackle. 

“He was so focused on wanting to be a doctor; it made a strong impression on me,” remembers Lopez, who still works as a counselor for the college’s Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS), designed to aid students who are disadvantaged by social, economic, educational, or linguistic barriers. 

“I started really, really low,” Kinyanjui said. “I mean, I didn’t know anything. So, it was basic math, basic English, basic everything. I knew it was going to be a long journey.” 

By 2008, his life had already changed dramatically. As a young teenager, Kinyanjui emigrated from Kenya to San Diego with his single mother, and not long after enrolled in classes in City Heights to earn his high school equivalency while washing dishes to earn a few dollars. With encouragement from his mother, Kinyanjui enrolled at Grossmont College to continue his education. He would take three buses daily to get from his home in San Diego to the campus in El Cajon. 

But Kinyanjui persevered, and about four years after beginning his studies at Grossmont he went on to attend UC San Diego and major in human biology, graduate, and then complete medical school at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Auburn, Alabama. He moved on to his residency at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, and landed a job at the Cleveland Clinic Florida, Indian River Hospital in Vero Beach, where he works today as a hospitalist. 

Kinyanjui, 35, sometimes marvels at how far he’s come in his academic journey. But one thing he knows for sure: his time at Grossmont made him into the person he is today. 

“If somebody asked me, ‘What was the most important education you had?’, it’s not when I went to medical school, or when I went to UCSD,” Kinyanjui said. “It’s when I went to community college. Because, you know, that’s when I did not believe in myself, and I didn’t think I could do anything. And completing that, even though it took a long time – I felt that’s when I believed in myself. It shaped my career and made my dream possible.” 

During his time at Grossmont College, the EOPS program opened doors for Kinyanjui and made a college degree seem attainable, he said. Through the program he formed his partnership with Lopez, received help purchasing books for classes, gained access to tutors, and formed friendships with other students who struggled with the same challenges he faced. 

Other mentors along the way, including a physician from Kaiser Permanente who encouraged him to become involved in health fairs in City Heights, helped propel him forward. 

Today, as a physician working for one of the most highly regarded medical providers in the nation, Kinyanjui says he loves his job. 

“I always feel blessed, because you can imagine when a patient comes in, the way I see it is basically the family’s broken,” he said. “My job is to get that patient back and complete, to get the family back together.”

Kinyanjui says he would like to work someday in a disadvantaged community like the one in San Diego where he grew up. He’s also interested in the work of Doctors Without Borders, the charitable organization that provides humanitarian aid in 70 countries at times of crisis and conflict.  

And, perhaps, he will return to his native Kenya, where he can practice medicine and inspire young people there to pursue the path that led to the life he now leads. 

“I want to go back and show people who are like me that, ‘Hey, it’s doable,’” he said. 

The post From Blank Paper to Doctor’s Degree: Grossmont College Makes Alumnus’ Dreams a Reality appeared first on Grossmont-Cuyamaca News Center.

Melvyn McGowan is currently enrolled as a student at Cuyamaca College as well as its sister school, Grossmont College, studying CADD Technology. In Spring 2023, McGowan received a Promise Plus scholarship specifically for students who are returning to college later in life with the goal of improving workforce opportunities.

We interviewed Melvyn to find out about his experience here at Cuyamaca College and what it means to be a recipient of the Promise Plus scholarship.

Tell us a little about your background and your journey to Cuyamaca College.

I am originally from the Tampa Florida area. I’ve lived all over the country, but more recently in San Diego, since 2018. I’m a poker dealer, currently. I found out about Cuyamaca College because my stepson just graduated high school and was starting his college journey… We found out that Cuyamaca and Grossmont offered the Promise Scholarship to get two free years of college. I already had a little bit of background in what I’m studying right now, so I decided that maybe It’s time to go back to school and refresh my skills.

What are your career goals and how is Cuyamaca helping you get there?

I studied CADD technology and drafting back in high school, but that was back in 95’. I’m basically coming back to school to refresh myself in software, learn new technologies. My career goals are to eventually find work in the field of building design or manufacturing technology that I can do remotely. That way, I can stay home with my young daughter, or we can travel without being tied down to a single place.

How will your scholarship help you this semester?

The Promise Plus scholarship helped me out, because I needed a new laptop in order to run the software I’m using this semester. (The scholarship) went a great deal towards the cost of funding the laptop and other items needed for that.

What does it mean to you to be selected to receive a Promise Plus scholarship?

Being selected for the Promise Plus scholarship means a lot to me, because of my age and time commitments being able to maintain the GPA to qualify for the scholarship is something I’m proud of. Life is expensive, especially here in California, and every little bit helps. I have a three-year-old daughter and a nineteen-year-old stepson, and our family is not cheap to run. Every little bit of money helps students like me come back to school.

Any final thoughts?

This goes out to those of you that feel that going back to school may not be within your reach, or that you may be too old to start over and try again: I’m forty-six years old, this is my second year in college, and I do not regret going back to school whatsoever. I’ve learned so much, and I know that it’s going to make a better future for myself and my family. So even if you can only attend school part-time and take a few classes, always improve yourself. Educate yourself and do what you can for your lifestyle and your abilities to earn an income.

The post Alumni Spotlight: Melvyn McGowan appeared first on Grossmont-Cuyamaca News Center.