At Grossmont College, the Math Jam program is transforming lives—just ask Nick Sveine, a dedicated math tutor who started Grossmont College after 10 years away from academic life. After serving seven years in the Navy, Sveine was both excited and apprehensive about returning to school. 

“I was really skeptical about coming back,” Sveine said. “I was kind of afraid, but I knew that I loved math, it was something I always loved and that never left.” 

Sveine knew he needed support, and that’s when he learned about the Math Jam and seized the opportunity to build his confidence before tackling college algebra. The Math Jam program at Grossmont College is a one-week math program before the start of the fall semester. It allows students to meet their instructors and other students, learn about resources on campus, and review necessary skills to prepare them for college-level algebra.  

“It was really helpful for me to get that boost of confidence,” Sveine said. “Then I started the semester in college algebra, and I did really well. I succeeded. I did much better than I thought I was going to do.  

But Math Jam wasn’t just about academics. It introduced Sveine to a supportive community like Professor Susan Working, who taught the fall 2023 Math Jam, and inspired his path toward teaching. Being a tutor has created a dream to return to Grossmont College as a professor and inspire students and support them the same way he was.  

“Not only did Math Jam prepare me by introducing me to my professors, getting comfortable with them, learning that they were here for us,” Sveine said. “It got me in the door with tutoring. I saw that I could get involved with tutoring and I wanted to get involved.” 

His experience with Math Jam sparked his commitment to tutoring and his dream of becoming a math professor at Grossmont College, a place he now feels deeply connected to. Sveine’s academic journey has since expanded beyond math. As a tutor in the Writing Center, he’s been able to make an impact across disciplines and broaden his skills. He attributes much of his success to professors like Working and Daniela Sow.  

“I enjoy being taught by people who I feel like they care about me,” Sveine said. “They directly care about my learning. I take inspiration from them because I want to be the kind of teacher they are.”  

The post Math Jam Paves Path for Veteran’s Academic Success at Grossmont College  appeared first on Grossmont-Cuyamaca News Center.

When Diego Montalvan started a project in his Grossmont College sculpture class, he had no idea it would lead to him dawning it as full cosplay during San Diego Comic-Con and that it would lead to a feature and recognition from Marvel Entertainment.  

Montalvan is a Grossmont College art student who has always had a passion for art, creating, acting, and design.  When he isn’t creating, sculpting, or painting, he is heavily involved on campus through the First Year Experience program and the Spanish club. 

In Kaya Rainbolt’s sculpture class, students were asked to create cardboard costumes imagining themselves as heroes. Montalvan, a lover of comics and comic book characters, decided to take inspiration from Spider-Man and his rogue gallery.  

“I had no idea what to do,” Montalvan said. “I was looking at my classmates’ work, and it all looked so good. Then I saw one of my Doc Ock figures on my shelf, and I thought, ‘Wait, this could be cool—what if I made this?’ I just started playing with the idea, drawing up designs on paper, and the next thing I knew, I had a whole concept for a Doc Ock cosplay.” 

Montalvan experimented with different materials, using cardboard, pool floaties and his imagination to bring the Spider-Man villain to life – including his four extra limbs. The initial project for his sculpture class was phase one as he worked to build out the project into full cosplay, a performance art where people dress up as characters from their favorite movies, video games and TV shows. 

“I didn’t have the exact idea of what I was going to do, but I didn’t want to copy anything either,” Montalvan said. “I didn’t look up any tutorials or anything like that. I just wanted to make it from my own imagination. I had a general idea of the structure, but as I started building, little by little, new ideas came to me. It wasn’t always perfect, but that was part of the fun—experimenting and seeing what worked.” 

Encouraged by his friends and family, Montalvan was ready to show his creation to the world and debuted his cosplay at this past summer’s San Diego Comic-Con. From the moment he stepped off the trolley, the response was overwhelming with people praising his Doc Ock cosplay, complete with expanding robot arms and brown trench coat.  

Out of the many attendees vying for photos of Montalvan was Marvel Entertainment. The comics company asked to take photos and videos to share on their official social media accounts and website. On Marvel’s Instagram, Montalvan’s post has almost one million likes and sits next to posts featuring Hugh Jackman and Robert Downey, Jr.  

“I feel really happy and grateful that people liked my artwork,” Montalvan said. “To think that something I created from scratch, just for fun, got that kind of attention—it’s amazing. It motivates me to create more. I usually like to make things at home just for myself and never really show them to people. But after this, I realized maybe I should share more of what I do. You never know who might appreciate it. That’s been one of the best things to come out of this whole experience.” 

The post Grossmont College Art Student’s Cosplay Catches Marvel’s Eye at Comic-Con  appeared first on Grossmont-Cuyamaca News Center.

After the worst of the COVID pandemic, in 2022, a gnawing anxiety tormented Yousif Gaboola as he walked the halls of Valhalla High School in El Cajon. Painfully shy, he said he felt as though “everybody was looking at me all at once.”

It was a problem to solve, to be sure. Gaboola, who was fascinated by psychology, read about a technique called “exposure therapy.” Little by little, he purposefully placed himself in situations where he had to talk to people, meet new faces, and talk about himself. The idea was to face his fears, in small doses, again and again, until those fears receded in the rearview mirror. Before long, Gaboola found himself running for Homecoming King – circulating among his classmates as never before. Another student got the title, but Gaboola won just the same.

The anecdote speaks volumes about Gaboola, a 2024 Grossmont College graduate who will study mathematics at UC San Diego this fall. It points to his persistence, his analytical mind, his ability to recognize problems and seek solutions … and of course, to his courage.

“I wanted to test myself,” Gaboola said of the episode back in high school. “I wanted to push myself just a little bit more, so I could crush this fear once and for all.”

Gaboola has faced his share of challenges over his 19 years. Born in Iraq, he lived with his parents and younger brother in Telskuf, a small village north of Mosul, until he turned four. That’s when his parents decided to leave the country for Turkey before joining extended family in El Cajon in 2009. The growing family welcomed another brother, and the family settled in for about ten years. Then a move to New Mexico upended high school life for Gaboola, although about a year later the family returned to El Cajon.

Nearing the end of high school, Gaboola said a lot of his friends discouraged him from attending community college right after graduation. Better to go directly to a four-year institution, they said. But Gaboola didn’t buy it. Besides, he didn’t have the money to go directly to a university, and his high school grades were not the greatest.

At about the time he enrolled at Grossmont College in the fall of 2022, Gaboola intended to pursue a degree in computer science because he thought doing so would secure a lucrative career. But he also had a natural affinity for studying mathematics, and he loved working on hard problems. “I wanted to do math,” he said of his decision that fall to major in math. “I just wanted to commit to it because I was worried that if I continued with computer science, I would be kind of unhappy because I was just doing it for the money.” So, he decided to pursue something he truly loved.Over the next year and a half, he immersed himself in calculus, linear algebra, differential equations and discrete mathematics. He relished academic conversations he had with fellow classmates, and in his spare time he explored The Millennium Prize Problems https://www.claymath.org/millennium-problems/, an international program based at The Clay Mathematics Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts that challenges mathematicians the world over to tackle the most confounding mathematical problems known to humanity.

As he heads to UCSD, Gaboola says he wants to pursue a career as a mathematics professor, immersing himself in teaching and research – and maybe eventually establishing an academic career at Oxford University in England. He says he’s not sure where a career in mathematics will take him, but he’ll always be drawn to working on hard problems – expanding his mind and making a lasting intellectual impact in his field.

Gaboola’s love of teaching began at Grossmont, where his math professor, Corey Manchester, encouraged him to tutor classmates through the college’s Math and Science Center.

Gaboola said he gets a ton of satisfaction seeing students who he’s tutored light up when they understand a complicated math concept or problem. “The look on their faces when they finally understand what that 30-minute lecture was that their professor gave them … is just amazing,” he said. “I love it.”

As he’s helped students at Grossmont, he’s reminded of the many people on campus who helped him chart his own path toward graduation and a college career at UCSD – from his interactions early on with Grossmont’s “First Year Experience” https://www.grossmont.edu/student-support/fye/ support program for new students, to his personal relationships with faculty and staff.

“The community here wants you to succeed,” he said of Grossmont College’s culture of student support. “Professors go out of their way to do office hours with you. I always had the feeling that the community college wanted you to do well, and it gave you the resources to do that. That was an eye opener for me, and it made me feel like I was in the right place.”

As he heads to UCSD in just a few weeks, Gaboola says he’s grateful for the journey he’s taken at Grossmont College, which helped lay the foundation for a boy from a small village in Iraq to become a future mathematics professor.

The post MESA Student Yousif Gaboola’s Inspiring Journey from Iraq to UC San Diego appeared first on Grossmont-Cuyamaca News Center.

Neela Jolene Moody, 18, is a young college student in a hurry. An early graduate from high school, Moody began her studies at Grossmont College in the fall of 2022 and works as an accomplished actress while pursuing a college degree in business management.

“I plan to continue my work as an actress and merge the business skills I learn in college with my love for entertainment,” she said. “My short-term career goal is to get my business degree while continuing to work as an actress. My long-term goal is to become a successful businesswoman in the entertainment business.”

Moody, a resident of San Diego, uses her stage name, “Neela Jolene,” for her work as an actress and is best known for roles on The Goldbergs, the Juniors and Dhar Mann TV series, and for a lead role on the 2024 Lifetime TV movie, My Acting Coach Nightmare. She’s also worked in many short films, commercials, and modeling projects. She began performing at five years old in musical theater.

At Grossmont, Moody is one of two students on the Second Team of the 2024 Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) All-California Academic Honor Roll.

Moody said she wants to continue working as an actress, merging her passion for performing with the business of making movies. “Working in a production company that produces films that are both meaningful and entertaining is my ultimate plan,” she said.

At Grossmont, Moody takes all her classes online. She said the college’s flexibility has allowed her to pursue a busy career as an actress. “I can easily contact the professors, counselors, and administrators when I need them,” she said. “Being able to work acting jobs and at the same time pursue my degree has been a godsend for me.” After this spring, she has two semesters to go before she plans to transfer to San Diego State University.

As a working actress and online student, Moody said her busy schedule hasn’t allowed her to socialize with many people on campus. Nevertheless, she’s enjoyed her college classes and building the knowledge that a college education offers, and she said she feels a sense of accomplishment after she completes each course. “I will miss that the most,” she said.

The post PTK Honor Roll Student: Neela Moody appeared first on Grossmont-Cuyamaca News Center.

Nineteen-year-old Christopher Kazanchi has a clear vision for his future, and he’s not afraid to work hard for it. In the fall of 2023, Kazanchi completed eight courses in one semester at Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges.

“It was 23 units, and I’ll tell you it was not easy,” the political science major at Grossmont College said recently. “But I did it with a lot of motivation, just to prove to myself that I can handle the rigor at a school like UCLA or even a school like Cornell.”

By mid-May, Kazanchi had already been accepted to UCSD, UCLA, UC Irvine, and UC Santa Barbara, and of those universities he had his sights set on UCLA. But he’s also still waiting to hear from Cornell, Columbia, and New York University (NYU). By the time he graduates from Grossmont College, he will have completed 79 units, exceeding the 60-unit requirement to transfer.

The thoughtful and articulate young man says he wants to go to law school to become an attorney, most likely in corporate law and perhaps specializing in intellectual property, patent law, or mergers and acquisitions. “I haven’t narrowed it down yet,” he said.

Kazanchi, who has maintained a 4.0 grade point average at Grossmont, is one of 122 students statewide who won a place on the 2024 Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) All-California Academic Honor Roll.

He admits that a few years ago he didn’t have a lot of direction. Kazanchi, who was raised in East County, began his college journey at San Diego Mesa College but after a while it didn’t seem like the right fit. He wanted to go to school closer to his church in El Cajon, where he volunteers, and it soon became clear that Grossmont was a better option. It took a while to find some academic focus, however. He started off as a psychology major, then he switched to business, then became undeclared. Then he took some classes in political science, and everything clicked. “I found a passion for legal studies … and political science is one of the biggest pipelines into law school,” he said.

At Grossmont, Kazanchi has been an active member of the forensics program. He credits the program for propelling his college career. “I’ve learned so much from it and I’ve developed a passion,” he said. “I’m so fortunate to be at a community college where we’re able to compete in these tournaments.” Kazanchi also credited his professors at Grossmont for recognizing his own drive to excel and mentoring him.

Outside of college, Kazanchi has worked as a legislative intern for San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson, where he also became an assistant internship coordinator to recruit other young people who are interested in government service. After completing two 125-hour internships, he now works nearly full time for Anderson overseeing nearly $5 million in grant funding. He also works part-time at a local law firm to build experience.

The opportunity to work in regional government is one of many that Kazanchi has chosen to seize, to push beyond where he thought he could go. “I’ve wanted to prove to myself that I could continue to break barriers, continue to break my glass ceilings,” he said.

The post PTK Honor Roll Student: Christopher Kazanchi appeared first on Grossmont-Cuyamaca News Center.

The idea came early, as she watched “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and “NCIS” (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) on TV with her mom. Trinity Cortez-Ansley knew she wanted to become a Medical Examiner. 

She wanted to help solve crimes, and she wanted to help families in distress find peace and closure. 

Maybe a few TV shows sparked an idea, but it was Trinity, now 18, who made the rest of it happen through focus, determination, and an overriding feeling that she has no time to waste. This spring she graduated with honors from high school and earned two associate’s degrees (also with honors) from Cuyamaca and Grossmont colleges. She heads to U.C. Davis this fall, and already has her sights set on medical school and an eventual doctorate in forensics. 

Her high school, Health Sciences High & Middle College charter school in San Diego, has a special partnership with area community colleges that allows students to take college courses for college credits. Through that partnership, Trinity began taking classes at Grossmont and Cuyamaca two years ago, when she was 16. Today, she leaves Grossmont with an associate’s degree in social and behavioral sciences, and she finishes Cuyamaca College with an associate’s degree in public health science. 

Trinity said she recognized early on that her charter high school would allow her to dive into college classes early, and she wanted to take full advantage of what her school had to offer to accelerate her path toward medical school. “I knew I had this amazing opportunity to get my associate’s degree in high school,” she said. “I had this opportunity, and it pushed me.” 

On May 24, Trinity gave a speech at a gathering of the black student club at Cuyamaca College, Umoja. She spoke about purpose and self-determination, two of the seven principles celebrated during Kwanzaa, the annual celebration of African culture and values that help fortify a sense of community among African Americans. 

Trinity says a strong sense of purpose and self-determination will propel her through college, on to medical school, and to a doctorate. 

“In the beginning, everybody told me I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t get my associate’s degree in high school,” she said of people’s initial reaction. As she began her journey, she said her motivation was not to prove those people wrong, but to discover her own potential. “I found my purpose in education. It wasn’t just about coming to class. I actually enjoyed learning the material, and I looked forward to sharing my knowledge.” 

Once she was immersed in an academic life, working her way toward a high school degree while also taking college courses, Trinity said a strong sense of self-determination was vital to keep moving forward. “I always knew I was very different from everyone else,” she said. “My mom likes to say I march to the beat of my own drum. For me it was about finding my courage to walk in that path.” 

Her path hasn’t been easy. Trinity says she lives with a handful of learning challenges that she’s worked hard to overcome: dyscalculia, a learning disorder that disrupts a person’s ability to understand numbers and math-related concepts, and a separate memory processing disorder that makes memorization difficult and standardized exams a real challenge. 

She has also endured personal loss, the first one two years ago when her grandmother lost a battle to lung cancer, and the second just a few months later when her 47-year-old father died from a heart attack. 

Processing those losses at 16 was overwhelming, and Trinity said she initially withdrew from people who could help her. “Sitting alone with grief was one of the hardest things,” she said. Soon, however, she said she found comfort by reaching out to “my own village” – her mother and others closest to her, as well as counselors at Elizabeth Hospice in San Diego. 

Two years later, with continued guidance from her mother and key mentors at both college campuses, she now finds herself on the cusp of a challenging and rewarding college career, and a prestigious career in medicine. 

“They told me, “You can’t fail, because that’s not who you are,” Trinity said of the steady drumbeat of support she’s received from those supporting her. “That consistency in motivation kept me moving.” 

Trinity credits faculty and staff at both colleges, particularly in chemistry, anatomy, and physiology, for supporting her academic journey so far. She is friends with Grossmont College President Denise Whisenhunt, who refers to the 18-year-old as her “role model.” 

“I see in her the future,” said President Whisenhunt. “She has an innate commitment to academic excellence and a drive like no other. It has been an honor to watch Trinity grow as a student and community leader. Trinity represents our imperative to give our local high school students access to life-changing college education that will propel them to incredible academic journeys.” 

She also singles out her chemistry professor at Grossmont College, Peter Friedman, as another individual who took a personal interest in her academic development. She remembers one office hours visit when he showed her the physics behind a prism, expanding her knowledge beyond chemistry into the wonder of light and its spectrum of colors. 

Trinity’s anatomy professor at Cuyamaca, Fabienne Bouton, took a special interest in Trinity’s progress. Toward the end of the spring term, Trinity said Bouton gave her a small figurine to keep her encouraged as she encounters future challenges. It’s a simple miniature bowling pin which, when placed on a flat surface, rocks back and forth but never falls over. “I’ll be taking this with me to college,” Trinity said.  

Heading into the summer, Trinity says she’s taking some time off to prepare for the rigors of university life; it’s the first time in years she won’t be attending summer school. She says she’ll enjoy driving her Nissan Ultima and spending time gaming on the computer, a personal hobby. 

While she’s off to U.C. Davis, Trinity says she’ll always remember that she began her college career at Grossmont and Cuyamaca community colleges – institutions that launched her future. “I started at community colleges,” she said. “They were the beginning of higher education for me.” 

The post Driven by Determination 18-Year-Old Graduates High School with Honors and Two College Degrees  appeared first on Grossmont-Cuyamaca News Center.

The recent student elections at Cuyamaca College have concluded with an exciting outcome, as Brycen Brown has been elected as the Associated Student Government (ASG) President, and Manuel Juarez Lopez was elected as the Student Trustee. The election saw enthusiastic participation from the student body, reflecting the vibrant and engaged community at Cuyamaca College. Below is a brief introduction to our new ASG President, and Student Trustee, highlighting their backgrounds, aspirations, and goals for their tenure.

Meet Brycen Brown: ASG President

Brycen Brown graduated from Ramona High School in 2022, and chose to attend Cuyamaca College on the recommendation of friends who had previously studied there. Additionally, the proximity of the college allowed him to continue his running career. Brycen is currently majoring in illustration and minoring in creative writing. Academically, he aims to fulfill all the requirements necessary to transfer to Cal State Fullerton’s art program.

During his time as a student leader at Cuyamaca, Brycen intends to focus on fostering a strong campus community. He envisions Cuyamaca as a “third place” for students—a space where they can relax and have fun outside of class, work, or home. Brycen believes that with his influence, he can help create this environment for students seeking such a space.

Brycen’s ultimate life goal is to write and illustrate graphic novels that convey inspiring stories and healthy messages. He hopes to share these stories with the world, making a positive impact through his art. What makes Cuyamaca College particularly special to Brycen is the ease with which one can form friendships and connections. The numerous opportunities to get involved on campus make it easy for students to step out of their comfort zones and engage with a broader community.

Meet Manuel Juarez Lopez: Student Trustee

Manuel’s passion for running initially brought him to Cuyamaca, where he has competed alongside his peers on both the Men’s Cross Country and Track & Field teams. In addition to involvement in athletic programs, Manuel also discovered “a true community” at Cuyamaca, and quickly became involved in efforts to support fellow students, including as a peer mentor for the Together We Rise Center, and as the 2023-2024 President of Associated Student Government at Cuyamaca College (ASGCC).

A business major, Manuel plans to graduate with an associate degree in Spring 2025 and go on to complete his undergraduate degree at San Diego State. Manuel is excited to continue his support and advocacy for students in the roll of ASGCC Student Trustee in the 2024-2025 academic year.

The post Cuyamaca College Student Election Results appeared first on Grossmont-Cuyamaca News Center.

Zachary Mass said he’s enjoyed attending Grossmont College, with supportive professors and counselors, involvement in the Radio Club, and a 3.5 grade point average. He was selected as Grossmont College’s student speaker for the 2024 commencement.

Mass notes that his academic journey before he came to Grossmont College “hasn’t always been sunshine and rainbows.” His academic challenges started in third grade and reached a boiling point when he was in eighth grade and was expelled from his middle school. He spent two years in a special education school before he was able to return to a mainstream high school.

Mass said he had to learn to control his emotions and not become enraged when he suffered a rejection or setback.

“I learned that there’s always going to be more to experience,” Mass said. “Even if I get a bad test grade or have a falling-out with friends, there’s always going to be more people to meet and more things to do. That’s not the end of the world.”

Or to put it simply, “I just learned how to chill out a little bit,” he said.

Mass, who grew up in the Bay Area town of San Ramon, said he wanted to come to San Diego to be with friends who attend San Diego State University. Grossmont College popped up on his website search, and he liked the idea of attending a community college known as “Harvard on the hill.”

Mass, a communication major, praised his instructors.

“That’s been my favorite thing at this school,” he said. “All the professors have been really supportive. I email them and they get back to me soon.”

Mass has been active in the Radio Club, and has been announcing at Grossmont College sports events. He will be transferring to San Diego State University to earn a bachelor’s degree in communication, and hopes to have a career in sports broadcasting.

“People ask me what sport I’d like to broadcast. It’s whatever one will hire me,” he said.

He advised anyone who is considering attending Grossmont College to get involved in some of the many activities the college offers.

“Just be as social as you can,” he said. “If you’re cooperative and be yourself, it will work out fine.”

The post Communication Major Zachary Mass Selected as 2024 Commencement Student Speaker appeared first on Grossmont-Cuyamaca News Center.

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.

Join us at Cuyamaca College’s Open House this Saturday, April 13, for a vibrant event featuring food, community, and invaluable insights into kickstarting your college journey. A live music performance will be held in the G-Building quad, a blend of modern and traditional Iraqi instrumental music.

Whether you’re looking to embark on a new career path, transfer to a university, or simply enhance your skills, this event features an array of programs, resources and opportunities tailored to meet your needs. Meet our dedicated faculty and staff, explore our campus, and immerse yourself in the thriving college community. We hope to see you there!

When: Saturday, April 13, 2024 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Where: Cuyamaca College, 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway, El Cajon, CA 92019.
Directions to the college: https://www.cuyamaca.edu/maps-and-directions/index.php

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