Contra Costa College Honored With 2026 Black EdCellence Award
Contra Costa College (CCC) has been recognized with the California Association of Black School Educators’ (CABSE) 2026 Black EdCellence Award “in recognition of groundbreaking leadership in advancing education equity for Black students.” CABSE is dedicated to advancing educational equity and excellence, particularly for Black students. Its annual Black EdCellence Awards celebrate educators and educational leaders […]
Congressman Honors Dean Dr. Mayra Padilla as Woman of the Year
Contra Costa College Dean Dr. Mayra Padilla was named one of California’s 8th Congressional District’s 2026 Women of the Year by Congressman John Garamendi. The annual awards recognize exceptional women from Contra Costa and Solano counties whose leadership, service and volunteerism have improved the quality of life in their communities. Dr. Padilla was honored for […]
Ashonda Williams: Athlete, Air Force Leader + Proud CCC Alum
Ashonda Williams, a former Contra Costa College (CCC) women’s basketball player and current Chief Master Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, credits CCC with helping shape both her academic and professional success. Raised in the Richmond/Pinole area after moving from Los Angeles, Ashonda initially had no plans to attend a community college. Her goal was […]
CCC’s Monique Hernandez Selected for National Leadership Program
Contra Costa College is proud to celebrate Monique Hernandez, Director of the HSI Social Justice Grant, on her acceptance into the HACU Enlace Mid-Level Leadership Program for 2025–2026! This national program—offered by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)—was created to support and advance emerging leaders at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) across the country. Participants […]
Foundation Scholarship Winner Osvaldo Rojas is Determined to Secure His Own Future
“Education is expensive, and I don’t want to burden my family,” shares Contra Costa College (CCC) Foundation Scholarship winner Osvaldo Rojas. “I’ve been saving up every penny for school ever since I started working. With the CCC Foundation’s help, I can finally enroll full-time without having the pressure to go to work.” A long-term resident […]
‘Everything is an Opportunity for Growth’ Says Luna Angulo
Luna Angulo is an environmental justice organizer who was just awarded the Sierra Club’s Emerging Voices Award. They also just graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. But, Contra Costa College is where they got their start in community organizing and environmental activism. Luna grew up in […]
Akim Henderson Is Here for His Fellow Students
This isn’t the first time Akim Henderson has pursued higher education. In fact, Akim’s journey stands as a testament to the power of perseverance. “I grew up with an absent father,” he recalls. “My mom was killed when I was 10. And, I have lived through gun violence and substance abuse.” “I went to Cal […]
Jeanelle Hope is a First-Generation Scholar
Even as a child, Jeanelle Hope loved history. “I enjoyed reading biographies, and learning about historical figures at an early age,” she remembers. “My aunt bought me this boxed set of biographies of African American figures. And, by the time I got to 9th or 10th grade, I realized that history was my favorite subject.” […]
Video Game Marketing Pro Cristian Cardona Learned a Lot at CCC
Cristian Cardona didn’t know what he wanted to do when he graduated from Richmond High School in 1996. But, he knew he didn’t want to spend a ton of money at a university while he tried to figure it out. So, he came to CCC, and earned an associate degree in liberal arts. That gave […]
CCC Taught Mauricio Flores the Value of an Education
Mauricio Flores is about to get his bachelor’s in cell, molecular and developmental biology at the University of California, Riverside. He’s currently fielding offers from employers and graduate schools. And, he says it’s his experience at Contra Costa College that makes him stand out among applicants. “It gave me a competitive edge to say I […]
Elisha Patterson Says ‘You’re Not Alone’ at CCC
For Elisha Patterson, CCC was a second chance and a transformative experience. Like about 30% of current CCC students, Elisha enrolled as an older, returning student. After high school, she felt she needed to focus on work. “In Richmond, I think we’re raised to do K through 12,” she explains, “but, also asked, ‘How are […]
Victor Bolan Jr. Came Back to Make a Difference
Victor Bolan Jr. was born and raised in Richmond. Like many of his peers, he came to Contra Costa College (CCC) after high school unsure of what path he wanted to take. “I was just doing small courses here and there,” Victor says. “Sometimes part-time, sometimes full-time. My courses were scattered. I had over 85 […]
‘You Only Have One Life!’ Says Business Major Quynh Pham
Quynh Pham was born and raised in Vietnam. She moved to the US just 14 years ago. “When I came here,” she recalls, “it was very hard for me to learn English. I was very nervous to talk to people. I’m scared I’ll pronounce things wrong. And, in Vietnam, we learned British English, and sometimes […]
