HomeFoundationFoundation Stories

Foundation Stories

Trixy Arambulo Found Her Calling at CCC

Trixy Arambulo wasn’t sure what she wanted to do when she first came to Contra Costa College. She’d been studying kinesiology at San Jose State University, but decided it wasn’t for her and moved back home to San Pablo. Inspired by friends who struggled with addiction and mental illness, Trixy decided to take a Health […]
Contra Costa College alum Trixy Arambulo.

‘Pay It Forward,’ Says Health + Human Services Grad Keith Hall

For years, Keith Hall struggled with drug addiction and mental illness. “Three things come out of that lifestyle,” he says. “Jails, institutions or death. You’re looking over your shoulder for the cops, you’re looking over your shoulder for people trying to rob you. It’s no way to live.” Now, Keith is a mental health professional […]
CCC alum Keith Hall

Auto Services Professor Laura Salas Came to CCC as a Student

Laura Salas grew up around body shops. Her father has been a collision service tech for over forty years. “He took me to work with him one spring break,” she remembers, “and I got to experience a full body shop work week. I was in love.” Laura knew exactly what she wanted to do with […]
Laura Salas

CCC Helps Healthcare Pro Better Connect with His Clients

Michael Sarvi already had a bachelor’s degree from UC Davis and was well on his way to medical school when he decided to come to CCC. He was working as a Reproductive Health Specialist at Planned Parenthood and felt he wasn’t connecting with patients as well as he’d like. While looking into local programs, he […]
Michael Sarvi

Carmen Santana Is the Kind of Role Model She Needed as a Kid

Growing up in Richmond, Carmen Santana struggled with poverty, domestic violence and hopelessness. Her parents never graduated high school, and didn’t know how to help her succeed. She had to work a lot just to buy basics like clothing, and missed so much high school that she got kicked out of more than one. She […]
Officer Carmen Santana

Andrew Almacen is Off to UCLA Nursing

Meet Andrew Almacen, a CCC graduate from the class of 2016! Some fast facts about Andrew: Grew up in Pinole Attended Ellerhorst Elementary, Pinole Middle and Pinole Valley High Schools Studied at Contra Costa College from 2013 – 2016 At CCC, Andrew was a Student Ambassador, USDA Scholar, Anatomy Teaching Assistant, tutor (in calculus, statistics, chemistry, and […]
Andrew Almacen