Graduating students are employed with local agencies like the San Luis Obispo Fire Department and the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
“Be better each and every day,” Santa Barbara County Fire Department Chief Mark Hartwig told the students. “Take a break today and pat yourself on the back. Celebrate for a second, and then set for yourself the next lofty goal.”
Happening at both the Santa Maria campus and Lompoc Valley Center, the workshops will assist new, continuing, and Hancock Promise students with admissions, FAFSA and California Dream Act applications, new student orientation, first-semester planning, class registration, financial aid review, and navigating the myHancock student portal. Campus tours will be offered every 30 minutes, and student success workshops will also be available Tuesdays from 4 – 5 p.m. Bulldog Express additionally offers a “Next Steps Workshop” where students will learn how to get a student ID card, purchase a parking permit, set up their myHancock e-mail address, receive free textbooks, and more.
SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College celebrated the achievements of thousands of graduating students at the college’s 103rd commencement?ceremony.
“Today, you are representing the more than 100-year legacy of this college,” said Hancock Board of Trustees President Greg Pensa. “Your contribution to that legacy will continue as you go out into the world and represent Hancock as an alumnus.” ?
More than 570 of those graduates participated in an in-person?commencement?ceremony on the college’s athletics field at its Santa Maria campus on Friday, May 24.
SANTA MARIA — Ten cadets graduated from Allan Hancock College’s CORE Custody Academy on May 23 during a ceremony held at the college’s Public Safety Training Complex in Lompoc.?
“These cadets have been challenged physically, mentally and emotionally,” said Hancock Public Safety Training Director David Whitham. “They are highly skilled and ready to start their careers as custody deputies.”
SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College bid a fond farewell to 16 retiring employees who contributed a combined?346?years of service to the college during an in-person recognition ceremony on May 22.?
This year’s honored retirees included employees who spent decades serving Hancock students, as well as faculty and staff members who worked to support students in attaining their educational goals.?
“Each of these retirees is leaving behind a legacy of making a positive impact on the lives of our students,” said Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D. “We are incredibly thankful to each of them for their years of service at Hancock.”
SANTA MARIA — Students from Allan Hancock College’s noncredit programs were recognized for their accomplishments at a special ceremony on May 17 at the college’s Santa Mara campus.
More than 120 students from a variety of noncredit programs celebrated a diverse range of achievements, including completing English as a Second Language classes, earning their GED or passing their tests for United States Citizenship. Others celebrated earning certificates in computer skills, job training, and classes designed to help them prepare for careers in childcare, tax preparation, and commercial truck driving.
The event’s keynote speaker was Mayte Solis, a chemistry instructor at Santa Maria High School, Hancock alumna and the former coordinator for the college’s AIM to Dream Center.
SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College celebrated 2024 graduates who will continue their education at four-year universities at its annual University Transfer Celebration on May 17 at the college’s Santa Maria campus.
Hosted each year by Hancock’s University Transfer Center, the event was an opportunity for Hancock’s transfer students to celebrate their achievements with their friends and family as they prepared for a new chapter in their educational journeys. More than 200 “transfer stars” were invited to this year’s celebration.
Participating students, many wearing apparel from their respective universities, received a commemorative?transfer?medallion, took photos with their soon-to-be university peers, and listened to messages of support from Hancock staff and their fellow?transfer?students.
“This is a chance to celebrate your accomplishments and get excited about your next adventure,” said Hancock’s Associate Superintendent/Vice President of Student Services Genevieve Siwabessy, Ed.D. “We know that wherever you are going next, you will excel.”
SANTA MARIA — Registration for summer and fall classes is open at Allan Hancock College, and students of all ages and educational backgrounds are encouraged to change their odds and sign up.
Hancock offers credit and noncredit classes across a wide range of subjects and areas of study for students seeking degrees, certificates, transfer, job training, or enrichment.
“Now is the time to become a Hancock student,” said Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D. “No matter what your educational goals are, Hancock has the resources and support you need to achieve them.”
High school seniors graduating from within the college’s service area can take advantage of the expansion of the Hancock Promise, which now provides two years of tuition and fees free. Financial aid is also available for non-Promise students.
The graduates were honored during two ceremonies at the college’s Public Safety Training Complex (PSTC) in Lompoc.
“These cadets represent the next generation of first responders,” said Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D. “They are highly trained and prepared to serve their communities.”
Students who are accepted into the program as?College?Corps?“fellows” will?work with K-12 schools, food banks or climate action organizations to build healthier and more equitable communities across California. In exchange, they can receive up to $10,000, including a living stipend throughout the service term and an Education Award upon completion of 450 service hours. The program also provides students with valuable job experience and skills, as well as access to training, networking, and professional development opportunities.
SANTA MARIA — Students in Allan Hancock College’s SkillsUSA program took home multiple gold, silver and bronze medals from the SkillsUSA state competition in Ontario, California.
A record 28 of the 33 Hancock students who participated in this year’s competition earned medals. That includes 17 students who took home gold medals in a diverse range of competitions, including architectural drafting, computer programming, web design, crime scene investigation, welding and more.
“Our SkillsUSA team showcases how Hancock students can take the skills they learn at the college and apply them outside the classroom,” said Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D. “Hancock is proud of these students who worked hard with their faculty advisors to prepare for this competition.”
This year’s exhibit will run through May 10 at the Ann Foxworthy Gallery at the college’s Santa Maria campus and features work in a wide range of mediums from students across the college’s fine arts programs. Featured works include paintings, drawings, sculpture, mixed media, digital art, graphic design, animation, and even performance art.
SANTA MARIA — The Rotary Foundation and the Rotary Clubs of California are being honored by the Network of California Community College Foundations (NCCCF) with the organization’s prestigious Bernard Osher Philanthropist of the Year Award. According to the NCCCF, the organizations have provided $6.2 million in philanthropic support to benefit California community colleges across the state in recent years.
The honor includes the efforts of local Rotary clubs who support students at Allan Hancock College, thanks to hundreds of thousands of dollars of donations to the college’s nonprofit foundation as well as directly to students through scholarships.
“This new app will help improve the community’s knowledge and understanding of farming, food, and wine in our region, and connect them with the people who grow and produce these crops and wines,” said Hancock viticulture and enology instructor Alfredo Koch. “This will also help the county’s growers and winemakers by increasing awareness of their businesses and products.”
SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College’s talented fine?arts?instructors are?showcasing?a wide range of creative work during the college’s Fine?Arts?Faculty?Art?Show.
The?exhibit?is currently running at the Ann Foxworthy Gallery on Hancock’s Santa Maria campus through March 14 and is free and open to the public.
The?show?features a variety of artwork by Hancock’s fine?arts?faculty, who represent multiple disciplines including art history, painting, drawing, 3D design, ceramics, photography, media arts, dance, music and more.
“As artists, our faculty have their own art-making practices both within their scope of teaching and beyond,” said Gallery Director Laura-Susan Thomas.?“This exhibit showcases the variety of their works and the breadth of their talents.”
SANTA MARIA — Two Allan Hancock College students were invited to present their research project to a prestigious body of scientists and scholars in Seattle, Washington.
Hancock students Brianna Munoz Gonzalez and Katherine Goldstein traveled to Seattle Washington, where the duo presented their research on native plant and bee populations to the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) during the organization’s annual meeting in January 2024.
“Being asked to present in front of a body of other researchers was a humbling and empowering experience,” said Goldstein, who received Hancock’s prestigious Marian Scholarship in 2023. “Every single researcher we spoke to was interested in what we were doing, took us seriously and saw the importance and the value of what we were working to accomplish.”
SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College welcomed thousands of new and returning students back to its Santa Maria campus and Lompoc Valley Center on Jan. 22 for the start of spring classes.
Despite the wet weather, the campuses were bustling with activity as more than 10,000 credit and noncredit students started classes.
“We are excited to welcome students back to campus for the spring,” said Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D. “We want them to know that our faculty, staff, and administrators are here to support them.”
SANTA MARIA — Twelve cadets graduated from Allan Hancock College’s CORE Custody Academy on Dec. 29 during a ceremony at the college’s Public Safety Training Complex in Lompoc.
All 12 graduates of CORE Academy Class #15 completed a comprehensive California Standards and Training for Corrections course consisting of 260 hours of instruction. The six-week academy is designed to prepare students mentally, morally, emotionally, and physically to work as correctional officers. Some of the instruction included emergency planning in a custody facility, report writing, ethics, investigation procedures, contraband, arrest and control, physical fitness training, CPR/First Aid, and emergency vehicle operations.
SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College is giving high school seniors and current Hancock students a helping hand preparing to apply for spring classes and filling out their financial aid applications at a series of free workshops in December and January.
During Hancock’s Winter Promise workshops, students and their parents will be able to get assistance applying to attend Hancock, applying for scholarships through the Santa Barbara Foundation and preparing and submitting their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA ) and Dream Act applications.
The workshops are free and will be available in English and Spanish.
SANTA MARIA — The Allan Hancock College men’s and women’s basketball programs will honor local first responders, veterans, and active-duty members of the military at the college’s inaugural Hometown Heroes Night on Jan. 31.
The event will feature two basketball games as the Bulldogs host Ventura College for a Western State Conference rivalry showdown. The men’s team will tip off first at 5 p.m., followed by the women’s game at 7 p.m. Both games will take place inside the Joe White Memorial Gymnasium at the college’s Santa Maria campus.
SANTA MARIA — Acclaimed violinist and Festival Mozaic Music Director Scott Yoo is hosting a free masterclass for a select group of Allan Hancock College music students, and the public is invited to watch.
Yoo will conduct this free, public masterclass on Feb. 24 from 10 a.m.- 12 p.m. at the Boyd Concert Hall (bldg. F) on the college’s Santa Maria campus.
SANTA MARIA — Students in Allan Hancock College’s dance program are ready to entertain audiences of all ages during their annual Dance Spectrum performances this April.
The 2024 Dance Spectrum is a dynamic, high-energy showcase of the college’s talented dance program students, who are both performing and choreographing many of the show’s performances. The show will feature a wide range of music and dance styles, as well as cameo performances from Hancock’s full-time and part-time dance program faculty.
SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College’s film and television program is celebrating the work of acclaimed director Tim Burton by hosting a retrospective of his work through the end of April.
The film and television program is partnering with the Friends of the AHC Library to host a screening of “Beetlejuice” on April 19 at 6 p.m., followed by a screening of “Big Fish” on April 26 at 6 p.m. Both movies will be shown in the screening room of the college’s Fine Arts Complex (Bldg. F, Room 257).
“The Lompoc Valley Center was built to respond to the critical need to serve students in the Lompoc Valley, and 25 years later it continues that important mission,” said Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G Walthers, Ph.D. “This celebration is an opportunity to honor the LVC’s past and look forward to its future.”
SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College is hosting its second annual wine festival at the college’s Santa Maria campus and is inviting the public to attend.
The college is currently selling tickets to its second West Coast College and University Wine Festival, which will take place on Saturday, June 8, from 1-4 p.m. This year’s festival is sponsored by the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce.
The festival will include wines from eight community college and university winemaking programs, including Hancock, Cal Poly, Napa Valley College, Fresno State University and colleges from Oregon, Washington State and Arizona. In addition, the festival will also feature wines from 11 California wineries including Flying Goat Cellars, Amplify Wines, El Vinero, and others.
SANTA MARIA — The Allan Hancock College Board of Trustees voiced their support for the college’s ongoing efforts to offer four-year degrees under the state’s Community College baccalaureate program. The trustees unanimously passed a resolution in favor of the district’s application to create a four-year degree in applied professional studies at their Dec. 19 regular meeting.
“This degree program would expand educational access and opportunity for our students and meet regional workforce needs,” said AHC Board President Greg Pensa. “This is exactly what we mean when we talk about changing the odds for our students.”
SANTA MARIA — A total of 79 students graduated from Allan Hancock College’s nursing program on Dec. 7, continuing the college’s legacy of training highly skilled healthcare workers.
The graduating class included 46 graduates from Hancock’s registered nursing program and 33 graduates from the college’s vocational nursing program. The graduates and their families celebrated with a ceremony at the Marian Theatre on the college’s Santa Maria campus. Both groups received commemorative pins marking their accomplishments.
“Training public servants is one of the most important missions of a community college,” said Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D. “I am honored that our nursing students have chosen this profession.”
SANTA MARIA — For the 15th year in a row, Allan Hancock College’s CARE program provided students who are single parents with a turkey and other Thanksgiving meal items free of charge.
A total of 51 individuals and families stopped by CARE’s “Turkey Fest” booth outside the college’s Santa Maria campus on Nov. 21, where CARE staff provided them with everything needed to prepare a delicious Thanksgiving meal. The packages included a turkey, potatoes, beans, cranberry sauce, rolls, stuffing, pumpkin pie, whipped cream and butter. Also included were turkey preparation and cooking instructions.
“We know times are tough, so we are thrilled that we can provide this food and put a smile on the faces of our students,”?said Hancock CARE/EOPS Coordinator Fabian Mendoza
SANTA MARIA — A group of talented Hancock students attended a prestigious statewide Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) conference, where they had the opportunity to meet with industry professionals and explore potential careers.
Hancock students Willibaldo Pina Gonzalez, Elizabeth Valencia-Dominguez, Remington Los, and Ruby Rocha traveled to San Diego to attend the annual MESA Leadership Conference. They joined MESA students from 32 community colleges, CSUs, UCs and private universities from across California.
Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria is sponsoring Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture’s (SEEAG) “Santa Barbara County Child Wellness Initiative” at its highest $10,000 “Rain Maker” level.
The program educates, inspires and empowers children to eat healthy by adding locally grown Santa Barbara fruits and vegetables to their diet to help ward off childhood obesity that could lead to diabetes.
The Santa Maria Joint Union High School District and Allan Hancock College will virtually present “A time to Take a Stand” in observance of Black History Month on Friday, February 19th.
The event, which starts at 12:45 p.m. and ends 3:15 p.m., is hosted by the Center for Leadership Equity and Research in collaboration with the Central Coast NAACP & Center for Culturally Proficient Educational Practice.
Allan Hancock College will offer a new degree program in Latino/Latina Studies beginning this summer and fall.
The associate of arts degree program provides a structured study of Latino/Latina heritage, and fosters an understanding of Latino/Latina history, culture and aesthetics. The new degree program is the first of its kind at Hancock, which is designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education.
SANTA MARIA — Take a colorful trip south of the border as three local groups combine to present “Fiesta Mexicana” on Friday, November 15th and Saturday, November 16th. The event will feature performances by the ballet folklórico’s of Righetti High School,…
SANTA MARIA — The Allan Hancock College Concert Band will perform a Fall Pops Concert on Saturday evening, September 29th, 2018 at 7:30 PM. The concert will feature an eclectic mix of musical selections including: The Star Spangled Banner, El Choclo, Red…
SANTA BARBARA — Award-winning author Reyna Grande will be presented with UCSB’s 12th annual Luis Leal Literature Award during a ceremony at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, in the McCune Conference Room, 6020 Humanities and Social Sciences Building at UCSB.…
By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 At a time when some political leaders in Congress are trying to outdo themselves by cutting programs to the bone, first-generation college students recently received a significant boost with the awarding of federal grants…
SANTA MARIA — The TRiO College Achievement Now (CAN) program at Allan Hancock College celebrated the perseverance and success of dozens of its students who graduated this week and transferred to four-year universities. The TRiO/CAN recognition ceremony was held May…
SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College English professor Marc García-Martínez, Ph.D., has been selected as a finalist for the 2015 International Latino Books Awards. García-Martínez’s book, The Flesh and Blood Aesthetics of Alejandro Morales’ – Disease, Sex, and Figuration, is a…
SANTA MARIA — A recent Allan Hancock College graduate has been recognized as one of the top 30 students enrolled in California’s 112 community colleges. Daniela Calderon was one of 30 students from 24 community colleges selected to the Phi…
Michael McMahon plans to help his former mentor fulfill a lifelong dream of creating a scholarship at Hancock for ESL students SANTA MARIA — For more than 20 years, Fidel Herrera taught English as a second language (ESL) classes…
CAMARILLO — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County is celebrating January’s National Mentoring Month with a new Match Story each week, highlighting four successful mentoring relationships in Ventura County. The first match story features Micah Garside-White, who was 12…
VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Community College District Board of Trustees will consider action to confirm Luis Pablo Sanchez, JD, LLM, as President of Moorpark College at its public meeting on Jan. 20, district officials reported Tuesday, Dec. 23 in…
SAN LUIS OBISPO — SLO RISE (Respect, Inspire, Support, Empower) has announced a change in office hours to meet funding cuts and increasing demand, the organization reported in a media release. “This decision was made after much deliberation,” Jennifer Adams,…
SANTA MARIA — Lompoc native Nohemy Ornelas’ journey through higher education officially came full circle when the Allan Hancock College Board of Trustees approved her as the college’s new associate superintendent/vice president of Student Services during the board’s meeting, college…
CAMARILLO — The Ventura County Community Foundation and the Ventura County Housing Trust Fund have teamed up to create the first permanent revolving fund in Ventura County dedicated to building farmworker housing, the organizations reported in a media release. The…
SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College English professor Marc García-Martínez, Ph.D., will soon join world-renowned researchers Jane Goodall and Noam Chomsky as authors whose works have been published by the San Diego State University Press (SDSU Press), college officials reported…
> Allan Hancock College to present its second annual “54-hour Startup Weekend Santa Maria” on April 4-6. “Bring your business idea, and we’ll help make it happen,” said Anne Cremarosa, director, Small Business Entrepreneurship Center, and one of the organizers…
VENTURA COUNTY — Low- to moderate-income workers who had a household income of $52,000 or less in 2013 can receive free tax preparation and income tax filing at a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site located throughout Ventura County, the…
SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria will present guest speaker Raúl Lomelí, co-founder and executive chairman of Saber es Poder (Knowledge is Power), a Spanish-language media and empowerment network, on Thursday, Nov. 7, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.…
