< Back This Month in History Black History, Community Colleges, and the Work of Access at DVC February and March invite us to look both backward and forward. Black History Month reminds us that access to education has never been guaranteed. It has been demanded, defended, and built over generations. Community colleges, including Diablo Valley College, are part of that living story—institutions grounded in the belief that opportunity should not depend on zip code, income, or circumstance. The history we reflect on in February and March is not abstract. It shows up on our campus in real and measurable ways From Student Activism to Student Voice When students in Greensboro sat at a segregated lunch counter on February 1, 1960, they demonstrated that students are not passive participants in history. They are authors of it. At DVC today, that same spirit is visible in programs like Umoja. This spring’s Umoja Transfer Panel , held in honor of Black History Month, featured former Umoja students who have successfully transferred and are now completing degrees or graduate programs  . Their stories are more than inspiration. They are proof that structured support, culturally responsive mentorship, and intentional community change outcomes. Your support makes that possible. Programs like Umoja do not simply celebrate history—they extend it. From Reconstruction to Public Education for All The Reconstruction Acts of March 1867 laid the groundwork for public education systems in the South. They reinforced the principle that education is a public good, worthy of public investment. Community colleges were built on that same foundation. At DVC, that commitment is visible in the ways we invest in faculty mentorship and applied learning. Through Foundation-supported initiatives like Project-Based Learning, faculty advisors guide students through structured, real-world projects with supervision and accountability built into the experience  . This is access with intention. It is not enough for doors to be open. Students must also be supported once they walk through them. Preserving and Expanding the Historical Record Black history is not only something to commemorate. It is something to document and preserve. This year, the DVC Library invited students and employees to engage with exhibits highlighting local Black history and civil rights movements, artwork from the African Diaspora, and curated book collections  . The Black History Month Wikipedia Edit-A-Thon offered a hands-on way to improve the public historical record and ensure stories are accurately represented. This matters. The work of equity includes whose stories are told—and who tells them. Why This Work Must Continue to Grow Community colleges were created to expand access. But access alone does not guarantee equity. It requires ongoing investment in transfer pathways, mentorship, culturally grounded programs, and experiential learning. When donors support the DVC Foundation, they are not simply funding events or programs. They are strengthening systems that increase transfer rates, build belonging, and prepare students for leadership beyond our campus. They are helping ensure that the legacy of Black educational advancement continues not just in February, but year-round. The milestones of February and March remind us that educational progress has always required courage and commitment. At DVC, that commitment is visible in Umoja panels, library exhibits, faculty mentorship, and the steady work of access. And with continued partnership from our community, that work will grow. Because history is not only something we remember. It is something we build—together. < Previous Next >

< Back From Syllabi to Service: How One Semester Can Launch a Legacy February,2026 A chance info session and a districtwide pitch win launched Anya Gupta from classroom networking to a community-minded startup and multiple civic leadership seats When the semester begins, many students focus on syllabi and schedules. For Anya Gupta, this spring started with a spontaneous pitch, $1,000 prize, and new leadership roles on regional boards — a chain of opportunities that turned a campus idea, Wellness Pulse, into real-world impact and civic service. Donors, alumni, and campus programs power the long arc that makes stories like hers possible. When the semester calendar flips open, most students are threading syllabi into binders and scanning schedules. For Anya Gupta, this spring began with a different kind of first week: a winning pitch, new leadership seats on regional boards, and the momentum of opportunities seeded at Diablo Valley College. Anya hadn’t planned to enter the districtwide pitch competition. She stopped by an info session (there was free pizza) and, on a whim, built a 20-slide pitch that became Wellness Pulse — an anonymous, short-form platform to surface how students and community members are feeling so leaders can intervene early. Selected as a finalist, Anya presented before local mayors, investors, and transit leaders — and won. The prize stipend helped her expand Wellness Pulse beyond campus pilots; the recognition opened seats on BART’s security committee, the Contra Costa County Behavioral Health Board (where she’s been nominated for chair), and the MTC advisory group. Anya’s story is a clear arc from classroom to community: a networking workshop in a single semester pushed her out of her comfort zone, club advising and campus programs gave her places to practice, and campus-run competitions and partnerships supplied the funding and visibility to scale an idea into civic impact. Along the way she’s also been part of the Educational Strategic Plan task force shaping DVC’s goals through 2031 — bringing a student voice to decisions that will affect future cohorts. This is the long arc donors and alumni help sustain. Legacy gifts, endowed internships, program support, and community partnerships don’t just fund one semester’s activities — they create touchpoints where ambition meets resources, where a spontaneous pitch can become a public-health tool, and where a classroom encounter becomes a lifetime of service. Anya’s wins — stipend, board nominations, and growing collaborations with local nonprofits — trace back to a campus ecosystem supported by alumni mentors, faculty advisors, and community funders. For alumni and donors: your continued investment pays forward in ways that ripple for years. The next student who walks into an info session, signs up for a club, or accepts a small stipend may be the person whose idea strengthens transit safety, improves county mental-health response, or helps shape the college’s next five-year strategy. Help keep that arc going. Support DVC programs that connect learning to real-world leadership: fund student stipends and pitch competitions, mentor student clubs, or contribute to endowed internships that turn remembrance into momentum. Every gift and every volunteer hour turns a single semester into a legacy of impact. Previous Next

< Back Campus Corners: The Student Veteran's Resource Center (SVRC) Let's take a visit to one of the most resourceful places on campus... Our path today takes us just across from the Library, at the base of Science Hill, to the Student Veterans Resource Center (SVRC) on the Diablo Valley College campus. In Contra Costa County alone there are over 53,000 veterans living in our community. Across California, more than 55,000 veterans, active‑duty service members or dependents are enrolled in community colleges each year. These figures remind us that the SVRC serves not only a classroom, but a chapter of lives in transition. When I stepped inside the SVRC, I was greeted by Marine veteran Andres Garcia, who shared: " The SVRC has given me purpose and made it possible to be involved both in the community and on campus. It has also connected me with incredible resources and services that help me succeed.” Nearby, another Marine veteran, Jose Maya Magdalena, didn’t hesitate:“I truly believe I would have dropped out if not for the SVRC. The community and safe space it provides keeps me going.” Their words resonate because they reflect the heart of the SVRC’s mission: a place of support, connection, and academic renewal. As I walked among the study nooks, resource stations and informal gathering areas, it became clear the center is more than a facility—it’s a community anchor. Here at DVC, we cultivate a campus where veteran students are seen, supported and celebrated. And as the data show, the numbers matter: not only for the veterans themselves, but for the strength and diversity they bring to our collective educational experience. Designate your Donation to the SVRC! Next month, our walk will carry us to the center of student life—the Student Union. Stay tuned! < Previous Next >

< Back Honoring the Legacy of Michael "Mickey" Ganitch November, 2025 Learn about the incredible impact of the great Mickey Ganitch! Each year, the DVC Foundation has the profound honor of awarding two scholarships in the name of Michael “Mickey” Ganitch — a sailor whose life reflected courage, humility, and an unwavering commitment to service. On Veterans Day, as we pause to honor all who have served, we shine a special light on the story behind this remarkable scholarship and the impact it continues to make for DVC’s student veterans. A Legacy Born in Extraordinary Moments... Mickey Ganitch enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 21. By the fall of 1941, he was serving aboard the USS Pennsylvania, the flagship of the Pacific Fleet — and playing on the ship’s football team. On the morning of December 7, 1941, Mickey and his teammates were suited up for what was supposed to be the Navy’s own “Super Bowl,” a championship game against the USS Arizona. Instead, as the first bombs fell on Pearl Harbor, Mickey raced to his battle station still wearing his football pads, climbing into the crow’s nest to serve as lookout during the opening minutes of the attack. It was an almost unbelievable moment — part courage, part instinct, and unmistakably American. Mickey went on to serve throughout World War II, remained aboard the Pennsylvania during its major Pacific operations, later served during the Korean War, and ultimately retired as a Senior Chief Quartermaster. In the decades that followed, he continued serving his community through veterans’ organizations, church leadership, volunteer service, and acts of quiet compassion. Mickey passed away in 2022 at the age of 102, leaving behind a legacy defined by service, generosity, and heart. A Scholarship That Inspires New Generations... Today, the Michael (Mickey) Ganitch Memorial Scholarship honors that legacy by supporting DVC student veterans who, like Mickey, have dedicated themselves to service and to strengthening their communities. “Receiving a scholarship named after a true hero means more than I can express. As a veteran returning to college, this support lifts a huge weight and allows me to focus fully on my education. It encourages me to keep striving, give back, and live up to the values Mickey embodied.” -Clark Kevin Santiago, Scholarship Recipient Honoring Mickey. Supporting Veterans. Strengthening Futures... We are honored to carry Mickey’s story forward, we are grateful for the student veterans who continue their education at DVC with determination and purpose, and we are proud that this scholarship — rooted in a moment of history and a lifetime of service — continues to make a difference in their lives. Previous Next

DVCF Donor Survey 1. What motivates you to donate to charitable causes in general? Personal values Connection to the cause Supporting education/community development Tax benefits Other 2. Why do you choose to donate to the Diablo Valley College Foundation specifically? 3. How did you first get involved with our foundation? 4. Do you donate to other organizations? If so, which ones and why? 5. What are your top priorities or values when selecting organizations to support? 6. How do you prefer to engage with the nonprofits you support? 7. In what ways do you feel our organization can improve to better serve your charitable giving goals? 8. Would you be open to volunteering or getting more involved beyond financial support? 9. Is there anything else you would like to share about your giving experience with us? Thank you for your time and insights! Your feedback is invaluable in helping us better understand and serve our donor community as we work to make a greater impact on the students and programs you support. Submit

< Back Fall Giving: A Season of Momentum and Meaning See how your help has created hope and inspired dreams in the fall season! Fall at DVC always feels a bit electric. The air is crisp, the leaves turn, and the walkways fill with purpose. Students bounce between classes, clubs, and campus events. The hum of activity says it all—this is a season of momentum. You hear it in the rhythm of our Viking Ensemble students, who are turning passion into purpose by performing across campus and in the community while gaining hands-on skills that set them up for professional success. You see it in the buzz of our Student Union, where students gather not just for food pantry access and basic needs support, but for the sense of belonging that sustains them. You feel it at our groundbreaking ceremonies and alumni mixers, where new construction and renewed connections promise something lasting. Even the postseason echoes with that energy. While we won’t detail every stat, just know that Viking football, water polo, and cross country have all had a fall to remember. And that matters—not just for the athletes, but for the spirit it stirs in everyone else. But with all this energy comes the reminder that not all student needs are visible ... On November 10, the DVC Foundation hosted the first-ever Industry Invitational at Oakhurst Country Club—a day of community, generosity, and purpose. Proceeds from the tournament support Fueling Futures: One Meal at a Time, an initiative providing 1,000 meals to students and their families this holiday season. It’s part of our broader commitment through the Student Safety Net Fund, which helps students stay enrolled and succeed by providing emergency grants, food, housing support, and more. “It was just a great day,” said event co-founder JB Balingit. “Everyone came together to support students and their families—and to give DVC culinary students a chance to gain real experience while making a real impact.” And quietly, consistently, the Diablo Valley College Retirees Association (DVCRA) has been part of that impact for decades. Behind the scenes, the retirees and the DVCRA have made sure that students have a pathway to success—funding more scholarships than any other single group at DVC. These aren’t just financial gifts. They’re acts of belief. Each scholarship awarded tells a student: you belong here, and we believe in where you're going. < Previous Next >

< Back A Legacy That Lives in Creativity: There are many ways to remember someone. Some are quiet. Some are personal. And sometimes, a legacy becomes something that keeps moving—something that creates opportunity for others. This year, the Diablo Valley College Foundation is proud to announce the Eva Cohen Endowed Memorial Internship in Digital Arts —a tribute that does exactly that. Made possible through a $130,000 gift from Eva’s family , this endowment will fund a paid internship every semester for a DVC student pursuing digital arts. Each student selected will have the chance to create, design, and tell stories through their work—building real-world experience while carrying forward the creative energy that defined Eva. What makes this especially meaningful is that this is the first time the Foundation has endowed a student position , not just a scholarship. It’s a simple but powerful shift—from supporting access to education, to supporting the experience of it. And in that shift, something special happens. A student isn’t just helped—they’re given a role. A chance to contribute. A chance to create something that didn’t exist before. That vision was brought to life in partnership with Joann Denning, Area Chair of DVC Art & Photography , whose leadership helped shape an internship that is rooted in both artistic exploration and career readiness. Together with Eva’s family, this effort reflects a shared belief: that creativity matters, that opportunity matters, and that both can live on long after we’re gone. Because this is an endowed fund, the impact doesn’t fade. Each semester, a new student will step into this internship. Each semester, new ideas will take shape. Each semester, Eva’s legacy will continue—quietly, powerfully—through the work of students discovering their own voice. It’s a reminder that the most meaningful legacies aren’t just remembered. They’re lived. Previous Next

Dr. Stephen Harper Board Member | Board-Certified Orthodontist Dr. Harper serves on the Board of Directors for the Diablo Valley College Foundation, bringing a deep commitment to community health and educational excellence. A board-certified orthodontist and founder of Harper Orthodontics, he has provided exceptional care to families in Walnut Creek and Martinez for over 14 years. Dr. Harper combines his professional expertise with a passion for supporting local students, believing that access to quality education is vital for a thriving community. His leadership helps guide the Foundation in its mission to create opportunities and foster student success for the next generation. <- Back to Roster

< Back Finding His Way Back: Jim Blair, Executive Director at the Foundation November, 2025 A Message from Jim Blair, Executive Director at the DVC Foundation. Dear Veterans, Thirty-six years ago, I was discharged from the United States Army and landed at Diablo Valley College. Those who've never served won't know the adjustment needed between military and civilian life. From a very regimented life of near constant work with little time off, I had landed in a world where self-determination and leisure time were the new reality. This was the late 1980s, and while I didn't face the poor reception our Vietnam veterans received, there weren't any celebrations around my return to the civilian world. I didn't expect or need any. However, there was also very little support for my transition back to the world. On the campus, I was expected to find my own way. After years of being told what to do, this was difficult. Now, the life on campus for returning veterans is much different, and it should be. After two decades of nearly constant conflict, our newer veteran students land at the college and have a considerable amount of support services. With those services, I can report that they are some of the highest performing students on campus and often transfer to elite colleges when they leave here. I want to take this Veterans Day to thank all of our donors because without you, we would not be able to support our student veterans as they make their return to the civilian world. It's because of people like you that we've been able to create the services that our veterans deserve after they complete their service to our country. We're now building out a new space for veterans on campus, and your continued support of these programs will ensure that we can create a space on campus that allows them to study and receive the support services they deserve. If you have a desire to assist with this buildout, please contact Thom Martin in the Foundation office, and he will work with you to maximize your impact. To our donors that have served, I wish you the best this Veterans Day. Jim Blair Executive Director Diablo Valley College Foundation Previous Next

Reconnect with the vibrant DVC alumni network! Join us for events, mentorship, and more. Discover the power of DVC alumni connections. DVC ALUMNI: What We Are About Join us for vibrant reunions, career-boosting networking events, and a variety of both on-campus and virtual gatherings. Whether through mentorship programs or regional meetups, DVC connections are always within reach. Best of all, joining takes just a click, offering a world of opportunity and connection with no fees attached. Since 1949, DVC has been a starting point for over 1.5 million stories, including yours. Now, the revitalized Alumni Association aims not only to preserve those stories but to enrich them, weaving a tapestry of shared experiences and dreams fulfilled. Don't hesitate; rekindle your DVC connection and become part of something bigger today. Join the all-new DVC Alumni Association and connect with fellow alumni now. Step back into the heart of Pleasant Hill, CA, where your academic journey at Diablo Valley College (DVC) first began. The DVC Alumni Association beckons you to reconnect not only with the campus that witnessed your growth but also with a community of former peers who shared your journey. It's a bridge between past and present, students and alumni, aspirations and achievements. Join Now!

Dr. Monica Chahal Board Member | President at Diablo Valley College Dr. Chahal serves on the Board of Directors for the Diablo Valley College Foundation in her capacity as the President of Diablo Valley College. A dedicated educational leader with over 25 years of experience, she previously served as the Vice President of Instruction at Clovis Community College and Dean of Instruction at Woodland Community College. Monica holds a Doctorate in Education from UC Davis and specializes in curriculum design, instructional strategy, and institutional growth. deeply rooted in the classroom as a former professor, she is passionate about academic excellence and creating equitable pathways for student success. <- Back to Roster

See Planned Giving Leave a Legacy Beyond Your Life