Dozier-Libbey Medical High School junior Jewel Milan-Rose Baker.
Honored with Award of Excellence; plans to be a neuro or general surgeon
ANTIOCH, CALIFORNIA — Jewel Milan-Rose Baker, an 11th grader and honor student at Dozier-Libbey Medical High School in Antioch, California has been chosen as a Delegate to the Congress of Future Medical Leaders to be held June 21-23, 2023, just outside Boston, on the University of Massachusetts Lowell campus.
The Congress is an honors-only program by the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists, for high school students who want to become physicians or go into medical research fields. The purpose of this event is to honor, inspire, motivate and direct the top students in the country interested in these careers, to stay true to their dream and, after the event, to provide a path, plan and resources to help them reach their goal.
Baker’s nomination was signed by Dr. Mario Capecchi, winner of the Nobel Prize in Medicine and the Science Director of the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists to represent Dozier-Libbey Medical High School based on her academic achievement, leadership potential and determination to serve humanity in the field of medicine.
“I’m happy to announce my nomination for the Congress of Future Medical Leaders Award of Excellence for outstanding academic achievement, leadership potential, and determination to serve humanity in medicine,” Baker stated. “It is a gift and an excellent opportunity I look forward to participating in.”
During the three-day Congress, Baker will join students from across the country and hear Nobel Laureates and National Medal of Science recipients discuss leading medical research; be given advice from Ivy League and top medical school deans on what to expect in medical school; witness stories told by patients who are living medical miracles; be inspired by fellow teen medical science prodigies; and learn about cutting-edge advances and the future in medicine and medical technology.
About her future plans Baker says, “I aim to become a neuro or general surgeon.”
For now, she is a member of the school’s Key Club, will be participating as a member of the Leadership Club and plans to run for senior class vice-president in the fall of 2023-24. Outside of school, her hobbies include reading and gardening. Baker also enjoys volunteering at the Antioch Library, lending a hand at the senior center when needed, and spending time with family and friends as much as possible. As a former Oakland School of the Arts student, she enjoyed the theater performance in which she studied.
Certified in CPR, Baker is an avid swimmer and this summer, she will be working her first job as a lifeguard at Hurricane Harbor Waterpark in Concord, CA.
This is a crucial time in America when we need more doctors and medical scientists who are even better prepared for a future that is changing exponentially. Focused, bright and determined students like Jewel Baker are our future and she deserves all the mentoring and guidance we can give her.
The Academy offers free services and programs to students who want to become physicians or go into medical science. Some of the services and programs the Academy offers are online social networks through which future doctors and medical scientists can communicate; opportunities for students to be guided and mentored by physicians and medical students; and communications for parents and students on college acceptance and finances, skills acquisition, internships, career guidance and much more.
The National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists was founded on the belief that we must identify prospective medical talent at the earliest possible age and help these students acquire the necessary experience and skills to take them to the doorstep of this vital career. Based in Washington, D.C. and with offices in Boston, MA, the Academy was chartered as a nonpartisan, taxpaying institution to help address this crisis by working to identify, encourage and mentor students who wish to devote their lives to the service of humanity as physicians, medical scientists.
By Marisa Greenberg, Marketing & Communications Coordinator, 4CD
Dr. Pamela Ralston
The Contra Costa Community College District (4CD) has selected Dr. Pamela Ralston as the seventh permanent president of Los Medanos College (LMC). The 4CD Governing Board will vote on ratification of her contract at their June 14, 2023, meeting. The announcement was made following a search that began in February 2023.
“Dr. Ralston brings tremendous experience and commitment to improving student success and student equity by working collaboratively with faculty, staff, and administrators,” said Interim Chancellor Mojdeh Mehdizadeh. “Through the development and support of strong, innovative programs, and in designing a supportive environment where both students and staff feel respected and appreciated, I am confident we have chosen a leader who is a great fit for 4CD, Los Medanos College, and the East County community.”
Over the course of a two-decade career in public higher education, Dr. Ralston has served as the Interim President at Los Medanos College, President at Santiago Canyon College, and Executive Vice President of Educational Programs at Santa Barbara City College, where she led the academic and student services programs. A passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in education, Dr. Ralston has worked to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students, with special attention to the strengths that their cultural backgrounds and ethnic identities bring to their college experiences.
Dr. Ralston earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Oregon and Master of Arts and doctoral degrees from the University of Washington in Comparative Literature. “I am honored to be selected to lead this incredible higher education institution,” said Dr. Ralston. “I am eager to help maintain and expand LMC’s legacy of educational excellence, promote community college as a great choice for our students, while building stronger connections and partnerships with our community.”
The Contra Costa Community College District (4CD) is one of the largest multi-college community college districts in California. The 4CD serves a population of 1,200,997 people, and its boundaries encompass all but 48 of the 734-square-mile land area of Contra Costa County. 4CD is home to Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, as well as educational centers in Brentwood and San Ramon. The District headquarters is located in downtown Martinez. For more information visit www.4cd.edu.
To promote access to effective civic engagement and service learning for 12th graders
AUSD is pleased to announce that we have been awarded the California Serves Grant, a total of $499,911.00 in grant monies. The 2022 California State Budget established the California Serves Program (California Education Code [EC] Section 51475), a collaboration between the California Department of Education (CDE) and CaliforniaVolunteers. The California Serves Program will promote access to effective service learning for students in grade twelve, with the goal of expanding access for high school graduates in obtaining a State Seal of Civic Engagement through service learning.
According to the CDA website, “On September 10, 2020, the State Board of Education adopted criteria and guidance to award a State Seal of Civic Engagement to California students who demonstrate excellence in civics education and participation, and an understanding of the United States Constitution, the California Constitution, and the democratic system of government.” (Note: California has a Republican Form of Government, as required of all states to be admitted to the Union, and is guaranteed by the U.S. as written in Article IV, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution).
AUSD California Serves Grant Plan
The Learning through Serving project will implement a new two-course sequence to engage all AUSD students in meaningful civics education that incorporates high-quality democratic education, civic-mindedness, community engagement, and experiential learning through an evidence-based approach. The initiative will expand access and promote equity by allowing all AUSD 12th-grade students to complete the State Seal of Civics Education – a credential to which AUSD students currently do not have access.
With Learning through Serving, AUSD will finalize implementing a new course sequence for the senior year of high school, starting in the 2024-2025 school year. This sequence includes a newly approved Ethnic Studies course that pushes students to think more deeply about the world around them, including race, culture, interaction, civic engagement, and inspirational action to improve society. We will also create a new capstone project course to build onto the Ethnic Studies course, creating a year-long sequence for all Antioch seniors.
This new course sequence would become a required component of the program of study, with all AUSD 12th grade students completing the courses. Over the three-year project, an estimated 2,788 students will complete the courses across three high schools. Through increased engagement and opportunities for meaningful reflection, AUSD will indirectly address student connectedness, motivation, and participation. Additionally, the combination of professional development, education, training, and expanded course delivery will increase district-wide capacity to support long-term improvements in student academic, personal, and social-emotional outcomes.
Matthew Kritscher, Ed.D., Claire Oliveros, Ph.D., Pamela Ralston, Ph.D., and James E. Todd, Ph.D. Source: CCCD
Meet the candidates during in-person forums Monday, May 11
By Marisa Greenberg, Marketing & Communications Coordinator, Contra Costa Community College District
The Contra Costa Community College District (District) announces the selection of four finalists for the position of President of Los Medanos College. The finalists are: Matthew Kritscher, Ed.D., Claire Oliveros, Ph.D., Pamela Ralston, Ph.D., and James E. Todd, Ph.D.
Four separate in-person forums have been scheduled for May 11, 2023, on the Los Medanos College Pittsburg campus. Employees, students, and community members are invited to attend the forums, which will last 60 minutes each, beginning at 11:30 a.m., and will be recorded. A detailed public forum schedule, recordings of each forum, and an online survey to provide feedback on the candidates will be available on the District website at www.4cd.edu.
Dr. Matthew Kritscher
Dr. Kritscher has dedicated his career to advancing student diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and social justice serving diverse communities in public higher education in California Community Colleges and Universities for over three decades. As an educational leader including eleven years as Dean and almost ten years as Vice President of Student Services at Chabot College, Dr. Kritscher is passionate about eliminating student equity gaps, and providing support for students who are farthest from opportunity. Dr. Kritscher holds a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from San Francisco State University. He graduated from the first cohort of the university’s inaugural doctoral program. He also holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees from California Polytechnic State University in education and recreation. Dr. Kritscher conducted applied research on “How peer mentors affect the persistence of community college students of color” as a participant researcher at his own institution to better understand the live experiences of the students he serves and how to best support them.
In the community, Dr. Kritscher served as a founding member on the Governing Board for the Mid-Alameda County Consortium of Adult Education Programs, and across the District as President Emeritus of the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District Administrators’ Association. He is also a President Emeritus of the statewide California Community Colleges Student Success and Support Program Professionals (Matriculation) Association that conducted legislative advocacy, professional development, and liaison services to the California Community College Chancellor’s Office. Dr. Kritscher has received numerous awards for his work with supporting student access, equity, social justice, and success in public higher education including a Chancellor’s Award, several Unity Awards, Chabot College Striving Black Brothers Coalition Award, and an Educator of Excellence Award from the African American Regional Education Alliance.
To enhance equitable transfer student pathways, Dr. Kritscher is a founding Co-Principal Investigator of the East Bay College Agile Network (EBCAN), a regional partnership between Chabot-Las Positas Community College District and California State University, East Bay. This regional collaborative leverages external and internal resources as well as policy and practice transformation to eliminate barriers to student transfer.
Dr. Kritscher has served as the Principal Investigator and Project Director on numerous federal, state, and private grants, strategically advancing integrated projects toward institutionalization in support of increasing diversity, access, equity, and success. Dr. Kritscher has also led numerous capital projects to better meet the needs of diverse student populations and facilitating student retention and success.
Dr. Kritscher and his wife, Susan Truong, grew up in the bay area, and have championed support for students farther from opportunity through partnership with non-profit organizations where they have mentored low-income, first generation foster youth to attend and complete college. They love gardening, outdoor activities and supporting their communities through volunteering.
Dr. Claire Oliveros
Dr. Oliveros is a social justice educator, scholar and equity practitioner with over 28 years of professional experience in higher education. Claire is the inaugural Vice President of Institutional Equity & Research and Planning at Cosumnes River College (CRC), a designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and Asian American, Native American-Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI) located in Sacramento, CA. She oversees the division for college planning, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Antiracism (DEIA) strategic initiatives. Claire manages a multi-million-dollar budget which includes the departments of HSI and AANAPISI federally funded grant programs, Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Research and Planning, Center for Professional Development, Center for Inclusion & Belonging, Hawk Cares Center for Basic Needs and Housing Resources, Student Life, and Title IX/Equity Compliance. Prior to this role, Claire served as Vice President of Student Services and Enrollment Management at CRC.
Before relocating to California, Claire was the Assistant Provost for Student Success Initiatives at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in Blacksburg, VA, and the Executive Dean of Student Development and Learning Resources at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, OR. Claire served in various leadership positions at Portland Community College including the Director of TRIO Student Support Services, Interim Director of the District Office of Equity, and Inclusion, founding Coordinator of the Multicultural Center, adjunct Women’s Studies Faculty, and as a part-time Academic Advisor.
Claire is a first-generation college graduate earning a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication from Western Oregon University, Master of Science in Educational Policy, Foundations and Administrative Studies at Portland State University, and a Doctorate in Education from Oregon State University. Claire has over 20 years of volunteer experience and community involvement. She was founding chair of the Portland Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines and served as a board member of the Multnomah County Commission on Children, Families and Community. Her higher education service includes the AANAPISI Sacramento Regional Cooperative, Community College League of California, and American Association of Community Colleges.
Claire is a dedicated educational leader with a deep commitment to equity-mindedness and servant leadership. Claire enjoys spending time with her family, attending her son’s soccer games, listening to podcasts, and exploring new restaurants.
Dr. Pamela Ralston
Over the course of a two-decade career in public higher education, Pamela Ralston has been dedicated to the powerful transformation that community colleges provide students, faculty, and the communities we serve. She is committed to working with faculty, staff, and administrators to improve student success and student equity through the creation and support of strong, innovative programs and a rewarding working environment. Dr. Ralston has served as the Interim President at Los Medanos College, President at Santiago Canyon College, and Executive Vice President of Educational Programs at Santa Barbara City College, where she led the academic and student services programs.
Dr. Ralston also served as Vice President for Student Learning at College of the Desert, in Palm Desert, CA. Prior to that, she enjoyed eight years as Dean of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo. Before moving into administration, Dr. Ralston was faculty member and division chair of English and Written Communications at Tacoma Community College, where she taught composition, American Ethnic Literature and developmental studies in writing and reading. Before joining TCC, she served as lecturer at the University of Washington in American Ethnic Studies.
Pamela Ralston has her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Oregon and her Master of Arts and doctoral degrees from the University of Washington in Comparative Literature, where she taught as a graduate student in the Comparative Literature, English and American Ethnic Studies Departments. She has earned excellence in teaching awards from both Tacoma Community College and the University of Washington, and she was honored with a Fulbright fellowship for doctoral research at the Royal Library and University of Copenhagen in Denmark.
A passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in education, Pamela Ralston has worked to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students, with special attention to the strengths that their cultural backgrounds and ethnic identities bring to their college experiences. Over the course of her career, Dr. Ralston has participated in and led numerous, successful change efforts, working to increase the access and achievement of first-generation students of color by working to make colleges ready for all students. She has led curricular redesign, student services program innovation, strategic enrollment, new facilities design, and fund-raising campaigns and grant applications. Deeply invested in the connections between Los Medanos College and the cities it serves, Dr. Ralston is committed to civic engagement. She seeks to deepen relationships and partnerships with school districts, non-profit organizations, civic organizations, and industry across East Contra Costa County.
Pamela lives with her wife, Chris, an attorney, in Pittsburg and Morro Bay, CA. They’re fond of walks along central coast beaches, reading, cooking and are active in their church and community organizations.
Dr. James Todd
Dr. Todd has over 15 years of experience in instruction and student services in California community colleges. He has held a variety of positions, including Professor, Academic Senate President, Accreditation Liaison Officer, Chief Student Services Officer, and Chief Instructional Officer. He has also served as an elected faculty representative on the statewide Executive Committee for the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges, and he maintains a strong commitment to participatory governance and an inclusive style of educational leadership. James is currently the Assistant Superintendent and Vice President of Student Services at Sierra College. He was previously the Assistant Superintendent and Vice President of Instruction and Planning at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton and the Vice President of Student Services at Modesto Junior College.
James is a transformational leader who grounds his philosophy and practice in principles of equity, diversity, accessibility, and inclusion. He is passionate about fostering access and opportunity for underserved populations, meeting the needs of local communities, facilitating student success and completion, building public and private partnerships, and ensuring equitable post-graduation outcomes for students. He has participated in national reform movements, such as Achieving the Dream, to improve student equity and institutional outcomes, and he has been involved in leading efforts on local campuses to enact Guided Pathways and student-centered strategies for student success.
James graduated with an Associate of Arts degree from Brevard Community College in Florida and went on to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology and International Relations from New College of Florida, a Master of Arts degree in Anthropology at The George Washington University, and Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Cultural Anthropology at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
James has recently completed the Aspen Institute College Excellence Presidential Fellowship Program, the Harvard University Institute for Educational Management, and the California Education Policy Fellowship Program at the Education Insights Center (CSU Sacramento).
About 4CD
The Contra Costa Community College District (4CD) is one of the largest multi-college community college districts in California. The 4CD serves a population of 1,019,640 people, and its boundaries encompass all but 48 of the 734-square-mile land area of Contra Costa County. 4CD is home to Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, as well as educational centers in Brentwood and San Ramon. The District headquarters is located in downtown Martinez. For more information visit www.4cd.edu.
Los Medanos outfielder Nico Torrez watches a pitch by the Laney College Eagles pitcher be called a ball by the homeplate umpire during the game on Thursday, April 27, 2023. Photo by Mohammad Najimi, LMC Experience
Decisive victory against Laney College puts Los Medanos College on top
By Juliet V. Casey, Marketing Director, Los Medanos College
Pittsburg, Calif. – In a staggering 18-7 victory over the Laney College Eagles on Thursday, April 27, the Los Medanos College Mustangs baseball team secured the top spot as 2023 Bay Valley Conference champions.
“I’m just so proud of this group,” LMC Head Baseball Coach Matt Lisle. “It isn’t just one player that has stood out. I’ve preached since Day One, that we are in in this together and for us to win a championship it’s going to take everyone all-in. All-in on the field, in the classroom and together as a family and that’s exactly what we did. Truly a championship effort by each and every player.”
The Mustangs head into post-season play with a 28-10 season record and 17-3 in conference. The team is poised to break the school record for season wins – the most wins has been 29 – with at least four games left.
Los Medanos Mustangs pitcher Colton Trudeau throws a pitch to the Laney Eagles batter in hopes of getting out of the inning during Thursday’s game. Photo by Mohammad Najimi, LMC Experience.
The last home game of the season will be today at 2:30 p.m., 2700 E. Leland Road. LMC hosts the first round of postseason baseball competition May 5 and May 6.
“Congratulations to our new Baseball Head Coach Matt Lisle, his assistant coach, Sparky Bray, and our student-athletes for such a phenomenal season,” said Tanisha Maxwell, athletics director and vice president of student services. “I hope to see everyone come out and support our championship team.”
Maxwell noted the team has shown outstanding character and attributed their success to “covenants” players adopted to keep each other positive, productive and accountable to each other on an off the field. Among the promises, “Make smart decisions off the field, make healthy decisions, represent LMC well and sharpen skills.”
“Last night’s victory is a testament of the quality program and tradition in place at Los Medanos College,” Interim President Pamela Ralston said.
Several players this season are being recruited by NCAA Division I and II schools, and two players are being drafted by Major League Baseball teams for the upcoming June Amateur Draft.
Since the 2012 baseball season, 114 LMC baseball players have taken their athletic and academic careers to the four-year level and 67 have received All-Bay Valley Conference Honors. LMC has had 67 Academic All-Conference and 25 Academic All State selections. Since its founding, the Los Medanos Baseball Program has also produced 21 professional draft picks.
Mike and Lisa Hurd next to his plaque and the sign over the entrance to the track and Eells Stadium at Antioch High School. Photos by AHS
By Allen D. Payton
The track at Antioch High School is now named after former coach Mike Hurd, who was honored during a dedication ceremony at the school on March 29, 2023. The 1964 Antioch High grad was the Panthers’ cross country and track coach from 1970-79 leading his teams to multiple league and North Coast championships.
“I found out, it was before COVID and I only found out because my wife went to a school board meeting…to present what they were going to do,” Hurd said. “It’s terrific. It’s very humbling. The thought that there were people that thought highly enough to do this. I feel really blessed.”
“I stand here because I’ve got God at my back and this wonderful woman by my side,” Hurd said during the ceremony, getting choked up while speaking of his wife, Lisa. “Thank you to Gary, Tom, Louie, Trine, John, the full committee that worked on this. It’s not something that I would have ever campaign for. But I’m so blessed to have friends who thought it was important to do.”
During the ceremony, Gary Bras of the Antioch Sports Hall of Fame and a member of the track and field team when he was in high school said, “When he was done with us, we were men and women and little did we know the lessons that he taught us would take us through the rest of our lives.”
Former Antioch High Principal Louie Rocha also spoke at the ceremony, “We’re so thankful and appreciative, Coach Hurd, for not only for what you did in high school, but how that carried on to the years beyond our high school experience. Many of us thank you for instilling upon us the skills, the self-confidence, and the belief about setting goals and reaching and striving for those to be attained.”
A post on the Antioch High School Facebook page reads, “Legendary coach Mike Hurd, a 1964 Antioch High graduate, returned to Panther Country after college and took the school’s track program to an unprecedented level.
On Thursday, March 29, 2023, he was honored for his more than 10 years of leading and inspiring hundreds of student athletes during the dedication of the Mike Hurd Track.
At the ceremony attended by family, friends and many of his former students, Coach Hurd recounted several stories from the glory days of the 1970s, which included an impressive 16 league championships and three North Coast Section Divisional titles.
He is the winningest coach in the history of Antioch High School’s track and field and cross country. Hurd is also an inductee in the Antioch Sports Legends Hall of Fame.
Congrats to Coach Hurd!”
“It’s never been about me it’s always been about the athletes and my coaches. I got plenty of recognition as a head coach,” Hurd said later during an interview with The Press. “It was more shocking than anything else. My feelings are somewhat between embarrassment and humble. I think what it does is it reinforces that you made an impact in their life and that was the most important thing. To be able to teach them some life lessons through athletics and be able to take those life lessons forward to teach to their children and the people that followed. That was the key thing.”
College board president, Antioch and Brentwood educators, Brentwood non-profit leader to be honored
By Juliet V. Casey, Direct of Marketing, Los Medanos College
Los Medanos College (LMC) is proud to announce the return of its annual awards to honor the legacy of César Chávez. The event had been on hiatus to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and will be in person once again.
This community event celebrates the life of the labor leader and human rights activist. The celebration also recognizes East Contra Costa County community members who embody Chávez’s great tradition of voluntary service, civic activism, and non-violent social change.
The festivities, which are free and open to the public, will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, April 21 in the Student Union Conference Center, Pittsburg Campus, 2700 E. Leland Road in Pittsburg.
This year’s honorees:
César Chávez Award for Exemplary Community Service Recipient
Fernando Sandoval, Contra Costa Community College District Governing Board president, for work as president of Latino Voices of East Contra Costa County Chapter; community activist and education advocate; author; veteran; and Pittsburg resident.
East County Educator Award Recipient
Violeta Orozco, Jack London Elementary school counselor, for her work as head counselor at Antioch High School (AHS); and leadership for Puente at Antioch High School.
Chávez Spirit Award Co-Recipients
Diana Hidalgo for volunteer work at One Day at a Time (ODAT) and as president of ODAT Leadership Council.
Norma Guadalupe Zamora Arreguin, a human trafficking case specialist and certified investigator, for work as a paraprofessional at Garin Elementary School special education program (Brentwood); her own afterschool program for children with special needs; and as a part-time student at LMC.
The César Chávez Award for Exemplary Community Service, established in 1995, is presented to local residents who represent the core values modeled by César Chávez: “Service to Others, Sacrifice, A Preference to Help the Most Needy, Determination, Non-Violence, Acceptance of All People, Respect for Life and the Environment, Celebrating Community, Knowledge, and Innovation.”
The East County Educator Award honors members of the educational community who demonstrate a commitment to student success and equity, particularly for students of color and those from low-income families.
The Chávez Spirit Award recognizes up-and-coming leaders who have made a difference in the local community through advocacy and social justice.
LMC is one of three colleges in the Contra Costa Community College District, serving the East Contra Costa County community. Established in 1974, LMC has earned federal designations as a Minority-Serving and Hispanic-Serving institution. It offers award-winning transfer and career-technical programs support services, and diverse academic opportunities in an inclusive learning environment. With exceptional educators, innovative curriculum, growing degree and certificate offerings, and state-of-the-art facilities, the college prepares students to succeed in their educational pursuits, in the workforce, and beyond. LMC’s Pittsburg Campus is located on 120 acres bordering Antioch, with an additional education center in Brentwood.
