SRJC Stories

Francesco Origgi

President of the SRJC International Student Club

Francesco Origgi is originally from Peru, and SRJC is the first school he has attended in the United States. His parents are from Peru and he has family from Italy, and because of this, he is fluent in three…

Ellie Audette

SRJC student and Miss Sonoma County pageant competitor

Eliana “Ellie” Audette finished her first three years of high school at Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy in Vacaville and then graduated from Sonoma Valley High School. She now navigates her way through…

Janae Briggs

SRJC Alumna and Harvard Master's Student

Born and raised in Santa Rosa’s Roseland area in a low-income Chicana family, Janae Briggs went to Santa Rosa High School and played soccer and basketball. She hoped to get a college scholarship in athletics…

Tim O'Connell

SRJC Alumnus

Sonoma County native and SRJC alumnus Tim O’Connell is an art and design authority in the tech industry who has held leadership roles at some of the most innovative companies in the industry like Facebook and…

Jafet Negrete

SRJC Alumnus

The moment he arrives at the scene of a fire, SRJC Fire Academy alumnus Jafet Negrete feels the rush to act immediately, jump in, and save lives or limit the damage. But the voices of his fire instructors in…

Ariana Aparicio Aguilar

SRJC Alumna Now Attending Harvard University

Ariana Aparicio Aguilar started her college career by taking her first class in Library 10 at SRJC in the summer of 2007. She didn’t know, then, that the JC would be one of her first steps towards…

Lexi Straube

Transfer Student

Stanford University took a keen interest in SRJC student Lexi Straube’s application. Among other things, Lexi told the story of how she turned an unfortunate frog infestation in her shower into a science…

Vicente Pena Perez

SRJC Alumnus

Like many families seeking a better future for their children, Vicente Pena Perez’s parents sought refuge in the US, to escape violence in Mexico City. Young Vicente stayed behind to continue his education and…

Kira Catanzaro

Student Marketing Assistant, Public Relations

Kira Catanzaro came to SRJC at a time when her life was changing. She took her first class in 2017 to learn how to sew costumes for her son’s high school theatre program. She continued taking marketing and…

Apolinar Vega

A Second Chance at Life

Apolinar Vega spent time in the streets, in the juvenile and county jail systems, and nearly died by the age of 20. In just four years, he turned his life around and used his second chance to do what…

Alondra Mendoza

Office Manager, SRJC Alumna

For first-generation college students, the most challenging thing is often not having anyone at home to guide or advise them about education. Office manager Alondra Mendoza is no stranger to this situation.…

Sharon Garcia

SRJC ESL and Culinary Student

Learning a foreign language in a new country as an adult can be terrifying, intimidating, and an experience that will completely change and enrich one’s life. Sharon Garcia, like many other immigrants…

Samantha de Roque

Health Care Worker, SRJC Alumna

By her mid-20s, Samantha de Roque lived through major trauma, overcame disease, and conquered addiction. Determined to build a future and a career, she surpassed these obstacles and enrolled at SRJC to pursue…

Shad Willingham

SRJC Alumnus; Actor, Director, Professor

By the age of 15, Shad Willingham managed to get fired from his first job at SRJC’s Summer Repertory Theatre. The Santa Rosa High School dropout was eager to be in the performing arts environment, fascinated…

Nick Rilea

SRJC Student, 2019 Commencement Speaker

Throughout high school, Nicolas ‘Nick’ Rilea never thought college was in his future. Nor could he imagine that he would achieve five associate degrees in three years and be selected as the graduation speaker…

Sara Stoxen

SRJC Student, PEERS Coalition at SRJC Member

Natural Sciences student Sara Stoxen is a member of the PEERS Coalition at SRJC, a dedicated team of “health ambassadors” for Student Health Services. The role of this close-knit team of student employees is…

Tyler-Avery Lewis

SRJC student, Black Student Union President

Miss Sonoma County 2018, SRJC student Tyler-Avery Mary Moana Lewis, is getting ready to pass the crown to the next candidate in March 2019. Reflecting back to an enriching and challenging year, she is also…

Anne Belden

Journalism instructor

SRJC Journalism instructor Anne Belden did not know what she wanted to be when she first entered college and had a hard time deciding on a major. She ultimately found her calling while studying Mass…

Sergio Valencia

Chef, owner of Chacho’s Catering, SRJC alumnus

By the time he completed SRJC certificates in Culinary Arts (2013) and Baking and Pastry (2014), Sergio Valencia’s dream was to open a catering company with his best friends. Thanks to the classes he took at…

Danny Voisine

Daniel Voisine, SRJC Distance Education Student

The day Daniel (Danny) Voisine was first able to walk onto the beautiful Santa Rosa campus in person was this summer, when he came to meet the college’s president, Dr. Frank Chong, after several years of…

Robert Nieto

SRJC Alumnus, Executive Pastry Chef at Jackson Family Wines

What happens when you combine engineering, science, art, and chocolate? You get Chef Robert Nieto, Executive Pastry Chef at Jackson Family Wines, SRJC alumnus and a world-renowned contender in national…

Max Scoville

SRJC alumnus, video host and podcaster

When actor Ryan Reynolds proposes marriage to you, most people would happily accept. For Max Scoville, it was just another day at the office. The SRJC alumnus interviewed Ryan Reynolds recently about the…

Anamaria Morales

SRJC student and entrepreneur

A cheesecake queen who is taking the world by storm, Healdsburg native Anamaría Morales (known as the College Confectionista) is paving her way to transfer to UC Berkeley. Her intensive journey at SRJC is…

George Switzer

SRJC alumnus, curator at Smithsonian Institution

How is SRJC connected to the Smithsonian, NASA, the legendary Hope diamond, Stanford, and Harvard? The answer is George Shirley Switzer. Born in Petaluma in 1915, George Switzer was an SRJC student from…

Nicholas Alvarez

SRJC Alumnus

It may be safe to call Nicholas Alvarez an overachiever. He completed five associate degrees in physics, mathematics, engineering, electronic technology, and natural sciences and two certificates in…

Evelyn Navarro

SRJC Student Government Assembly President

Student Government President Evelyn Navarro’s career plan began with getting a good education. Though there were several unfortunate instances when her plan was derailed, she persevered and is currently…

Elsie Mildred Moore

An SRJC Student in 1918

Elsie Mildred Moore was born in Tehama County in 1900, the eldest of four daughters of Jesse and Florence Moore. The family settled in Sebastopol in 1915, where they remained until the late 1950s.…

Carmen Mitchell

Singer, Actor, SRJC Alumna

Professional singer and actor Carmen Mitchell has performed many memorable roles in Santa Rosa Junior College productions, including Christine in Phantom of the Opera, Fantine in Les Misérables, and Lady of…

Brad Davis

Brad Davis, SRJC Alumnus, Associate Dean - Workforce Development

“I first started working here when I was fifteen and a half. It was summertime and my parents wanted me to get a job. I didn’t want to get a job, I wanted to stay home and be in the pool,” remembers Brad…

Maria Banachowicz

Administrative Assistant to the Executive Dean, Petaluma

In 2007, Maria Banachowicz left her native Poland and immigrated to the U.S. Almost from the day she arrived here, her life revolved around Santa Rosa Junior College. Since she spoke almost no English,…

Vanessa Nava

Vanessa Nava, SRJC alumna, Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship recipient

Vanessa Nava aims to be a physician-scientist, a doctor who is also doing research. While she isn’t sure yet about her medical specialty, she has her future educational path all mapped and the resources to…

Rose Hammock

Rose Hammock, SRJC Student, Native American leader

Rose Hammock’s dream is to open up her own multi-cultural nonprofit preschool and school. A member of the Pomo and Wailacki tribes from Round Valley Indian Reservation and Big Valley Rancheria, Rose splits…

Joel Sandoval

Joel Sandoval, Community Health Worker

“Ever since I could remember, I try to help people — I don’t even think twice. That’s what the community health care worker program is all about helping and working with the community. Especially the Latino…

Mara Vejby

SRJC Anthropology Instructor, SRJC Alumna

Dr. Mara Vejby picked Santa Rosa Junior College twice in her life: the first time was when she started her college studies here, and the second time was when she decided to teach here. Mara grew up in…

Todd Bamford

Purple Heart Veteran, SRJC Student

Todd Bamford is a wounded retired US Army veteran, awarded with two Purple Hearts and a bronze star medal with valor. He had spent nearly 19 years as an Army soldier, completed three tours in Iraq and was on…

Percy Dlamini

SRJC alumnus, Technical Laboratory Assistant at Providence Queen of the Valley

SRJC student Percy Dlamini applied online for over 200 jobs before he finally got an interview at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, followed by a job offer as a Pathology Lab Assistant. His determination to…

Ian Livie

SRJC Alumnus, History Instructor

On Ian Livie’s first day of teaching history at SRJC Petaluma, in January 2015, he was a little stressed out. However, he was able to melt away this burden with a clever introduction. He told his students: “…

Ana Carreno

SRJC Alumna, Senior Manager of Human Resources at La Tortilla Factory

First-generation college student Ana Carreno knew that a rigorous education would help her move up the career ladder. With persistence and a passion for helping people, she is now the senior manager of Human…

Kyle Wescott

SRJC Wrestler and Nursing Student

Even before turning 30 years old, Kyle Wescott had many titles to his name. He studied to be a chef, was a professional BMX rider, is a certified nursing assistant, and works as an emergency room technician…

Donald Laird

SRJC Computer Studies Department Chair

Donald Laird’s jovial, positive energy fills his computer science classes; he can transform a room within his first two sentences. And his constant curiosity helps keep the department he chairs in tune with…

Jessica Zambrano

SRJC student and Admissions & Records Specialist

At age 16, Petaluma teenager Jessica Zambrano was trying to support her family through a crisis. Due to her mother’s declining health and continuous life pressures, Jessica and her younger siblings were living…

Vanessa Shannon

Director of the Gateway to College Program, SRJC Petaluma

When she was just nine years old, Vanessa Luna Shannon already knew that she wanted to be a psychologist. “My early childhood and family experiences [being a child of a high-conflict divorce] really shaped…

Hal Sanford

SRJC Forensics Director

Public speaking is an important part of Hal Sanford’s life and has provided him a teaching career he loves. At this year’s SRJC Day under the Oaks, he was awarded the Alumni & Friends Association…

Mia Johansson

Girl Who Codes in Five Computer Languages

At 17 years old, Mia Johansson can code in five computer languages and has won a congressional competition for her free Math app for elementary school students. While still in high school, she is taking…

Shirley Zindler

Sonoma County Animal Control Officer

On any given day, you can find Shirley Zindler at a crime or death scene, in the middle of a drug raid or arrest, in a fire or at a host of other disasters. Her job is to rescue animals that could be in…

Brian Antonson

SRJC Communication Studies Faculty

SRJC digital filmmaking instructor Brian Antonson has an impressive background: he’s worked for CNN, CBS, A&E, IFC, MTV, Discovery Channel, Travel Channel and more. He’s filmed the aftermath of tragic…

Maria de Los Angeles

SRJC alumna and world-renowned artist

In the summer of 1999, at 11 years old, Maria de Los Angeles Cornejo emigrated with her parents and siblings from Tabasco, Mexico to the United States. She had a second-grade education, wasn’t able to read…

Y Pham

SRJC Alumna Admitted to Cornell University Twice

In 2013, Y Pham, born in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, followed her brother Duc Pham’s example and enrolled at SRJC as an international student. Her plan was to fulfill her general education requirements and…

Willie Real

Character Designer, Illustrator, SRJC Alumnus

Willie Real is one of the fortunate people who live their childhood dream: he took his passion for drawing cartoons and made it into an exciting, successful career. Today he works as a character designer and…

Chris Ochoa

SRJC Soccer Star

Chris Ochoa started playing soccer when he was a freshman at Petaluma High School. He played two years on the junior varsity team and two years on varsity. After graduating high school in 2009, Ochoa decided…

Kevin Sea

Coordinator of SRJC Wine Studies Program

By the time he achieved a BA in Political Sciences from Whitworth University in Spokane, WA, Kevin Sea had the same problem as many young graduates: he still wasn’t sure what he really wanted to do in life.…

Laura Larqué

Faculty, Social Science

Laura Larqué’s parents taught her to be critical and to question everything. Their life lessons are at the base of her foundation as a strong woman and a beloved SRJC educator, whose most recent…

Susana Ackerman

SRJC Spanish Instructor

From Peru to Canada, then Chicago, San Francisco and finally Santa Rosa, Susana Ackerman’s multicultural and personal journey brings to her teaching fascinating elements that make her beloved by her SRJC…

Jimmy Fremgen

SRJC Alumnus, Senior Policy Advisor, US House of Representatives

Jimmy Fremgen, Senior Policy Advisor for Congressman Elijah E. Cummings and Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, was not a serious student in high school. When finally he was inspired by his history…

John Karcher

SRJC Alumnus, CAD and GIS Technician

“In October 2012 I was laid off from my job at a commercial printing company. I was 53 years old, with a mortgage and a set of job skills that were no longer needed in a fading industry. My wife suffered a…

Adali Hernández

SRJC Alumnus

“I took my first Political Science class at Santa Rosa Junior College. I found the complexity of politics, and the importance of having political representation of the community on behalf of our elected…

Anthony Blackburn

SRJC Alumnus

Anthony Blackburn’s success story began in orphanages and foster care, yet he is on the path to becoming a doctor. SRJC has had an important part in his journey since he was very young. At just one year old…

Kiki LeSeed

SRJC Student

When she enrolled to take classes at SRJC, Kiki LeSeed was still searching for her life’s mission. Now she’s on her way to becoming a food and wellness educator and entrepreneur. She was born in…

Jerome Fleg

Director of Instrumental Music at Santa Rosa Junior College

“From as early as I could remember, music was a part of our lives,” says Dr. Jerome Fleg, Director of Instrumental Music and conductor of the Santa Rosa Junior College orchestra, symphonic band and jazz band…

Theresa Barclay

Museum Scientist and Preparation Lab Manager, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, UC Berkeley

Theresa “Terri” Barclay got her “dissection chops” in the SRJC labs, working on mountain lions. Today, 11 years later, her work days are spent in the Preparation Lab of the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at…

Kylie Baker

SRJC Psychology Student

“I love the JC! I really do. Everyone here is really nice and there’s a community going on here… It feels like home here.” Kylie Baker talks passionately about her three jobs, her full-time SRJC psychology…

Tara Jacobson

SRJC Faculty Member, Kinesiology, Athletics and Dance

Tara Jacobson works at her dream job every day at Santa Rosa Junior College, Petaluma Campus. She teaches in-person and online classes, as well as coordinates the career and technical certificate in Fitness…

Harmony Caponio

Former Foster Youth Persists, Succeeds

By her mid-20s, Harmony Caponio had enough traumatic experiences for a lifetime. A witness to domestic violence, she entered the foster system at nine years old. At 17, she had her first child; she lost her…

Shayla Salzman

From High School Dropout to Harvard PhD Candidate: SRJC helped Shayla Salzman find her life’s path

Born in Texas, raised in Georgia and Germany, Shayla spent “too many winters” in Michigan working on an organic farm. She eventually settled in northern California, managing the Boonville farmer’s market.…

George Sellu

Agribusiness Program Coordinator

It’s the third year of teaching at Santa Rosa Junior College for Agribusiness Program Coordinator George Sellu. In addition to teaching, he is deeply involved in developing classes that apply to the…

Beatriz Camargo

SRJC's HEP Program Coordinator

“We’re part of a program that is there for them [nontraditional students], and makes sure they don’t fall through the cracks in the system...” Born in Mexico City, Beatriz Camargo arrived in the…

Kat Valenzuela

SRJC Mathematics Instructor, Petaluma campus

"At SRJC I found my passion for mathematics and I was able to achieve my educational goals." Katherine Valenzuela fell in love with mathematics at SRJC. Years later, she is teaching in the same department…

Charlie Briones

Overcoming misfortune and reinventing his life at SRJC

After a life of struggle, professional success, then unfortunate health issues, Charlie Briones turned his life around with the help of Santa Rosa JC loving community and is now heading toward a new career as…

Erik Ljung

Filmmaker, Producer, Video Journalist

“My two years at SRJC were integral to growing my self-confidence and allowing me to explore and really figure out what I was interested in, without the lingering worry about student loan debt.” Filmmaker,…

Eduardo Diaz

Researcher, Psychologist and Recruiting Consultant

A desire to understand people lead this SRJC alumnus to a life of learning, languages and travel. Eduardo Diaz of Santa Rosa can often be found at The Space Station Museum in Novato, showing visitors how…

Chris Lee

Engineering Technician

“I had a great experience. I really enjoyed learning (at SRJC). The faculty there was awesome, especially in the electronics program (and) they were really helpful in working with you if you have an ‘off’…

The Matthies Siblings

Sonoma County Public Safety Professionals

“I worked my way through all of my schooling. (The JC) was flexible, it was affordable. I could still raise my family while I was getting the education. When I had the education, I could obtain that job I was…

Omar Gallardo

Outreach & Diversity Director, Landpaths

"I was a migrant child. I’ve worked in the fields, so I know how hard it is to pick grapes. I didn’t see my education in college as just as basically learning for myself. Teachers, counselors, and other…

Veronica King

Vice President and Santa Rosa Market Manager, Bank of Marin

“I had a taste for business, so I enrolled myself in the business management program at SRJC and fell in love with each class. What is great about the JC is that you get the elective classes, and you explore…

Amy White

SRJC Alumna, Associate Director of Media Relations at Lehigh University

As a Santa Rosa native, Amy White was familiar with Santa Rosa Junior College long before she ever attended a class on campus. Her dad taught her how to drive in one of SRJC’s parking lots and during…

Nick Papadopoulos

Food Entrepreneur & Social Innovator, Bloomfield Organics

“Santa Rosa Junior College was instrumental in equipping me to get into the world, solve problems, and work with others to build opportunity. There is this massive wealth of knowledge at the JC, with…

Vanessa Medina

Promotions Director, KZST, KTRY, KJZY, and KWVF

“When I went to SRJC, it was a lot of fun. I loved how many different classes were offered and it seemed like the world opened up to me. It is a great place to learn and some of my best…

Maraline Mazzetti Olson

Small Business Owner, Screamin' Mimi's Ice Cream

“(The SRJC) class took all the intimidation away from writing a business plan. I still say to this day that is why Screamin' Mimi's is successful: the ice cream is great, but if I weren’t so well prepared…

Judy James

Director of Government Affairs at Comcast

“The JC does a great job making sure that students are job-ready for opportunities in Sonoma County and beyond.” Growing up in rural Petaluma, Judy James followed in her grandparents’ and parents’…

Amanda Banfield

Dental Hygienist

“Santa Rosa JC Dental Hygiene Program is one of the best in nation. You tell anybody that you went to SRJC, and they know that it is a great school!” An accomplished makeup artist who worked in the movie…