SBCC Alumni

Thank you to all the SBCC alumni who were able to join us for the mixer earlier this month at The Anchor Rose!

We are thrilled that our first-ever mixer was a tremendous success, with over 40 alumni in attendance. The event was a great opportunity to reunite with old friends and make new ones. And it was inspiring to learn about new developments and educational opportunities at the college and the SBCC Foundation's successful programs.

For those who weren't able to make it, we hope to see you next time! Please be sure to sign up for updates if you haven't already.
https://www.sbccfoundation.org/alumni/

SBCC Alum opens new cookie business in Santa Barbara! 🍪😀

BizHawk: Cookie Plug Brings Hip Hop, Graffiti Art and Urban Street Culture to Downtown Santa Barbara | Business | Noozhawk This place stands out. Cookie Plug — a corporate blend of hip hop, graffiti art and urban street culture — opened Saturday on State Street in Santa

SBCC alum Kevin Tran launches new series of video profiles for the Santa Barbara Independent! 😀🎬🎥

Tran grew up in Santa Barbara, and recently relocated here with his family. He has a successful production company, and commented on his education at SBCC in the article below:

"I took a lot of film studies and production classes at SBCC. I transferred to NYU — although, to be honest, I learned a lot more at SBCC."

Eye on the City’s Prizes Filmmaker Kevin Tran, born and raised in Santa Barbara and based here after time on the East Coast, launches a new series of video profiles for the 'Independent'.

SBCC alum and writer / photographer Chuck Graham will present "Paddling into a Natural Balance" at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) on Thursday, Jan. 19, at 7:00 p.m.

Graham will recount his many adventures hiking and kayaking the Santa Barbara Channel and the Channel Islands National Park and National Marine Sanctuary; and will share a number of his award-winning photographs that document the islands and their recovery over the past 30-some years.

Local Writer/Photographer to Share Stories of His Adventures in Channel Islands National Park | Outdoors | Noozhawk The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) will present Paddling into a Natural Balance with Carpinteria-based freelance writer and photographer Chuck

Noozhawk article about SBCC alum Ethan Bertrand, the newest member of the Goleta Union School Board.

"Through my upbringing I had a lot of challenges, but I also had a lot of support that helped me succeed," Bertrand said. "I care a lot about diversity, equity and inclusion. That is something that is really important right now for our local schools."

In this podcast interview with Josh Molina, Bertrand talks about his life growing up in New Jersey, struggles with education and being overlooked by the system. He was supported by teachers and counselors and eventually he turned his education life around at Santa Barbara City College.

https://www.noozhawk.com/article/santa_barbara_talks_ethan_bertrand

For John (Jack) McClure, a U.S. Navy Vietnam Veteran, the road to SBCC began in the mid-1960s in the ocean off the coast of the Philippines. While enlisted, Jack was selected to train on a deep diving system that was on lease to the U.S. government by Ocean Systems, Inc. Civilian technicians from Ocean Systems provided technical expertise to the service members. The technicians were from Santa Barbara and, upon discovering that Jack had relatives there, encouraged him to visit when he returned to the States.

Read more:

https://www.sbccfoundation.org/student-stories/ -f-mcclure

SBCC alum Bernard Friedman earned his associate of science degree, studied marine ecology at UC Santa Cruz before earning a master's degree in fisheries management from the University of Ireland. He now runs his mussel farming business, Santa Barbara Mariculture.

"This is a man who takes his mussels seriously. It’s not that he loves eating mussels but that he found a niche in farming them. Even with the challenges that go with any farming venture, he is passionate about what he’s doing..."

Bernard also has a grant from the Department of Energy to farm giant kelp as biofuels, one of the largest sources of renewable energy.

“Open-ocean farming is probably one of the most sustainable ways to farm food on this planet,” said Bernard. “I’m very aware that I operate on public resources, and I’m dedicated to keeping those resources healthy for future generations. We’re just beginning to understand aquaculture. If treated with respect and put in capable hands, it can be an effective tool for lowering our impact on the earth’s resources. I’m in!”

Read more:
https://bit.ly/36HxvjT

Jamie Edlin: Santa Barbara's mussel man This is a man who takes his mussels seriously. It’s not that he loves eating mussels, but that he found a niche in farming them. Even with the challenges that

Artist and SBCC alum Melissa Mathieson is hitting her stride and living her dream, just shortly after graduating from Concordia University in Montreal with a BFA in Studio Art. Her 3D artwork is in great demand, and she has some major clients that include Deckers Brands, Atlassian, MailChimp, and Paperboy London.

“Santa Barbara City College was life-changing for me,” Melissa says. “Their art program is wonderful, and all my professors were extremely knowledgeable and encouraging. I was able to really explore by taking a broad range of courses," Melissa says.

Read more:

https://www.sbccfoundation.org/student-stories/ -mathieson