SBVC scholarship recipients Lina Feng-Yang (left) and April Ruelas (right), pose with San Bernardino County Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr.

 

San Bernardino Valley College honored 577 students at its annual Scholarship Awards Ceremony on May 6, 2025, distributing a record-breaking $800,000 in scholarships—the most ever awarded in a single year. Held in the college’s historic Auditorium, the celebration spotlighted student achievement and the incredible generosity of donors who make these opportunities possible.

The evening kicked off with a donor reception where supporters had the chance to meet the students they’re investing in. Among those in attendance were community leaders, SBVC faculty and staff, and longtime advocates of student success.

San Bernardino County Supervisor and proud SBVC alumnus Joe Baca Jr. shared moving remarks, reflecting on how a single scholarship helped shape his path. “It wasn’t the dollar amount—it was that someone took the time to invest in me,” he said.

SBVC President Dr. Gilbert Contreras emphasized the urgent need for support, noting that 70% of SBVC students face at least one form of basic needs insecurity. “For almost 100 years, people have come here with a dream and left with a future,” he shared.

The night also featured powerful testimonies from nursing students Lina Feng-Yang and April Ruelas. Feng-Yang, who moved to the U.S. on her own after growing up in Venezuela, is graduating with a 3.9 GPA and a deep commitment to language equity in healthcare. Ruelas, a single mother from the Inland Empire, spoke about breaking generational cycles and setting a new example for her children, inspired by the words: “Échale ganas, mija” (“Keep going, daughter”).

More than just a scholarship distribution, the event was a celebration of perseverance, community, and the belief that education changes lives. Over the past four years, the SBVC Foundation has awarded more than $2.5 million in scholarships and $5 million in campus support—proof that investment in students truly makes a difference.