On June 1, the College hosted a Drive-Thru Celebration for the 2021 graduating class. The five-hour event  allowed classified professionals, faculty and administrators to celebrate the class. In the end, 179 graduates participated in the event, joined by family and friends. Graduates were able to take a photo with Robin Steinback, Ph.D., president of Moreno Valley College; Wolde-Ab Isaac, Ph.D., chancellor of Riverside Community College District; and other college officials.
 
Students also received gifts, such as an alumni license plate and yard signs announcing their completion of studies. Click here to see a video highlight of the day’s activities.

This year, the College awarded 1,890 associate degrees to 983 individuals, pending final grades, a 13 percent increase over last year when 1,672 associate degrees were awarded. Additionally, 534 certificates were earned, a 31 percent increase over last year when 407 State Chancellor’s Office approved certificates were awarded.

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Moreno Valley College’s iMAKE Innovation Center will be host two Virtual Summer STEAM Camps. The camps are free. The Virtual STEAM Camp is open to children of all ages, while the Women in STEAM Camp is available to incoming/outgoing 3rd to 5th grade girls. Workshops will be facilitated virtually through Zoom by iMAKE Innovation Center Makerspace staff and Makerspace student employees.
 
The Women in STEAM Camp will take place July 27 from 10 am-2:30 pm. There will be contactless STEAM distribution kit pickup on July 21 from noon to 4 pm at the College's Krameria Street turnabout. The camp will include three workshops — Engineering Principles with Bridge/Truss Design, Micro:Bit Simulation Coding, and TinkerCAD/3D Design. The STEAM kit is needed for the Engineering Bridge/Truss Design workshop.

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Eric Anthony has been hired as associate dean for Career Technical Education. His appointment was approved at the June RCCD Board meeting. 
 
For the past five years, Anthony has served as a program support technician for San Diego Community College District where he facilitated Perkins funded CTE transition programs; engaged high school and community college faculty and administrators to develop mechanisms for early college credit within high school and adult education CTE programs; and trained and supported high school teachers, counselors, and parents on process to receive college credits.

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Barring any last-minute obstacles, Moreno Valley College plans to unveil its new Welcome Center on November 4. The event will coincide with the College’s Giving Week, November 2-6. 
 
Last year, the College raised nearly $20,000 for scholarships during its inaugural Giving Week. This year, the College, in conjunction with the Riverside Community College District Foundation office, is looking to exceed the $30,000 mark. Monies from this year’s week will provide support to purchase a paramedic simulation, increase the student scholarship/emergency fund, and assist with a basic needs initiative for students facing food and housing insecurity. 

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The School of Visual and Performing Arts presented the Spring 2021 MVC Juried Student Art Exhibition, an online exhibition highlighting the creative talents of students. This year’s collection featured over 70 artworks by 22 artists, organized into five thematic categories. Not to be outdone, MVC faculty also unveiled a Faculty Exhibition.
 

As COVID-19 swept the country and RCCD shuttered campuses, one program continued to meet the needs of its students despite suffering through four start and stop orders. 
 
“The COVID-19 pandemic was very challenging, but I felt the flexibility from both our students and faculty is what led to the success of our students,” Debbie Moon, director of the Dental Hygiene Program, said. “I feel that open and honest communication with the students and faculty, as well as the tremendous support we received from the administration, helped us overcome the many barriers we encountered.”
 
When classes did resume, the staff was adamant in efforts to keeping the disease out of the office and screened students every morning and afternoon prior to class and/or clinic hours. From March to August, courses were held online. Using mock case scenarios, faculty were able to meet some of the student clinic requirements. Additional clinic days were added once courses resumed to make up for lost clinic time. On August 24, students returned to campus. Faculty worked 12-hour shifts (9 am to 4 pm and 5:30 to 8:30 pm during the week and 9 am to 5 pm on Saturdays) so that missed clinic sessions could be completed.

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In 2014, then-President Barack Obama spurred an initiative to create a nation of makers. Backed by US Department of Education's Hispanic-Serving Institution Title III STEM Grant, colleges across the country worked to unleash America’s creativity. 
 
Moreno Valley College, backed by a $6 million-plus STEM grant, got to work by developing two Makerspace facilities in order to facilitate education opportunities for elementary, middle school, high school students and community members in STEM fields. First, MVC outfitted a 38-foot mobile Makerspace RV named the iMAKE Mobile Innovation Center, then developed a 4,150-square-foot static Makerspace on campus named the iMAKE Innovation Center.

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Chamber Choir's Spring Concert was presented virtually. The words and music to two of the songs were written by students. Songs were performed by Karlee Dix, Ashlee Gonzalez, Kevin Gutierrez and Maham Iqbal.

You're Gonna Get Me Through is a pop ballad about the people, pets and things that have gotten us through this last year. The lyrics are witty and heartfelt. The second song is an updated cover of Stevie Wonder’s I Just Called to Say. Brown said, the song delves deeper while contemplating the lyrics from the perspective of having lost this last year and sacrifices made during the pandemic. The last number, Out Tonight, is a student-written song. It is written in the style of an electronic dance anthem that talks about how “we haven't been able to go out and enjoy ourselves for far too long.” 

You're Gonna Get Me Through  
I Just Called to Say (Stevie Wonder)
Out Tonight
 
Meanwhile, this year marked the 50^th anniversary of John Lennon’s celebrated masterpiece, Imagine. To celebrate the anniversary, the College’s music club undertook re-imagining Imagine with the hope that one day, “the world will live as one,” said Barry McNaughton, associate professor, Music. 
 
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Moreno Valley College will hold its annual Welcome Day in person on Monday, August 16, with festivities beginning at 9 am; registration will open at 8 am. The College will also include a virtual option for individuals unable to make the on-campus event. 
 
“This community Welcome Day is an ideal opportunity for continuing students who have been away from the College for over a year to reconnect with on-the-ground services and rediscover MVC,” Andrew Sanchez, Ed.D., dean, Grants & Equity Initiatives, said.  “COVID-19 has impacted and sidetracked many individual’s dreams of earning a degree or certificate. Hopefully, Welcome Day will re-ignite the passion for learning.”  
 
The day will showcase College instructional programs and student support services as well as highlight the new engagement centers. Staff and faculty will be on site to assist individuals with the final enrollment elements for matriculation and educational tasks before start of the fall term, which begins August 23. In-person instruction will return with the fall semester.
 
While the event program is still being developed, it will include live activities and informative sessions dealing with a wide range of topics, such as basic needs and available resources, financial aid, and available online services. Informational sessions will be available in English and Spanish. There will also be campus tours, highlighting the soon-to-open Welcome Center, dental hygiene, library, engagement centers, Makerspaces, and other campus facilities.
 
Guests will receive a boxed lunch and entry into opportunity drawings. Vendors will be on site as well as the Kid Zone.
 
The College will implement the latest COVID-19 safety protocols, including requirement of facemasks while on campus and the use of plexiglass barriers where staff will interact with participants.