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A Community of Excellence

$937,000 to fund 25 projects for the PCC community

Springing from the landmark $30 million gift the College received from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott in 2021, the Community Excellence Grants were created by the Foundation so that roughly $1 million will be provided every year to fund innovative, exciting projects at PCC. 

This year, the review committee awarded more than $937,000 to its chosen grantees.

  • Thea Alvarado, Lynora Rogacs, and Kimberly Shediak: $150,000 for distance education initiatives, including implementation of Peer Online Course Review for online classes
  • Bobbi Abram – PCC Foundation: $115,000 for planning funds for PCC’s Centennial Celebration
  • Veronica Jaramillo, Suzanne Iwanicki, Jessica Blickley, and Michael Vendrasco – Natural Sciences: $96,921 for a community-based learning project for science courses 
  • Linda Stewart, Walter Butler, and Lynora Rogacs – Library: $81,500 for digitizing the 100+ year run of the college newspaper
  • Erin Shaw and Jamal Ashraf – Computer Science: $81,000 for data science case study modules
  • Jason Barquero – Freeman Center: $66,500 for an “Intern Pasadena” program
  • Dave Smith, Yu Chung Chang-Hou, and Jared Ashcroft: $40,000 for underwater robotics and Community College Innovation Challenge competitions
  • Olivia Loo – International Students: $40,000 for the “3R Global Family Project”
  • Leticia Rojas, Clara Lee, and Ivette Rosas: $38,000 for Hixon Teacher Preparation Program
  • Margarita Regalado Rivera: $32,506 for PASS University Bridge Project
  • Jeffrey Cole, Pamela Eversole-Cire, Karol Lu, Jessica Blickley, Russ DiFiori, Valerie Foster, Suzanne Iwanicki, and Jason Warner – Natural Sciences: $28,322 for Community-based learning on the restoration of lead-contaminated soils in the community of Vernon, California
  • Kimberly Vasadre – International Student Center: $27,500 for a peer leadership and mentorship program for international students. 
  • Donald Loewel – Small Business Development Center: $25,000 for entrepreneurship and innovation programs for students
  • William Syms, Paul Price, Gena Lopez, and Linda Valencia: $25,000 for renovations to the PCC Northwest campus 
  • Maria Pehlivanova and Liesel Reinhart: $14,331 for an adjunct faculty institute
  • Gidget Tay, Natural Sciences: $10,500 for a personalized organic chemistry curriculum
  • Nick Schultz, Natural Sciences: $10,318 for histology equipment for the microscopic anatomy of biological tissues
  • Carol Calandra, Matthew Camara, and Carlos “Tito” Altamirano: $10,000 for enhancements to PCC’s Veterans Wall
  • Nicholas Hatch and Jason Robinson – Professional Development Committee: $10,000 for professional development programming
  • Yiyi Zeng, Kimberly Vasadre and Enith Reyes: $8,500 for collaborations between the International Student Center and the Quest Center 
  • Emily Sudd, Visual Arts & Media Studies: $7,000 for a guest lecture series on contemporary ceramic practices
  • Charlene Potter, English and Language Studies: $5,642 for seed funding for a PCC beekeeping club
  • Maud Regier, Natural Sciences: $5,000 for seed funding for programs to bring women into physics
  • Jeong O, Health Sciences: $5,000 for seed funding for high school partnerships in health sciences
  • Que Dang, Dan Huynh, and Shelagh Rose – The Student Success Committee: $3,500 for incentives related to the Student Equity Plan

“I am honored that the committee understands the value of the PASS University Bridge Project. Working with PCC students who are low-income, first generation and/or have a disability, it is important that we provide them opportunities to explore colleges and universities so that they can learn to visualize themselves attending these reputable institutions. The objective of this project is to assist students and to encourage them to apply to UC campuses when they are ready to transfer, and this experience will be a step in the right direction. Thank you again for the opportunity!”
-Margarita R. Rivera, Director of Program for Academic Support Services

“Thank you! The International team is super thankful to the Foundation for believing in and supporting our efforts. Your generous grants will support and engage prospective and current international students at PCC, forge stronger connections with our PCC communities here and abroad, and continue to support a globally and equity-minded student community. We cannot wait to start!”
-PCC International Student Center team

“One of the most awesome things about working at PCC is seeing so many good ideas sprout up and take root. Our faculty, staff, and students are always finding new ways to make changes or address issues, and these grants give us a way to put those plans into action. We’ve got an excellent crop of projects for our first year of this program, and we’re excited to keep this going as a regular feature of life at PCC. We are so grateful to MacKenzie Scott’s visionary gift that made this possible.”
-Dr. Erika Endrijonas, PCC Superintendent/President