Category: First-Generation

Education/Expression/First-Generation/Intergenerational/People of Color/Visuals
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Life of an Upstanding Citizen

by Jeralynn Querubin

Vincent Pacheco is a visionary. Pure experimentation with mediums as light as tissue paper, he has developed his own niche. Moving into multimedia altered his relationship with art and with his family heritage. Pacheco, now, as an assistant professor for Applied Art and Design at Sierra College, is able to share his experiences from his art career. Previously, he worked in the corporate world as a graphic designer for Yahoo! and then transitioned to work as a freelance artist in Seattle. While in Seattle, he developed his own design studio with clientele including Disney, Elle Magazine, Yahoo! and Samsung. In an interview with Pacheco, he discussed his personal connection to his work, and his recent art exhibit at the Ridley Art Gallery on the Rocklin, Sierra College campus. 

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Crossroads/First-Generation/Intergenerational/International/People of Color/Working Class
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If Everyone is a Nontraditional Student, then what is a Traditional Student?

by Alexa Topacio & Ryder Bouck

A typical community college student is portrayed in society as a recent high school graduate with a full-time academic schedule and occasionally a part-time job, who is financially relying on their parents. Nevertheless, as the number of community college students from varied backgrounds and life experiences grows, there is no clear picture of what a community college student looks like. Continue Reading

Community/Crossroads/Culture/First-Generation/Food/Local/News/People of Color/Work/Working Class
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Subway Family Brings Rocklin Together One Sandwich at a Time

by Ethan Yamaguchi
Subway store workers stand behind counter and take order to make sandwiches

“What kind of bread? What kind of sandwich? Would you like it toasted? What kind of sauces? Veggies? Salt, pepper, oil, or vinegar?” These are questions you’d typically hear in Subway. However, this isn’t the case when you walk into the 5070 B, Rocklin Rd. Subway. Here it’s easy to become a regular where they know your order and be greeted warmly by the Chauhan family.  Continue Reading

Across Puentes/Campus/Education/First-Generation/News/People of Color
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A Tribute to Dr. Reyes Ortega

by Eric Pacheco

The above 13-minute video features an interview with Dr. Reyes Ortega about his work with the Puente program at Sierra College and his legacy as he enters into retirement. After the interview in the video, two former students share personal tributes. In the written article below, other former students pay tribute to their transformative teacher and offer advice to future students.

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Crossroads/Culture/Education/First-Generation/Sovereign Nations
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Sierra Alumni Story: LittleDove Rey

by LittleDove Rey

My name is LittleDove Rey and I am currently a first-year doctoral student in clinical psychology at the PGSP-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium, a program run jointly by Palo Alto University and Stanford University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. While I am now working towards an advanced degree, I did not always think that I would pursue higher education. Growing up, college felt very out of reach. I am a first-generation college student, and throughout my life I did not know anyone who had attended college. Despite this, my journey led me to Sierra College in Fall 2013, where my life course would transform and ultimately help set me on the path to where I am today.
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