All Headlines
Dr. Pedro Avila Leads Major Expansion
August 22 – As featured in Hispanic Outlook on Education magazine in 2023.
Meet Peer Mentor: Simran Kaur
August 22 – Simran Kaur studies computer science and is in her second year at Gavilan.
Meet Peer Mentor: David Martinez
August 22 – David Martinez joined the peer mentors in February 2023.
Gavilan College Breaks Ground at New San Benito Campus
June 20 – Local officials and residents gathered at the site of Gavilan College’s new San Benito campus on June 16.
Josephine Torres Awarded $20K UC Santa Cruz Pister Scholarship
May 23 – Josephine Torres has been awarded that institution’s prestigious Karl S. Pister Leadership Opportunity Scholarship for 2023!
Edward Boss Prado Foundation Donates $30K to Gavilan Nursing Program
May 17 – The Edward Boss Prado Foundation has committed $30K to Gavilan College’s Nursing program to cover all fees for completing a degree for at least 5 students.
Vice President of Academic Affairs Finalists & Open Forums
May 10 – The finalists will participate in open forums on the Main Campus on May 17th.
Gavilan Welcomes VP of Administrative Services: Marilyn Morikang
May 3 – Marilyn holds a master’s degree in management / accounting from the University of Maryland Global Campus.
Spring “Grease” Production Opens May 5
April 27 – “Grease,” opens on Friday, May 5 at 8 pm, at the Gavilan College Theater.
COVID Vaccine Proof No Longer Required
March 20 – Enrollment for classes have no COVID vaccine requirement for Summer and Fall 2023.
Simon Silva, International Artist, Creativity Crusader, at Gavilan College in April
March 20 – Renowned international artist, speaker, author, and “Creativity Crusader,” Simon Silva, will come to Gavilan College to provide lectures and workshops at both the Gilroy Campus and Hollister Site.
Susan Dodd Makes $120K Donation to Gavilan's Athletics Department
March 20 – Former faculty member and Athletic Director, Susan Dodd, committed to a $120K donation to cover the cost of a scoreboard for home games, in addition to furniture.
Bach to Blues Concert Returns March 18!
March 14 – Bach to Blues is a fundraising concert that showcases faculty, students and local talent.
Vice President, A. S. Finalists - Candidate Forums
March 6 – Following a national search, the finalists have been selected for the position of Vice President, Administrative Services.
Interim Athletics Director Receives State Recognition
March 6 – Gavilan College's Interim Athletics Director, Jamie Adams, received the California Athletic Trainers' Association State Recognition Award for 2022.
Javier Alejo will lead the Gavilan Women’s Soccer Program
February 21 – Javier Alejo will take the lead of the Women’s Soccer program.
Josue Salgado named as Gavilan's new Men’s Soccer Head Coach
February 21 – Josue Salgado will take the helm as the new Men’s Soccer Head Coach.
Meet Undocu Liaison: Anthony Grant
February 3 – Anthony Grant is the UndocuLiaison with the Financial Aid office.
President's Message - Weather Conditions
January 10 – Due to weather and road conditions, Gavilan College services are remote with limited in-person services. Please click the link below to sign up for Spring classes and access department links.
Meet Peer Mentor: Kristiana Stricker
January 9 – Kristiana Stricker is a Peer Mentor at the Welcome Center on the Gilroy Campus.
From Retail to UC Berkeley to Gavilan: Michele Castro
December 22 – Michele Castro was recently appointed as a Senior Program Services Specialist.
Leadership Gilroy Class Raises Big Bucks for Veterans
October 31 – The 2022 Leadership Gilroy class broke a fundraising record with their “A Salute to Our Veterans” event on October 1st.
President's Message - National Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15 – Gavilan Joint Community College District is excited to kick-off National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Susan Dodd Crossing Ribbon Cutting Celebration
August 24 – Gavilan College will be celebrating the completion of its new bridge with a special ribbon cutting event on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. on the Gilroy Campus.
San Benito LULAC Welcomes Dr. Avila
July 29 – Dr. Avila and his wife receive warm reception in Hollister, attended by various San Benito County education leaders.
Jaime Mata, Interim Chief Business Officer
July 29 – Gavilan College is pleased to welcome Jaime Mata as the Interim Chief Business Officer.
Noah Lystrup, New Dean of Student Learning, Equity and Success for Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
June 7 – Gavilan College welcomes new Dean Noah Lystrup.
Gavilan Joint Governing Board Selects New Superintendent / President
May 24 – The Gavilan Joint Community College District Governing Board is announcing their decision to begin contract negotiations with Dr. Pedro Avila to become the next Superintendent / President for the District.
Gavilan Student Awarded $20K UC Santa Cruz Pister Scholarship
May 19 – Aileen Romero, Associated Students of Gavilan College Region IV Representative, was accepted to UC Santa Cruz and was awarded the $20K Pister Scholarship!
Gavilan College Announces Resignation of Trustee Jonathan Brusco
May 5 – Gavilan College Trustee Jonathan Brusco resigned from the Gavilan Joint Community College District Board of Trustees April 30, 2022.
Gavilan College Theater Presents Spring Production: The Imaginary Invalid
May 5 – The Theater is proud to present "The Imaginary Invalid" on May 13, 14, 20, 21 @ 8:00 PM, and 2 pm on May 21.
Gavilan College Announces Superintendent/President Finalists and Forums
April 27 – On Wednesday, May 18, 2022, the finalists will participate in open forums at the Gavilan College campus, room Social Sciences 214.
Smart Start Enrollment Event
April 14 – Smart Start Enrollment events are designed to assist new or current students with enrolling at Gavilan College!
Concert For Two Pianos
April 1 – On Saturday, April 16 @ 7:00 PM the Music Program is proud to present a Concert for Two Pianos, featuring Dr. Maria Amirkhanian, and Irina Smolyakova.
Women In Leadership Speaker Panel
March 28 – In honor of Women’s Month, Gavilan will be hosting a virtual panel with three Gavilan leaders who will share their experiences and journeys.
John T. Horner honored with 2022 President's Circle Legacy Award
March 8 – The President’s Circle Legacy Award is given to an outstanding community member for their exemplary work, dedication and commitment to education and community.
Bach to Blues is Back In-person on March 19th!
March 7 – After a virtual concert in 2021, Bach to Blues is finally returning to the Gavilan College Theater in-person on March 19th @ 7:30 pm!
Spirit Awards exemplify individual, business and organizations in the community
February 17 – Nominated by their neighbors, Community Spirit recipients enrich their communities.
Gavilan College Welcomes New PIO
February 14 – Gavilan Community College welcomes Rosie Zepeda, M.Ed. as its new Public Information Officer.
Register to Participate in the Marian Filice Youth Piano Competition and Music Festival
January 14 – Piano students ranging from 5th - 12th grades can register to compete in the youth piano competition, while all other musicians can register to perform in the music festival.
El Centro - Gavilan College’s one-stop, whole student support center
November 24 – El Centro scales the work of Gavilan College's successful special services into a focused program.
Jazz Concert returns to Gavilan College stage after pandemic hiatus
November 24 – After missing the 2020 performance, Jazz@Gavilan returns to wow an audience in the first live event after the pandemic.
2021 Community Spirit Awards
October 26 – Announcement of 2021 Community Spirit Award winners
Gavilan College community celebrates National Hispanic Heritage month
October 22 – Gavilan College starts month-long celebration of National Hispanic Heritage month with on-campus student activities
Jazz @ Gavilan Concert Returns to the Gavilan College Theater
October 15 – After taking a break last year, the Jazz @ Gavilan Concert is returning this fall to the Gavilan College Theater.
Gavilan College celebrates ‘Growing through Change’ theme and return to campus at Convocation 2021
September 23 – Gavilan College staff, faculty and students, attending Convocation 2021 in person and in Zoom, focused on on student support, financial recovery and diversity, equity and inclusion.
Newly hired Dean Danny M. Hoey, Jr. brings equity-minded leadership to Gavilan College
September 20 – Dr. Danny M. Hoey, Jr. joins Gavilan College as the new Dean of Student Learning, Equity and Success for Art, Humanities & Social Sciences.
Career Education internships lead to job opportunities for area students
August 9 – Psychology class project propels Gavilan alumna to internship and employment at Community Foundation for San Benito County.
Housing Survey student responder wins laptop in random drawing
August 9 – Cessaria Gomez, survey respondent, will be doing her course work on a new laptop
Bubbly and Bags in the Vineyard raises funds for Gavilan College Communication Studies program
August 6 – Bubbly and Bags raises funds to support Communication Studies student scholarships and programs.
Gavilan’s CARES Committee continues student and institutional allocation recommendations
July 11 – The CARES committee reviews requests for COVID related needs, helping the college return to normal
Gavilan College Ceramics department installs a new kiln to support ceramics and 3-D students
July 9 – New ceramics kiln replaces older, end of life equipment producing inconsistent results.
Gavilan College prepares post-pandemic return to campus and ‘new normal’ operations
July 9 – Gavilan College moves through planned steps to reopen the campus and welcome back staff and students.
Graduation Can’t Wait!
June 12 – After postponements caused by the pandemic, Gavilan College graduates from 2020 and 2021 returned to campus for diplomas and celebration.
Naomi Gutierrez earns 2021 Karl S. Pister Leadership Award
June 11 – Naomi Gutierrez, Pister Scholarship winner, heads to UCSC this fall
From the Office of The President
May 14 – As we bring the academic year to a close, we plan for a Virtual Graduation Ceremony, and the a managed return to campus in the fall.
Musical tradition Bach to Blues takes to the ‘virtual’ road
May 10 – Bach to Blues will go on, virtually, and premiere online May 14, as Gavilan faculty and local musicians team up with student television crews.
Gavilan College bestows honorary degree to district community activist Theresa Kiernan
May 10 – Theresa Kiernan is recognized by Gavilan College for her district-wide volunteerism and community contributions with an honorary AA degree.
College and students returning to campus this fall with pandemic protections
May 10 – Many Gavilan College and students will return to a socially-distanced campus for Fall 2021, while the college maintains robust online offerings. Summer session will be entirely online, with projections to be "back to normal: for Spring 2022.
From the Office of the President - April 2021
April 14 – April is Community College Month as well as the first annual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awareness Month. Community colleges all across the state like Gavilan are also doing more to help right now than ever before.
Career/Transfer Center is Hosting Two Virtual Career and Job Fairs
April 12 – Career/Transfer Center is hosting two Virtual Career & Job Fairs in April. Students and community members will have the opportunity to speak with people that work in a variety of industries, as well as apply for jobs and internships.
Retired staff and faculty return to reflect on change during Women’s History Month
April 9 – Four long-time employees - now retired - share reflections from their time at Gavilan College.
Eric Lopez brings a personal touch to coaching and instruction
April 9 – As coach and instructor, Eric Lopez keeps Adapted Physical Education students connected and engaged.
Gavilan College bestows Legacy Award to Elvira Zaragoza Robinson
April 7 – Elvira Zaragoza Robinson honored as recipient of the Gavilan College 2021 President's Circle Legacy Award.
Gavilan employees honored with Baler STRONG recognition
April 2 – Judy Rodriguez and Stacey Stadtler-Porteur awarded SBHS Baler STRONG recognition for their support of high school students.
From the Office of the President - March 2021
March 14 – March signals a year that our campus community has operated remotely, and it is Women’s History Month. Higher Education will never follow a singular, traditional modality again.
Board of Trustees adopts resolution to support Equal Pay
March 10 – At their regular meeting on March 9, 2021, the Gavilan College Board of Trustees unanimously passed Resolution #1061 in support of equal pay in California Community Colleges.
Marian Filice Youth Piano Competition at Gavilan College: A stellar show of talent, virtually
March 6 – The 16th Annual Marian Filice Piano Competition brought together 25 talented musicians for a virtual concert.
Report to the Community 2020
February 22 – This publication narrates the incredible year we have just completed as a college community and provides a hopeful outlook for the future.
Accreditation Reaffirmed
February 10 – The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, took action at their January meeting to reaffirm Gavilan College's accreditation for the remainder of the cycle. The next comprehensive review cycle begins in 2026.
From the Office of the President - February 2021
February 8 – In her column this month, Dr. Rose shares the story of Dr. TJ Owens, namesake of the Dr. TJ Owens GIlroy Early College Academy.
Professional Development Days focus on recovery through the lens of equity
February 5 – Administration, staff and faculty came together for two days of learning, training and conversation.
Dr. Nicholas Park, Social Sciences department chair, works to build equity-minded teaching
February 5 – Dr. Nicholas Park focuses on building community, pedagogy and equity and exploring the art of teaching
Alumna returns to teach theater classes at Gavilan College
February 5 – First generation college student excels at Gavilan, UC Berkeley and UCSC and returns to teach theater classes to Gavilan College students
February is Black History Month
February 5 – February is Black History Month
View Children’s Theater Performances Free Online
January 15 – The Children’s Theater invites you to view their fall production for free online.
One click to live support, and friendly faces!
January 15 – The Welcome Center creates new tools and pathways to deliver student support services.
Instructors use break to hone online teaching skills
January 13 – Gavilan College instructors devote part of Winter Break to invest in online training courses.
Gavilan College expands outreach tools to engage area high school students
January 8 – Gavilan College shifts online high school outreach during the pandemic with game-changing tools and targeted presentations.
Meet Gavilan College’s 2020 Community Spirit Award Recipients
December 10 – The Gavilan College 2020 Community Spirit Award recipients: "Because of people like you, communities thrive."
Transfer Day 2020 – Moving a face-to-face event to a virtual platform in three months
December 10 – The Career Transfer Center worked with area community colleges and a team of Gavilan College innovators to create a virtual Transfer Day.
Gavilan faculty mobilize to develop course offerings in Ethnic Studies
December 10 – Gavilan moves forward with Ethnic Studies curriculum to meet the new CSU graduation requirements
Virtual Marian Filice Youth Piano Competition
December 3 – Sign up to Participate in the 2021 Virtual Marian Filice Youth Piano Competition
Children's Theater students adapt to new challenges with a spirit of play
November 16 – Gavilan Children's Theater students adapt and innovate to produce new stories for youth.
Gavilan’s Film and Television students celebrated for creative contributions
November 12 – Gavilan College film and television students celebrate their creative work, and one another, as they persevered during the pandemic.
Gavilan College announces 2020 Community Spirit Awards
November 5 – Gavilan College announces the winners of the 2020 Community Spirit Awards. Awards will be presented in private ceremonies, then shared in a video compilation for the public.
Gavilan College kinesiology and athletics programs impacted by COVID-19 pandemic
October 12 – Gavilan's certified athletic trainers, Rebecca Northon and Erik Hilliker, develop a protocol for athletes to safely return to team sports.
Gavilan College’s Emergency Operations Center builds plans to return to campus
October 12 – EOC manages the operations, logistics, finances and reporting during the COVID-19 emergency to create a safe environment and return to campus.
Gavilan College FY 2020/2021 budget responded and adapted to major external pressures
October 9 – To prepare the Gavilan College FY 2020/2021 final budget, administration built incremental budgets modeling responses to shifting political and economic variables.
Writing and Tutoring Centers shift to an online beehive of learning, engagement and support
October 9 – The Writing and Tutoring Centers offer tutoring support with expanded hours and one-on-one online sessions for Gavilan College students.
Gavilan College partners with Catholic Charities and Youth Alliance to offer students housing solutions
October 8 – Through a new grant, Gavilan College is partnering with Catholic Charities and Youth Alliance to provide housing assistance for students who are homeless and / or housing insecure.
STAR Arts finishes summer 2020 with new productions and format
September 14 – With 35 years offering training in theater arts, STAR Arts, which operated for decades through Gavilan College and is now an independent community nonprofit, shifts to online delivery for community youth
A first: Gavilan College's Fall 2020 semester begins with online classes
September 12 – The traditional start to Fall 2020 and a new academic year is disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
New interim director Lucy Alvarez leads Gavilan’s Human Resources department
September 3 – New interim HR director Lucy Alvarez steps up amid the challenge of a pandemic, shift to online instruction, and budgeting issues.
Marie Noriega, new interim director of business services, envisions growth and partnerships
September 3 – Marie Noriega named new interim director of Gavilan's business services department
Campus Closure Due to Smoke from Wildfires
August 22 – GAVALERT: Due to the poor air quality from local wildfires, the Gilroy campus will be closed all next week, August 24 though August 28. ALL instruction will be online, even for those classes which are scheduled to be in-person. Only limited essential staff will be on campus. Students should check Canvas and their student email for details and messages from instructors.
Distance Education supports Gavilan College through the rolling demands of a pandemic
August 10 – Gavilan College's Distance Education department fast-tracked faculty and students into the world of online education during shelter in place, and beyond.
Linda Bernabe named Interim Director, Community and Educational Partnerships at Gavilan College
August 10 – Linda Bernabe takes on new challenge with community education and educational partnerships, building equitable pathways for students.
Gavilan College promotes Susan Sweeney to Interim Dean, Student Success and Workforce Pathways
August 9 – Susan Sweeney moves to Interim Dean of Student Success and Workforce Pathways, bringing her program building to the division.
Marlene Bumgarner publishes memoir about raising a family in South County
August 7 – Walk with Marlene Bumgarner as she tells the story about raising her young family in the hills of South County during the 1970's.