It has been a whirlwind couple of weeks with our state championship meet followed days later by graduation and then high school recruiting in overdrive with the OAL track and field championships, North Coast Section (NCS) Meet of Champions, and the high school state championships at Buchanon HS in Clovis. Onboarding new students, finding college homes for grads, and starting up our high school summer program with Oakland Pal (over 100 high school students this year!) has kept me movin' and groovin'.
Meet Colinda Stephens, College of Alameda student and EOPS Peer Mentor! The Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) is a state-funded program designed to provide support services to low-income and academically-disadvantaged students to become successful in college.
MESA Hosts Biotech Brunch at Laney Bistro
On May 2, 2025, Laney College’s MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) Program hosted a brunch at the Laney Bistro, bringing together STEM students, faculty, and members of the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE). The event provided a valuable opportunity for students interested in biotechnology and related fields to connect with professionals and peers.
Recognition for our Innovative Excellence
Last month, the President’s Office received notification that the College of Alameda has been nominated for the Excellence in Workforce Development Award at the 2025 Innovation Island Excellence Awards! The nomination highlighted CoA’s commitment to innovation, creativity, and how our impact has set a remarkable standard in our community.
BCC Celebrates Graduates “Blooming in Resilience” at 2025 Commencement
Over 150 graduates of Berkeley City College’s Class of 2025 gathered with family, friends, faculty, and staff on a warm Spring day at the Laney College football field to celebrate this year’s commencement ceremony themed “Blooming in Resilience.”
On May 20, 2025, the Peralta Community College District held its annual Lavender Graduation at the College of Alameda (COA). This commencement ceremony honors the accomplishments of our LGBTQIA+ students, recognizing their unique journeys and contributions to our campus community. The event, open to all, and filled with food, music, love, and a strong sense of community, recognized the perseverance and triumphs of the graduating class.
Peralta’s District Academic Senate (DAS) wrapped up the 2024-25 school year on May 20, 2025, with a special session in the district boardroom. The meeting saw DAS elect officers for the upcoming 2025-26 academic year — to be led by Laney's Leslie Blackie as president — and salute retiring 10+1 champion Joseph Bielanski
Get ready to innovate! The "AI Futures" Hackathon is set to ignite creativity and problem-solving at Laney College on June 7th and 8th, 2025. This exciting two-day event invites aspiring high school and college students and others to build groundbreaking AI solutions.
On behalf of the Laney College Classified Senate, Peralta is proud to announce the recipients of this year’s Rene Rivas Classified Senate Scholarship. Although Rene’s family could not attend the ceremony, they thoughtfully reviewed the applications and selected the awardees listed below. Each recipient was awarded a $500 scholarship to support their educational goals.
The Department of Community Safety is excited to highlight a new chat feature in the PeraltaSafety app, designed to make it easier for students, faculty, and staff to connect with us quickly and discreetly. This app enhancement reflects our unwavering commitment to making safety accessible, responsive, and user-centered across the District.
