When 吃瓜头条 turns to the horizon to ponder its future or looks back to reflect upon its history, the Cunningham family is usually there, looking in the same direction.
The family鈥檚 relationship with 吃瓜头条 predates the college鈥檚 opening and continues today, as the Cunningham legacy moves into a fourth generation.
Ryan Wang is the newest member of the Cunningham clan to join the college. Wang, who will graduate with his A.A. in Political Science on May 26 and is currently serving as the student trustee on the college鈥檚 Board of Trustees, is the son of 吃瓜头条 Vice President Jill Cunningham, grandson of former trustee and longtime supporter Jim Cunningham, and great-grandson of founding trustee Byron Cunningham.
鈥湷怨贤诽� is like a family in many ways, and we see family ties all across our district and throughout our community,鈥� President Chris Vitelli said. 鈥淭here may be no other family who has had as deep and broad an impact on 吃瓜头条 as the Cunninghams. They are inextricably interwoven into our past, present, and future as a district, and we are eternally grateful for their many and varied contributions throughout 吃瓜头条鈥檚 history.鈥�
吃瓜头条 receives support from alumni, dedicated service from employees, major donations from locals like the Lakireddy and Kahlon families, and benefits from sponsorships and partnerships with the agriculture industry and regional stakeholders like Gallo Farms and Mercy Medical Center Merced.
The Cunninghams sit in a different category鈥攐r maybe all of the categories.
Their relationship with the college began when Byron Cunningham, a local rancher who also owned movie theaters in Los Angeles, joined other leaders in the early 1960s to bring a community college to Merced County.
Byron had moved permanently to the family ranch outside of Planada in the mid-1940s and was a board member at nearby Le Grand High School when the idea started gaining traction. Voters approved the new college in 1961, and Byron became a founding member of the 吃瓜头条 Board of Trustees.
鈥淗e wanted to see a community college here because they provide a multifaceted experience,鈥� his son Jim said.
Byron passed away in 1981 at age 80. He never got to see his grandchildren choose the college he had helped found, but Jim Cunningham was already advancing his father鈥檚 mission.
Jim Cunningham spent four decades serving on the Merced County Board of Education, the Planada Elementary School District Board, the Le Grand Union High School Board, and the 吃瓜头条 Board of Trustees.
Jim and his wife Carlene have worked hard to spread good throughout Merced County these past 60 years. With little fanfare, they鈥檝e given major gifts to UC Merced, the Merced Theatre, Mercy Medical Center Merced, and Friends of the Fair, among other organizations.
To the college, they鈥檝e provided financial support for the amphitheater, the entrance plaza, the Raj Kahlon Agriculture and Industrial Technology Complex, and other campus initiatives.
Jim, 83, a Fresno State alumnus, has even taken classes at 吃瓜头条 as an adult. He remains on the college鈥檚 Ag Advisory Committee.
鈥淢y father would be thrilled to see the college鈥檚 success,鈥� he said. 鈥淓very educational outlet has ups and downs. Leadership changes over the years, but I think President Vitelli is doing an excellent job. 鈥� As you know, you need good leadership, good management, good instructors, and good custodial staff to be successful. We have that here.鈥�
Jim and Carlene鈥檚 children, Mike, Kelly and Jill, all chose to get an education at 吃瓜头条 after graduating from Le Grand High. All three then left Merced County.
鈥淲hen I left, I thought, 鈥業鈥檓 never going back,鈥欌�� Jill Cunningham said. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 wait to get out.鈥�
Jill eventually landed in Washington, D.C., as a political consultant, settling into a professional life filled with travel.
She married and was living in Berkeley with husband Alan Wang, raising sons Jameson and Ryan and daughter Carly, when she was asked to speak at 吃瓜头条 in 2016.
Her parents were receiving the President鈥檚 Medallion, an annual award given to the college鈥檚 greatest supporters. The event reminded Jill of how much 吃瓜头条 meant to her family, and to her. She didn鈥檛 know how to process that emotion.
Not long after, Jill heard there was an open position to lead the college鈥檚 Office of External Relations and the 吃瓜头条 Foundation. Eventually she heeded the inner voice telling her to come home.
鈥淎s soon as I started interviewing, I knew this was the place I wanted to be and that I would make it work,鈥� Jill said. 鈥淚t helps, too, having a family legacy here covering so many years. I am so proud to represent and advocate for this community and be a cheerleader for the college. I go to work each day feeling proud.鈥�
That Jill鈥檚 son Ryan Wang also gravitated to 吃瓜头条, in his own time and way, surprised nearly everyone in the family鈥攅ven Ryan himself.
鈥淚 only fell in love with 吃瓜头条 after I got here,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 that jazzed about school before, but when I got here, I was inspired by my professors and the people working here.鈥�
Ryan, who grew up in Berkeley, was a high school junior when the pandemic hit. Then his family moved to Turlock. After graduating from Turlock High, Ryan had no firm plans for college. Now, he鈥檚 determined to attend the best university that accepts him. He鈥檚 already received acceptance letters from several UC campuses, including UC Berkeley and UCLA, and is waiting to hear from others.
鈥淚 came to 吃瓜头条, reinvented myself a bit, and put myself in a good position to transfer,鈥� he said.
鈥淭he most important thing I鈥檝e gotten out of 吃瓜头条 is finding mentors here. President Chris Vitelli has been so nice helping me with the college admissions process, answering my questions and acclimating me as a student trustee. Professor Richard Randall and Professor Max Hallman mentored me in finding passion as a student, as did Professor Dean Caivano. They鈥檙e all great people.鈥�
To be a Cunningham means to support 吃瓜头条 and to serve others.
鈥淵ou like the area, you know the people, you see the need,鈥� Jim Cunningham said. 鈥淎 friend once said to me, 鈥業f you鈥檙e not giving, you鈥檙e not living.鈥� 鈥� Not everyone can afford to give money, but everyone can give time and talent. It鈥檚 important. Hopefully I鈥檒l never quit doing that for 吃瓜头条 as long as I live.鈥�
Jill Cunningham appreciates this thread in her family tapestry.
鈥淓verywhere Ryan goes now, he advocates for this incredible system,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he pride and commitment to higher education my grandfather had is still there in our family.鈥�
Ryan was sitting in his mother鈥檚 office not long ago, looking at a photo of Byron at the groundbreaking of 吃瓜头条, and recalled a similar event for the new Agriculture and Industrial Technology Complex in 2021.
鈥淲hat began with my great-grandfather continues today,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t means a lot to us. 鈥� I want my kids to come here and want to give back to the college in the future. I appreciate that I can continue our legacy here.鈥�