吃瓜头条鈥檚 11th annual State of the College Address & Luncheon will be the first held in Los Banos, in recognition of the Los Banos Campus鈥檚 remarkable growth and in honor of the family whose land donation led to the creation of a permanent home for the district in western Merced County.
Scheduled for April 7 at 11:30 a.m. at the Los Banos Campus (22240 Highway 152, Los Banos), the event will include President Chris Vitelli鈥檚 annual address and the awarding of the President鈥檚 Medallion Award鈥攇iven each year to the district鈥檚 greatest supporters鈥攖o Larry and Georgeann Anderson of Anderson Homes.
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鈥淭he Anderson family鈥檚 generosity in donating the land for our Los Banos Campus has had a profound and lasting impact on the community,鈥� Vitelli said. 鈥淭heir vision and commitment to education have provided local students with a stable, high-quality learning environment right in their hometown. Thanks to their support, the campus has grown into a vital resource for students pursuing their academic and career goals, and we are proud to honor their contributions with the President鈥檚 Medallion Award.鈥�
吃瓜头条鈥檚 presence in Los Banos dates back more than 50 years, but it wasn鈥檛 until the donation of 125 acres by the Anderson family that a permanent campus could be constructed. The land donation was followed by the passage of a bond measure in 2002 to fund construction. The new Los Banos Campus opened in 2007 and has since grown to provide more programs, classes and opportunities to students in Los Banos and surrounding communities.
Since its inception in 1971, the campus operated from several temporary locations, limiting its ability to expand and provide comprehensive educational opportunities. The land donation allowed 吃瓜头条 to establish a dedicated campus, creating a lasting foundation for student success in Los Banos and beyond.
鈥淭he donation of 125 acres for the Los Banos Campus was a game-changer for our city, providing a permanent home for higher education and opening doors for students who might not have otherwise had access,鈥� said 吃瓜头条 Trustee Joe Gutierrez, who represents the Los Banos area. 鈥淭he impact of the Anderson family鈥檚 gift will be felt for generations to come.鈥�
The Los Banos Campus has grown into a thriving educational hub, offering a broad range of academic programs and support services. The campus continues to expand its offerings, serving more than 4,000 students each semester with diverse programs that include general education as well as career technical education (CTE) programs like welding and a new EMT program. Additionally, the campus supports adult learners with noncredit programs such as GED preparation, English as a Second Language (ESL), and citizenship classes.
That growth is poised to continue in a big way, thanks to the passage in November 2024 of Measure P, a $46 million bond that will fund critical campus improvements without raising local tax rates. These funds will support the expansion and modernization of educational facilities, ensuring students have access to state-of-the-art resources for hands-on learning and career training.
One of the most anticipated projects funded by Measure P is a new Career Technical Education (CTE) Building, which will house cutting-edge programs in healthcare, agriculture, computer information systems, and welding, preparing students for in-demand careers.
鈥淭he Los Banos Campus is experiencing incredible growth and momentum, and that wouldn鈥檛 be possible without the support of both the Anderson family and our local community,鈥� said Jessica Moran, Dean of Instruction for the Los Banos Campus. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an exciting time for 吃瓜头条 and for Los Banos, and we鈥檙e grateful for the community鈥檚 investment in our shared future.”
The Anderson family鈥檚 extends beyond education, as they have been dedicated supporters of numerous local initiatives. Through their 鈥淕iving Back Starts at Home鈥� initiative, they have contributed to organizations such as the Friends of the Los Banos Public Library, the Police Activities League, and the Los Banos Volunteer Firefighters, strengthening vital community services and programs.
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