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Sara Friedman completed 22 units this past semester to finish her B.A. in Psychology at Fresno State.Taking on 22 units in one semester might seem insane for anyone, but not for a U.S. Coast Guard veteran, former chef, ³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ alumnus, 40-year-old, single mother of two. Right?

³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ students needn't go hungry.That's not a goal. That is the uplifting truth behind the student food pantry, which came to campus full time in 2017.

From customer service and conflict resolution to crafting cocktails, local students can learn all the skills they need for jobs in hotels, restaurants and more through ³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ's Hospitality Career Academy. The free, 12-week program kicks off with an event at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 31 at the Mainzer in downtown Merced.

Community members and dignitaries gathered at ³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ on Thursday to celebrate a major milestone in the construction of the college's new Raj Kahlon Agriculture and Industrial Technology Complex.

When this year began, our society was still reeling from the first year of COVID-19. We were still working from home and students were still figuring out how to learn in online environments, and it was easy to slip into a mode of pining for whatever we had one considered "normal."

Hermione Isakow loved the outdoors and the arts, and she instilled in her four sons a deep appreciation for education, discipline and family.After living most of her life in South Africa, Isakow and her husband Leiz moved to Merced in 2010 to be closer to their eldest son Isaac and his family, and she grew to love the town. Sadly her golden years were clouded by a long bout with amyloidosis, a difficult and painful disease that forced her into chemotherapy and other difficult treatments, and she died in 2020.

³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ's Hospitality Career Academy (HCA), a new and innovative partnership between the college and JdV by Hyatt, held its inaugural graduation ceremony on Dec. 6 at the Mainzer in downtown Merced.

³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ invites all Los Banos and Dos Palos residents, along with supporters from throughout Merced County, to the Los Banos Campus's 50th Anniversary Celebration on Nov. 5.

The annual State of the College event at ³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ returns next month for the first time since 2019, with both an in-person event at the college's amphitheater and a virtual option for individuals and groups to watch via livestream.

Longtime Merced County law enforcement veteran Jeffrey Horn is the new police chief at ³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ, effective Sept. 1.Horn brings over 24 years of experience to his new position, having worked most recently with the Merced Police Department. In his role as the administration sergeant, Horn's duties included overseeing all department training, recruiting, hiring and background checks, and investigating claims of officer misconduct. He will continue to serve as the department's rangemaster and oversee firearms training.