Student Success Stories
Salvador Curio-Hernandez : Student Success
A first-generation student, Salvador Curiel Hernandez, is studying business administration at Ventura College.
He grew up in Ventura, served in the Marine Corps, and returned to college to build new skills and a stronger future.
Read MoreKamea Kellner: Student Success
Meet Kamea Kellner, a first-generation student at Ventura College pursuing her business administration degree.
As a first-generation student, she faced real challenges navigating college on her own, along with financial pressures around tuition, books and transportation.
Read MoreQueeneth Ejimole: Student Success
Nursing is more than a goal for Queeneth Ejimole, it’s a calling.
That calling was inspired by watching her mother care for a loved one after a stroke, shaping her path toward nursing.
Read MoreGabriel Fajardo: Student Success
Gabriel Fajardo successfully completed his Ventura College experience.
Hard at work in the classroom, deeply immersed in a 23-credit-unit final semester as he approached the finish line for graduation in 2023, Gabriel took a moment to reflect on how much everything and everyone has meant to him during his time here.
Read MoreSummyr Levitoff: Student Success
Summyr Levitoff isn’t afraid to admit it. After several previous returns to higher education had stalled out, she was somewhat afraid to return to college. As a mother of three now raising two young children on her own in the wake of their father’s passing, Summyr had real concerns and hesitations.
Read MoreDiego Salas: Student Success
Diego Salas is as impressive a 20-year-old young man as you can meet. He helps his mother run her daycare business. He has earned four impactful scholarships from the Ventura College Foundation while attending Ventura College, where graduated on May 19, 2023. He has a crystal clear vision of where he’s headed next (CSU Channel Islands this fall)—and what the ideal future looks like for both him and his fellow Mexican-Americans.
Read MoreIsabel Tenison: Student Success
While a student in Ventura, Isabel received the Bill Miller Memorial Scholarship and the Miriam Schwan Memorial Aquatics Scholarship from the Ventura College Foundation. She competed on the women’s water polo team, playing a pivotal role on a team that posted a sparkling 20-7 record during the 2021-2022 season.
Read MoreGeorge Casarez: Leading the Way for Generational Healing Via Education
Single father to two teenage girls. Instructional aid in the Rio School District. Re-entry student and scholarship recipient at Ventura College set to graduate by 2025.
George Casarez is all of this and more—and his life is forever enriched thanks to the Ventura College Foundation.
Read MoreOctavius Licon: Dancing into a New Era
Octavius Licon has seen, been, done, and felt quite a bit in his thirty years. From a foster child to a homeless adult alcoholic to a construction worker to a decorated re-entry student at Ventura College, Octavius’ path has danced and darted around like one of his original performance compositions.
Read MoreXavier Terminello: Hitting Their Stride Thanks to VCF
Xavier Terminello is grateful for the many memories, friends, and strides they have made in their two years at Ventura College. But one message stands out above all others to the versatile, energetic, and talented 19-year-old Economics and Psychology major.
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