Source:  Grossmont-Cuyamaca College Community College District

June 11, 2018 (El Cajon) - Commencement day is always a day of celebration and promising futures as students take part in a time-honored processional, while families and friends cheer and beam with pride.

This year’s graduation ceremonies at Cuyamaca and Grossmont colleges were ones for the record books as a highest-ever 2,500 graduates received more than 5,500 degrees and certificates on June 6 and 7. These numbers translate into a 23 percent increase in the number of graduates and a 20 percent hike in the number of degrees and certificates compared to 2017’s record-setting numbers.

Source: Grossmont Cuyamaca Community College District

May 22, 2018 (El Cajon) - An agreement signed between the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District and a Prague university will allow graduates who have earned a degree from one of the two East County colleges to continue their education in the Czech Republic.

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

May 10, 2018 (El Cajon) -- This is the time of year when students have final exams and graduation on their minds. But this May, students at both Grossmont and Cuyamaca College are wondering if they have been exposed to tuberculosis at either campus.

Source: Cuyamaca College

Photo: The Ornamental Horticulture nursery at the 2017 Spring Garden and Butterfly Festival.

April 6, 2018 (Rancho San Diego) -- Up to 5,000 visitors will converge on the Cuyamaca College campus when the annual Spring Garden and Butterfly Festival returns for its 25^th year on Saturday, April 28, as the college, The Water Conservation Garden and the Heritage of the Americas Museum present an array of family-friendly events featuring plant sales, craft vendors, wine tasting and more.

Source:  Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District

Photo:  Cuyamaca College Ornamental Horticulture students and their instructor, Donald Schultz, (top right) celebrate their wins in the National Collegiate Landscape Competition.

March 26, 2018 (Rancho San Diego) - The Cuyamaca College Ornamental Horticulture program is turning heads after yet another standout performance at the National Collegiate Landscape Competition.

Nine students took part in the 42nd annual event, and their average score topped the average scores for students at any of the 62 colleges and universities taking part in the competition at Alamance Community College in North Carolina. Competing against major institutions such as Brigham Young University, Virginia Tech and the University of Georgia, Cuyamaca College was the only school with three students finishing among the top 25 in total points.

By Miriam Raftery

March 5, 2018 (Rancho San Diego) -- An impressive lineup of musical performances are coming up with Cuyamaca College’s annual Spring Concert Series, which opened in February and continues with many upcoming shows.

“The Spring Concert Series includes some very exciting events, including some new and repeat performers,” said Taylor Smith, Performing Arts chair at Cuyamaca College. “I am especially excited about the new ECHO Chamber Music series, which will feature world-renown instrumentalists. Each semester, we try to provide an educational and entertaining series with a wide variety of musical styles. This semester we are presenting music from Beethoven to the Beatles and everything in between. Where else in San Diego can you go to see such a variety?”      

All but the Coyote Music Festival take place at the Cuyamaca College Performing Arts Theatre. Tickets to all other shows is $8, or $5 for students unless otherwise noted.

New data reveals dramatic surge in completion rates following college’s policy transformation

East County News Service

October 2, 2017 (Rancho San Diego) -- The California Acceleration Project (CAP) today released its latest report in a series highlighting California community colleges that are successfully transforming their remediation policies. Leading the Way spotlights Cuyamaca College in Rancho San Diego, where completion of transferable, college-level math has increased almost seven-fold among students previously classified “remedial.”

East County News Service

August 26, 2017 (Rancho San Diego) - Leaders of the thriving Chaldean community in San Diego’s East County will be on hand for a special Chaldean Culture & Traditions celebration at Cuyamaca College on Monday, Aug. 28.       

Source:  Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District

Photo:  Viriginia Hall

May 27, 2017 (El Cajon) - Graduates of Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges have done it again. The two East County colleges will award 4,833 degrees and certificates this year, a 13 percent increase from last year and another record high for the college district.

East County News Service

April 21, 2017 (El Cajon) -- As natural disasters continue to grow and become more destructive, emergency responders, such as CAL FIRE San Diego, are becoming increasingly dependent on community volunteer organizations. One such organization that has been called on to assist is San Diego County’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). When activated through their sponsoring agency, CERT members can find themselves working in close cooperation with local first responders; augmenting their numbers and aiding their neighbors that have been affected by a disaster. Skills that CERT members have been trained in can include basic first-aid, volunteer organization and search and rescue. CERT members were activated as recently as last year during the Border Fire in Potrero and quickly became an integral part of the community response by helping families and property owners that were impacted by the fire which ultimately grew to nearly 7700 acres over two weeks.

East County News Service

March 28, 2017 (Rancho San Diego) - The Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College will host its Spring Butterfly and Garden Festival on Saturday, April 29^th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Activities include butterfly pavilion and garden tours, butterfly releases, face painting, kids’ activities and craft vendors, animal exhibitors, educational exhibits and presentations, us edible, ornamental and native plant sales. You can also sign up for landscape design consultations.

East County News Service

January 24, 2017 (El Cajon) - Erich Foeckler, a fundraising professional for 20 years, is the new executive director of development for the Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges, the philanthropic partner for East County’s two community colleges.

East County News Service

January 4, 2017 (El Cajon) - The Native American Student Alliance at Cuyamaca College will host its 3rd Annual Powwow on Saturday, February 4^th from  10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. in front of the Communication Arts complex (Building B).

East County News Service

September 20, 2016 (El Cajon) - Five instructors at Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges have been selected by their peers as the academic year’s best faculty members. The honorees were lauded at fall convocations for exemplary service to the East County campuses.

East County News Service

August 30, 2016 (El Cajon) -- Hispanic students at Cuyamaca College will soon see a significant boost in efforts aimed at guiding them toward obtaining certificates and degrees and transferring to four-year colleges and universities, thanks to a nearly $2.6-million, five-year federal grant.