Mt. SAC

Kevin Yang was a local congressman in China in April 2020.

At that time, he organized a lawsuit and peaceful demonstration in defense of his constituents.

His actions were met with swift opposition.

“I was detained and beaten by local police,” Kevin says. “In that cold detention room, I faced a choice: I could give up in fear, or I could find a better way to fight to protect our rights and justice in the future. This experience, among the following retaliation, eventually forced me to leave my home country.”

Arriving in the United States in 2022 to start a new journey, Kevin found himself middle aged and with no friends or family on whom to lean. Instead, he gained strength through education.

“I learned that while courage is a good start, I also need to build my academic foundation and legal knowledge, and a deep understanding of the systems often suppressed in China, such as democratic legal frameworks, while gaining the practical skills to advocate for reform,” he says.

Kevin utilized programs like Bridge, EOPS, and Rising Scholars for resources and to develop a sense of belonging in a new country.

“Mt. SAC has been my second home and my first line of defense in this new world,” he says. “It provided the safe, warm classrooms that stand in stark contrast to the detention cells I once occupied.”

In those classrooms, Kevin has been leveling up his knowledge of how an actual free government is supposed to function.

“Studying the U.S. Constitution, the separation of powers, and the foundation of Checks and balances allowed me to see that the rights I once fought for are not just abstract ideals but protected legal realities,” he says.

When Kevin receives his diploma at graduation on June 12, he will be savoring that moment more than most of his peers.

“My life as a first-gen immigrant and former political prisoner defines my maturity and drive,” he says. “I don’t just want a degree; I want to become a civil rights attorney/advocate to ensure the dark age of dictatorship never reaches the shores of the democracy I have worked so hard to join.”

The Mt. SAC Theater Department presents Our Town. Shows will be today, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. For tickets, visit tickets.mtsac.edu.

These Mounties enjoy their view from the graduate seats at Commencement in 1996.

As a first-generation college student, Jocelynn De La Trinidad wanted to set an example for her younger sister and the rest of her family when she started her higher education journey.

But her enthusiasm for adding as many activities as possible to her schedule was a bar she almost set too high for herself.

“One of the biggest obstacles I faced was not necessarily in my classes or academic performance, but in balancing everything at once,” she says. “I’m someone who likes to be involved as much as I can, and sometimes I take on a lot without fully realizing how much I'm carrying.

“This would leave me overwhelmed and oftentimes faced with moments where I experienced imposter syndrome that made me question whether I truly belonged in the positions I took, such as serving in our Associated Student Government as the Academic Senator, or an Honors Student when some classes got a bit hard.”

Instead of caving in to her internal doubts, Jocelynn pressed on and grew as a student and as a person.

“Mt. SAC became a place where I built confidence in myself and learned that I belong in the spaces that I once questioned my ability to be in,” she says. “Being here for the past two years has helped me grow into someone who is more certain of her voice and goals, and I’m proud to have started my college journey here.”

That confidence has shown in her results. Jocelynn has maintained a 4.0 GPA, served as an Academic Senator for the 2025-26 year in Mt. SAC’s Associated Student Government, and been a decorated member on several student committees.

“I have also been recognized as a Student of Distinction in the Academic Category. This was especially meaningful for me because I’ve always worn the title of nerd proudly,” she says. “Additionally, I have presented research at both the Honors Transfer Council of California’s Research Conference in 2025 and the Bay Honors Research Symposium in 2026, which were incredibly valuable experiences that allowed me to share my academic interests and work while engaging with other scholars.”

As a reward for her hard work and dedication, Jocelynn will be transferring to UCLA, where she will study Political Science and prepare for law school.

“I hope to pursue a career in law, and at the moment I am especially interested in civil rights and public policy,” she says. “Ultimately, even if my plans change, I hope to use my education to support underrepresented communities and continue leading a balanced life full of compassion and meaningful impact.”

Now that she has found solid footing on her journey, Jocelynn can offer sage advice for students finding themselves in her former shoes.

“Navigating college and new experiences can feel overwhelming,” she says, “and it's easy to compare your journey to others, but when you focus on your own path and what you can offer, you can begin to recognize the unique strengths and perspectives you bring to every space you’re in.”

Learn how to use your speaking voice for commercials, films, and videos in our voiceover class. If you are looking for a fun experience that could be a career game-changer, register now for this June 27 class. For more information, visit http://communityed.mtsac.edu or call (909) 274-4220.

Hey Mounties, before you adjust your grad cap just right, you have to register to participate in the 2026 Commencement Ceremony. The deadline is June 5, which is this Friday. Confirmation of your registration and tickets to the June 12 graduation will be sent to your Mt. SAC email. For more information, visit www.mtsac.edu/commencement/.

Mt. SAC's tuition-free Payroll and Tax Accounting program begins July 14. In this seven-week online program, learn tax procedures required to file the correct forms for Social Security, federal and state income taxes and their reconciliation. Laws related to Workers’ Compensation, State Disability Benefit Laws, and Fair Employment Practices are also discussed. Register now at www.mtsac.edu/noncreditapp. For more information, call (909) 274-4070 or visit www.mtsac.edu/sce/stv.

The Mt. SAC Writing Center presents Finals Food Frenzy, running now through June 11 from 9 a.m. to noon daily in Building 26B-1561A. Fuel up for the end of the semester by enjoying free breakfast and coffee while supplies last. For more information, send an email to [email protected].

The road to 2026 Commencement for Edith Rosales-Sanchez was paved with trying life events.

She left home at 17 years old. She dropped out of school. She worked graveyard shifts. She became a young parent.

“Somewhere along the way, I stopped seeing my setbacks as failures and started seeing them as redirection,” Edith says.

The direction led her to study Construction Management, which gave her “a sense of purpose and direction during a period of my life where I felt completely lost,” she says.

While finalizing her degree, Edith realized how close to home her major landed in her life.

“What makes my connection to this industry so personal is that I grew up doing labor work myself,” she says. “I worked in the fields growing up through scorching summers, freezing winters, pruning vines, picking fruit, and working warehouse packaging jobs.

“I still remember being around 13 years old trying to keep up with my dad while working. He would already be done with three trees while I was barely climbing down my ladder after finishing my first one.”

By getting that experience in discipline, strength, and admiration for people who working in physically demanding jobs, Edith had extra tools in her belt to bring to her new career.

“Now being in Construction Management, I carry that same respect with me,” she says. “As project managers, engineers, and construction managers, we organize and lead projects, but the crews in the field are the people who truly bring our work to life with the labor of their hands.

“One day, I hope to become the kind of leader who never forgets that perspective because I once had dirt on my boots too.”

Another thing she won’t soon forget is her first week at Mt. SAC. Four days after she started classes, she gave birth to her son and still managed to turn in her homework.

“I remember getting up from my hospital bed just a few hours after my C-section knowing I had calculus homework due at 11:59 p.m.,” Edith says. “I definitely was not thrilled to be doing calculus from a hospital room, but I turned it in anyway.”

It was that resilience that shaped her journey to graduation and on to her next chapter.

“There were multiple moments in my life where I thought I had completely failed or fallen behind,” she says, “but now I realize those moments were shaping me into the person I needed to become.”

That person plans to earn a professional engineer license in California and work on heavy civil and structural engineering projects. Before that, Edith will be transferring to Cal Poly Pomona in the Fall to its College of Engineering to pursue a Construction Engineering and Management degree.

“This feels like a full circle moment for me because Cal Poly Pomona was my dream school when I was in high school. Back then, I was waitlisted and became extremely discouraged. Now, years later, when I applied again, Cal Poly Pomona was actually the very first CSU to accept me,” says Edith, who was also accepted into Cal State Long Beach, Cal State Fullerton, and San Diego State.

Despite the twists and turns in her path, Edith is proud she kept going.

“There will always be reasons to stop,” she says. “Reasons to doubt yourself. Reasons to believe you are too late, too overwhelmed, too lost, or too far behind. But sometimes the very things that were meant to break you become the reason you keep pushing forward.”

The Mt. SAC Spring Vocal Jazz Concert will be June 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the Sophia B. Clarke Theater. For tickets, visit https://tickets.mtsac.edu.

Rizzly wants to remind you that Mt. SAC’s 2026 Summer Intersession begins three weeks from today. To be on your way to a graduation celebration featuring our grizzly mascot, you first have to register for open classes. Start by visiting www.mtsac.edu/schedule/summer.html. Classes begin June 22.

Mt. SAC's tuition-free Office Skills program begins June 15. In this 10-week online program, learn office management skills, work with essential microcomputer applications like Word and Excel, and participate in career development to help you prepare for an entry-level position. Register now at www.mtsac.edu/noncreditapp. For more information, call (909) 274-4070 or visit www.mtsac.edu/sce/stv.

Hey Mounties, if you are ready to tip your hat and take a bow at graduation on June 12, make sure you are registered for the 2026 Commencement Ceremony by June 5 (that’s one week from today!) to guarantee your participation in the festivities. For more information, visit https://www.mtsac.edu/commencement/.

Graduating and transferring students were honored at the Nuestra Celebracion earlier this week. Great job and good luck in the future, Mounties!

Mt. SAC's tuition-free Physical Therapy Aide program begins June 16. In this in-person, eight-week program, learn the basics of working in a physical therapy setting with patients who need rehabilitation from an injury or accident. Students will also learn the medical terminology used in the profession. Register now at www.mtsac.edu/noncreditapp. For more information, call (909) 274-4070 or visit www.mtsac.edu/sce/stv.

In our Rock Music History and Appreciation (CRN 10784) course, take a historical survey of rock music from its beginnings in the early 1950s to the present. To add this class to your 2026 Summer Intersession playlist, visit https://www.mtsac.edu/schedule/summer.html. Classes begin June 22.

The Mt. SAC STEM Center held a transfer and achievement ceremony for its students last week. Congratulations to every Mountie on all the hard-earned accomplishments. For information on the STEM Center, visit https://www.mtsac.edu/stem/.

In observance of Memorial Day, the Mt. SAC campus will be closed on Monday.

The 2026 Athletics Fair saw the campus community come together for tons of fun at the north grass above the Library on Thursday. Did you enjoy the carnival games, food, prizes, and laughs, Mounties?

Eugene Mahmoud, Mt. SAC professor of engineering, won the American Society of Engineering Education Pacific Southwest Section Outstanding Two-Year College Teaching Award for 2026. This award recognizes engineering and engineering technology faculty at two-year colleges who demonstrate sustained excellence in teaching and commitment to student success: https://www.mtsac.edu/newsroom/announcements/posts/2026_5_20_asee_award_professor_mahmoud.html

Mt. SAC Day at the L.A. County Fair is Saturday, May 23, and tickets are on sale now. Students can purchase a specially priced ticket for $15. To plan your visit, go to https://www.lacountyfair.com/specialevents/ and use code LACFMTSAC26.

Do you need help to finish strong during the 2026 Spring Semester? Free tutoring is available at any of our tutoring centers to help you accelerate your learning, enhance your skills, and elevate your academic success. For more information, visit https://www.mtsac.edu/tutoringcenters/.

In honor of Classified Employee Appreciation Week, Mt. SAC managers hosted a special lunch to celebrate our incredible classified professionals. Managers personally covered the cost of the event, served the meals, and bused the tables. Employees enjoyed barbecue, cake, raffle prizes, and time together in recognition of the hard work and dedication they bring to campus every day.