On June 12, FoundationCCC hosted the California Community Colleges Community Resource Student Ambassador End-of-Year Celebration, an inspiring virtual event honoring the passion, commitment, and achievements of student ambassadors statewide. The event brought together student ambassadors, college partners, and staff from across the California Community College system to reflect on a year of remarkable student-led impact. 

Since the program’s inception eight years ago, student ambassadors have reached over 1.9 million California community college students through peer-to-peer outreach, campus engagement, and student-led advocacy. That number is extraordinary, but behind that there are also thousands of other moments of connection and resourcefulness.

“Over the years, the program has grown from a resource outreach initiative into a statewide leadership and workforce development experience that really empowers students to become advocates, change makers, and future leaders.” — Cole Forstedt, Senior Director of Equity, FoundationCCC

Students Leading the Way

During the event, three student ambassadors shared their experiences and what the program has meant to them. Lesly Marenco from Mt. San Jacinto College, Vincent Shao from De Anza College, and Cindi Corrales from San Bernardino Valley College each brought a distinct experience to the celebration, but a common thread ran through all three stories: the power of genuine human connection.

Lesly built an ambassador presence from the ground up as her campus’s very first and only ambassador, growing her reach from a handful of students to nearly the entire campus community through creative programming and relentless in-person outreach. Vincent drew on a childhood shaped by his family’s immigration from Vietnam to fuel his passion for economic equity and community, hosting a financial empowerment webinar that drew over 80 students. Cindi described a deeply collaborative experience at San Bernardino Valley College, where a team of ambassadors worked in sync from day one, pooling ideas, sharing resources, and adapting fluidly to each other’s changing schedules throughout the year.

“It felt like this big community experience for me. We were bouncing ideas off each other — who can we talk to, who do you know on campus that I haven’t met yet that can help us bring this together?” — Cindi Corrales, CCC Student Ambassador, San Bernardino Valley College

Advisor of the Year

The celebration also recognized the staff and advisors who champion this work behind the scenes. This year’s Advisor of the Year Award was presented to Riham Shenouda, Manager of Basic Needs in the Office of Student Life and Leadership at Palomar College, in recognition of her dedication to student success and her commitment to the program’s mission on her campus.

The California Community Colleges Community Resources Student Ambassador Program, supported by FoundationCCC, trains and empowers students to serve as on-campus advocates who educate peers about essential resources like food and housing security, mental health services, and financial wellness programs. Through peer-to-peer outreach, ambassadors build awareness, reduce stigma, and increase access to public benefits and support that help students stay in school and succeed.

Learn more about the program >