Crafton Hills College Renames Crafton Hall After Longtime Volunteer and Donor Barbara L. Smith

Publish Date: Sept. 12, 2025

At Crafton Hills College, what was once old is new again—thanks to the generosity and enduring commitment of Barbara L. Smith.

During a special Preview Party and Naming Ceremony on September 12, the Yucaipa-based college officially renamed the building formerly known as Crafton Hall in honor of Smith, a longtime volunteer, donor, and friend of the college.

While the building has undergone major renovations, Smith’s gift was not tied to the remodel. Instead, her donation is an unrestricted investment to support students, providing vital resources to help them overcome unexpected challenges on their academic journey.

“We’re so grateful for Barbi’s decision to make this gift,” said Crafton President Dr. Kevin Horan. “It is an investment that enables us as a college to meet students where they are. It creates an unrestricted endowment to meet student needs when they face obstacles they can’t anticipate.”

Smith, a former Crafton student herself, attended the college during its early years. At the ceremony, her longtime friend Christopher Palmer fondly recalled her enrollment in Crafton’s snow skiing class in the 1970s—when students practiced on a hill covered with tiny pellets.

After completing a bachelor’s degree in recreation from Cal State Los Angeles and an MBA from Cal State San Bernardino, Smith worked nearly three decades in parks and recreation before opening her own Yucaipa-based business helping people enroll in Medicaid.

She joined the Crafton Hills College Foundation in 2018, where one of her first responsibilities was reading student scholarship applications. The stories she encountered made a lasting impression.

“I had no idea that in my little town of Yucaipa so many youth and young adults had experienced such difficult times,” Smith said. “The Foundation provides relief to these types of unfortunate situations, and I am so impressed with all the wonderful and outstanding opportunities offered by Crafton Hills College to students living in our local communities.”

Now serving as vice president of the Foundation’s board of directors, Smith continues to champion student success through her leadership and generosity.

The ceremony concluded with a champagn toast—a Crafton tradition marking new beginnings—and the unveiling of the building’s new name: The Barbara L. Smith Event Center. Guests then enjoyed self-guided tours of the updated facility, which now features a state-of-the-art sound system, a massive video wall, an expanded prep kitchen, and new Foundation headquarters, complete with offices, storage, and a break room.

The refreshed space retains its 1970s charm, including its iconic indoor stairwell, while offering modern amenities for both students and the community. Soon, the college will make the center available for public rentals for anniversaries, birthdays, and other milestone celebrations.