Friendly competition, school spirit on display at second SBCCD Employee Olympics

Publish Date: Sept. 26, 2025

Each sporting event calls for three things: athleticism, a bit of drama, and plenty of (friendly) smack talk.

All three were on display during the second annual San Bernardino Community College District (SBCCD) Employee Olympics, a competition where faculty and staff from Crafton Hills College, San Bernardino Valley College and the District Office are invited to come together to compete, share laughs, form friendships and celebrate what makes the district special—its people.

“This is really just a wonderful event,” said District Chancellor Diana Z. Rodriguez during a break from competition inside the Crafton aquatics center on Sept. 26. “Everyone works so incredibly hard and it’s often difficult to find time where we can bring the entire district together.

“When we can do something like this that’s fun, everybody can be involved and there’s an event for everyone. It’s just a great opportunity for everyone to meet each other and to have some fun on a Friday afternoon,” she said.

Crafton President Kevin Horan came up with the idea for the event and served as master of ceremonies for this year’s games. When he was not leading the crowd into a frenzy of cheers and laughs, it was the job of Ryker and Blue—mascots for Crafton and Valley College, respectively—to ramp up the audience with dancing to tunes from the 1980s through today, and the ever-so-popular sporting mainstay, the wave.

As events unfolded, spectators were exuberant when their favorite competitor’s turn was up, especially during closing ceremonies when athletes from District Offices were awarded gold overall. Valley walked away with silver; Crafton earned bronze.

The District Games continue Friday, Oct. 17, at San Bernardino Valley College, 701 S. Mt. Vernon Ave., in San Bernardino. First round of competition begins at 1 p.m. In addition to lively games planned, the home college will also celebrate its centennial anniversary with a barbecue, memorabilia and so much more. There is no cost to attend.

“It is so important for us as a district to come together for activities like this,” Valley College President Gilbert J. Contreas said. “For us at Valley, we’re really trying to prioritize a guiding principle of advancing community, and this is advancing community at its best.”

Horan agreed.“It’s so much fun to see this type of community come together and just have community together. That was the main goal,” he said. “This has been an absolute blast.”

The San Bernardino Community College District trains and educates more than 20,000 annually at both Crafton and Valley College, serving much of the Inland Empire region including Big Bear, Bloomington and Rialto. 

To learn more, go to https://sbccd.edu/. 

To kickstart your Crafton or Valley College journey, visit https://www.craftonhills.edu/ or https://www.valleycollege.edu/ to apply.