News Stories

For Nicholas Delgado, a chance stop at Crafton Hills College’s Career Center led him to the Most Magical Place on Earth—The Walt Disney World Resort.

Crafton Hills College has selected internationally acclaimed pianist and composer Stephen Prutsman as its 2025 Outstanding Alumnus. Prutsman attended Crafton in 1981, taking general education courses before transferring on to continue his studies. After Crafton, he enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles, and later earned a master’s degree and an artist diploma from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University.

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.

On September 23, the Extended Opportunity Programs & Services (EOPS) Department at Crafton Hills College hosted Little Hands, Big Creations, a family-friendly arts and crafts event open to the entire campus. In recognition of September as National Student Parent Appreciation Month, the EOPS Department invited families to enjoy a free meal, listen to fun music, and get creative together.

On Friday, September 19, Crafton Hills College (CHC) and the San Bernardino Community College District (SBCCD) proudly celebrated the grand opening of the new Finkelstein Performing Arts Center (PAC). The state-of-the-art, 24,000-square-foot facility replaces the original Finkelstein Performing Arts Center, which had housed the College’s theatre arts and music programs since 1978.

Crafton Hills College’s new Multi-Cultural Center, a renovation and re-purposing of the second floor of the old Student Services Building, was opened on Thursday, Sept 18 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that brought together faculty, staff, and students to celebrate the purpose of this space: to be a place on campus where everyone feels at home and where their cultural identities are valued, amplifying student voices and building a stronger campus community.

Each year, the One Book/One College program invites students, faculty, staff, and administrators to gather around a shared text that sparks dialogue, creativity, and community. The goal is simple yet powerful: to unite the campus through the exploration of equity, inclusion, and the human experience.

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.

The Crafton Hills College (CHC) Counseling Department has been recognized by California’s Career Ladders Project (CLP), an organization that partners with colleges “to discover, develop, and disseminate effective practices… [that] enable more students to attain certificates, degrees, transfers, and career advancement” (Career Ladders Project website).

On September 11, Crafton Hills College held the IMALIVE Mental Health Fair, a powerful event dedicated to mental health awareness and suicide prevention. The fair was hosted by Crafton’s Health and Wellness Center and Student Accessibility Center in collaboration with the IMALIVE suicide prevention network and “the world’s first virtual crisis center” (https://www.imalive.org/about). Attendees had the opportunity to engage in important conversations about mental health while learning about available resources.

Craton Hills College’s MESA Research Symposium, held on Sept. 11, in the Roadrunner Café, highlighted the accomplishments of students who completed an intensive 8-week summer research experience at Crafton Hills College, CSU San Bernardino, and UC Riverside.

Crafton Hills College Interim Associate Dean of Public Safety and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Paramedic Program Director Amanda Ward has been appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to the California Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Commission, which makes recommendations to the state on EMS system standards and policy. The announcement was made by the Governor's Office on Sept. 11.

On September 10, Crafton Hills College welcomed Cal State San Bernardino (CSUSB) admissions staff for the Spring 2026 Instant Admit event, held in the Crafton Center. The event gave students the unique opportunity to apply to CSUSB, receive immediate feedback on their application, and in many cases, walk away with their admission guaranteed.

Every student matters when they come to Crafton Hills College. That’s the message Mariana Macamay and her Transfer Center team conveyed on September 10, during the college’s annual Transfer Fair. More than a dozen college, university, and trade school representatives met with Roadrunners to discuss future student programming, extra curriculars, and transfer requirements.

On September 9, 2025, the quad at Crafton Hills College came alive with music, food, and excitement during the Fall Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) Open House. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., students gathered to enjoy complimentary lunch and to learn how EOPS can support them in their educational journey.

On September 5, the Crafton Hills College Honors Program hosted its annual Meet & Greet to welcome students for the new academic year. More than 50 new students joined the program over the summer, bringing total participation to over 150. The event drew more than 100 attendees.

On August 22, Crafton Hills College (CHC) faculty, staff, and administrators gathered for the fall in-service day with the unifying theme of wellness. The event featured workshops, keynote presentations, and student voices, all aimed at building a more compassionate, healing-centered campus environment.

Crafton Hills College added 21 new paramedics to the first responder workforce after they took that one final step: Graduation. On Aug. 22, the Yucaipa-based college recognized its 106th paramedic cohort during an hour-long ceremony inside the campus’s new Finkelstein Performing Arts Center, featuring music and words of encouragement.

Crafton Hills College was recently named an Advancing California Adult Education Model Program by the California Adult Education Program (CAEP) for its Crafton Leadership Academy for Student Success (CLASS). It honors the CLASS summer bridge program as one of the top initiatives in the state for helping adult learners transition to higher education.

For many Crafton Hills College students, anatomy and physiology means one name: Dr. Sam Truong. Since 2010, he has taught everything from ANAT 101 to advanced cadaver dissection while serving as faculty chair of Physical and Biological Sciences.

Just months after making history as the last program to graduate inside the old Finkelstein Performing Arts Center, Crafton Hills College’s Emergency Medical Technician program unlocked a new tradition on Aug. 19. The Yucaipa-based college’s graduation of its summer EMT cohort was celebrated in front of friends and family inside the brand-new Performing Arts Center, across from where the old PAC once stood.

On Thursday, August 14, in its Road Runner Café, Craton Hills College celebrated the academic accomplishments of its high-performing students and expressed its appreciation to the donors who fund student scholarships.

For Portia Henderson, Crafton Hills College is more than just a campus and classrooms—it’s a place to discover community. “You feel like it’s home,” she said between greeting new students during the college’s annual Roadrunner Rally on Aug. 12. “When I first started, I was always so nervous. But coming back to school 20 years later, no matter which department I worked with, everyone was just super helpful. And that’s one of the things that makes you feel like this is such a well put together type of community.”

As finishing touches are being made to Crafton Hills College’s new Finkelstein Performing Arts Center, the college is honoring its supporters for their contributions to the building. Among them is Elaine S. Rosen, an area attorney whose love for the stage still shines as she approaches her eightieth year.

For the third year in a row, the top community college in Region 9 for UC transfer admission rates celebrated a nearly 79% acceptance rate--driven by equity-focused support, student-centered practices, and standout success among Black and Latinx students.