Student Trustees Join San Bernardino Community College District Board of Trustees

The San Bernardino Community College District (SBCCD) Board of Trustees welcomed newly elected Student Trustees Esmeralda Vazquez from Crafton Hills College and Thomas Robles from San Bernardino Valley College at their July board meeting. President Longville said, “Serving on the Board of Trustees provides both students with the opportunity to learn first-hand about balancing the needs of their various constituency groups against the constraints of the budget and competing priorities. They also will have wonderful opportunities for training in teamwork, leadership, planning and communication." SBCCD Chancellor Bruce Baron said, “We look forward to working with both Student Trustees and to providing them with an in-depth learning experience. Serving in this position allows them to identify specific issues that the students are interested in, to research those issues, and to offer policies and procedures for the Board to consider.” As a first generation college student, Crafton Hills College Student Trustee Esmeralda Vazquez was driven to become involved in and out of the classroom. She found her passion in advocating for students. Esmeralda is a political science major at Crafton Hills College and is working towards obtaining an education policy degree. Esmeralda served as the Student Senate Vice-President before being elected Student Trustee. In collaboration with the University of Redlands in 2014-2015, Esmeralda was part of the nationwide Elect-Her movement to empower young college women to become leaders on their campus and communities. As Student Trustee, Esmeralda hopes to empower students and ensure that their voices are amplified and heard. San Bernardino Valley College Student Trustee Thomas Robles is studying to become a teacher. As a local from the City of Colton, he hopes to one day become the mayor of the fair town that his great-grandparents helped develop. He is currently employed with the City of Colton as a Pool Manager and as a Senior Recreation leader for Colton's Community Services Department. He was the Associated Student Government President at SBVC for the 2014-2015 school year. As the new Student Trustee, Thomas hopes to continue to support, promote, and represent the associated student body at San Bernardino Valley College.