Education in Lake County

EDUCATION IN LAKE COUNTY

BY APRIL STRAIT AT THE BLUE ZONES

Here in Lake County, not only do we play hard (with so many outdoor recreational choices in the heart of Wine County, how can we not?), but we also take our higher education seriously. Lake County is home to two community colleges: Woodland Community College and Mendocino Community College. Both offer programs for students looking to start a new career path and those looking to learn for personal enrichment.

You’ll find the Mendocino College Lake Center in Lakeport at the corner of Highway 29 and Highway 175. This campus is bright, tree-lined, and welcoming. The friendly staff will gladly help you get started on your dream education. Choose from several certificates and degrees they offer, including agriculture, automotive, welding, counseling, medical, business, and the arts. But something unique about the Mendocino College Lake Center is that they also offer options for those who might want to take a class just for fun. Want to brush up on your piano skills? They have a class for all levels of learners; the same goes for art. Have you dreamed of writing your memoir? Take their creative writing class and make that dream a reality. All of these classes are designed for personal enrichment and are offered at a minimal cost of $15 per course.

South Lake County is proudly home to Woodland Community College in the heart of Clearlake. Woodland Community College Clearlake takes pride in its numerous STEM class offerings and multiple certifications, giving you a head start in pursuing a dream education. But around Lake County, they are famed for their culinary program. This program has produced several of the top local chefs and continues to showcase its strength. Plus, it offers a great opportunity to see the skills these new chefs are learning. During the semester, Woodland Community College Clearlake opens up its culinary classroom and restaurant on campus, known as Aroma’s Cafe. Each week, they offer a unique variety of classic, fine-dining, and ethnic dishes, all at reasonable prices. And not only do they provide an exceptional array of cuisines to choose from, but also espresso and steller desserts. Hey, it’s a culinary classroom, after all. And if you time it right, you can complete your delicious meal with a slice of carrot cake. Check to see if it’s cake week at the school, and you’ll be amazed.

Our community takes pride in our colleges, and it’s reflected in our programs, educators, and administrators. Woodland Community College Clearlake’s Dean of Students, Korinda Ebenhack, states this overarching philosophy well: “Student success is at the core of everything we do so everyone feels welcome. Our goal is for the students to feel like their education is an important endeavor, which creates new community partnerships. These partnerships allow even more students to engage in programs that our residents want and need.” These colleges are at the heart of Lake County and reflect the strength of our community and the opportunity for students to create a new, brighter future.