*Colton Courier 05/29/25

COLTON COURIER WWe

Inland Regional Center Leads Research to Help Police Better Engage Californians with Autism & Disabilities

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CSUSB Entrepreneurship School and Entrepreneurship

Renamed in Honor of Randall W. Lewis Pg. 3

SB City Schools Break Ground on $20M Public Safety Building Honoring Assemblymember

James C. Ramos

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Inland Empire Community Newspapers

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Andrea Feodorov, 72, an English major, waits on S E Street for her family to pick her up after graduating with honors from SBVC, speaking with IECN about her journey back to school.

By Manny Sandoval

San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) celebrated a milestone 99th commencement ceremony on Friday, May 23, at San Manuel Stadium—home of the Inland Empire 66ers—where a recordbreaking 1,765 students earned associate degrees or certificates, with nearly half receiving two or more.

The commencement, which began at 9 a.m., opened with a presentation by the Colton High School Color Guard and a powerful rendition of the National Anthem by student alumna Jessi Rachel Ko. With more than 800 graduates walking the stage and an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 family members and supporters in the stands, the two-hour ceremony drew such a crowd that the entry line at one point stretched all the way to South G Street.

SBVC President Gilbert J. Contreras delivered a rousing keynote, celebrating the diversity, resilience, and academic excellence of the Class of 2025—the largest graduating

class in SBVC’s history.

“Class of 2025, you are truly special. Almost half of our graduates are earning two or more degrees. Many of you are the first in your families to earn a college degree,” Contreras said.

“Our graduates today include veterans, undocumented students, those living with disabilities, mothers, fathers, housinginsecure individuals, and those returning to school. You are as diverse as the communities we live in.”

“We remind the world that diversity still matters. San Bernardino still matters,” he continued. “We accept 100 percent of the best and brightest at SBVC. You are a story of success in one of the most uncertain times in world history. You are a story of hope—hope that our graduates will elevate this nation based on truth and love.”

“Have the courage to be you— throughout life, choose to counter untruth with truth. Don’t allow fake news—or fake news about fake news—to confuse

By Dr. G (Dr. Luis S. González), community writer

The Colton City Council formally recognized 17 high school student leaders during its recent council meeting and proclaimed May 20 as Colton Student Leadership Day.

The students, representing a diverse range of school programs including Band, Culinary Arts, HEAL (Health Education and Leadership), Wellness, Yearbook, Auto Shop, Welding, and Graphic Communications, were honored with certificates of recognition for their demonstrated excellence in leadership.

Each student was introduced by Dr. Luis S. González, founder of the Youth Leadership Program, who announced their name, program affiliation, and post-graduation plans. Family members, teachers, and community members were present to celebrate the honorees.

The Youth Leadership Program, launched in 2016, aims to highlight students nominated by educators for leadership and excellence within their respective programs.

The 2025 student leadership honorees are:

Sarah Bautista, Culinary Arts – plans to attend San Bernardino Valley College, majoring in Culinary Arts.

Anthony Castellanos, HEAL Program – will attend Chaffey College, majoring in Anesthesiology.

Kaeley Diaz, Band – plans to study Criminology at Cal Poly Pomona.

Hailey Dubon, Wellness Program – will attend Cal State Fullerton, majoring in Business.

Emily Estrada, Culinary Arts – plans to study Business

Administration at SBVC.

Sienna Fernandez, Band – will pursue Music Composition at SBVC.

Alejandra Gomez, Wellness Program – plans to attend Chaminade University of Honolulu to major in Zoology.

Joceline Lopez, HEAL Program – will study Psychology at UC Riverside.

Ash Mendoza, Yearbook – plans to major in Criminal Justice at SBVC.

SBVC Graduation (cont.)

- you. Push back against all doubt.”

Contreras also acknowledged the Indigenous roots of the college’s location, stating:

“Our histories and stories are intertwined in this space. By sharing them in culturally appropriate ways, San Bernardino Valley College commits to honor, celebrate, and provide awareness of our Indigenous neighbors and partners,” he said, recognizing the ancestral homeland of the Serrano people.

Chancellor Diana Z. Rodriguez of the San Bernardino Community College District followed with words of encouragement and a challenge to pay their educational experience forward.

“SBVC belongs to you. Valley College is your home away from home. You belong here and you will always belong here,” said Rodriguez. “You can come back at any time—for professional development classes or to visit your favorite professors. Because once a Wolverine, always a Wolverine.”

“Find one person who thinks college isn’t for them and show them that it is. Bring them to Valley College, show them around, and help them believe that they also belong here.”

This year’s commencement also highlighted major academic achievements:

278 students graduated with highest honors

223 students earned a 4.0 GPA

56 student veterans received degrees

45 seniors from Middle College High School earned an associate degree or higher

Graduates hailed from across the Inland Empire, with the top five cities represented being San Bernardino, Rialto, Highland, Colton, and Fontana.

The theme of opening doors for others—creating opportunity and access—resonated throughout the event, with speakers encouraging students to uplift their communities and be a source of inspiration.

Among the ceremony’s most notable speakers was Jesse Chavez-Cordova, a graduating student, community advocate, and former two-term city council member for the City of Highland. In 2016, Chavez-Cordova made history as the youngest openly gay, first-generation Latino elected to public office in Highland, serving eight years before stepping down in November 2024 to finish his education at SBVC.

Student Leaders (cont.)

- Edith Orta, Yearbook – will attend SBVC; major undecided.

Ignacio Parra, Auto Shop – plans to study Nursing at Riverside City College.

Ghael Resaid Pasos, Auto Shop – will pursue a Business degree at SBVC.

Abel Perez, Welding – plans to major in Welding at

He is now preparing to transfer to California State University, San Bernardino, where he will major in Strategic Communications with a Pre-Law minor.

Chavez-Cordova credited SBVC for helping him “find his voice, his direction, and the confidence to lead with purpose.”

Another graduate who embodied the ceremony’s spirit of perseverance was Andrea Feodorov, a 72-year-old English major from Hemet, who graduated with honors. A native of New York, Feodorov said she chose to enroll at SBVC after being diagnosed with cancer.

“You’re never too old for school,” she said. “I got diagnosed with cancer and had two choices—watch reruns of Green Acres or go to school. I chose school.”

Feodorov credited Creative Writing with Mary Copeland as her favorite class and expressed appreciation for mentor Judy Joshua at UC Riverside, where she will now pursue her bachelor’s degree, followed by a master’s and launching her own business.

As SBVC nears its 100th anniversary, the Class of 2025 stands as a living legacy—resilient, bold, and ready to lead.

Melany Jimenez Prado, Graphic Communications –plans to major

Anthony Reveles, Welding – a junior preparing for senior year after summer school.

Dr. González emphasized the importance of preparing young people for adulthood through meaningful leadership opportunities and academic engagement. “The more experiences they have in their academic and social environments, the better prepared they are to be knowledgeable, competent, and productive adult citizens,” he said.

Public Safety & Education

Inland Regional Center Leads Research to Help Police Better Engage Californians

with Autism and Disabilities

Community News

Inland Regional Center (IRC), in partnership with the Autism Society Inland Empire (ASIE), the Fontana Police Department, San Bernardino County Fire, and American Medical Response (AMR), is proud to announce the launch of the Blue Envelope Program Statewide Research Project: Assessing Law Enforcement Training, Family Engagement, and Community-Informed Program Development.

This groundbreaking initiative aims to evaluate the feasibility of expanding a locally developed, community-driven safety model to communities across California.

Originally launched in San Bernardino County in October 2024 with support from a Language Access and Cultural Competency (LACC) grant awarded by the California Department of Developmental Services (DDS), the Blue Envelope Program is a voluntary, privacy-preserving initiative created to improve interactions between law enforcement and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD)—including autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and intellectual disability (IQ below 70)—as well as those who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH).

Developed in partnership by IRC, ASIE, and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, the Blue Envelope Program features a physical blue envelope for drivers, along with optional logo-branded items such as seatbelt covers, bracelets, car decals, keychains, and lanyards for broader community accessibility.

These tools are designed to support communication during traffic stops or other interactions with law enforcement, promote safety for both officers and individuals, and encourage more appropriate, person centered responses for people with diverse needs.

The San Bernardino model is distinguished by its person-centered approach, comprehensive training for parents, caregivers, vendors, and individuals with I/DD, and its strong commitment to privacy. Supported through the LACC grant, the program also prioritizes cultural and linguistic responsiveness assuring that all materials and trainings are accessible and reflective of the diverse communities served.

All materials are self managed by the individual or their family, with no personal data collected or stored—preserving au-

CSUSB Entrepreneurship School and Entrepreneurship Renamed in Honor of Randall W. Lewis

Community News

The California State University Board of Trustees has approved the renaming of the CSUSB School of Entrepreneurship and Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship to the Randall W. Lewis School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the Randall W. Lewis Center for Entrepreneurship.

The school and center are part of Cal State San Bernardino’s Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration. The CSU trustees gave its formal approval when it met on May 21.

Randall W. Lewis, executive vice president for marketing with The Lewis Group of Companies and a recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from CSUSB in 2021, has gifted the school and center with $6 million.

doers — individuals who will shape the future of our region and beyond. I’m honored to be part of a university that is committed to access, equity, and the entrepreneurial spirit."

As Mike Stull, professor and school director as well as program director for the Randall W. Lewis Entrepreneurship Center, said when the School of Entrepreneurship was established in the fall of 2020, “Becoming the first School of Entrepreneurship in the state of California enables us to extend our existing brand as a top entrepreneurship program and continue to be an innovator both locally and within the CSU system with regard to entrepreneurship education.” Stull added, “Potential students will be drawn to CSUSB as we practice what we preach – innovation, growth and applying the entrepreneurial mindset to achieve impact.”

tonomy while fostering safer, more respectful interactions between public safety professionals and the disability community.

Research Objectives

This research effort builds on the successful San Bernardino pilot and aims to assess the program’s broader implementation potential across California. Key goals include:

• Evaluating gaps in law enforcement and first responder training related to I/DD and DHH populations.

• Documenting lived experiences of individuals with I/DD, caregivers, and families during emergency encounters.

• Identifying tools, training models, and outreach strategies that can be effectively replicated statewide.

• Developing recommendations for scalable, culturally responsive, and privacy preserving versions of the Blue Envelope Program.

Call for Partners

Inland Regional Center and the Autism Society Inland Empire are inviting statewide participation from public safety agencies, Regional Center vendors, community-based organizations, individuals who identify as having an intellectual or developmental disability, members of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community, and their families to take part in this research initiative. Participants will play a key role in shaping emerging best practices and contributing to data collection through surveys and feedback sessions.

For more information or to get involved, please contact community@inlandrc.org.

This initiative marks a vital step toward expanding a proven, community-informed model that advances safety, equity, and dignity for Californians of all abilities.

This research effort is independent and not affiliated with any past, current, or proposed legislation. Inland Regional Center does not support or oppose any legislative efforts related to the Blue Envelope concept at the state level.

The endowed gift and irrevocable estate gift aim to empower the Randall W. Lewis School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation to broaden its transformative impact across the university and throughout the region. The school will continue to champion interdisciplinary approaches to entrepreneurial thinking and practice, engaging all academic colleges and administrative divisions in advancing a culture of innovation and opportunity.

“As I said back in 2021, through his nearly 50-year career in the real estate industry as well as through his extensive community leadership and service, Randall Lewis has become a wellknown and widely respected business leader and philanthropist,” said CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales. “His ongoing support of the students and programs at CSUSB is literally transforming lives. And now, through this gift, our student-entrepreneurs will have both an inspiration for their own achievements along with the security of knowing their study will be sustained well into the future.”

Lewis said his gift was about the future. “I’ve always believed that the best investments we can make are in people and ideas,” he said. “Supporting the School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Cal State San Bernardino is an opportunity to help empower the next generation of creative thinkers and

The Randall W. Lewis Center for Entrepreneurship operates three Entrepreneurial Resource Centers in Palm Desert, San Bernardino and Temecula, in order to better serve the people of the Inland Empire.

“The Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration strives to serve as an innovator,” said Dean Tomás Gómez-Arías. “We are already recognized as a leader in business education globally. The naming of the School of Entrepreneurship, along with the Center for Entrepreneurship, underscores the excellence of what we offer not only to the people of Inland Southern California, but also throughout our state.”

Lewis oversees sales and marketing operations for the Upland-based Lewis Group of Companies, started by his parents as a home building firm in 1955. Today, it is among the nation’s largest privately held real estate development companies.

The Lewis Group focuses on developing mixed-use planned communities and residential subdivisions in California and Nevada, as well as building and owning rental communities, shopping centers, and office and industrial parks.

Full story at IECN.com.

San Bernardino City Schools Break Ground on $20M Public Safety Building Honoring

Assemblymember James C. Ramos

Community News

The San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) officially broke ground on a new Public Safety Building named in honor of California State Assemblymember James C. Ramos, a proud attendee of San Bernardino schools and lifelong advocate for public safety and passionate supporter of culturally responsive education.

The SBCUSD Board of Education unanimously approved the naming of the facility during its regular meeting on May 20, recognizing Ramos’s lasting impact on the community and his deeprooted commitment to the District’s students, families and staff. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on April 7 and was attended by school District Police as well as representatives of state, regional and city law enforcement agencies.

“This is more than a building–it’s a promise to our students and community that safety, inclusion and student success will always come first,” said SBCUSD Superintendent Mauricio Arellano. “Naming this facility after Assemblymember Ramos honors not only his public service, but his ongoing presence in our schools and unwavering dedication to making every student feel safe, seen and supported.”

Assemblymember Ramos currently serves as Chair of the California State Assembly Committee on Budget, Subcommittee No. 6 on Public Safety, which provides oversight of public safety efforts statewide. The naming of the facility holds personal meaning for Ramos, whose family has always served in various roles that support education and public safety.

“I am deeply honored and humbled by the decision to name this Public Safety building after me,” said Assemblymember James C. Ramos. “Ensuring the safety and well-being of our students has always been one of my highest priorities. A secure

learning environment is essential for our young people to thrive, and this facility stands as a symbol of that commitment. I’ve spent my career advocating for the needs of students—fighting for resources, safer campuses, and stronger support systems—and I remain as dedicated as ever to their success. I thank Superintendent Mauricio Arellano, the San Bernardino City Unified School District Board of Education, the San Bernardino City Unified School District, and District Facilities Naming Committee for this incredible recognition and for their continued partnership in putting students first.”

Designed by Ruhnau Clarke Architects, the $20 million, 17,140 square-foot facility is being built by renowned contractor C.W. Driver and is expected to be completed in 2026.

The building serves as a key milestone in SBCUSD’s Vision 2030: SBCUSD SHINES, a strategic plan that prioritizes safe, welcoming learning environments where all students can thrive. It will also be the central hub for the SBCUSD Police Department and other emergency response operations. It will include a 24-hour communications center, emergency response coordination areas and space for staff training and student engagement initiatives.

As part of the District’s long-term vision, the Public Safety Building will also provide internship and career pathway opportunities for students interested in public service careers. The facility, conveniently located next to the City of San Bernardino Police Department, will allow for seamless collaboration between District and city law enforcement officials.

“The Assemblymember and his family exemplify public service,” said SBCUSD Board President Mayra Ceballos. “His dedication to public safety and equity is both personal and professional. He is a tireless champion for our schools, our students and our values.”