July Newsletter
We are celebrating International Intern Day in July! To mark the occasion, we’re highlighting an SFCC student who’s passion for art excelled through a hands-on internship. We are also recognizing board member Debby Everett, who has brought her years of experience and passion to her work with the Foundation.
Summer in Santa Fe is in full swing and whether you’re looking for a movie on the lawn or an exciting concert, we’ve rounded up not-to-be-missed events here.
Where Passion Meets Opportunity
For students at Santa Fe Community College, the PILAS (Programa de Internos, Los Alamos) Program is an opportunity to work at an internship for both school credit and an hourly wage. For many students in higher education, some of the most important learning experiences happen outside the classroom. For Esperanza Chavarria, this rings especially true due to her experience in the PILAS program.
Esperanza is a fine arts major who is getting her certificate in ceramics at Santa Fe Community College. She’s from Las Vegas, New Mexico and has a knack for mastering different art types and skills.
She participated in the PILAS program, which matches students with internships at work places in Santa Fe for an hourly rate and academic credit. Through hands-on experience, the program builds confidence and teaches students invaluable soft and hard skills preparing them for the workforce.
Working at Paseo Pottery, Esperanza learned the importance of honing a new style of art. Putting in hard work, she cleaned, recycled clay, and loaded kilns. Learning about the back-end work that goes into running and maintaining a studio gave Esperanza the skills and confidence to teach her own hand-building classes.
“I’ve always wanted to learn how an art studio runs,” says Esperanza. “I learned about the craft of pottery, but also how to run a business.”
Using her new skill set through her PILAS internship, Esperanza continues to learn about herself while strengthening her craft and knowledge.
“Teaching hand building classes gave me the opportunity to practice public speaking,” she explains. “Working in the background of the studio taught me skills, like staying organized and collaboration.”
The PILAS program brings real-life work experiences to students as they navigate their educational careers. Countless students have learned about what they want after graduation because of the real world skills that they’ve gained through their internship experiences. Paid, hands-on learning opportunities are essential to college students, helping guide their future career choices while teaching them the importance of workplace involvement.
From the Classroom to the Boardroom
The Santa Fe Community College Foundation Board of Directors is committed to making decisions that help students thrive on their academic journey. Its members come from diverse backgrounds, bringing their unique experiences together to create opportunities that support student success. Debby Everett is no exception. A longtime community college advocate and instructor, she brings passion and heart to her work on the board.
Teaching Human Development and Early Childhood Education at three community colleges in Northern California, Debby discovered her passion for supporting and encouraging students.
“I realized the benefits of community colleges. We offer small classes, but big support”, she emphasizes. “Community colleges really do serve the community”.
From the students feeling held by their community to finding a meaningful career path, Debby witnessed students thrive and come into their own at community college. She believes her experiences allow her to advocate for students in a way that is both impactful and deeply understanding of their needs.
Frequently praising the many opportunities found through community colleges, Debby says, “Community college really offers security, an easy transition to higher ed, and courses that universities don’t offer, like trade courses.”
She explains, “Many students go from a community college right to a job. There is a shorter path to employment, which I think is really valuable.”
During her two years of serving on the board, Debby has witnessed both the impact of the Foundation and the care behind each decision. At every board meeting, “we learn what students need help with, and the board will vote on something or decide to advocate for certain needs of students.”
Debby feels deeply grateful to make a difference in the lives of students through her work on the board. She enjoys learning about students who have been touched by the work of the Foundation.
Each year, Debby looks forward to visiting campus for events and open houses, saying, “It’s a phenomenally beautiful campus, and the artwork on all the walls blows me away. I love to go to the campus and see the incredible work the students are doing.”
Thank you for your continued support of our students. The work of the Foundation would not be possible without the generosity of donors like you. As we prepare for the start of the school year, we look forward to sharing inspiring stories of students beginning their educational journeys and pursuing their dreams with your help. Your ongoing support ensures that students have everything they need to start the year strong.
Kelly A. Marquez, MBA
Executive Director
kelly.marquez@sfcc.edu
