This fall, Irvine Valley College proudly concluded a yearlong celebration marking four decades of educational excellence, innovation, and community impact. As we celebrated Founder’s Day on October 22, we took time to reflect not only on our humble beginnings but also on the remarkable journey that has shaped IVC into one of California’s premier community colleges.
Appointments can be conducted in-person, by phone, or virtually depending on the needs of the student.
Irvine Valley College (IVC) capped off its yearlong 40th anniversary celebration today with the premiere of Little College in the Orange Groves: 40 Years in the Making, a commemorative documentary capturing the people, milestones, and moments that have defined the college’s four decades of excellence.
On October 18, IVC’s award-winning Model United Nations (MUN) team attended the PACMUN conference at Riverside City College—and made history. The 35-member delegation earned seven awards, more than any other college and surpassing the team’s previous best. Awards included three Outstanding Delegate awards (first-place), two Distinguished Delegate awards (2nd place), two Honorable Mention awards (3rd place), and the Best Delegate award (peer-award).
Today, the Aspen Institute named Irvine Valley College (IVC) as one of the 200 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s premier recognition of high achievement and performance among two-year colleges. Started in 2010, this is the ninth cycle of the Aspen Prize.
For Garrett Shakstad, there is nothing more exciting than sharing a room with professors and students.
“A good teacher has a huge influence,” he says. “I love the learning process – and working with students to figure out a career path.”
In response to the California Assembly Bill 2193, Stop Campus Hazing Act, will require California Community colleges to annually train their incoming students on Hazing. The training includes components on identifying hazing, hazing prevention, and bystander intervention strategies. All incoming Students are required to complete the annual training within 9 months of the beginning of the academic year.
Director of Veterans Services Center, Dylan Bender represented IVC at two major conferences focused on veteran transition and success in higher education. At the 2025 Military Influencer Conference, Bender presented The Warrior’s Dilemma: Why Higher Education Is the New Front Line of Veteran Transition, emphasizing the pivotal role community colleges play in helping service members adjust to civilian and academic life.
Amid our recent celebratory events—such as Latinx Heritage Month and AANAPISI Week—the U.S. Department of Education announced it will withdraw $350 million in grant funding for Fiscal Year 2025. This funding supports many Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), including Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNHSIs), Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNTIs), and others.
Transfer Highlights
IVC Graduate Success Stories
Toby Cole, a dedicated Human Development major at Irvine Valley College, has left a powerful imprint on the IVC community through their commitment to social impact, creative expression, and student support. A proud graduate of Northwood High School in Irvine, Toby chose to major in Family and Human Services with a focus on Disability Studies, driven by a deep desire to support and uplift others—particularly children navigating medical and emotional challenges.
This fall, Toby will transfer to the University of Oregon to continue their studies in Family and Human Services, with plans to pursue a master’s degree and become a child life specialist at a children’s hospital. Their long-term vision is rooted in empathy and a belief in the transformative power of care and advocacy.
Toby’s time at IVC has been defined by academic achievement, leadership, and creative engagement. They served as one of only five students selected to be PUENTE Student Ambassadors for 2024–25, worked as a tutor in the Writing Center, and actively participated in PRIDE Scholars, the Latinx Student Association, and IVC’s vibrant creative writing community.
As a poet, Toby was chosen for a prestigious paid workshop with poet Sandra de Anda, sponsored by CHISPA OC—a community organization dedicated to Latinx voices and visibility. Toby also earned scholarships from both the IVC Foundation and the University of Oregon.
Their advice for future students is as heartfelt as it is empowering: “Don’t lose yourself in order to make yourself seem more palatable to other people. Allow yourself to feel. Allow yourself breaks. If something isn’t sustainable for you in the long term, think about what is. What change can you make to make things more manageable? My biggest advice is to rethink how you see education. How wonderful it is for you to even be here! You wanting to learn is your biggest strength. Don’t forget that curiosity and drive for learning. Sometimes you will feel discouraged or feel like the person you are is not compatible with higher education. I need every future student to know that they do belong! There are so many people just like you in higher education classrooms across the country and across the world. Maybe you haven’t seen people like you, or who share interests with you, but trust me, they are there. Stand out! Be rambunctious! Be visible and loud in what you’re passionate about. Because someone, somewhere, is looking for you. You’re exactly where you need to be.”
