IVC kicked off the celebration of Black History Month in February with the introduction of the Black Student Success Scholars (BSSS) program. BSSS is a new program started by IVC Counselors Heather Johnson and Taliah Chatterfield. The mission of the program is to connect students from the African Diaspora to experience Black Excellence through a safe and welcoming environment.

Hasim Sevinc took a step into the business world while he was a student at IVC and hasn’t stopped since. In 2019, while studying at IVC, he started his own company, Ephesus, that specializes in mobility scooters and electric wheelchairs. He transferred to UCLA in 2020 and will graduate this winter with his degree in economics.  

Hasim, who is the eldest son of an immigrant family, says he was driven to start his own company as a means to provide a stable future for he and his loved ones. 

From elementary school librarian to scene-setter for high-profile Disney projects, Stephanie Frazier’s career journey itself could be mistaken for the plot of a classic Disney story.

A detail-oriented model maker working in scenic fabrication for Disney, Frazier’s story began in the stacks. And while the aspiring artist always had designs on something grander, the result was something she could never have imagineered.

Ben Franklin once said, “Energy and persistence conquers all things.” This quote couldn’t ring truer for Dilara Abudureman’s experience at Irvine Valley College.

When Abudureman came to the United States in 2016, she was looking for more than an education — she was looking for an opportunity. She began her studies by earning her bachelor’s degree in music at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in Shanghai, China. After graduating, Abudureman knew she wanted to aim higher.

IVC hosted a community holiday and networking event for Tech Coast Venture Network (TCVN) at the Performing Arts Center in December. TCVN, in collaboration with IVC's Entrepreneurship Department, has created a partnership to provide opportunities to IVC students through workshops, networking events, internships, and complimentary attendance to their monthly events.