Los Rios Alumni Collective Newsletter – Winter 2025
We are grateful for your support and engagement.
Wishing you a joyful holiday and wonderful new year.
As the year comes to a close, we’re celebrating the strength, resilience, and accomplishments of our Los Rios alumni community. Whether you graduated recently or many years ago, you continue to shape our region and inspire our students. We hope this holiday season brings you warmth, joy, and time to recharge. Thank you for staying connected and for being part of our enduring legacy.
Nick Manko (center) and his family at the recent ARC Nursing Pinning Ceremony.
A Family Tradition in Caring: ARC Nursing Alumni Nick Manko
When Nick Manko walked into his first day of nursing school at American River College, he was understandably anxious. But by the end of that first day, things began to click.
Crafting Success at ARC’s CTE (Career and Technical Education) Hub
Sacramento's major media outlets were on hand to celebrate the September 17, 2025 opening of ARC's new epicenter of hands-on learning, the CTE (Career and Technical Education) building. Check out the KCRA story!
Behind the Scenes with CRC Alum Fernando Aguilar
When Fernando Aguilar first came to Cosumnes River College, he wasn’t sure where he was headed. But through supportive faculty and hands-on film and media projects, he found both his confidence and his calling. Now a proud CRC alum working behind the scenes at major productions, Fernando’s journey shows how opportunity and mentorship can shape a career.
Read Fernando's CRC Success Story
CRC Music Professor Kurt Erickson Awarded Prestigious Grant
The California Arts Council award will support a partnership he created with the San Francisco VA Medical Center and San Francisco’s LIEDER ALIVE!, offering a three-month program using art-making practice to help veterans battling PTSD and trauma. Kurt's creative team includes internationally renowned poet/Iraq War veteran Brian Turner and Tony-nominated actor/director Will Chase - this spring, they will be working alongside VA clinicians, social workers, and therapists. For the past three years, Kurt has been steadily moving his art-making practice into service, both with veterans and more generally in mental health advocacy.
Falcon Pride in STEM: Nicole Shuman Making an Impact
FLC alumna Nicole Shuman is proving just how far curiosity and persistence can take you in STEM. What began as a drive to strengthen her math skills at Folsom Lake College evolved into a remarkable path through engineering, innovation, and education. After transferring to UC Davis and earning her master’s degree, Nicole now works as a materials engineer while teaching and inspiring the next generation of makers at FLC.
Update: We Are Falcon Proud!
For the 3rd year in a row, the Folsom Lake College Women's Soccer team advanced to the 3C2A State Championship Final Four! The back-to-back reigning State Champion Falcons traveled to Saddleback College in Mission Viejo to face Golden West College today, Friday, December 5, in an intense State Semifinal match. The game was a nail-biter, remaining scoreless through two overtimes before heading into a shootout, where Golden West edged out the Falcons 4-2. While the Falcons didn’t advance to the Championship this time, we couldn’t be prouder of the incredible effort from our players and coaching staff. A huge thank you to everyone who supported the team both on and off the field throughout this spectacular season! Go Falcons!
SCC Alumni Spotlight: Steve Wittmann
We are proud to feature Sacramento City College alumnus Steve Wittmann, whose remarkable journey spans six decades of learning, activism, public service, and now, returning to SCC as an art student. In a deeply thoughtful Q&A, Steve reflects on arriving at City College in 1967, finding his voice during a period of national change, and carrying those lessons into a lifetime of advocacy and civic engagement.
Steve shares how SCC became part of his family’s story, how the campus community helped shape his early adulthood, and how the values he learned here continue to guide him. Today, he gives back as a supporter of the Student Emergency Fund, driven by a belief that no student should lose their educational path because of an unexpected crisis.
Pending Sacramento City College Program Enhancement Will Address National Air Traffic Controller Shortage
Sacramento City College is on the brink of launching a groundbreaking training pathway to help tackle the national shortage of air traffic controllers. With support from local leaders and the FAA, SCC is working toward becoming one of the first Enhanced Air Traffic‑Collegiate Training Initiative (AT‑CTI) programs on the West Coast — meaning students could complete their full training and certification right here at SCC and move directly into FAA careers without relocating. This innovative program not only expands access to a high‑impact aviation career but also strengthens our region’s role in addressing a nationwide workforce need.
Join Us in Making a Difference
Giving Opportunity for Los Rios Alumni
As a proud Los Rios alum, you know the life-changing impact of a community college education. Today, you can give back and support students at one of our four incredible colleges—American River, Cosumnes River, Folsom Lake, or Sacramento City. Your gift, no matter the size, helps provide scholarships, funds special projects of the college, supports outreach and communication with other alumni, and makes programs and services that foster and promote student success possible.
Make your impact today.
Share Your Story!
Are you an alum of one of the Los Rios colleges? Whether you walked in graduation or just took a few classes that made an impact, we'd love to hear from you! Share your experiences with us and you could be featured in one of our student profiles.