Greetings!

After the summer break, the LPC Foundation Newsletter is back with another exciting edition for 2012! This quarterly update is designed to keep you connected with the College and the Foundation's shared goal of building a brighter future together. As members of our campus and regional communities, you are vital to our success.

Las Positas College serves the entire Tri-Valley region from its campus in Livermore. The College educates students for transfer to four-year universities and colleges and for technical and vocational careers, while also offering life-long learning opportunities for continuous education.

The Las Positas College Foundation works to further those goals by developing resources that support the College and, equally important, informing the regional community about the College by promoting its opportunities, resources, and benefits.

Candy Wager

In this edition of our LPC Foundation newsletter, we feature second-year student Candy Wager who has benefitted from the Foundation's Textbook Challenge Project that underwrites the student-run Textbook Loaner Program.

"This program has helped me with my education," said Wager, who grew up in Tracy. "I came to Las Positas originally as a music major, and after my first year I was accepted into the Berklee College of Music."

However, due to high tuition costs at the prestigious Boston music school, Wager was unable to attend and instead chose to continue her education at Las Positas College where she changed her major to Cognitive Science.

"I'm now planning to attend U.C. Berkeley," she said. "The Textbook Loaner Program has helped aid my transition and saved me over $350."

The Las Positas College Foundation Textbook Challenge provides students the opportunity to borrow textbooks, saving hundreds of dollars. A single text often costs in excess of $100 and can exceed $400. Managed by the Associated Students of Las Positas College, "the loaner program" started in the Fall Semester 2009 and permits use of textbooks for a full semester for a fee of just $30 per text with a two book limit. Foundation supporters have given over $80,000 to make the program possible.

Wager adds that support from the program has helped many other students on campus and has encouraged her "to continue pursuing my evolving dream." 

Additional funds are always needed to purchase new and replacement texts to assist Las Positas College students to save by borrowing. For more details about the Textbook Challenge, go to the Foundation web site, www.lpcfoundation.org, and look for "Signature Programs" under the "Investing in LPC" tab.

We are pleased to report that the Las Positas College Foundation's annual fundraiser was a grand success. It netted approximately $90,000. Known as BEST of the BEST, the gala took place in April and featured student presentations of dance, vocal, music, and interpretive speaking. Attendees enjoyed gourmet food and fine local wine, and during the evening, local civic leaders-who are among the BEST of the BEST in our communities-were honored:

John B. Shirley, D.V.M.

Former Mayor of Livermore, WW II veteran and POW

Charlene and Mitch Sigman

Founders, School of Imagination, Dublin

Nick Tooliatos, Esq.

Major General, US Army Reserve, Pleasanton

(Click to see the online album)

The evening began with guests tasting vintages from 12 Livermore Valley wineries and delicious hors d'oeuvres presented by ten exceptional Tri-Valley restaurants in the elegant Barbara Fracisco Mertes Center for the Arts on the Las Positas College campus.

Mid-way through the evening, the guests moved from the reception to the theater for the performing arts and community awards portion of the evening. The evening was capped off with a dessert and champagne celebration of the college and the honorees.

We thank everyone who attended the BEST of the BEST and made the evening a success by investing in OUR Community's College. In the current economic environment of reduced state funding of higher education, this support is critically important to maintaining LPC's stellar reputation of a high transfer rate to four-year institutions and quality vocational/technical training.

Janet Lockhart

Each year, Las Positas College selects a community member as its Friend of the College. The recipient is someone who has made a significant contribution to LPC's educational mission. In 2009, that individual was past LPC Foundation Chair, Janet Lockhart.

Janet was first elected to the Dublin City Council in November of 1996. She served as Vice Mayor of the City of Dublin from 1998 until her appointment as Mayor in October of 2001. She was re-elected Mayor three times; terming out of office in December, 2008.

Prior to her election to the City Council, Janet was a small businesswoman and served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, serving as President of the Chamber Board in 1995.

As a current board member of the Las Positas College Foundation, Janet has always had a place in her heart for public education. In fact, she was a founding member of Dublin Partners in Education, an educational non-profit organization where she now serves as Executive Director.

Janet's participation on regional boards related to transportation, waste management, local land planning and historic preservation have all provided her with the information and experience necessary to make a difference for our regional community.

Please join the campus community in recognizing Janet for her commitment and support of LPC and leadership of its Foundation. If you feel strongly about supporting for California higher education - and Las Positas College in particular - contact Ted Kaye to discuss ways in which you can work with the Foundation to bring to life the college motto: Students First!