Celebrating Our Achievements

“Make sure you spend as much time celebrating the achievement of goals as you do setting and accomplishing them.” – Scott Miller, Vice President, FranklinCovey

As Spring 2025 concludes and I reflect to combine all of my experiences into a few meaningful take-aways, what comes to mind is the unexpected combination of a conversation with two faculty and of a moment during training for leaders of our district.  In leadership training, based on materials provided by FranklinCovey, we heard the words “Make sure you spend as much time celebrating the achievement of goals as you do setting and accomplishing them.”  That’s easy enough to say, and the statement sounds like wise advice for a facilitator to relay, but do we give meaning to this statement at MJC?

Photo captions are at the end of this email.

The conversation with these two faculty centered on gratitude.  The three of us feel grateful for all of MJC’s accomplishments, and ultimately, we feel grateful to be part of the effort and to work here.  Specifically, our realizations were reinforced when we recounted conference travel that occurred during the last four months.  Off site, we heard how other colleges are carrying out any number of student success efforts and initiatives and realized that in many ways MJC is ahead of the game.

My schedule over the last two weeks is proof that MJC does, in fact, know how to celebrate.  The School of Science, Engineering, and Math’s award night; Ag’s Last Breakfast; the 8^th Annual Campus Life Gala; the very first MJC Black Excellence Celebration; and of course, MJC’s largest commencement ever are a few examples.  We also know how to celebrate each other, evidenced by Andrew Lazar’s and Derek Madden’s recent recognitions from students.  Additionally, Susie Woodhead was given the Village Award at the Campus Life Gala for her unwavering support and caring for student organizations.  Jacquelin Wingett was selected by the Board of Trustees as YCCD Classified Employee of the Year for “putting the needs of students, the School, and employees first.”  Andrew, Derek, Susie, and Jacqueline, MJC sees you! Do we work hard during the semester?  You bet we do.  But do we know how to celebrate?  Yeah. 

The existence of former Vice President of Instruction, Steve Collins, in part, explains my ability to write this message to you today.  In this very office, Steve offered me a tenure-track position in 2001.  I look at the place where I sat when he offered the position, where it all began for me at MJC, and I’m immensely grateful.  Steve’s leadership was characterized by a kind of communication I aspire to continue, a communication marked distinctly by this letter he mailed to my home.  It’s so personal, so real, so, in my case, appropriately indicative of a future neither of us were aware of in 2001.  As I survey folks who knew Steve, the theme is consistent: He touched our hearts, and he inspired us to better ourselves for students.

Let’s keep celebrating and remembering how much we have to celebrate, for our students, of course, but also for each other.  We each deserve to have our strengths recognized and honored by our community and in doing so we will encourage each other to change the world.  I wish each of you happy summer plans, wherever they may lead.

Patrick Bettencourt
Vice President of Instruction

Modesto Junior College

Photo captions from left to right:

 Left: We celebrate each other’s successes and accomplishments, as we did in Deans’ Cabinet one morning in March when Program Specialist LaKiesha McDonald joined us to share her knack for public speaking and leadership development.  LaKiesha’s presentation is impactful, and she conveys her message with dynamism.

 Middle: In exchange for a promise of anonymity, a faculty member gave me this photo of students pushing a district van where it was stuck in a field during a class trip.  I smile when I think of the laughs exchanged and the teasing and learning and the great memories that were created this day.  Sixteen weeks ago, these students and their professor didn’t know each other, and here they’re forming bonds that may last lifetimes.

 Right: “Never in my wildest dreams” is what Olga Castaneda replied when I asked if she ever imagined the opportunity to share a stage with American labor leader and feminist activist Dolores Huerta.  Huerta reminds us of our charge to “change the world” for those who follow, as Huerta has done directly and indirectly for countless in our community.