CR's May 16, 2025 Times Standard Education Matters Article

Published on May 12 2025

Another remarkable academic year has come to an end. This week we held commencement ceremonies at our Eureka and Del Norte campuses, the Klamath-Trinity site, and Pelican Bay State Prison where more than twelve hundred College of the Redwoods graduates received a degree or certificate. This is an exciting time for our newest alumni, and I want to thank the faculty, staff, friends, and family who helped them throughout their educational journey. 

I have participated in sixty graduation ceremonies as a senior college administrator at College of the Redwoods, and each one has been a powerful reminder of something deeper—that CR is a reflection of the community we serve. The strength, resilience, compassion, and hope we see in our students are the same qualities that define our region. You can see those values reflected in the stories of three of this year’s graduates.

Mr. Terry Cook was meant to walk across the graduation stage fifty-five years ago as a member of the Class of 1970. However, due to circumstances beyond his control, he never had the chance to sit in an auditorium with hundreds of his fellow students and then take the stage to be publicly acknowledged by his community as a college graduate. 

As luck would have it, Terry now works as a UPS driver—and CR is on his regular delivery route. Over time, in casual conversations with the staff in the warehouse, he shared that one of his biggest regrets was never getting to walk at his graduation. Touched by his story, the staff reached out to the college administration, and together, we made it happen. On Saturday, Terry will finally cross the stage and be celebrated as a proud CR graduate, receiving his Associate Degree in Agriculture—more than a half century after earning it. 

Our Valedictorian this year is Greg Johnson. Just a few years ago, Greg was facing the weight of addiction and uncertainty—newly sober and unsure of what came next. Today, he’s graduating with an Associate Degree for Transfer in Mathematics, an honor earned not through perfection, but through perseverance, passion, and purpose.

Born in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and raised in Winnemucca, Nevada, Greg dropped out of high school and spent most of his adult life struggling with alcoholism. Sobriety came in November 2021, and with it, a daunting question: what now?

“I was doing nothing, going nowhere,” he recalls. When job searching revealed that nearly every position required a diploma, he earned his GED at nearly 39. A few months later, on a whim, he filled out a FAFSA. “It all happened in such a blur,” he says. By May 2022, he was a full-time student at CR.

Here at CR, Greg discovered a surprising love for mathematics—once a source of fear, now a calling. He credits his success to simply “doing the work,” and to the unwavering support of faculty and staff—especially EOPS counselor Sherrie, who guided him every step of the way.

Now enrolled at Cal Poly Humboldt, Greg will continue his math journey with hopes of graduate school. His advice: "You don’t need to be the smartest—just show up and do the work." 

Our Salutatorian this year is Mathew Villalba. After leaving high school at eighteen, Mathew wasn’t sure what life had in store. But with a GED in hand, he scanned a map of California’s community colleges and found College of the Redwoods. Something about its remote location in Humboldt County—and a personal connection through a late best friend—felt like fate.

Mathew will graduate this weekend with an Associate of Science, an AA in Science Exploration, and a certificate in Geomatics. He credits his success to the supportive and passionate faculty, especially instructors Madeleine Lopez and Cintra Agee.

“Maddie’s dedication knows no bounds,” he says. “And Cintra is incredibly wise and humble. I’ll remember her class and her teachings for the rest of my life.”

Mathew will transfer to Cal Poly Humboldt next fall to pursue a degree in botany. His long-term goal? To be a part of positive change in the world.

His advice to other students: “Always be open to exploring a new path. CR is a great place to begin finding your purpose.”

The stories of these three students are just a few examples of the many transformations we see every year at College of the Redwoods. They remind us that the true measure of a college lies in how it helps students grow into thoughtful, compassionate people who are ready to make a positive impact—in their communities and in the world. I am grateful to serve as president of a college that is willing to create and sustain the conditions that enables all students to experience an educational journey that is intellectually, socially, and personally transformative.