August Good News

121 Students Complete Summer Bridge

For 17 years, TMCC’s Summer Bridge program has helped students make the transition to college with greater confidence, stronger academic skills, and a community already behind them. This summer, 121 students each enrolled in a combination of math and EPY courses while learning how to navigate college life. Led by Summer Bridge Coordinator Jocelyn Cabrera, the program gives students a chance to experience college before the fall semester begins, and to discover that they are ready for what comes next.

On August 6, this year’s Summer Bridge participants took their finals, and celebrated the milestone of completing the program with a closing ceremony. Student speaker Maria Palacios, a first-generation college student who took time away from school after struggling with a learning disability, didn’t hesitate to share her experience at the event. She shared how Summer Bridge helped quiet some of the doubts she carried with her into college. Although she described her first week as intimidating, she shared that the support from tutors, instructors, and staff soon made a difference. “Being in school wasn't scary anymore,” Palacios said. “I feel prepared to attend college and earn a teaching degree.” She hopes to become the kind of teacher who makes sure students never feel discouraged by the challenges they face in the classroom.

Fellow Summer Bridge student speaker Jairo Villasenor arrived with many of the same questions new college students face: “Am I ready? Will I fit in? Can I really do this?” Over the course of the program, he found his answers not only in the classroom, but also in the relationships students built with one another. “Throughout these past weeks, strangers became classmates, classmates became friends, and together we built a community that supported one another,” Villasenor said. “Programs like Summer Bridge don't just help students get into college—they help students believe they belong in college.”

That experience is possible because of the faculty, staff, tutors and community partners who invest in these students and their futures. TMCC extends its gratitude to Bank of America, the Nell J. Redfield Foundation, NV Energy Foundation, Susanne and Gloria Young Foundation, U.S. Bank Foundation, NV INBRE, and NSF EPACT RED for supporting Summer Bridge, along with Gabriel Salas of The Reno Tutor, who donated 100 hours of free tutoring. As Palacios told supporters, “Summer Bridge has not just helped me but all my peers. I don't know if I would be prepared for the fall if it weren't for this program.”

New Mural Brings Color and Connection

Students and faculty returning to the Red Mountain Building this fall will find a colorful new addition to campus. Over the summer, local artist Edwin Martinez Esco transformed an interior wall with a vibrant new mural designed to bring creativity and energy into the space. Featured prominently is a TMCC graduate wearing the traditional cap and gown, along with a brightly colored stole, and surrounded by members of a family who seem to be celebrating. More than a new piece of artwork, the mural creates a welcoming point of connection for students, employees, and visitors—and adds a little more personality to a place where our community gathers and learns. 

Professor Kristin Gonzalez Earns Special Olympics Health Leadership Award

Dental Hygiene Professor Kristin Gonzalez has received the Special Olympics Golisano Health Leadership Award, the highest honor Special Olympics bestows on health partners who make significant contributions to equal access to health, fitness, and wellness for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Gonzalez was recognized for her leadership and advocacy as Clinical Director for Special Olympics Nevada, where her work has helped expand access to preventive oral healthcare for athletes across Northern Nevada.

Soon after stepping into the role, Gonzalez took the lead on securing state approval to continue Special Olympics Nevada’s Healthy Athletes Special Smiles dental screening program. She researched regulatory and infection-control requirements, developed extensive documentation and procedures, and helped demonstrate the program’s ability to provide safe, high-quality dental screenings. Her efforts resulted in approval to continue the program, preserving an important healthcare resource for Special Olympics athletes. Gonzalez also prioritized reaching rural communities, traveling more than two hours from Reno to provide services to athletes who often face some of the greatest barriers to dental care.

Through Gonzalez’s leadership, 80 Special Olympics athletes received comprehensive dental screenings, supported by 18 volunteers, including three licensed dentists and 12 dental students who gained hands-on experience providing inclusive care. Beyond the screenings themselves, her work has strengthened partnerships within the dental community and helped build a more sustainable future for Special Olympics Nevada’s oral health programs—demonstrating the commitment to health equity, inclusion and service at the heart of the Golisano Health Leadership Award.

Gonzalez brings that same commitment to inclusion and compassionate care into her teaching at TMCC, where she is helping prepare the next generation of dental professionals. By demonstrating the importance of reaching underserved communities and treating every patient with dignity, her work with Special Olympics Nevada provides students with a powerful example of how to use their education and skills to make a difference. 

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