SBCCD staff member, SBVC alumnus among Assemblymember Reyes’ 30 Under 30 awardees
Every year, Assemblymember Eloise Gomez Reyes recognizes 30 young individuals under the age of 30 who exemplify dedication, innovation, and service in the 47th Assembly District. SBCCD’s Educational Opportunities Help Desk coordinator Mariana Lopez and San Bernardino Valley College alumnus Manny Sandoval were among this year’s 30 Under 30 awardees.
About Mariana Lopez
Mariana Lopez is part of the solution to increasing college-attainment rates in the Inland Empire, primarily among Spanish-speaking families. As a representative of the San Bernardino Community College District, she is the lead coordinator of a new binational partnership between SBCCD and the Mexican Consulate in San Bernardino. Mariana provides them personalized free information and organizes community workshops and conferences on all things education through the “Ventanilla de Orientacion Educativa” housed at the consulate. In just one year, Mariana has empowered about 8,000 students and families throughout San Bernardino and Riverside counties to reach their educational goals.
Prior to joining SBCCD, Mariana worked with Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice and volunteered at St. John’s Catholic Church, supporting a weekly food pantry program. She also volunteered with the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice, where she mobilized local residents in support of clean air and green neighborhood initiatives. She built a reputation for collecting more than twice the number of voter signatures than volunteers were asked to obtain. At 24 years old, Mariana’s civic impact shows that age is not factor in leadership potential.
About Manny Sandoval
Manny Sandoval is a public relations associate for San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and a freelance writer for the Inland Empire Community News. Sandoval holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, from California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) and an Associate of Arts Degree in Radio Broadcasting from San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC).
As an advocate for education and childhood cancer, he lends much of his time inspiring students to attend college and give back to the community. In 2003 his little brother passed away of cancer and since then, he has been passionate about spreading awareness and contributing to Childhood Cancer Foundation of Southern California with donations, attending events, and providing the organization news coverage.
In 2019, Sandoval participated in the Black and Brown Conference, Communication Studies Symposium, served as professor for a day at CSUSB, and visited Lankershim Elementary as guest speaker during career week. Sandoval currently serves on the Communication Alumni Council at CSUSB; the Radio, Television, & Film Advisory Board at SBVC; and on California State Assemblymember Eloise Reyes’ Education Committee where he is generating a plan to teach high school students about financial literacy, in hopes of decreasing poverty in San Bernardino and beyond.
Learn more at www.sbccd.edu
