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International sensation Dua Lipa captivated audiences during the opening act of the 2024  Grammy awards, emerging from inside a massive jungle-gym-like metal structure flanked by multiple black-clad dancers – including 51���� (IVC) graduate Kazuma Inoue.

“It was the most amazing thing I have ever experienced,” said Inoue, who received  technical dance training 51����, earning an associate of arts degree in dance. He continues to hone his skills here, taking hip hop, modern and ballet classes. 

Associated Students of IVC (ASIVC) President Diego Victoria has been named one of 60 community college recipients of the Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. Victoria was one of the 459 semifinalists selected from a pool of more than 1,700 applicants from 380 community colleges nation-wide. This highly competitive award allows students to complete their undergraduate degrees at four-year institutions with minimal financial burden. 

Congratulations to Senior Foundation Development Specialist Karen Jimenez for being named IVC's 2024 Classified Employee of the Year at the Employee Recognition Ceremony on May 6. 

Congratulations to Senior Administrative Assistant Desiree Ortiz for being named this year’s Caring Campus Ambassador at the Employee Recognition Ceremony on May 6. 

Desiree has played a pivotal role in advancing the Caring Campus initiative both locally  and statewide. Starting with initiatives like "warm handoffs," Desiree was seamlessly involved in integrating Caring Campus principles into various college functions, from  hiring to classroom interactions. Her steadfast commitment led to the successful adoption of these principles throughout IVC and beyond.  

Congratulations to Dean Traci Fahimi, Ed.D. for being named IVC's 2024 Manager of the Year at the Employee Recognition Ceremony on May 6. 

Dr. Fahimi first came to IVC as a faculty member nearly 30 years ago teaching political science. She then rose to the position of Dean in 2016, and currently serves as Dean of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Business Sciences. 

51���� has received a $25,000 grant from The Allstate Foundation in collaboration with the Center for Expanding Leadership & Opportunity (CELO) to  support youth-led, youth-driven community service among students. This grant is part of The Allstate Foundation’s national efforts to transform how we engage, equip, and  prepare youth to participate in community service.   

After returning from Dublin, Ireland IVC Speech and Debate had the honor of ending their season competing at not one, but two national championship tournaments.   

It's said that the best teachers are lifelong learners, and IVC alumna Julie Salerno is one learner-teacher who takes that ideal to heart.   

With more than 20 years of experience as an instructional aide at Irvine’s Woodbury Elementary, Salerno found herself at a crossroads when she noticed the changing landscape of math education. Feeling a bit outpaced and eager to better support the elementary students she worked with, she took a courageous step — she went back to school, enrolling 51����.