Julian Garcia Reynoso, a student at Mission College, is proud of their soccer team’s strong performance, currently ranked fifth in Southern California.
The Eagles striker expressed his gratitude to the community for their ongoing support of the team during Fiesta del Valle, a new event held to raise funds for both the college athletics and culinary arts programs.
In its inaugural year, Fiesta del Valle successfully raised approximately $65,000.
“The Eagles are ranked fifth in Southern California out of nearly 30 colleges, and we don’t even have our own soccer field on campus like most colleges do,” said 19-year-old Garcia Reynoso, a striker for the team, in an interview with the San Fernando Valley Sun/el Sol. “Our local games here at Mission College often get packed; people come to cheer us on. That’s how they show their love.”
The Show Must Go On
Last Saturday, 450 people attended Fiesta del Valle. It was initially scheduled to take place outdoors in the college quad, but was moved inside the Campus Center due to pouring rain. Despite the weather, it was a packed crowd and with a show that was determined to go on. It was loud – full of local musicians who donated their talent.
“It was a really fun family event,” said Mission College President Armida Ornelas, Ph.D. There was plenty of food, dancing, pumpkin carving and games, as well as cornhole and bingo.
One strong supporter was Lief Labs, a dietary supplement manufacturer based in Santa Clarita, one of the major sponsors of the event. The company is owned by Adel Villalobos, who currently lives in Chatsworth and grew up in Pacoima. Villalobos attended San Fernando High School and knows firsthand the difference Mission College has made to the Northeast Valley.
“I attended Mission when it was a small school, and it played a significant role in my education,” he said.
After graduating from California State University, Northridge (CSUN) with a degree in biochemistry, Villalobos returned to Mission College to help establish its first baccalaureate program in biotechnology manufacturing. He also reached out to his professional and personal network of people to invite them to Fiesta del Valle.
“I wanted them to see firsthand all the improvements that have happened at Mission College over the years. I also wanted to share with them the vision that Dr. Ornelas has for the future of Mission College.”
Other sponsors included Aszkenazy Development, Corgan, Element Consulting, Total Environment Management, AlfaTech, Bodevi Wine, the City of San Fernando, Cordoba Corporation, Harris & Associates, Opterra Energy Services, Southland Industries, Sylmar Studios, TenCate and Vasquez & Company.
Future Chefs Prepared Fiesta’s Food
Fiesta del Valle also featured culinary talent from the college, who crewed various food stations offering barbecue, salads, sliders, bacon-wrapped hot dogs and fall-inspired desserts.
“The event offered our culinary arts students invaluable hands-on experience, ranging from planning to execution,” said instructor and chef Tina Duke. She noted that the Culinary Arts program has been part of Mission College for nearly 30 years. According to Duke, a portion of the funds raised by the event would be allocated for scholarships for culinary students.
Jacqueline Haro is one of the students currently enrolled in the program. “I handled food preparation before the event and ensured that we had all the necessary equipment set up for the Fiesta,” she said. She also served as a bartender.
Money for the Eagles’ Travel Expenses
The funds raised will also help cover the Eagles’ travel and other expenses.
“In the last three years, our college president, Dr. Armida Ornelas, has worked diligently to provide everything we need to operate,” said Athletics Director Steve Ruys.
“Of course, in managing a large organization like this college, there will always be some shortfalls or challenges in providing additional resources.” Fundraising, he said, plays a crucial role.
The athletics director discussed a trip the soccer team took to Lake Tahoe earlier this year, where they won two friendly matches against local colleges, Feather River and Lake Tahoe.
“We also took our players whitewater rafting, which was an experience many of them had never had before,” Ruys noted. “We organize trips like this to provide educational opportunities for students and expose them to experiences they may not have had in the past.” The trip also included hiking, swimming, paddleboarding and cliff jumping.
“Whitewater rafting was an incredible experience,” said Garcia Reynoso. “I never imagined I would be doing something like that.” He added, “We had the chance to spend a lot of quality time together, which really helped us build a strong connection. Honestly, I believe those activities have strengthened our team.”
The men’s soccer team is one of eight sports offered in the athletics program at Mission College. Other sports include men’s baseball, cross country, women’s basketball, softball, volleyball and tennis.
“We fundraise to create opportunities for all our students, teams and players,” said Ruys.
Dependence on Adjacent Park for Sports Practice
Mission College does not have its own sports fields and relies on nearby El Cariso Park, owned by Los Angeles County, for practice. “LA Mission College is the only community college in the LA Community College District that does not have athletic fields,” said Ornelas.
“Our students are inherently at a disadvantage in terms of traveling, running fields, in terms of not having their own field to call their own. We’re always in an uphill battle because of the nature of the lack of facilities.”
Ruys said that some of the funds raised at Fiesta will also be used to improve El Cariso’s baseball fields, which will be used in partnership with the Sylmar Independent Baseball League. “We’ve been there since September, and we’re continually trying to make improvements there,” he said. “It’s been an excellent partnership for us.”