Foreword

Dear Merced College Colleagues,

The end of the academic year brings us the privilege of celebrating the students and employees whose stories reflect the heart of Merced College.

In this issue of the Blue Devil’s Advocate, you will meet members of the Class of 2026 whose paths to graduation were anything but ordinary. Maria Madrigal, D’Andre Johnson and Rosario Damian each arrived at Merced College with different goals, different challenges and different dreams. Through persistence, support and a willingness to keep moving forward, each found a new path and a new sense of what is possible.

You will also read about Taiquanijanique Bess, our 2026 Student of the Year, whose journey is a powerful reminder that education can transform not only one life, but an entire family. As a mother of seven pursuing her dream of becoming a nurse, Taiquanijanique has shown remarkable strength, purpose and faith in her future. Her story reflects the determination we see in so many of our students, and the impact Merced College can have when students are surrounded by the right support.

This month, we also celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month by highlighting faculty and classified professionals whose lives and work are shaped by culture, family, history and service. Their stories remind us that our college community is strengthened by the many backgrounds and experiences our people bring to this campus every day.

Finally, you will get to know Rene Salazar, an EOPS and NextUp counselor whose work with students who have experienced foster care reflects the compassion and commitment that define student support at Merced College. During National Foster Care Month, his perspective reminds us that every student deserves to be seen for their potential, not limited by their past.

Throughout this year, we have returned to the idea that “Change is greater than me” (∆ > ME). These stories bring that message into focus one final time: Change happens when students choose to begin again, when families are lifted by one person’s growth and achievement, when employees embody their culture and experience, and when counselors, faculty and classified professionals help students believe in what comes next. Change is collective, it is lasting, and it is at the center of who we are.

As we celebrate our graduates and settle into the summer, I am grateful for everyone who has contributed to another year of growth, service and transformation at Merced College.