Modesto Junior College is a treasure. Community colleges are one of the true lifebloods in our country. I am a believer that education is so very important and the quest for knowledge is paramount. It’s our job to learn about and understand how the world works in addition to acquiring skills for a job or vocation. There are so many paths one can take, whether it be academic or vocational, but learning how to think and understand the world around us is so very important. Community colleges make this possible and offer a transition that is accessible to all. Modesto Junior College, a.k.a. MJC has been a key stepping stone for so many, like George Lucas, who famously studied Anthropology at MJC after crashing his car in a near fatal accident and superstar Jeremy Renner who also made his jump to Hollywood via MJC. MJC has been the starting point for generation after generation of our local citizens, providing foundational learning for local businesspeople who now lead us in industry, trades, and many of whom transferred to universities for additional learning. A significant percentage of MJC faculty members and a much higher percentage of MJC staff members began as MJC students.