Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

Chevron announces headquarters relocation from San Ramon to Houston, senior leadership changes

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Chevron’s current corporate headquarters at Bishop Ranch in San Ramon. Photo: Bishop Ranch

22 years after relocating from San Francisco

“Corporate functions to migrate…over the next five years”, some jobs will remain

San Ramon, Calif., August 2, 2024 – Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) on Friday announced the relocation of the company’s headquarters from San Ramon, California, to Houston, Texas, and senior leadership changes.

Headquarters Relocation

The company’s headquarters will move from San Ramon, California, to Houston, Texas. Chevron Chairman and CEO, Mike Wirth, and Vice Chairman, Mark Nelson, will move to Houston before the end of 2024 to co-locate with other senior leaders and enable better collaboration and engagement with executives, employees, and business partners.

There will be minimal immediate relocation impacts to other employees currently based in San Ramon. The company expects all corporate functions to migrate to Houston over the next five years. Positions in support of the company’s California operations will remain in San Ramon.

Chevron currently has roughly 7,000 employees in the Houston area and approximately 2,000 employees in San Ramon. The company operates crude oil fields, technical facilities, and two refineries and supplies more than 1,800 retail stations in California.

Company Presence in Contra Costa Since 1901, in San Ramon Since 2002

Established on September 10, 1879, incorporating in San Francisco, Chevron changed its name over the years, from Pacific Coast Oil Co. (1879–1906), to Standard Oil of California (1906–1984) and renamed Chevron Corporation in 1985 but for a few years was renamed ChevronTexaco Corporation (2001–2005). The company also changed its corporate headquarters location from San Francisco to San Ramon’s Bishop Ranch in 2002. The company has also had a presence in West Contra Costa County for over 100 years. After buying 500 acres of rolling lands on the northeast shore of San Francisco Bay in 1901, the company completed the Richmond Refinery a year later.

Leadership Announcements

The company also announced the following leadership changes:

Nigel Hearne, executive vice president, Oil, Products & Gas, will retire from Chevron after 35 years of service to the company. Since 2022, Hearne has led the consolidation of Chevron’s Upstream, Midstream and Downstream businesses, ensuring a more integrated approach to value chains, asset class excellence and operational excellence.

“Nigel’s contributions across the business and around the world have made Chevron a stronger company,” said Mike Wirth, Chevron’s chairman and chief executive officer. “He’s been an inspiring leader and mentor to many, and his accomplishments position our company for even more success in the future.”

Mark Nelson, Chevron’s vice chairman, will take responsibility for Oil, Products & Gas, effective October 1, 2024.

Rhonda Morris, vice president and chief human resources officer, will retire after 31 years of service to the company. Since 2016, Morris has been responsible for shaping and driving Chevron’s people and culture strategy, including leadership succession, learning and talent, diversity and inclusion, workforce planning and total rewards.

“Rhonda has been a tireless advocate for our people, helping ensure our employees work in an inclusive environment where they can learn, develop and have rewarding careers,” said Wirth.

Michelle Green, vice president, Human Resources, Oil, Products & Gas, will succeed Morris as vice president and chief human resources officer, effective January 1, 2025.

Colin Parfitt, vice president, Midstream, will retire after 29 years of service to the company. Since 2019, Parfitt has been responsible for the company’s shipping, pipeline, power and energy management and supply and trading operating units.

“Colin has made an important impact on Chevron’s commercial capabilities,” said Wirth. “Under his leadership, our Midstream organization has created value by connecting and better integrating value chains around the world.”

The company appointed Andy Walz, currently president, America’s Products, to president, Downstream, Midstream & Chemicals, effective October 1, 2024. In this role, Walz will be responsible for directing the company’s worldwide manufacturing, marketing, lubricants, chemicals and additives businesses along with Chevron’s shipping, pipeline, power, and trading units.

Chevron is one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies. We believe affordable, reliable and ever-cleaner energy is essential to enabling human progress. Chevron produces crude oil and natural gas; manufactures transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and additives; and develops technologies that enhance our business and the industry. We aim to grow our oil and gas business, lower the carbon intensity of our operations and grow lower carbon businesses in renewable fuels, carbon capture and offsets, hydrogen and other emerging technologies. More information about Chevron is available at www.chevron.com.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report

10 Contra Costa athletes compete at 2024 Olympics

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The 2024 Olympic athletes from Contra Costa County competing in Paris (by last name alphabetical order). Top Row: Amit Elor, Megumi Field, Drew Holland, Sabrina Ionescu and Kara Kohler. Bottom Row: David Liebenberg, Daniella Moroz, CJ Nickolas, Jewell Roemer and Maggie Steffens.

Former Antioch resident trained two of the Olympians on Team USA’s four-member taekwondo squad; Oakley athlete is alternate in Men’s Trampoline

By Allen D. Payton

Contra Costa County is well represented at the 2024 Olympics in multiple sports. According to the Team USA website, there are nine athletes who qualified to compete in the quadrennial games in Paris. In addition, former Antioch resident and taekwondo training center owner, Ed Givans has two Olympians that he’s trained, who earned spots on the four-member Team USA taekwondo roster.

80Kg Gold Medalist Carl Nickolas at the Taekwondo competition at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games October 22, 2023 in Santiago, Chile. Photo by Mark Reis, USOPC.

CJ Nickolas – Brentwood – Taekwondo

As previously reported, Carl “CJ” Nickolas, Jr. of Brentwood is competing for gold in taekwondo in his first Olympics during the Paris 2024 Games. He was trained by Givans – his dad – until he was 18 and had heart surgery in 2020. As of last December, Nickolas was ranked number two in the world.

Learn more about Nickolas on the USA Taekwondo website and his experience and victories through the years, here, here, here and here. Watch video of CJ’s victory at the 2024 President’s Cup in Costa Rica, here.

Watch Nickolas represent Team USA and compete in the Men’s Welterweight 68-80kg division on August 9th.

Kara Kohler in the gym and rowing in Sept. 2023. Source: Facebook

Kara Kohler – Clayton – Rowing

Bronze medal winner, Kara Kohler from Clayton is competing in rowing in the Women’s Single Sculls. The three-time Olympian competed at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo where she placed 9th in Women’s Single Sculls, and at the 2012 Olympic Games in London 2012, where she won bronze in Women’s Quadruple Sculls.

On Saturday, Kohler took first place in Heat 6. She competed again in Quarterfinal 1, Lane 3 on Tuesday, July 30 at 12:30 a.m. Pacific and took second place qualifying Kohler for the semifinals on Thursday, Aug. 1 at 12:30 a.m. Pacific. (See related article)

Maggie Steffens. Sources: (left) TeamUSA, (center) USA Water Polo and with her 2020 Gold medals. Source: Facebook.

Maggie Steffens – Danville – Women’s Water Polo

Three-time gold medal winner Maggie Steffens will compete at her fourth Olympic Games in Women’s Water Polo for her fourth gold medal in a row. She won her first gold at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, here second at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and her third in 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

According to USA Water Polo, The two-time MVP is also the Team USA captain and considered one of the best in the world” and Steffens “Hails from a massive water polo playing family and was joined on the 2012 team by older sister Jessica.” (See related article)

Jewel Roemer official photo and during competition. Source: USA Water Polo

Jewell Roemer – Martinez – Water Polo

Playing in her first Olympics, Martinez native Jewell “Roemer’s journey to the Olympics is marked by a series of impressive achievements. She has been a part of the Stanford University’s women’s water polo team, where she contributed to the team’s success as NCAA Champions in 2022 and 2023,” according to an iHeart Radio report.

According to USA Water Polo, Roemer “Attended Acalanes High School…Four-year letter winner and senior season team captain in water polo…Three-time first-team All-American (2018-20)…Two-time North Coast Section MVP (2019-20)…CIF Northern Division MVP (2020)…Three-time first-team All-Conference (2018-20)…Team went undefeated in back-to-back seasons, winning North Coast Section championships…Two-time Junior Olympics MVP with 680 Water Polo Club.

Won 1st place at the 2024 World Aquatics World Championships in DOHA, QATAR, 1st place at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile and 1st place at the World Aquatics World Cup in Long Beach.

During their second Group B match on Monday against Spain, Steffens and Roemer each added one goal apiece, but the Americans were handed a rare 13-11 loss. Team USA Women’s Water Polo next plays Italy on Wednesday.

Megumi Field. Sources: Team USA and Instagram

Megumi Field – Danville – Artistic Swimming

East Coast transplant Megumi Field, of Danville, will compete in her first Olympics on the Artistic Swimming team. She started synchronized swimming at five years old and earned among many other victories since 2018, Field won a bronze medal for Technical Team at the 2023 World Championships.

According to USA Artistic Swimming, as part of the official 2024 Olympics roster, Megumi and her teammates “made a statement in their debut” at the World Cup Super-Final hosted in Budapest, Hungary by winning three gold medals for Team Technical, Team Acrobatic and Team Free in the final competition before the Olympic Games.

In addition, “Jaime Czarkowski and Megumi Field made their second appearance as duet partners in Budapest, choosing to participate in the Technical Duet receiving 7th place overall with a score of 222.5134.”

Watch Artistic Swimming at the 2024 Paris Olympics beginning Monday, Aug. 5th.

Danielle Moroz. Sources: TeamUSA, Facebook and US Sailing

Daniella Moroz – Lafayette – Kiteboarding

The first member of the U.S. Sailing team to qualify for the Paris 2024 Games, 23-year-old Daniella Moroz of Lafayette will compete in Olympic Kiteboarding for the first time in the sport’s history, after the sports’ athletes have been waiting for two decades.

According to a report on Paris2024.Sailing.org, Moroz has six consecutive Formula Kite World Championships titles to her name before the age of 22.

“Everything I do and have been doing the last several years is to give myself a shot at a medal,” she said. “At the Olympics I want to deliver my best possible performance and I know I’m capable of winning a gold medal if I do my best. It would mean everything to me and my family and to bring a gold home to the US after we’ve really struggled as a nation the last few Games’ would be really special.”

“I just want to keep enjoying it and keep racing for as long as possible. I am definitely thinking about LA 2028 since it will be a home Games,” Moroz added.

Women’s Kiteboarding will take place in the Marseille Marina in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea and begins Sunday, Aug. 4th with the medal round on Thursday, Aug. 8th.

Drew Holland and playing goalie. Source: Team USA

Drew Holland – Orinda – Men’s Water Polo

The 2013 graduate of Miramonte High School in Orinda, Drew Holland returns for his second Olympic Games. He played in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo where the U.S. Men’s team placed sixth and he tallied 52 saves. According to his USA Water Polo profile, Holland accumulated 26 saves at the 2024 World Aquatics World Championships in Doha, Qatar; Racked up 33 saves at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile; Notched 12 saves at the 2023 World Aquatics World Championships in Fukuoka and named top goalkeeper at the 2021 FINA World League Super Final recording 41 saves.

Holland played at Stanford University where he holds the all-time save record with 925 and was a four-time All-American.

Team USA Men’s Water Polo lost to Italy on Sunday, 8-12 and was to play again Tuesday morning, July 30 against Romania at 7:30 a.m. Pacific. (See schedule)

David Liebenberg official photo and in competition with teammate Sarah Newberry Moore. Source: US Sailing

David Liebenberg – Richmond – Sailing

Competing in Sailing during the 2024 Paris Olympics, 32-year-old David Liebenberg of Richmond has three National Championship titles and three North American Championship titles. According to U.S. Sailing, as a member of the Tufts University Sailing Team he was a team captain during his senior year and led the team to their first Collegiate Match Racing National Championship in 2012. In the summer of 2013, Liebenberg was the tactician for the American Youth Sailing Force, which was selected to represent San Francisco in the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup.

Sailing a Nacra 17, he took first at the Oakcliff Sailing Triple Crown #3 (Oyster Bay, USA) in 2018 and second sailing  a 49er at the Cork Olympic Classes Regatta (Kingston, CAN) in 2016.

He will be sailing the Nacra 17 with his teammate, Sarah Newberry Moore of Miami, FL. The pair qualified the U.S. as a country at the Pan American Games in Chile on November 3, 2023. They won athlete selection at the 2024 Nacra 17 World Championship in France in May and secured their spot to represent the U.S. at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Following that final step Liebenberg said, “It’s quite a relief. It has been nearly 10 years coming and to finally secure a spot feels amazing.”

See video of the team sailing out of the Richmond Yacht Club and watch Liebenberg and Newberry Moore compete in the Nacra 17 (Mixed Multihull) sailing competition beginning Saturday, Aug. 3rd with the medal round Aug. 7th.

(Top Left) Amit Elor in her official uniform and with LeBron James (bottom left) and Steph Curry (bottom center) on the Team USA boat during the Opening Ceremony on July 26, 2024. (Top right) Wrestling in a match on Oct. 1, 2022. (Bottom right) Flexing with Calvin “Snoop Dogg” Broadus, Jr. during the 2024 Paris Olympics. Source: Facebook

Amit Elor – Walnut Creek – Wrestling

A 20-year-old female wrestler from Walnut Creek, Amit Elor, a New Year’s Day baby, attended College Park High School in Pleasant Hill and Diablo Valley College, and has been on Team USA since 2022. She is competing in her first Olympic Games. According to her Team USA profile, Elor is an eight-time gold medalist at World Championship events across the U17, U20, U23 and Senior age divisions, including the freestyle and beach wrestling disciplines.

Wrestling during the 2024 Paris Olympics begins on Monday Aug. 5th and ends on Sunday, Aug. 11th.

Learn more about Elor on her official website.

Sabrina Ionescu in her #6 jersey. Source: USA Basketball. Goofing in her Team USA uniform. Source: Instagram

Sabrina Ionescu – Walnut Creek – Basketball

The 26-year-old Sabrina Ionescu is a Walnut Creek native, graduate of Miramonte High School and University of Oregon and is playing in her first Olympics during the Paris 2024 Games as a member of the Women’s Basketball Team. According to USA Basketball, “Ionescu will make her Olympics debut after helping the USA to gold at the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup. She has extensive experience with USA Basketball at the junior level, winning gold with the 2013 U16 Women’s National Team, 2014 U17 Women’s National Team and 2017 U23 Women’s National Team, in addition to experience in 3×3.”

In high school, Ionescu was the 2016 USA Today and MaxPreps National Player of the Year; MVP of the McDonald’s All-American Game. In college, she helped lead Oregon to a gold medal (6-1) at the 2019 Red Bull 3×3 Nationals in Las Vegas and was named MVP and as a junior in 2018-19, led the Ducks to their first NCAA Final Four.

Ionescu was selected No. 1 overall by New York in 2020, has played four WNBA seasons with New York and is a two-time WNBA All-Star (2022, 2023). In addition, according to her WNBA profile, she was the first player in WNBA history to record 500+ points, 200+ rebounds and 200+ assists in a single season and the first player to record a Triple-Double in less than three quarters in WNBA history, as well.

Watch her play for Team USA’s Women’s Basketball team.

UPDATE: Ruben Padilla – Oakley – Trampoline Alternate

Ruben Padilla. Photo: USA Gymnastics

23-year-old Rubin Padilla of Oakley is also in Paris for the 2024 Olympics and a member of Team USA. But according to his mother, Nelia, “Ruben is the alternate for trampoline. We are aware he will not compete.”

According to his Team USA profile, Padilla began gymnastics at age 5 when his mother enrolled him in a class because he always used furniture as gym equipment as a child.

Among his many World Championship medals, Padilla won four gold medals, including in 2023 for All Around Team – Mixed, Double Mini Trampoline – Men and Double Mini Trampoline Team – Men; and in 2022 for Double Mini Trampoline – Men. According to the USA Gymnastics website he is the 2024 U.S. trampoline, double mini and synchro champion. See video of Padilla defending his World Title in the Double Mini at Trampoline Worlds in November 2023.

Ed Givans and CJ Nickolas in 2018. Source: Ed Givans. CJ, Ed and Faith Dillon in May 2024. Photo courtesy of Grandmaster Clint Robinson, Robinson’s Taekwondo. CJ and Faith. Source: Givans Taekwondo

Former Antioch Resident Ed Givans, Trainer, USA Taekwondo

As mentioned, Nickolas’ dad, former Antioch resident Ed Givans, who owned Givans Taekwondo in the city before relocating it to Las Vegas a few years ago, trained CJ until he was 18.

Givans is also on the Tournament Committee for USA Taekwondo and has another athlete he trained who made the four-person U.S. taekwondo team at the Olympics, Faith Dillon. According to the Team USA website, she earned her spot during the Pan Am qualification tournament in April.

Read more about her and watch Faith fight in the 57 kg. category on August 8th.

Learn more about all the members on the Team USA 2024 Olympic Roster at www.teamusa.com/paris-2024/olympics/roster and watch all the athletes compete on NBC channels.

Go, Team USA! Bring home the gold!

Alamo: Livorna Road Shoulder Widening Project construction begins Monday, July 15

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Livorna Road Shoulder Widening project Work Area Map. Source: CCC Public Works Dept

By Kelly Kalfsbeek, Community & Media Relations Coordinator, PIO, Contra Costa County Public Works Department

Alamo, CA – Contra Costa County Public Works will begin construction of the Livorna Road Shoulder Widening Project on Monday, July 15, 2024, and continue through Friday, August 2, 2024, barring unforeseen circumstances. Work will take place between 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, weather permitting. The work consists of roadway shoulder widening along a 200-foot segment of Livorna Road between Douglas Court and Paseo De Sol.

Traffic control will be used. Message boards will alert drivers about the work. Drivers should expect delays of up to 10 minutes through the construction zone and consider alternative routes during working hours.

Funding for this project is provided by a local Transportation Development Act grant and Gas Tax Funds. For more information visit: https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/9876/Livorna-Road-Shoulder-Widening

About Contra Costa County Public Works Department:

Contra Costa County Public Works Department (CCCPWD) maintains over 660 miles of roads, 150 miles of streams, channels, and other drainage and over 150 County buildings throughout Contra Costa County. CCCPWD provides services such as Parks and Recreation, Sandbag Distribution and Flood Control throughout unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County.  CCCPWD operates two airports, Buchanan Field Airport in Concord, and Byron Airport in Byron. For more information about CCCPWD, please visit us at: www.cccpublicworks.org

27 Contra Costa seniors receive National Merit Scholarships

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6 awarded corporate-sponsored scholarships

14 awarded $2,500 scholarships

7 awarded college-sponsored scholarships

26 from 4 high schools and one home-schooled student

By Contra Costa County Office of Education

A total of 27 students from Contra Costa County have been named recipients of National Merit Scholarships in the 69th annual program funded by corporations, U.S. colleges and universities, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced. These distinguished students are from Campolindo High School in Moraga, Dougherty Valley High School in San Ramon, Miramonte High School in Orinda and Monte Vista High School in Danville. One winner was homeschooled.

Corporate-Sponsored Scholarship Winners

Celebrating academic excellence, six seniors from four Contra Costa County high schools have been recognized as winners in the scholarship program. These students are among about 770 distinguished high school seniors nationwide announced in the first National Merit Scholars group for 2024.

“These six high school seniors stand out for their exceptional academic achievements and well-rounded accomplishments,” Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey said. “Their dedication and hard work, supported by the encouragement of their families, have earned them this distinguished honor. I also want to thank the teachers and support staff whose commitment and guidance nurtured the talents of these high achieving students.”

Sponsored by corporations, company foundations and other business organizations, these scholarships are designed to assist students who are either children of employees, residents of communities served by the company/funder, or are pursuing college majors and careers that align with the sponsor’s objectives.

Scholarship winners were chosen from a group of students who had reached the Finalist level in the National Merit Scholarship competition and met the criteria established by their scholarship sponsors. Most of the awards are renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study and offer annual stipends ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, or a single payment between $2,500 and $5,000.

High school juniors entered the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, marking the beginning of their journey towards this prestigious recognition. In September 2023, 114 Contra Costa County students were honored as National Merit Semifinalists, representing the highest-scoring program entrants in California, and comprising less than one percent of the nation’s seniors.

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY CORPORATE-SPONSORED NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

Campolindo High School

  • Laurel K. Tringe

Dougherty Valley High School

  • Ansh Maroo
  • Elaine Peng
  • Neal Y. Yan

Miramonte High School

  • Alexander Poe Battersby

Monte Vista High School

  • Alan Fang

$2,500 Scholarship Winners

Fourteen Contra Costa County high school seniors were among 2,500 students named National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®).

“Congratulations to these 14 amazing students who have illustrated the exceptional academic standards in this county,” Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey said. “The students, their families and their school communities should be proud of this accomplishment.”

National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners are the Finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The number of winners named in each state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the nation’s graduating high school seniors.

These scholars were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors, who appraised a substantial amount of information submitted by both the Finalists and their high schools: the academic record, including difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®); contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay written by the Finalist; and a recommendation written by a high school official.

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY $2,500 NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

Campolindo High School

  • Christopher W. Seo
  • Naina Srivastava
  • Yu Xin Wang

Dougherty Valley High School

  • Nidhi Gaonkar
  • Shirin Kaur Grewal
  • Anna E. Lau
  • Taneesh V. Matharasi
  • Ananya Pinnamaneni

Miramonte High School

  • Cameron Corbin Berg
  • Nicole Y. Guo

Mont Vista High School

  • Sheldon U. Tan
  • Adithya Ramesh
  • Hannah Abigail Yang

Homeschool

  • Benjamin G. Klieger

College-Sponsored National Merit Scholarships

The National Merit Scholarships provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the sponsoring institution. 149 higher education institutions are underwriting these awards through the National Merit Scholarship Program.

“Thank you to the school communities and families who supported and challenged these students to achieve this accomplishment,” Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey said. “We are proud of these scholars for representing our County as National Merit Scholarship winners. These scholarships are highly competitive and require far more than just high-test scores. Your hard work has paid off, and we wish you the best as you embark on your college journeys.”

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY COLLEGE-SPONSORED NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

The Contra Costa County students who have been awarded College-Sponsored Merit Scholarships are:

Monte Vista High School

  • Owen Chen – National Merit University of Southern California Scholarship
  • Alice Jiang – National Merit University of Southern California Scholarship
  • Emily M. Kalin – National Merit Purdue University Scholarship

Dougherty Valley High School

  • Prerita Babarjung – National Merit University of Texas at Dallas Scholarship
  • Dhruv Harinath – National Merit Claremont McKenna College Scholarship
  • Vaishnavi Kolluru – National Merit University of Southern California Scholarship
  • John Park – National Merit University of Southern California Scholarship

Each award recipient submitted a detailed scholarship application, including an essay and information on extracurricular activities, awards, and leadership roles. Their SAT or ACT scores were also considered, alongside academic records and recommendations from high school officials.

Of over 15,000 scholarship Finalists nationwide, about half will become Merit Scholarship winners in 2024.

Scholarship recipients represent less than one percent of the nation’s seniors and are among the highest-scoring program entrants from each state. According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, awardees possess the strongest combination of academic skills, extracurricular achievements, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. During the 2024 competition, more than 6,870 academic champions will be selected for National Merit Scholarships, totaling about $26 million.

Merit Scholars are selected based on their academic skills, extracurricular achievements, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. More information about the National Merit Scholarship program can be found online at https://www.nationalmerit.org/.

According to The National Merit Scholarship Corporation, by the conclusion of this year’s competition, over 6,870 Finalists will receive National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million. More winners of college-sponsored National Merit Scholarship awards will be announced on July 15.

About Contra Costa County Office of Education

One of 58 counties in California, Contra Costa County (CCCOE) has the 11th largest public-school student population in the state (approximately 169,225 students). Officially established in 1932, CCCOE has a long history of providing direct services to some of our county’s most vulnerable students, including young people who are incarcerated, homeless, or in foster care, as well as students who have severe physical or emotional challenges.

CCCOE also provides support services to schools and school districts in Contra Costa County; services that can be handled most effectively and economically on a regional basis rather than by each of the county’s 286 schools or 18 school districts. These services range from budget approval and fiscal support to technology infrastructure, communication support, and high-level professional development opportunities for educators. CCCOE maintains a website at www.cocoschools.org.

Paving work for Alamo Roundabout Project June 20 – July 17

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Alamo Roundabout Project Location map. Source: CCC Public Works

Expect up to 15-minute traffic delays

Part of the Danville Boulevard/Orchard Court Complete Streets Improvement Project

By Kelly Kalfsbeek, Community & Media Relations Coordinator, PIO, Contra Costa County Public Works

Alamo, CA – Contra Costa County Public Works will perform surface treatment work as part of the Alamo Roundabout Project starting Thursday, June 20, 2024, through Wednesday, July 17, 2024, weather permitting. Message Boards will be posted in advance to advise of the scheduled work. Drivers should expect delays of up to 15 minutes near the area of work. Work consists of applying a pavement surface treatment and final roadway striping along Danville Blvd. from Stone Valley Road to St. Alphonsus Way.

Thursday, June 20, 2024, through Friday, June 28, 2024, 8:00 pm to 6:00 am: Night-time work will include pavement surface treatment work. One-way traffic control will be implemented, and flaggers will be present.

Monday, July 8, 2024, through Wednesday, July 17, 2024, 8:00 pm to 6:00 am: Night-time work will take place for roadway striping operations. One-way traffic control will be implemented, and flaggers will be present.

The Danville Boulevard/Orchard Court Complete Streets Improvement Project-Alamo Roundabout Project will improve safety of vehicles, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic along Danville Boulevard. The project will construct sidewalks and bicycle facilities, improve landscaping and electrical work, reconstruct pavement, apply a pavement surface treatment, replace traffic striping and pavement markings, and install curb extensions and ramps along this segment of Danville Boulevard. It will also create a roundabout at the intersection of Danville Boulevard and Orchard Court. Funding for this project is provided by the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program grant, Measure J Regional Funds, and Gas Tax Funds. For more project information about this project visit: www.contracosta.ca.gov/alamoroundabout.

About Contra Costa County Public Works Department:

Contra Costa County Public Works Department (CCCPWD) maintains over 660 miles of roads, 150 miles of streams, channels, and other drainage and over 150 County buildings throughout Contra Costa County. CCCPWD provides services such as Parks and Recreation, Sandbag Distribution and Flood Control throughout unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County.  CCCPWD operates two airports, Buchanan Field Airport in Concord, and Byron Airport in Byron. For more information about CCCPWD, please visit us at www.cccpublicworks.org.

San Ramon Valley school district opens 2nd annual 30 Under 30 Alumni Recognition nominations

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District seeks to highlight exemplary young alumni

By Ilana Israel Samuels, Director of Communications, Family and Community Engagement, San Ramon Unified School District

The San Ramon Unified School District, in partnership with the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation, is pleased to announce the second annual 30 Under 30 Alumni Recognition Campaign. Nominations are now open to highlight SRVUSD graduates who are 30 years old or younger and have made a positive impact in our community and beyond.

The 30 Under 30 Alumni Recognition Program will recognize SRVUSD alumni who:

  • Graduated from a school or program in SRVUSD
  • Are currently 30 years old or younger (in 2024)
  • Are thriving in their endeavors since graduating from SRVUSD in one or more of the following ways:
  1. They have made a significant impact on or contribution to the San Ramon Valley community; and/or
  2. They have achieved their college and/or career goals; and/or
  3. They have accomplished something else significant or impactful along their pathway since graduating.

Anyone can nominate alumni by filling out the 30 Under 30 application and submitting it by August 19, 2024. The winners will be announced in fall 2024, and honored and celebrated in a variety of ways. Winners from the 30 Under 30 honorees in 2023 can be viewed on the district’s 30 Under 30 web page and in the video.

Any questions from the community can be sent to communications@srvusd.net.

About San Ramon Valley Unified School District: Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Ramon Valley Unified School District (SRVUSD) is one of the highest-achieving school districts in California. With approximately 29,000 students, the district encompasses the communities of Alamo, Danville, San Ramon, and a small portion of Walnut Creek and Pleasanton.

SRVUSD has been recognized at state and national levels with many awards and achievements. The district is designated by AASA, The School Superintendents Association, as a Learning 2025 Lighthouse District because it serves as a model of positive change in public education and is committed to the whole child. Based on a foundation of academic excellence, SRVUSD’s work is guided by the district’s Strategic Directions, and broadening the definition of success so all students can thrive. The district maintains graduation rates above 96%. The Learner Profile outlines the competencies the district aspires for students to possess upon graduation, preparing students to be Critical Thinkers, Creative Contributors, Intentional Collaborators, Adaptable Learners, and Effective Communicators.

About the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation (SRVEF): The San Ramon Valley Education Foundation invests in education, supports parent organizations, and engages our community for the benefit of and in partnership with SRVUSD. The vision of the Major Gifts and Endowment Fund of the SRVEF is to provide a stable, local funding source that will enable the San Ramon Valley Unified School District to undertake long term and innovative educational programs to enhance the curriculum. Over the past years distributions from the Endowment Fund have helped fund significant programs that directly impact SRVUSD students. Learn more at www.srvef.org.

 

Ilana Israel Samuels  

She/Her/Hers

Director of Communications, Family and Community Engagement

 

San Ramon Valley school district recognizes employees, volunteers for support of special needs students

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Source: SRVUSD

SRVUSD reinforces commitment to fostering partnerships of families of students with exceptional abilities to ensure every student thrives. 

By Ilana Israel Samuels, Director of Communications, Family and Community Engagement, San Ramon Valley Unified School District

Danville, CA – San Ramon Valley Unified School District believes that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally, regardless of their abilities or challenges.

SRVUSD is a single-district Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) and operates a continuum of special education programs to meet the needs of students from birth to age 22. The SELPA has a Community Advisory Committee (CAC), with a purpose to improve and promote communication between schools, parents/caregivers, and public agencies to increase community awareness, facilitate parent education and support, and coordinate activities on behalf of children with exceptional needs. Annually, the CAC puts on the Bright Lights award program to recognize staff, students, and community members who go above and beyond (list of winners is below).

SRVUSD is unwavering in its commitment to fostering an inclusive educational environment that embraces students with disabilities, ensuring they have equitable opportunities to thrive. By implementing comprehensive support systems, individualized learning plans, and accessible resources, the district strives to meet the diverse needs of every student.

“It is imperative that students with exceptional abilities have access to and receive an inclusive education experience,” said Dr. John Malloy, Superintendent, San Ramon Valley Unified School District. “Our special education programs and services are part of our Strategic Directions at SRVUSD and were created to foster empathy, understanding, and respect for diversity, and prepare all students for success.”

Bright Lights is an awards program established by San Ramon Valley Unified School District’s SELPA’s Community Advisory Committee (CAC) that celebrates this commitment to inclusive practices by recognizing staff, students, and community members who go above and beyond in support of our students with special needs. We were thrilled to celebrate these outstanding 2023-24 Bright Light Award winners on May 14, 2024, at a reception and at the Board of Education meeting:

Stephanie Huff– School Psychologist, Counseling Enriched Program at Monte Vista High

Stephanie Berman– Behavior Analyst, multiple sites

Kelly Crotti– Teacher, Walt Disney Elementary

Jenna Tooliatos– Resource Specialist, Los Cerros Middle School

Sushma Rathi– Teacher, Montair Elementary

Sarah Sanchez– Teacher, Infant Program at Hidden Hills Elementary

Simran Badwal– Teacher, San Ramon Valley High School

Angie Kojreka– Administrator

Ollie Frieson– Student Volunteer

Neil Chandran– Student and Community Partner

About San Ramon Valley Unified School District: Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Ramon Valley Unified School District (SRVUSD) is one of the highest-achieving school districts in California. With approximately 29,000 students, the district encompasses the communities of Alamo, Danville, San Ramon, and a small portion of Walnut Creek and Pleasanton.

SRVUSD has been recognized at state and national levels with many awards and achievements. The district is designated by AASA, The School Superintendents Association, as a Learning 2025 Lighthouse District because it serves as a model of positive change in public education and is committed to the whole child. Based on a foundation of academic excellence, SRVUSD’s work is guided by the district’s Strategic Directions, and broadening the definition of success so all students can thrive. The district maintains graduation rates above 96%. The Learner Profile outlines the competencies the district aspires for students to possess upon graduation, preparing students to be Critical Thinkers, Creative Contributors, Intentional Collaborators, Adaptable Learners, and Effective Communicators.

 

 

South Gate Road to Mt. Diablo closed weekdays for 5 weeks starting May 28

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Source: CA State Parks

ROAD CLOSURE STARTS TUESDAY for construction of new bike turnouts

By CA State Parks

Starting Tuesday, May 28 South Gate Road will be closed weekdays to all traffic including cars, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Each week for approximately five weeks, the road will be closed from Monday 8 a.m. through Friday 2 p.m. It will be open weekends.

All trails and fire roads will remain open, and visitors who walk or cycle to the park will be able to access Summit Trail at the South Gate Entrance.

During the road closure period, camping at Live Oak Campground, and the Buckeye, Wildcat, and Barbecue Terrace Group Camps will only be available Friday and Saturday nights.

This closure is for the construction of additional bike turnout lanes to enhance road safety. This latest phase of the project was made possible by fundraising coordinated by our partner organization California State Parks Foundation.

Yellow circle indicates South Gate Road entrance. Map source: CA State Parks

There are three other entrances to Mount Diablo State Park: Mitchell Canyon Road, North Gate Road and Green Valley Road (Macedo Ranch). Please check under Brochures/Campground Map for more details. There is no vehicle access to the Summit from Macedo Ranch or Mitchell Canyon.

Thank you for your cooperation during this temporary closure.

For more information about Mt. Diablo click, here.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

Over 100 San Ramon Valley school district students receive county, state recognition at Science & Engineering Fair competitions 

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Dougherty Valley High School student Gatik Trivedi won first place at the state Science & Engineering Fair for his entry entitled NeuroGuardian. Photo: SRVUSD

Four Dougherty Valley High students win amidst 900 entries at state competition.

By Ilana Israel Samuels, Director of Communications, Family and Community Engagement, San Ramon Valley Unified School District

Danville, CA (May 9, 2024) – More than 65 high school students and 40 middle school students recently placed or received special awards at the 2024 Contra Costa County Science & Engineering Fair, including students from Diablo Vista, Gale Ranch, Iron Horse, Los Cerros and Windemere Ranch Middle Schools; and from California, Dougherty Valley and Monte Vista High Schools. Students submitted projects in the categories of Behavioral Sciences, Biological Sciences, Engineering Sciences, Environmental, Math and Computer Science, or Physical Sciences.

The students prepared for the science fairs in part by meeting with coaches to work on their research experiments and craft presentations. The students were excited to participate and represent their schools at this annual fair.

Each year, 18 successful projects are selected by the judges to represent the Contra Costa County Science & Engineering fair at the state-level competition – the California Science and Engineering Fair.  This year, 11 of the 18 projects moved forward for this special honor were submitted by SRVUSD students, who competed against 900 other entries during the event on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.

Four San Ramon Valley Unified School District students from Dougherty Valley High School won big at the California Science & Engineering Fair this year. They each placed 1st or 2nd in their respective categories:

Gatik Trivedi, 1st place, NeuroGuardian: A Multimodal Telemedical Neurodegenerative Monitoring System with Self-learning Predictive Analytics for Late-Stage Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Patients, Computational Systems Medical

Yizhou (Michael) Wang and Yifan (Frank) Shi, 1st place, Development of a Biodegradable Hybrid Inspired Paper Battery Powered by Carbon-Black with Origami Designs Applicable for Biomedical Smart Systems, Chemistry

Vaishnavi Kolluru, 2nd place, Breastmilk: Nature’s Vaccine Against COVID-19, Mammalian Biology

“I am pleased to recognize our students for their outstanding accomplishments at the California Science and Engineering Fair,” said Dr. John Malloy, Superintendent, San Ramon Valley Unified School District. “Their dedication, creativity, and passion for their research projects showcase the depth of talent and potential we have within our educational community. I look forward to their future contributions to science and research. I also thank all of the educators who supported our students through these achievements.”

The California Science & Engineering Fair is the final science fair of the academic year for students throughout the State of California in grades 6-12, serving California’s future scientists and engineers since 1952. The fair is hosted by the California Science and Engineering Foundation.

SRVUSD partners with Bay Area LEEDS to ensure students have access to the tremendous resources the organization provides for the region’s youth to prepare them for a future in STEM careers. In an email, Bay Area LEEDS Executive Administrator, Janice Fujii, and CEO April Treece, noted that this was an outstanding achievement and that our students “worked very hard to excel in their field of study.”

San Ramon Valley Unified School District congratulates all of its participating students for their remarkable science fair achievements and excellence in research.

About Bay Area LEEDS: Bay Area LEEDS helps prepare the region’s youth for tomorrow’s STEM careers with relevant industry tools and skill sets, strengthening the workforce pipeline. We collaborate with business and educators to excite students about pursuing purposeful post-secondary pathways aligned with high-wage, high-skill, high-demand jobs in the global economy. The organization improves STEM education in regional communities by providing STEM teachers professional development, and providing students with meaningful and engaging STEM learning opportunities, while involving current STEM professionals in educating the next generation of STEM leaders and creators. Linking Education & Economic Development Strategies Bay Area LEEDS is one of the few business/education intermediaries in the Bay Area that brings long-term talent development solutions to workforce shortages by engaging STEM career pathway educators (K-16) and employers who have high-demand, difficult-to-fill STEM jobs. Through innovative programming, we develop, plan and execute industry- supported approaches that build a more diverse, inclusive and equitable talent base, assuring economic vitality in our local communities.

About San Ramon Valley Unified School District: Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Ramon Valley Unified School District (SRVUSD) is one of the highest-achieving school districts in California. With approximately 29,000 students, the district encompasses the communities of Alamo, Danville, San Ramon, and a small portion of Walnut Creek and Pleasanton.

SRVUSD has been recognized at state and national levels with many awards and achievements. The district is designated by AASA, The School Superintendents Association, as a Learning 2025 Lighthouse District because it serves as a model of positive change in public education and is committed to the whole child. Based on a foundation of academic excellence, SRVUSD’s work is guided by the district’s Strategic Directions, and broadening the definition of success so all students can thrive. The district maintains graduation rates above 96%. The Learner Profile outlines the competencies the district aspires for students to possess upon graduation, preparing students to be Critical Thinkers, Creative Contributors, Intentional Collaborators, Adaptable Learners, and Effective Communicators.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Danville today and tomorrow, May 4 & 5

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By Town of Danville

Can’t decide where to go for Cinco de Mayo? Visit Downtown Danville for restaurants, shops, and fun along Hartz Avenue. There is plenty of free parking along the street or in our municipal lots, which also make for great rideshare pickup/dropoff locations! We’ve been making improvements Downtown, so come check it out while enjoying live music and food specials at our local restaurants. And celebrate the end of National Small Business Week by stopping in one of our many charming shops along your Cinco de Mayo stroll.

#NationalSmallBusinessWeek #livelocallydanville #shopsmall #dinelocal #cincodemayo