MENIFEE – Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) celebrated the ribbon-cutting and dedication of the Menifee Valley Campus Math and Science Building on Thursday, Feb. 5, bringing together regional leaders, educators, and community partners for a milestone event honoring both the future of STEM education and the successful completion of Measure AA.
The celebration welcomed regional civic and education leaders from across Southwest Riverside County. Attendees included Gustavo Romo, Interim City Manager for the City of Beaumont; Bob Karwin, Acting Mayor of the City of Menifee; Timothy Sheridan, Mayor Pro Tem for the City of Lake Elsinore; Clarissa Sanchez, Mayor Pro Tem for the City of San Jacinto; Elizabeth Vallejo, City Council Member for the City of Perris; and Hemet City Council Members Joe Males and Jackie Peterson. Lake Elsinore and Menifee city representatives presented MSJC with certificates recognizing the significance of the new facility and its regional impact.
K-12 educational leadership was also well represented, underscoring the strong pipeline between local schools and higher education. Superintendents in attendance included Dr. Christi Barrett of Hemet Unified School District, Dr. Jennifer Root of Menifee Union School District, and Dr. Jose Luis Araux of Perris Union High School District. The event also welcomed Jennifer Mejares-Pham and Jamie Azpeitia-Sachs, Trustees from the Riverside County Board of Education.
During the ceremony, MSJC Superintendent/President Dr. Roger Schultz highlighted the student-centered purpose of the new building and its broader significance.
“Inside this building, there are modern classrooms, labs, and learning environments that support discovery, collaboration, and hands-on learning,” Schultz said. “These are the kinds of spaces that help students succeed, whether they are preparing for transfer, entering the workforce, or exploring new possibilities for their future. But today is about more than opening a building. With this dedication, we also mark the completion of Measure AA, the voter-approved bond passed in 2014 that allowed MSJC to modernize and expand our campuses in San Jacinto, Menifee, and Temecula.”
MSJC Board of Trustees President Tom Ashley emphasized the role of community support in making projects like the Math and Science Building possible.
“Buildings like this exist because a community decides that education and the pursuit of knowledge matter,” Ashley said, thanking voters for their confidence in the college and their long-term investment in student success.
Student voices were also heard during the celebration. Student Trustee Claudia Walukouw spoke about what the new building represents for current and future students.
“When voters approved this bond measure, they invested in more than brick and mortar — they invested in opportunity,” Walukouw said. “This building represents the belief that every MSJC student deserves access to spaces where curiosity can flourish, and futures can take shape. For students balancing work, family, and school, this is proof that our community is investing right back in us. It sends a clear message: your education matters, and we are committed to giving you the tools to succeed.”
The event also recognized the dedicated service of MSJC’s Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee, whose members provided accountability and stewardship throughout the Measure AA program. The college extended special thanks to Dee Cozart, Andrew Masiel, Julie Venable, Ventia Durgin, Dr. Linda Morriss, and Mario Plazola Jimenez for their commitment to transparency and responsible use of public funds.
In addition to the ribbon cutting, guests participated in an open house featuring campus resource tables, instructional labs, classrooms, and tours of the recently opened Studio215 and ieNOW facilities. The celebration served both as a look forward to the next generation of STEM learning and a moment of gratitude for the community partnership that made the transformation of MSJC’s campuses possible.
To learn more about Measure AA and the projects it supported, visit http://www.msjc.edu/measureaa.
