DVC Alumni: Where Every Story Inspires the Next!

In this episode, TJ Scoggins, a Navy veteran and former nuclear technician, shares his life from a small Idaho town to serving on aircraft carriers and submarines, leading reactor departments, and becoming an instructor and officer.After a medical retirement, TJ reflects on reinvention—moving to California, joining the DVC community and Student Veteran Resource Center, prioritizing family, and planning a shift from engineering to business management as he begins a new chapter.

In this episode, DVC speech and debate co-directors Paul Villa and Rob Hawkins describe how they rebuilt a thriving program through the pandemic and led students to state and national success.
They discuss coaching philosophy, team culture, student stories of resilience and inclusion, practical goals for newcomers, and how to get involved (dvcforensics.org).
Connect with Speech and Debate's Social Media: https://linktr.ee/dvcsd

Check out our 100th episode with Proud, an international student from Thailand, shares her journey to Diablo Valley College, including the challenges of applying and getting a visa, recovering from surgery, and adapting to life in the U.S.
She discusses her classes, involvement in clubs like PBL, student government, and TEDx, her healthcare advocacy, and offers the key advice: "do it scared." Proud also talks about her future plans, including transferring to a dream school and competing in FBLA.
 
 

On this episode Litzy Gonzalez, a DVC alum, shares her path from high school programs and online classes during COVID to transferring and growing at Cal State Northridge. She discusses joining a sorority, developing professional skills, and her work at Monument Impact’s Emerging Business Program helping locals obtain business licenses and start micro-enterprises.
 
Check out the great work at Monument Impact here.

Chef Aaron Prater shares his journey from New Orleans and the Marine Corps to leading DVC's hospitality program, explaining how travel and hands-on experience shaped his love of food and teaching.
He discusses transforming the program from a production model to a student-centered hospitality curriculum, launching zero-textbook OER courses, and expanding global perspectives in culinary education.
The episode highlights upcoming events like the Alere Food & Wine Symposium, innovations such as vending machine projects and international trips, and the long-term goal of creating an accessible bachelor’s pathway for hospitality students.
 
Get your tickets for Alere here: Alere Tickets

Casey Ferreira, a DVC culinary student and former construction worker turned musician, shares how a homemade sriracha during a shortage launched his shift into the culinary world and inspired him to pursue a degree and start a food business.
He discusses forming the Hospitality & Culinary Association, fundraising events like Dinner Theater and the O'Leary Symposium, plans for a study-abroad program in Italy, and how alumni partnerships and pop-ups are helping students grow.
Check out his music here: Caliking
Check out Alere here: Alere

On this episode of DVC Alumni, Matt recounts his investigation into a 2015 death originally ruled a suicide. Noticing inconsistencies in the coroner's and police reports, he tracked down seized electronics, enlisted forensic experts, and uncovered digital evidence suggesting the suicide note originated from the husband’s devices.
After years of persistence and review by the district attorney’s cold case unit, charges followed. The episode explores the investigative steps, the family's search for answers, and the long road to justice.
Check out news article here
You can contact Matt through his website: https://gtplawyers.com/

In this episode of DVC Alumni, Mary Kemnitz, founder of Cars 2nd Chance, shares how a Concord auto repair shop grew into a car-donation nonprofit that partners with Rotary clubs and other organizations to repurpose vehicles for charity.
Mary recounts powerful stories of direct impact—from helping fire survivors regain mobility to building a large partnership network—and explains how the program grew into a meaningful community enterprise and DVC project partner.
 
You can find them at https://www.cars2ndchance.org/