We are always pleased to hear about current Long Beach City College students and graduates who have transferred to four-year colleges and universites and have achieved academic success. Here are a few notes from these exceptional men and women:

Petro Kostiv

My name is Petro Kostiv, and I am a proud LBCC alumnus. I graduated from LBCC with an Associate in Arts in English Literature and Liberal Arts in 2004. During my years at LBCC I received substantial support and encouragement from my professors and friends. I also received a range of scholarships, one of which came from Dr. William Marmion through the Marmion Family Scholarship.

Then I transferred to the University of California, Berkeley, where in 2006, I received a Bachelor of Arts in History with High Honors. While at Berkeley, I helped to found a free school in Southern Peru that promotes literacy among middle- and high-school children. At Berkeley I won a fellowship which allowed me to work in South Africa as a free lance researcher of post-apartheid politics. Then I went on and did a Master of Arts in Politics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.

In August I will be attending the University of Michigan Law School where I plan to draw on insights gained from living and working on three continents (Europe, Africa, the two Americas) in order to study international law and politics.

Lloyd Saposnek

After breaking my neck in a car accident resulting in a C3-4 spinal cord injury when I was a senior at Millikan High School in 1990, I decided to take the risk by attending Long Beach City College three years later. Not knowing how I would survive the rigors as a student, I met Mark Matsui, Dan Hansch, and Dr. Bill Judd from Disabled Students Programs & Services in 1993 who guided me in the right direction. The advice and assistance I received not only helped me excel at LBCC where I received my Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts within four years, but also gave me the confidence to transfer to California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) where I received my Bachelor's degree in Psychology in 1999 and my Master's degree in Educational Psychology (Student Development in Higher Education) in 2002.

While attending LBCC, I was the recipient of the John Ostach Memorial Scholarship; Kay Boandl Scholarship; James D. Campbell Memorial Scholarship; Thane Scholarship and the Alpha Gamma Sigma, Kappa Chapter Scholarship. Besides receiving scholarships, I became involved with LBCC service clubs and was awarded the LBCC Silver Key Service Award; Alpha Gamma Sigma Outstanding Service Award; Chairperson Tutoring Recognition; Kassai Outstanding Service Award; and the Leaders Across Campus, Certificate of Recognition.

Not only did I love my experience as a student, I was given the opportunity to return to LBCC as an adjunct DSPS counselor in 2002. Six years later, I have three wonderful jobs—two here at LBCC as an adjunct counselor for the GO Project along with teaching a Human Service 15 class (Psychology of Disability) at the PCC campus plus my third job as a Disability Program Navigator at the Orange County One-Stop Center in Westminster since 2004. My ultimate goal is to be a full time counselor at LBCC so I can help students achieve their dreams just the way I did.

Pamela Miller

I graduated in 2001, my name is Pamela Miller. I graduated with my AS degree then I graduated with my LVN in 2003. Well I transferred to Humboldt State University and graduated with my degree in Social Work on May 16, 2009. I am now in the Advance standing Masters of Social Work Program and will be graduating next May, 2010 with my MSW. While I was at LBCC I was the President of the Delta Chi chapter of AGS and President of the Student Vocational Nurses Association. I was awarded both the PCC Crystal, Viking Award as well as Outstanding Journalism Student. My years at LBCC helped me form into the person I am today and I am very thankful. Thank you to everyone for the guidance and the support. My goals are to graduate with my MSW and then continue on to complete my PhD in Social Welfare and Public Health from Berkeley. I am hoping that by telling my success in school and my struggles, that included being a single mother of two children, I could be an inspiration to those who feel they have no chance in reaching their goals. Dreams are possible even if the road takes a little longer to get down.

Rev. Craig Johnson

Here is a communication from Craig Johnson on our Facebook page - Mrs. Baxter it is so cool to hear from you. I have a photo of you and me dancing together at the 1988 winter formal. What a fun night that was. I am currently a Senior Pastor at Lakewood Church in Houston with Joel Osteen. Lakewood is the largest church in America with over 40,000 who attend weekly. I am one of the Senior Directors at the church where I oversee the divisions of kids, youth, college, young adults, seniors, as well as in house media and the Lakewood Internship Program. It's really been an honor to follow in the footsteps of the service organizations like AMS and JX like I was a part of at LBCC. I just signed my first publishing contract with Regal Books this year and my book Vertical Leadership will be released March 2010. It talks about The Power of Building Teams and Inspiring People. I've been married to my beautiful wife Sami coming up on 20 years. We have three children Cory, Courtney, and Connor. My passion is to build and inspire kids and families. I'll send you some video's if you like of some of the things I do. How are you doing? It's so good to see you again. Let's definitely stay in touch.

Jean-Bernard Durand, MD

Dr. Jean-Bernard Durand, cardiologist at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and inducted into the LBCC Alumni Hall of Fame, has done extensive research on the effects of cancer treatment on the heart. He recently wrote Dean John Fylpaa a note. “I am applying for funding to perform a genome wide search of genes which may be responsible for causing cardiovascular complications of chemotherapy…I think of my years in Long Beach all the time!!!” Dr. Durand was a member of the men’s service club Tong and served on the ASB cabinet as well as being an LBCC honor graduate and Viking Award recipient.