The Arts
Thank you, Friends of the Arts!
Dear Friends,
Support of the Arts at Hartnell College from people like you over the years has kept our programs strong, innovative, and inclusive – despite every possible challenge! Thanks to your encouraging commitment, this year is also shaping up to be more dynamic, exciting, and meaningful than ever before.
The Council for the Arts is a group of donors and leaders that volunteer throughout the year to galvanize community support of the Arts at Hartnell, including visual arts, music, theater and cinema, photography, as well as The Western Stage — the professionally managed, community-based theatre company and educational program based here on campus. These exciting programs empower our students and community members to refine critical skills, sharpen creative inquiry, explore artistic expression, and develop their capacity to collaborate — all while deepening empathy and inspiring creative action.
We deeply appreciate your support of student opportunities in the arts at Hartnell College and we welcome your own ideas at any time. We believe that the arts have the power to transform lives in critical ways. Please know that your continued financial support is especially crucial this year as we continue to rebuild, regenerate, and refuel our programs.
Together, we will enrich the lives of everyone who experiences the arts at Hartnell!
Thank you,
Paulette Lynch
Chair, Council for the Arts
Hartnell College Foundation
Mission
The Council for the Arts expands opportunities at Hartnell College to nurture individual creativity, support pathways into creative careers, and cultivate more connected communities through the power of artistic expression.
Vision
Every Hartnell College student has access to the transformative power of the arts to uplift, inspire, inform, and empower.
Council for the Arts
- Paulette Lynch, Chair
- Pauline Canteneur
- Pat Donohue
- Helen Dunston
- Cesar Flores
- Darcie Fohrman
- Marianne Fontes, Ed.D.
- Alex Garcia
- Linda Gin
- Alejandra Gonzalez
- Pat Horsley
- Eric Mora
- Al Munoz
- Celine Pinet
- Aldina Rangel
- Garland Thompson, Jr.
- Diane Tingey
- Kari Valdes
- Jenny Wilshere
Gala for the Arts
Help us stay bold and relevant in our stewardship for the arts, which are always a source of healing, inspiration and joy!
Killian Scholarship Program
I am thankful to be a part of Killian, where I was guided to my dream career. I hope to continue with music education and give back to my community.” Julianna Ramirez, 2022-2023 Killian Scholar.
The Jack R. Killian Endowed Scholarship funds a program for a select cohort of music majors at Hartnell College. This scholarship opens the door to private lessons with exclusive and elite music instructors, mentoring by professional musicians, and a $2,000 scholarship. The cohort frequently meets to practice, study music theory, and even take excursions to attend local and Bay Area orchestra performances, compliments of the scholarship program.
Boronda International Study Program
The Sylvano and Maria Boronda International Study Program is offering an approximately 15 day program of study in Spain in the Summer of 2026. As directed by the will of the donor and artist, Lester D. Boronda, the recipients are to be “Students of Unusual Promise in the Arts, namely, Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, Literature, Drama, Music or Dance.”
Students selected for the Boronda Program will study and travel under the direction of a Hartnell College professor. As part of the program, students will receive expenses for air and ground transportation, lodging, and a meal allowance. During the trip, they will also be covered by accident insurance.
Apply here by Friday, October 3, 2025.
The Western Stage Performances
The Western Stage resides in The Center for Performing Arts at Hartnell College. The Western Stage is a professionally managed, community-based theater company and educational program that nurtures and develops our students’ and community’s passion for the creative process and desire for high-level artistic experiences.
Distinguished Alumnus in the Arts
Jesús Ruvalcaba grew up in Castroville in farmworker housing, the first in his family to attend college. At Hartnell, he discovered his passion for multimedia and design, guided by inspiring faculty who encouraged his talent. That foundation launched him into a successful career in Silicon Valley and eventually to founding Paper Tacos, a greeting card company that blends Spanglish humor with heartfelt illustrations. His cards have become a cultural phenomenon, winning him a deal with Mark Cuban on Shark Tank and distribution in Vallarta Supermarkets across California.