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ALUMNI NEWS
TAKING A CHANCE
How CSin3 Has Changed lives

He was 11 years old when he came to the United States. He had to learn a new language and a new way of life. His dad passed away of cancer soon after and it was his mom who continued strong raising nine children.

“Mom is my biggest supporter – she is always cheering me on,” said Noe Lomeli. His mom is 85 and lives with him in Santa Cruz County.

Noe entered the CSin3 (computer science in three years) program at Hartnell College and CSU Monterey Bay in 2015. He was part of Cohort 3 and earned a scholarship of $30,000 from the Matsui Foundation.

“It’s life changing to get that kind of scholarship,” he said. “I want to make Teresa Matsui proud and show her that what they do is changing lives – we want her to know their investment was worth it.”

He was 35 when he entered the program. His life had been challenging, working multiple jobs and not being able to focus in his studies. He promised himself that he would go back to college, but he never imagined computer science would be his ticket to success.

“I did not even know what computer science was!” He exclaimed. “But CSin3 was exactly what I needed.” The program provided him with a cohort, discipline, focus, fast-pace, and comradery. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 2018.

He interned for Uber and worked for Heroku, a sub division of Salesforce. His experience showed him the value of networking and of determination.

“My time at Heroku changed my life,” he said. “First, I had never imagined earning the salary they offered me and second, it opened up a world of opportunities and made me think of what else I could do with my skills here in my community.”

He created a prototype of a robot with a camera that controls your pace as you jog or run. It was a project that led him to connect with Cohort 2 grad Benito Sanchez. They kept in touch all these years and Noe joined Benito’s translation and interpretation company Nurbli. In less than two years, the company has grown from two to nice staff. They provide translation services for two types of Mixteco, Triqui, and Spanish.

“Benito and I knew we had the grit to do great things,” he said. “I want to encourage Latinos to become curious about computer science – it takes work but it is so worth it.”

19^TH ANNUAL STEAM FAMILY SCIENCE DAY

The largest and most successful!

The Hartnell College Foundation (HCF) and the K-12 STEAM Program presented the 19^thAnnual STEAM Family Science Day on March 15, 2025 at Hartnell College.

In collaboration with Friends of Laguna Seca the keynote speech was by professional race car driver and race team owner Erin Vogel. She inspired an auditorium full of future STEAM dreamers.

The free family event featured STEAM hands-on activities, competitions, speakers, physics demos, a reptiles’ den, art tables, food vendors, music, Wheelie Mobilee, face painting, and more. It was a day for the entire family.

Monterey County Science & Engineering Fair exhibited remarkable science projects authored by some of the most talented high school students across the county. The HCF welcomed the Salinas City Elementary School District (SCESD) regional Invention Convention competition alongside a dedicated Computer Science spotlight. In addition, the San Jose Tech Interactive joined the day to host a regional Tech Challenge trial, engaging students from Alisal Unified School Districts (AUSD) and SCESD, preparing students for the final showcase in San Jose in May. 

“Every contribution from this vibrant, collaborative ecosystem will generate meaningful, far-reaching ripple effects for our talented students to thrive,” said Ana Ibarra-Castro, director of K-12 STEAM Programs at Hartnell College Foundation. 

WELI SPRING SOIREE

A Record-Breaking Fundraiser

The Hartnell College Foundation is beyond grateful for the support received on March 8, 2025 in making the Women’s Education & Leadership Institute (WELI) Spring Soirée our most successful fundraiser yet!

Thanks to the generosity of sponsors, donors, and guests who came together to celebrate, uplift, and invest in the future of women in the community, this event reached record numbers. The contributions will lead to life-changing opportunities.

It was truly an inspiring afternoon, filled with powerful stories, heartfelt connections, and the generosity of so many business and community leaders. Committee co-chairs Sharon Dilbeck, Sandi Eason, and Monica Tovar agree and said that your commitment to this cause makes a lasting impact, and we couldn’t have done it without you.

If you are interested in becoming a WELI Mentor, please call 831-755-6810.

Thank you for believing in the power of education and leadership to transform lives!

Our very best!