Cabrillo College choir director Cheryl Anderson will retire from her post following her choir’s performances this weekend with the Santa Cruz Symphony. Lookout talks with her as she reflects on her 35-year career leading the community in song.
Cabrillo College
Cabrillo College’s annual queer prom uplifts LGBTQ+ students
A student-led LGBTQ+ prom at Cabrillo College, born during the pandemic, has evolved into an annual tradition, offering students a safe space to celebrate the end of the school year.
Annual exhibition showcases Cabrillo students’ artistic skill
Student Exhibition 2025 displays interdisciplinary work by students across Cabrillo College’s art and photography departments.
Cabrillo College horticulture students help plan native, sustainable garden
The one-day beautification effort will create a drought-tolerant, eco-conscious landscape in partnership with K&D Landscaping, designed by Shanti Wertz of Evolve Exteriors and Nicola Hughes of Cabrillo Horticulture with support from students in the horticulture department. The native plant landscape design celebrates California’s native plants and Indigenous culture while providing a new outdoor lab area for students. Plants will be labeled to encourage community learning and cultural appreciation.
Cabrillo course spotlights native edible plants with Indigenous feast and film showcase
Inspired by recent climate disasters in Santa Cruz County, Edible Landscaping instructor Mimi Schilling decided to focus on edible plants native to the Central Coast when she took over the longstanding Cabrillo College course last fall. She also launched a monthly film series on food sovereignty, which culminates in a five-course dinner prepared by Central Coast-based Indigenous chef Christina Lonewolf and a screening of the film “Gather.” Students in the class are growing miner’s lettuce, an edible plant found widely in California, to use in the feast.
California’s fund to build student housing runs dry — leaving community colleges in the lurch
Feather River College is still reeling from the 2021 Dixie fire, which destroyed hundreds of homes in the surrounding community and warped the housing market. The college is one of many California schools that have tried — and failed — to secure state grants to build more student housing.
‘We’re not in violation of the law’: Santa Cruz County schools respond to memo to end DEI initiatives or risk losing federal funding
In a Friday memo from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, federal officials told schools and universities they have two weeks to end all diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives or risk losing federal funding. Santa Cruz County school and college leaders told Lookout that while the memo is concerning, they believe they’re not at risk of losing funding as they’re following state and federal laws.
Cabrillo College President Matt Wetstein announces retirement
Cabrillo College President Matt Wetstein announced Monday night that he’ll be retiring at the end of the year – capping more than seven years of service in Santa Cruz County. He told Lookout about his favorite memories at Cabrillo and his plans for retirement.
Cabrillo-UC Santa Cruz joint housing development continues to move forward
Cabrillo College’s governing board on Monday night approved several items related to the joint affordable-housing project with UC Santa Cruz. The trustees unanimously OK’d several agreements with the developer, Greystar Development LLC, that allow the college to continue advancing the project.
Demand for immigration legal services spikes at California colleges
California’s estimated 100,000 undocumented college students are grappling with President Donald Trump’s plans of mass deportations. Dream centers on many campuses are stepping in to provide guidance and meet the skyrocketing demand for legal services from students.

