Hundreds gather at the annual Bakersfield College BBQ

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Hundreds of alumni from one generation to the next gathered for the Bakersfield College Alumni BBQ Saturday at the Panorama Campus in east Bakersfield.

Some alumni are new grads, others never left campus, but they all knew what it means to be a renegade.

Welcome to Bakersfield College, the home of the renegades, where it’s more than a place to get a higher education, but a place that offers a sense of belonging.

“I want to give back to this community because they’ve given so much to me and my regulars in the Renegade room,” said Erin Richardson, a BC Culinary Arts graduate. “I cannot wait to see what they say to me whenever I get to see them next.”

Richardson found a family in the culinary arts program at BC. She’s serving up to 500 hungry people, 100 pounds of tri-tip, 200 sides of macaroni and cheese and potato salad, and 300 hotdogs.

Culinary Arts Professor Paul Burzlaff is supervising.

“I started here in 1998 and then did a couple years and went to culinary school after that, but now, I’m back here teaching. So, it’s kind of great,” said Burzlaff.

Trick roper, Sebastian Bautista, is brand new on the BC Rodeo Team. The rodeo team is celebrating their 3rd year and their first home rodeo last year.

“We were actually voted best rodeo of the year,” said rodeo team advisor, Julie Beechinor.

Randy Arevalo is a chemistry major creating a float for the parade.

“So, we decided to go with “Coco” as well as incorporate El Dia de los Muertos,” said Arevalo.

Biology major, Johana Solis, is making a community connection by sharing her culture.

“It’s kind of commemorating the ones that have passed before us and how they live on through our hearts and our stories,” said Solis.

Renegades are full of pride, but none more so than retired chemistry professor Bob Allison.

“I came here in 1963 and didn’t know if I would stay here for long,” said Allison. “Within a very short time I discovered what a wonderful place it is and what a wonderful place Bakersfield is too.”

Allison retired in 2000 but he comes back every year to the BC Alumni BBQ. It’s not for the food, for the robots or for the petting zoo…it’s for pride.

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