Butte College
News Announcement

Butte College Spring Gala to Honor Two Outstanding Alumni

Butte College's largest fundraising event, the Butte College Spring Gala, will be held on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at the Sierra Nevada Big Room in Chico. This year's theme is "Building Brighter Futures." 

Each year, the event honors outstanding alumni who have excelled in their professions and given back to their communities. This year's honorees are Butte County supervisor and long-time ag business leader Tod Kimmelshue and Rigoberto Sanchez, punter for the Indianapolis Colts.

Tod Kimmelshue

Kimmelshue attended Butte College from 1977-1979 and transferred to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where he earned a degree in ag business. Kimmelshue is a fifth-generation farmer in Durham. He worked in the agricultural finance and banking industry for over 35 years. He has served on several community boards, including the Butte County Farm Bureau, Butte County Water Commission, the California Farm Bureau and Chico Rotary Club. He was elected to the Butte County Board of Supervisors in 2021.

Rigoberto Sanchez

Sanchez grew up in Hamilton City and attended Butte College from 2012-2015, taking general education classes while playing in the Butte College football team. After attending Butte College, he transferred to the University of Hawaii on a football scholarship. In 2017, Sanchez signed with the Indianapolis Colts. Though his career took him away from his hometown, he remains committed to serving and inspiring his community. Each summer, he hosts a free youth camp in partnership with the Indianapolis Colts and Hamilton City High School and continues to visit Butte College to inspire the next generation of Roadrunner talent.

"This year's outstanding alumni reflect the college's power to transform lives and communities," said Superintendent/President Virginia L. Guleff. "They truly embody what it means to start here and go anywhere."

This special event is hosted by the Butte College Foundation and benefits scholarships, foundation services, industrial technology programs, and the Ag Leadership Club. Tickets to this year's gala have sold out, but community members can still support the event by donating at pazyrykcarpets.com/give. 

Incorporated in 1992, the Butte College Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that supports the college and its students, faculty, and staff. Last year alone, the Foundation distributed more than 300 scholarships directly to deserving students. The Butte College Foundation relies on community donations to help many of the 13,000 students each year. 

Platinum sponsors are Tri Counties Bank, Law Offices of Daniel Alexander, MJB Welding, and Clark/Sullivan Construction/Modern Building.

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