BC Hosts Renegade Rally of Belonging to Promote Connection and Community

Thursday, January 22, 2026

Bakersfield College was excited to welcome back students for the Spring 2026 semester. On the first day of classes, the BC Student Government Association and the Office of Student Life hosted the first ever Renegade Rally of Belonging. The event gave attendees a chance to learn more about various BC student resources, enjoy some delicious food, connect with fellow Renegades, and have fun!

The event included lively music, donuts, Ronnie Renegade, and a series of information tables for a variety of campus resources. The lively atmosphere provided the perfect environment for students to connect and take a quick break between their classes.

Wendy Cordova, Director of Campus Engagement and Leadership, talked about the event and why it was important for students. “We want to instill a culture of belonging for all of our students, and the Office of Student Life can really play a big part in that student engagement and making people feel connected and happier with their college experience,” she said “but we also know our campus partners have so much to do with that. So, bringing that all together - I think it can really inspire our campus.”

Khalfani Mackey, BC Student Government Association President, talked about the importance of the event, and the sense of belonging. “We wanted to have a day that students understand that it’s about all of the students, not different groups of students. We are trying to cultivate integration and diversity,” he said, “and we also want students to know that when stress comes, they have someone to reach out to – whether it be a fellow student, a faculty person, or myself or someone else in the student government.”

The Renegade Rally of Belonging was a great way to kick off the Spring 2026 semester, and the hope is that each student that attends classes at each of our campuses will know that they belong at Bakersfield College.