Allan Hancock College



Allan Hancock College fosters an educational culture that values equity and diversity and engages students in an inclusive learning environment.

This school is a member of the Allan Hancock and Lompoc Unified Adult Ed Consortium.

Allan Hancock College Stories

Beatriz Chavez, shown at the Allan Hancock College Library

Another Chance at an Education

A hairstylist returns to school to pursue a long-held career ambition Beatriz Chavez wanted to be a psychologist, but her family couldn’t afford an education at a university. After immigrating… [Read More]
Adult students taking notes in a classroom

Fluent in Learning

How Spanish literacy courses have helped one student find his voice Javier Flores is in his third year of Spanish literacy classes at Allan Hancock College, learning to read and… [Read More]
Allan Hancock College paralegal student Damaris walks on the Santa Maria campus.

Opening Doors

A mother of two’s path from noncredit courses to jumpstarting a paralegal career Damaris Montoya came to Allan Hancock for ESL classes. After successfully completing ESL classes, she enrolled in… [Read More]
César Omar Cuenca Camacho holding his citizenship certificate and an American Flag

Building Success

A construction worker completes his 13-year path to U.S. citizenship, explores new business opportunities When César Omar Cuenca Camacho settled down in Santa Maria, he decided a school like AHC… [Read More]
Fabian Mendoza shown at the AHC Community Education facility in Santa Maria.

An Educational Foundation

How one immigrant’s decades-long academic career spanned from ESL classes to a master’s degree in counseling When Allan Hancock College Graduate Fabian Mendoza immigrated to the US as an 18-year-old,… [Read More]
Ricky Bahena Standing in front of a commercial truck driving poster

Career in Overdrive

When the pandemic challenged his ambitions, a student found new direction in automotive technology Bahena completed the automotive technology program in 2023, then enrolled in AHC’s commercial truck driving program… [Read More]
Maria Bernarda De Leon studies in an ESL classroom at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria. At the age of 70—and after retiring in 2024—De Leon went back to school and earned her GED. As a child in a large family, she didn’t have the opportunity to go to school in Honduras. She and her husband started taking ESL classes in 2015 after their nest was empty, and she went on to earn her GED in 2021.

No Age Limit

A 70-year-old retiree finds satisfaction in her GED studies 70-years-old and retired, De Leon is finally acting on her long-time wish of attending school by taking classes at Allan Hancock… [Read More]
Dayana Zepeda, a non-credit counselor and teacher at the Santa Ynez center for Allan Hancock College’s Adult Education Program, helps ESL student Angelica Ruiz Acosta in her office.

A Safe Space for All

Regardless of education or immigration status, Allan Hancock College’s noncredit community education counselors guide students toward new opportunities It is Dayana Zepeda’s job to direct the hundreds of students enrolled… [Read More]
Alicia U. Paniagua, Dean of Community Education, Allan Hancock College’s Adult Education Program, poses for a picture in the her office lobby.

Coming Full Circle

From the field to the college campus, Alicia Paniagua has learned the importance of community education As early as the fourth grade, Alicia Paniagua knew she wanted to be a… [Read More]