A delegation from Clovis Community College (CCC) headed across town to visit its partners at the Diamond Learning Center (DLC) in Clovis last week for the first-ever Community Morning Mixer.

Crush Director of Athletics James Sewell was joined by CCC President Dr. Kim E. Armstrong, Athletic Trainer Megan Zigler, Head Track and Cross Country Coach CJ Albertson, as well as Crush student-athletes Dylan Devine, Magy Marcelo, and Amar Malhi.

The group met with DLC Founder and CEO Jami Hamel De La Cerda, DLC staff, and students for a meet & greet and Q&A session. Sewell shared a bit about what they do at Clovis, what their mission is, and how that intertwines with the work done at DLC.

"It's always great to spend time with our DLC family," said Sewell. "It was especially fulfilling because in addition to sharing what we do to support student success at the college, we also got to learn about the athletic endeavors of the DLC students and how those experiences have helped to shape their lives. This really emphasizes just how much we all have in common, and how important it is that we continue to support one another through our shared mission of lifelong learning and inclusion."

The mission of the Diamond Learning Center is to foster lifelong learning that enables students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to lead productive and fulfilling lives. Founded by Jami Hamel De La Cerda in 2005, the center operates under the core principle of L.I.F.E. (Learning Is For Everyone), providing an educational and vocational environment for adults regardless of their abilities or disabilities.

"Our first weekly Community Morning Mixer got off to an amazing and inspirational start," said Hamel De La Cerda. "We couldn't have started with anyone else. Sharing time with our community partners, Clovis Community College student-athletes and staff, reminds us that it's time to celebrate and recognize we share more similarities than differences, embracing lifelong learning and friendship."

According to Sewell, the Crush delegation learned about the DLC students' participation in athletics and how that has impacted their lives.

"We also found out that a number of them are Special Olympians," added Sewell. "That led to a brainstorm session about how we could partner on some type of adaptive sports field day event in the future with our student-athletes teaching sport-specific skills to their students and culminating with everyone participating together in a game, match, or meet."

Dr. Armstrong was honored to be at the event and is proud of the relationship built with DLC.

"Connecting on our mutual mission of 'learning is for everyone,' we had the honor of being able to be asked to come talk to everyone about our program at Clovis," said Dr. Armstrong. "The enthusiasm for them and us was contagious. We had to cut off questions, they had so many, to get them to their next class. We are looking forward to not only coming back, but in having them on our campus, hosting them in our new sports complex, which bears their name, is a forever reminder of our partnership."

The partnership was solidified in October of 2024 when Hamel De La Cerda and DLC donated $500,000 to Crush Athletics. The funds were utilized to help launch the women's volleyball, men's tennis, and women's tennis programs that began play this athletics season (2025-26). In recognition of the gift, the sports complex currently under construction at the college will be named ISE Diamond L.I.F.E. Sports Complex. The new facility will be home to the Crush men's and women's soccer teams as well as the men's and women's track and field programs.

Crush Athletics at DLC for Inaugural Community Morning Mixer