“…Cuz’ you know I always got my team; steady we be chasin’ all our dreams...” These lyrics written by West Hills College Lemoore student Jonathan Maravilla speak to his commitment to work hard while pursuing his dreams and making friendships along the way.
Maravilla is a man with many passions and a lot of energy. He works full-time as an engineer with the environmental, geotechnical, and design firm Kleinfelder, works part-time as a basketball coach for his high school alma mater Sierra Pacific, and volunteers with West Hills College Lemoore’s Upward Bound program. He also finds time to write original music and perform throughout the Central Valley. As a performer, he is known by his stage name, “J Wonder.”
Though his passions may vary, the central theme in his life points to giving back to institutions that helped him achieve his goals.
Attributing much of his success to the support he received at WHC Lemoore, Maravilla said, “I love West Hills Lemoore. The opportunities for scholarships and support they provided really helped me succeed. It helped keep me focused on my end goals.”
Maravilla graduated from WHCL in 2018 with five associate degrees: An Associate of Science in Engineering, an Associate of Science in Mathematics, an Associate of Science in Physics, an Associate of Science in Business Administration, and an Associate of Science in Math and Science.
During his time at WHC Lemoore, Maravilla was also a President’s Scholar, Engineering Scholar, and a National Science Foundation S-STEM CORES Scholarship recipient.
Through West Hills College Lemoore and their commitment to networking and internships, Maravilla was connected to an engineering internship at Tulare Lake Compost, owned by the Los Angeles County Sanitation District. He worked at TLC until he graduated from his bachelor’s degree program.
“We have a strong and challenging Engineering program with world-class faculty at our college,” said James
Preston, West Hills College Lemoore President. “Our program truly prepares our students for their transfer university and their engineering career. Jonathan is just one example of where our students can fly to once they leave the Golden Eagle nest.”
Maravilla now holds a Bachelor of
Science Degree in Civil Engineering from Fresno State University and is currently employed as an engineer. When he is not working on electrical transmission line designs and assets management as an engineer, he often can be found on the campuses at West Hills volunteering his time.
Maravilla has visited both West Hills College Lemoore and West Hills College Coalinga, sharing music performances with students and staff. “Music is a way to connect with others, inspire and motivate,” he said.
Helping with the WHCL Upward Bound is another way Maravilla encourages and inspires students, saying, “The connections and insight I gained from the Lemoore Upward Bound program helped me see the bigger picture and keep me motivated. I was once in their shoes, so I like helping students realize their potential.”
The WHCL Upward Bound program targets high school students who show strong commitment and interest in college enrollment. “Our main objective is to promote academic achievement and higher learning by offering various support services that foster educational success,” said Oscar Villarreal WHCL Director of Upward Bound.
One of the most exciting services offered through Upward Bound is college tours. “All-inclusive Upward Bound college tours are hosted throughout the year and include student transportation, lodging, meals, and admission tickets,” said Villarreal.
“It’s really cool being able to work with the Upward Bound program,” said Maravilla. “I love helping on college trips because students get to explore campuses and dream about what their future might look like after they graduate from West Hills.”
Connecting with others and maintaining meaningful relationships are values important to Maravilla. Values he feels he holds in common with WHC Lemoore. “At West Hills, I never felt like another face. My instructors and the staff here really saw me as a person and wanted what’s best for me as an individual. It’s the people here that make the college what it is. I will forever be thankful for the help West Hills provided me and I love that I am still connected with the people at West Hills who helped me on my journey,” he said.
A WHCL connection Maravilla is thankful for is that with James Preston, president of West Hills College Lemoore. The two have kept in touch since Maravilla graduated. “JP was a dean when I went to West Hills. He was always there to encourage me,” Maravilla said. “He’s been an inspiration to me and watching him succeed in his career, he’s the president at the college now, while he has watched me succeed in school and in my career is so cool.”
“Jonathan is such a positive part of our Golden Eagle community, and it has been inspiring to see him complete his goals and still take time to support and serve others throughout his journey,” Preston said. “I also appreciate J Wonder’s creativity and music skills and look forward to continuing to bring him back to campus to perform, connect, inspire, and mentor the next generation.”