Clovis Crush Athletics receives $500,000 gift from Diamond Learning Center

CLOVIS – Clovis Community College is proud to announce it has a received a gift of $500,000 from Diamond Learning Center and its Founder/CEO Jami Hamel De La Cerda that will greatly benefit the future of Crush athletics. The announcement was made at the State Center Community College District Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday at Madera Community College.

Diamond Learning Center is a Clovis-based educational institution where adult students are given the opportunity to be successful no matter their abilities or disabilities.

Hamel De La Cerda became involved with the Crush athletics program in 2022 as she was attracted to the department's shared mission of inclusive education and lifelong learning. Clovis Community College student-athletes have built a special relationship with Diamond Learning Center members and have regularly shared immersive and memorable experiences together at the center and on campus.

"Our community partnership enables our vision for lifelong learning to continue to grow and inspire independence," said Hamel De La Cerda. "Diamond Learning Center and Clovis Community College share the principles of Diamond L.I.F.E. – Learning Is For Everyone."

Clovis Director of Athletics James Sewell is proud of the relationship his program has built with Diamond Learning Center and is extremely grateful for their gift that will help elevate the Crush athletics program.

"We couldn't be more thankful to Jami, her sons, Isaiah, Samuel, and Elijah, and the entire DLC family for this incredible gift," said Sewell. "Our missions align so perfectly, and this opportunity will allow us to amplify our message throughout the campus and local communities. The funds will be critical in elevating the student-athlete experience on our campus, and we will be positioned to provide resources that many institutions at our level are not able to."

Sewell said funds will also be utilized to support the college's newest sport offerings. Women's volleyball as well as men's and women's tennis are set to begin competitive play in the upcoming 2025-26 academic year.

In recognition of the gift, the soon-to-be constructed sports complex at Clovis Community 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.

"We look forward to memorializing our partnership with the naming of this new facility that will welcome athletes from all over our state and be home to memories and traditions that last a lifetime," said Sewell. "It's an outstanding reflection of Jami's strong family values, honoring Isaiah, Samuel, and Elijah with the letters 'ISE,' and a nod to our shared mission of lifelong learning and inclusion with the words 'Learning Is For Everyone, L.I.F.E.' We couldn't be prouder, and we can't thank Jami and her family enough."

The partnership is also historic for the college and the State Center Community College District.

"This marks the first time in our district that naming rights for an athletics facility have been activated in such a way," said Sewell. "This helps to validate the hard work of our student-athletes, hard work that often goes unheralded, and clearly demonstrates that their community is behind them.

"The financial support provided by Jami has been tremendous for our College and Department of Athletics in so many ways, but through our relationship with DLC, our students have been able to better realize the value in themselves, and for that we are truly grateful."