A Family Legacy, A Future Opportunity

Words by Lifestyle StaffPhotos provided by SJVC & Carrington College

THE PERRY FAMILY LEGACY

A Commitment to Education

In 1977, Robert and Shirley Perry founded San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) with a clear vision: to provide career-focused education that empowers students and strengthens communities. What started as a small, family-run institution with Central Valley roots has grown into a community resource and network of campuses across California and beyond, helping thousands of students gain workforce-ready skills. Despite its expansion, SJVC has remained true to its core values of integrity, excellence, and student success, all while keeping deep ties to the Central Valley.

CARRINGTON COLLEGE

Expanding the Mission

As SJVC looked to broaden its impact, Carrington College stood out as a natural fit. In 2018, the Perrys and San Joaquin Valley College, Inc. (SJVCi) acquired Carrington College, expanding their family-run educational enterprise across multiple states and more than doubling the number of students pursuing careers in nursing and allied health. The partnership was a natural fit—both colleges shared a deep commitment to student success, handson training, and career-oriented education. The acquisition wasn’t about changing direction—it was about widening the road, ensuring more students could access high-quality training in the fields that need them most.

GROWTH IN SERVICE

Strength in Alignment

Today, SJVC and Carrington College operate with one shared mission: to prepare students for meaningful, in-demand careers while strengthening the communities they serve. Starting in spring 2025, each college will specialize in its area of expertise— Carrington will focus on nursing and allied health programs, while SJVC will dedicate itself to trades, technical, and business education. This alignment allows each institution to do what it does best, improving outcomes for students and responding more precisely to workforce needs. Together, they’re helping more than 12,300 students—many of them first-generation— pursue brighter futures. In 2024 alone, they awarded more than $4.7 million in financial assistance including scholarships and private funding, and participated in over 160 community events across the western U.S.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Future of SJVC and Carrington College

The journey doesn’t stop here. With hundreds of thousands of graduates and a broad workforce presence across multiple states, the impact of SJVC and Carrington College is both wide and deeply personal. As both SJVC and Carrington College prepare to celebrate milestone anniversaries in 2027—50 years for SJVC and 60 years for Carrington—both institutions continue to champion accessible, high-quality education grounded in their shared commitment to community and career readiness. Their legacy is built on opportunity—and the next chapter is only just beginning.

The Evolution of a Legacy

• 1977: Robert and Shirley Perry establish SJVC in Visalia with a vision for career-focused education.

• 1987: SJVC expands beyond Visalia, opening its first branch campus in Bakersfield.

• 1994: Carrington College expands its healthcare programs.

• 2004: SJVC reaches a milestone with 10 campuses across California.

• 2018: SJVC’s parent company acquires Carrington College, expanding its healthcare training across 7 Western U.S. states.

• 2027: SJVC celebrates 50 years; Carrington celebrates 60—together continuing a legacy of education and community impact.