When he’s not instructing students at Evergreen Valley College, physics and astronomy professor Celso Batalha is working with a much younger set — teaching children as young as elementary school-aged that no matter what their background, they, too, can reach for the stars. Batalha came to the Evergreen campus in 2003 just as the San...
In the Spotlight
Welcome to In the Spotlight.
These stories spotlight the people who make San Jose a remarkable place to call home. From unsung heroes to community leaders, we catch up with San Joseans who are doing amazing things — and we share the awe-inspiring stories behind their struggles and successes.
We are telling the unique, ever-changing, diverse story of San Jose. One person at a time.
Who should we feature next? To nominate someone for our next In the Spotlight profile, email [email protected].
Lila Gemellos brings San Jose’s history to life through walls of color
As Lila Gemellos painted the final stroke of her latest mural at San Pedro Square in downtown San Jose, the pressure of tackling such a historic local destination finally lifted. “I got to paint something that I have been so fond of for so long, it’s super cyclical,” the 34-year-old said of the mural tucked...
Jarrod Jenkins shatters stereotypes to live the Silicon Valley dream
Jarrod Jenkins left behind a stable job, family and the city he grew up in to move halfway across the country and pursue his dreams. In early 2015, he packed his bags and drove to California, leaving behind a career as an attorney at a boutique law firm in Georgia in hopes of working for...