De Anza College Quick Notes

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Dec. 8, 2025

Quick Notes for the Week of Dec. 8

Honors and Achievements

Toshi Komatsu Wins STAR Award

Toshi Komatsu, director of the De Anza College Planetarium, was recognized with a STAR Award by the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce on Dec. 4 at the Juniper Hotel in Cupertino.

The STAR Awards — Service, Teamwork, Achievement, Recognition — are annual awards honoring outstanding individuals, businesses and organizations that significantly contribute to Cupertino's community and economy.

Toshi was recognized as De Anza Educator of the Year. Since 2016, he's played a pivotal role in shaping the De Anza College Planetarium into one of the Bay Area's leading public science education centers.

The award organizers noted, “As technical director, he brings exceptional skills, innovation and dedication to every aspect of his work. This summer, he led a major upgrade of the planetarium's software, projection and sound systems, ensuring the facility remains a state-of-the-art learning environment for students and the community."

The organizers also commended Toshi's live astronomy presentations that engage and inspire thousands of students, saying:

“Last year alone, the planetarium welcomed nearly 21,000 K-12 students on field trips, including 1,484 students from 18 schools in the Cupertino Union School District.

Among those total visitors were also students from 64 Title 1 schools where many children face economic barriers that can limit access to high-quality educational experiences. By reaching these schools, Toshi helps to ensure that all students — regardless of background — can explore the sciences and see themselves as part of a larger universe.”

Metro Silicon Valley Best Flea Market

Each year, Metro Silicon Valley readers vote on their favorite restaurants, entertainment, shopping areas and more for Metro’s “Best of Silicon Valley” list.

This year, the De Anza Flea Market was voted as the best flea market! It is also the first year the market was voted above the Berryessa Flea Market.

You can check out the market every first Saturday of the month – rain or shine – from 8 a.m.-2 p.m., in Lots A and B. There are antiques, books, clothing, garden fountains, plants, toys, handcrafted items and more for sale.

Highlights of the Week

50 Years of Hope

De Anza and Hope Services celebrated 50 years of partnership on Tuesday, Dec. 2, with a luncheon on campus that featured great music played by a band made up of Hope Services participants.

During these five decades, our partnership with Hope Services has brought inclusive educational programming to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This innovative program was started by a De Anza instructor and a Hope staff member, with about 100 students. The original electronics and wood shop programs expanded into vocational training classes.

The program now enrolls 200 students per quarter focusing on media and vocational development.

The Hub Ribbon-Cutting

The Hub celebrated its opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Dec. 3, attended by college, district and community partners.

The Hub, formerly known as the Resource Hub, reopened at the Baldwin Winery Building at the start of fall quarter after consolidating multiple locations into one spot. The new, expanded location offers food support through Roary’s Market (formerly the food pantry); various supplies; Roary’s Closet, with coats and clothing; information and referrals; and access to hot meals through World Food Movement, which serves students every Wednesday.

In October, The Hub provided 5,000+ pounds of groceries to 1,000 students.

Equipando Padres Night

De Anza partnered with the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley (HFSV) and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) for Equipando Padres Night on December 4 on campus.

Equipando Padres Night is one of HFSV’s annual K-12 STEM community event collaborations, hosted with SHPE. The event is designed to support 6th-12th grade families — particularly those from schools that receive supplemental federal funding to assist students from low-income families and those who are academically at risk — by providing access to college readiness resources while introducing students to STEM.

Parents who attended participated in workshops on topics such as selecting, financing and applying to college as students experienced a Planetarium show and a live presentation of the night sky.

Approximately 100 participants attended, primarily Spanish-speaking, first-generation students and families.

Toys for Tots

Donate Toys to FHDA Police Stations Now Through Dec. 17

The Foothill-De Anza Community College District Police will be collecting donations for the Toys for Tots drive at both police stations now through Wednesday, Dec. 17.

If you would like to donate, please bring a new toy with a minimum value of $5. The most needed items are gifts for children ages 13 and up – sports items, art supplies, earbuds, board games, accessories, journals and other teen-friendly items.

Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest

Submit by Next Friday, Dec. 19

The Black Faculty, Staff and Administrators Network (BFSA) is holding a Martin Luther King Jr. essay contest to further engage our campus community with King's legacy, vision and leadership that inspired a nation.

Essays will be judged on creativity, clarity, content and coherence with the theme. Your essay must be in your own words; plagiarism is unacceptable, and no help from any AI source is permitted.

Please submit by 5 p.m. next Friday, Dec. 19, at deanza.edu/bfsa/king. More contest rules can be found on the website.

First-, second- and third-place winners will receive cash prizes and be recognized during the Martin Luther King Jr. celebration in Conference Rooms A&B at on Jan. 15.

Mark Your Calendar

Events

Be sure to check these program websites for:

You can also check the Events Calendar for additional events and details.

Tell us about your event! Use the online form at deanza.edu/communications/tell-us.

Dates and Deadlines

  • Final Exams – this week, Dec. 8-12

Visit the Academic Calendar page to see more important dates and deadlines by quarter.

Tell Us!

Quick Notes is an email digest of timely information for De Anza students, faculty and staff. Watch for it in your inbox regularly.

Use the online form at deanza.edu/communications/tell-us to let us know about an upcoming activity or other news that you want to share with the rest of the college community. That's the best way to get your item on our radar for the website Events Calendar, newsletter and social media planning.

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