COD Earns Public Impact Award

College of the Desert Earns Public Impact Award at Chamber Business Awards Dinner

PALM DESERT — College of the Desert was a central focus of the evening when the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce hosted its 2026 Annual Board Installation and Business Awards Dinner.

The event was held Tuesday, June 9, at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa in Indian Wells.

The evening celebrated the installation of the 2026 Boards of Directors alongside an awards program, a silent auction, and major networking opportunities for valley leaders.

College of the Desert Takes Center Stage

College of the Desert demonstrated its deep roots and profound impact on the Coachella Valley community through multiple honors and sponsorships:

• Public Impact Award: COD was proudly recognized with this prestigious award, underscoring its vital role in shaping the educational and economic landscape of the region.
• Co-Title Sponsor: Demonstrating its commitment to regional growth, College of the Desert served as one of the evening’s premier Title Sponsors.
• CV Next Honoree: COD student Roberto Ramos was celebrated as one of the 2026 CV Next: The Next Leaders of the Coachella Valley. This honor recognizes emerging trailblazers making a meaningful impact in the community.

“I’m very grateful to the community at College of the Desert, and specifically to Superintendent/President Val Martinez Garcia who has been a tremendous mentor,” Ramos said.

Ramos was recognized for his extensive community involvement rooted in supporting his peers through COD’s Dreamer Resource Center, Basic Needs program, and College Corps.

About College of the Desert

College of the Desert serves more than 20,000 students across five campuses in Palm Desert, Indio, Mecca/Thermal, Desert Hot Springs, and Palm Springs. Founded in 1958 and opened in 1962, College of the Desert is governed by the Desert Community College District Board of Trustees. Through the  pLEDGE program, the college offers eligible students two years of tuition-free education, removing financial barriers and expanding access to higher education in the community. College of the Desert provides the Coachella Valley with affordable degrees, certificates, and transfer pathways, offering in-demand programs that prepare workforce leaders and strengthen the local economy.