For nearly three decades, Professor Luis Gutierrez guided generations of San José City College students through the fundamentals of painting and drawing. Today, the retired art educator is giving back to the college in a new way—by establishing the Luis Gutierrez Fine Art Scholarship to support SJCC art students transferring to four-year universities.
Gutierrez, who taught at SJCC from 1969 to 1995, said the scholarship is his way of returning the generosity that carried him through a life in art. “I’ve been very fortunate all my life—people encouraged me, supported me, even financially,” he said. “I never thought I’d have the chance to give back like others gave to me.”
A Journey Shaped by Community Colleges
Born into a working-class family across the Bay in Pittsburg, Gutierrez faced challenges early on. His father, who was from Michoacán, Mexico, passed away when he was just five, leaving his mother to raise five children alone. Despite hardships, he found solace in drawing from the age of seven. By the time he graduated from high school, he had already earned the Bank of America Award in Art.
College seemed unlikely, but when Diablo Valley College opened nearby, Gutierrez seized the opportunity. “If it weren’t for a community college, I wouldn’t have been able to continue my education,” he recalled. That path led him to San José State University, where he completed his bachelor’s degree and continued into graduate study. He later earned a scholarship to study for a year at the Instituto Allende in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico—an experience he described as “life-changing.”
Gutierrez never forgot those opportunities. “Community colleges saved my life twice,” he said. “First as a student, then as an educator when SJCC hired me.”
Building a Sanctuary in the Classroom
Gutierrez was part of a wave of new faculty of color hired at SJCC in 1969 during a period of student protests calling for greater diversity on campus. He later helped establish the Latino Education Association (LEA) to support students and faculty.
In his classroom, Gutierrez emphasized that art was not about technical perfection but about feeling and personal truth. “Art is about feeling, not just thinking,” he explained. He encouraged students to use lines to express emotions—whether joy, fear, or confusion—and often gave deeply personal assignments..
He worked to create what he called a “sanctuary,” where students felt safe to express themselves without judgment. Critiques focused only on positive questions and supportive dialogue. “No one’s art is better than another’s,” Gutierrez reminded his students. “Each person expresses themselves in a certain way because of their life experiences.”
A New Legacy Through Scholarships
After retiring in 1995, Gutierrez remained connected to his own art and photography but was largely distanced from the college until recently. The Luis Gutierrez Fine Art Scholarship will provide five awards of $2,000 each year for students transferring from SJCC to four-year universities to continue their art education. The first three scholarships were awarded this year.
“Luis has a generous heart, deep compassion, and an inspiring vision that will uplift students for years to come,” said Amy Pizarro, executive director of the San Jose Evergreen Community College District Foundation. “Through this Fine Arts scholarship, he is truly changing lives, and the Foundation is profoundly grateful for his support.”
Meeting the inaugural recipients was deeply moving for Gutierrez. “I hope I can be a mentor to them,” he said. “If they ever need to talk or need help, I want to be there.”
The program represents more than financial support—it is a continuation of the sanctuary he once built in his classroom. “This has given me a rebirth,” he said. “To know I can still do something for others—it’s a great joy.”
Coming Full Circle
When Gutierrez returned to SJCC for the first time in years, he was struck by the transformation of the campus—modern facilities, new buildings, and a thriving art department. “It was a complete surprise,” he said. “It’s wonderful to make that connection again. I think I needed it as much as City College needed me.”
For a professor who dedicated 28 years to nurturing creativity, the scholarship is both a legacy and an invitation for the next generation of Jaguars to find their own voice through art.
