More than 80 private and public universities, trade schools and military recruiters were on hand Sept. 8 to welcome approximately 7,000 students and adults to the 9th annual Kern County College Night. The event was held at the Rabobank Convention Center in Bakersfield. The event is funded in large part by Pacific Gas & Electric. Earlier in the day, Ophelia B. Basgal, vice president, civic partnership and community initiatives, presented a $25,000 check from PG&E to Kern County Superintendent of Schools Larry E. Reider. This is the fourth consecutive year that PG&E has made a contribution of this size. "Education is important to PG&E," said Basgal. "Within the next four-to-five years, 40 percent of our workforce will be eligible to retire. We offer a wide range of careers and students need to understand the opportunities." She said PG&E is active in other educational initiatives and noted that latino employees at PG&E recently donated 17, $1,000 scholarships to students in the San Joaquin Valley. Basgal and Reider underscored the importance of doing things that conserve and reuse our resources. More