Moments that take our breath away – March 2023

This week, I was at UCLA at the STEM Transfer Pathways meeting and as I was settling down for the evening, I heard the Westminster Clock strike 8:00 p.m. and paused and to remember that familiar sound in my home, as a young girl, in Quilon, India.  My dad would wind the clock regularly and the richness and vibration of the sound has since them been comforting… Moments that take my breath away.

The Westminster Chimes, or Westminster Quarters, is a melody for a set of four quarter bells to mark each quarter hour. It was originally written in 1793 for a new clock in Great St. Mary’s in Cambridge. In 1851, the chime was adapted for a new clock at the Palace of Westminster – where the Big Ben bell is. Its popularity spread, and it is now one of the most commonly used clock chimes.

Listen to it here on YouTube:

And while on the topic of music, I watched the movie La La Land with beautiful music and visuals. Here are two songs from the movie that keep repeating in my head and tugging at my heart. Enjoy.

Mia & Sebastian’s Theme Song

City of Stars

And here is photo #2 of the tree that I’m watching leaf out that I mentioned in last week’s blog. The story of the tree again – over the last five years I have been watching a beautiful tree in our neighbor’s front yard go through the cycle of shedding leaves in the fall, going dormant in the winter, coming back to life in spring, and providing glorious shade in the hot summers. I enjoy this tree each morning and evening during my Neo walks. I have started taking photos to chronicle its annual rebirth. First photo, March 15, 2023, second photo March 23rd.

Life Is Not Measured By the Number of Breaths We Take,
But By the Moments That Take Our Breath Away

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Good morning friends.
It is March 25, 2023.
The sun shines bright over Kern CCD.


Porterville College

PC Day at Stafford’s

The community celebrated Porterville College day at Stafford’s Chocolates in downtown Porterville last week with free medium drinks and one-on-one help from PC Staff.

A steady flow of potential students came into the shop looking for a warm drink on a cold and wet day and spent time talking about their futures.

“We really enjoy these events in the community. It gives us a chance to meet with people one on one and really tailor our help to their specific needs. Whether someone needs help applying to PC so they can get their degree for transfer, or they just want to see if they can take a few classes, or earn a certificate so they can move up in their current career, we have something to help everyone at PC,” said Roger Perez, Director of Communications and Community Relations for Porterville College.

We would also like to remind everyone that all PC Students & Staff get 10% off at Stafford’s Chocolates every day. Just show your Campus ID at the checkout!

“PC Family” Honored on the City Wall of Fame

Maria C. Roman and Milt Stowe were recently inducted onto the City of Porterville Wall of Fame, along with Don Dowling, David Gong, and Cam Hamilton. They both hold special places in our “Pirate Hearts” as they are part of our Pirate family with Stowe being a PC Alumnus and PC Hall of Fame Athlete, and Roman being a PC Alumnus and now a Professor Emeritus for the institution.

The city recognized these individuals for their significant efforts and service to the community. With the addition of this year’s nominees, there have been a total of 69 honorees inducted since the inception of the program.

This year’s honorees

Councilmember Don Weyhrauch said a few words about former Porterville Mayor and councilmember Milt Stowe before presenting him with the honor. He said, “Milt Stowe’s love for the community goes beyond all barriers, and it would be hard to find someone more universally beloved than Milt Stowe. He is an inspiration to colleagues, friends, and citizens.”

Stowe was inducted into the Porterville College Athletic Hall of Fame for his achievements on the baseball diamond. He has worked for years in Porterville Parks and Leisure Services and has worn many hats during his long, distinguished career in community service. Stowe was a Division 1 basketball official for 30 years. He has been involved with the Porterville Breakfast Lions Club for years and is involved with many major service projects.

He has coached in various capacities throughout the years, including as an assistant coach with the Monache softball team. He’s also on the PC Foundation Board and Hall of Fame Committee.

He was Porterville Mayor from 2014-2018 and completed two terms on the City Council, where his efforts were extensive and contributions are legendary with so many accomplishments and successes,

Vice Mayor Kellie Carrillo then said a few words recognizing Maria Roman, “She has always been guided by principles of compassion, equity, and inclusion, and sharing that with everyone she encounters.”

Her hard work and friendly personality has earned her several leadership roles over the years. She immigrated with her family from Mexico at a young age. She was raised in Porterville, attended local schools, and went on to earn her bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Roman spent the majority of her professional career at Porterville College, spending 34 years helping students with financial aid, and as a professor and counselor. In 2021 she retired and was awarded the prestigious title of Professor Emeritus by the Kern Community College District. She also provided the Tule River Tribe with 30 years of exceptional service to tribal residents in financial aid and educational counseling.

At PC she was the lead for many departments and clubs related to helping Hispanic and other minority students, notably with EOPS/CARE and CalWORKs.

Maria continues to serve on the board of PC’s Cultural and Historical Awareness Program (CHAP), is on the Board of Directors of Imagine Arts Center, is involved with the Tule River Parkway Association, and is an active member of the Latina Leadership Program (LLN). Her motto has always been “faith, family, and friends”. She said she’s grateful for the nurturing and successful life she has experienced in her beloved City of Porterville, with her husband, Rudi, and their large family.

Congratulations to the Wall of Fame honorees.


Cerro Coso Community College

Spring at Cerro Coso

It is officially Spring! The hills around Cerro Coso Community College in Ridgecrest are full of beautiful wildflowers! Some great locations to check out local wildflowers are the Rademacher Hills, Lone Ridge Trail, Brady’s Trail, and College Blvd. Loop. Spring truly is a magical time of year for Ridgecrest

Virtual Open House

Can’t make the in-person Open House on April 6th? No worries! We are holding a Virtual Open House on Tuesday, April 4th from 6 PM to 7:30 PM! Be sure to take advantage of these awesome resources to help you get registered for Summer/Fall 2023!

Please use this zoom link to register and connect.


Bakersfield College

BC’s Ballet Folklorico Ritmo y Sabor Place in First Competition

On March 18th, Ballet Folklorico Ritmo y Sabor represented Bakersfield College in their first ever dance competition in Los Angeles. Our dancers competed in three different categories and placed in two of them. Performing danses from the region of Jalisco, our dancers brought home 3rd place, and performing danses from the region of Baja Norte California, our dancers brought home 2nd place. The competition was close with over 30 other dance companies in attendance. BC students also won scholarships through this event, including Kimberley Villatoro who won a dance scholarship. We are so proud of our students and their well deserved achievements! 

Industrial Automation Buzzing with Activity

Over the last month, BC’s Industrial Automation Department has continued to make industry connections and garner support from local partners like Aera Energy.

A Boeing representative from Everett, Washington also visited the Bachelor of Science in IA program students to discuss internship and employment opportunities with their company! BC students made up the largest group in the nation of applicants to the Boeing summer internship program. Boeing was so impressed with our students’ drive and the BS in IA program that they have asked to become more involved with BC’s program and expand their partnership! 


Celebrating Title IX

It was my great pleasure to bring together student athletes, coaches and faculty from across the county for a conference recognizing the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the landmark legislation that established equal rights for women in education and athletics. Kern CCD’s celebration of Title IX was an inspiring, joyful day of recognizing how far women have come in sports and higher education.

The young women at the conference were especially delighted to meet and hear from Hall of Fame basketball star Cheryl Miller, who was also the first woman to be an NBA analyst for national television. Other panels during the day featured local athletic legends like WNBA assistant coach Nikki Blue and softball phenom Megan Langenfeld. Prof. Olivia Garcia brought a historical component into the proceedings with a panel on Patsy Mink, the author of Title IX and the first woman of color to serve in Congress. The panel featured UC Irvine professor Judy Wu and Patsy’s daughter Gwendolyn Mink.

I’d like to thank everyone who put together the conference, especially Tarina Perry and Stephanie Vega for coordinating the programming and logistics. I’d also like to thank Stan Green from the Kern High School district for bringing 181 student athletes to the conference, as well as our additional sponsors from the Kern County Superintendent of Schools and Ordiz-Melby Architects. I hope all of the women who attended our Title IX celebration were given motivation they need to be successful in the classroom and on the field.

Thank you Coach Paula Dahl for coming up with the idea and getting some of the national athletic starts to come to our event. Thank you Athletic Director Emeritus Sandi Taylor for being such a great advocate for Title IX and putting in so much time into the planning. Thank you Michelle Miller-Gallaz, president of AAUW, for coming up with the idea of inviting Gwendolyn Mink and Judy Wu to the event to talk about the work of Patsy Mink.

Check out this video from CBS Sports about Patsy Mink’s contributions.

Department Of Energy visits Kern CCD

This week, two top officials from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management visited Kern CCD. Assistant Secretary Brad Crabtree and Deputy Assistant Secretary Noah Deich came to the District Office and held public meetings in Arvin and Taft to talk about a vision for carbon management in Kern County.

From California Renewable Energy Laboratory (CREL) Executive Director Nicole Parra:

Thank you Asst. Sec Brad Crabtree & Deputy Asst. Sec Noah Deich from the Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management & Sarah Forbes, Director, CCUS – Council on Environmental Quality Executive Office of the President -for spending the day in Kern County with us.

Our meetings in Arvin, Bakersfield, and Taft were informative, engaging and our community came out in numbers. With over 75 people representing government agencies, labor, non-profit organizations, industry leaders, Grandma Whoople, students, national labs (NREL) and community members- who all came together to hear about our Carbon management future and opportunities.

I want to thank the County of Kern Supervisors Zack Scrivner and Leticia Perez and Lorelei Oviatt County of Kern Director of Planning and Natural Resources for speaking-Taft Mayor Noerr, Arvin Mayor Trujillo for hosting us, Les Clark Director Taft Westside Recreation Center, the Dolores Huerta Foundation, CRPE, OpenDoor, Greenfield Walking Group and local Pastors, Dee Slade and so many others for attending.

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

From the Red Cross of Central California’s Twitter account (@RedCrossCCR)

Mason Anthony is a graduate of @PCollegePirates & his Communications internship came full circle this week while volunteering at the Red Cross shelter at his former school. He’s been helping share evacuees’ stories while they receive comfort & care from @RedCross volunteers.

The Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce recognized Nicole Alvarez in their Celebrating Latinas in Business & Leadership series:

In honor of Women’s History Month, the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is proud to introduce you to Nicole Alvarez, as part of our Annual Latinas in Business & Leadership spotlight series.
Nicole Alvarez is a Program Director in the Office of Student Life at Bakersfield College. She has worked at BC for 3 years and in higher education for 15 years. During her career in higher education she has served in diverse roles ranging from faculty to college director. In her current role Nicole oversees student organizations and clubs, co-advises for BC Student Government Association, assists the Dean of Students with special projects, and runs the Student Life social media accounts (IG:@BCSGARENEGADES TikTok:@BCSGA).
Nicole enjoys working directly with students to mentor, advise, guide, and create equitable opportunities for them. She believes that higher education should be affordable, accessible, and attainable for everyone. It was her own struggle obtaining higher education and being lost in the application processes and procedures that ignited this desire to help others and simplify the process as much as possible. Nicole has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and a Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration & Leadership.
Nicole was born and raised in Bakersfield and moved away for 10 years before relocating back in 2018. She has been married to her husband Alex, a US Air Force Veteran and IT Professional, for 16 years. They have one son, Isaac, who is the perfect mix of his mother’s outgoing personality and his father’s determination. Nicole is the 5th of 5 children and the first in her family to earn a Master’s Degree. When she is not working she enjoys spending time with her family, watching Bravo’s Real Housewives Franchise, and exercising on her Peloton. Nicole’s motto is #shesepuede and she is proud to be featured in this series among fellow Latinas in Business and Leadership!

Nick Strobel shared this photo –
Past, present, and future Renegades at the Spring 2023 Equinox party. First Equinox party since Fall 2019!

Chris Cruz Boone – first generation students who became faculty. 

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That’s a wrap for now.
See you next Saturday!

The future is bright at Kern CCD.

-sonya
a joyful and grateful Chancellor

#KernCCDDaringMightyThings

Hello Spring 2023!

Last weekend, all eyes were on Hollywood during the 95th Academy Awards. What fun to see a Indian Telugu song “Naatu Naatu” from the movie RRR take the Oscar for the Best Original song. History making as the first Indian movie song to win an Oscar.

And, I absolutely can’t wait to watch Everything Everywhere All At Once with Jamie Lee Curtis and Michelle Yeoh winning Oscars — a total of seven Oscars for the movie.

Here is the trailer.

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And spring has arrived after a wet winter, with nature responding in all its glory.

Check out visitors in the backyard pool.

Over the last five years I have been watching a beautiful tree in our neighbors front yard go through the cycle of shedding leaves in the fall, going dormant in the winter, coming back to life in spring and providing glorious shade in the hot summers. I enjoy this tree every morning and evening during my Neo walks. This week, I thought I would snap a photo and chronicle its annual rebirth. Here is a first photo, March 15, 2023.

Here is a post from Nick Strobel bragging about the flowers in his front yard – African Daisies, and the first patch of poppies:

Good morning friends.
It is March 18, 2023.
The sun shines bright over Kern CCD.


Porterville College

PC Writer and Poet Speaker Series Kicks Off Spring Events

The PC Writer & Poet Series proudly announces the next in its year-long series of presentations from some of the most amazing authors and poets working today.  On March 28th, we will welcome Erika Sánchez for a virtual event.

Erika L. Sánchez is a novelist, poet, feminist, and cheerleader for young women everywhere. Her most recent book is “Crying in the Bathroom” which Publisher’s Weekly called, “another satisfying addition to Sánchez’s deeply moving body of works.” She is also the author of the New York Times bestselling Young Adult novel, “I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter”, which was a finalist for the National Book Award, and the acclaimed debut poetry collection, “Lessons in Expulsion”, which the Washington Post called “a fierce, assertive debut”.

Sánchez’s poems have appeared in many literary journals, including Poets.org, Vinyl Poetry, Guernica, diode, Boston Review, the Paris Review, Gulf Coast, POETRY Magazine, and The New York Times Magazine.

When asked about her work, she states, “What I hope people gain from my work is a sense of beauty, a way of looking at the world that is different—a shift of perspective developing a sensibility in which beauty is the basis of your life. That’s how I approach writing, always: it’s all about the truth, and truth and beauty are one and the same for me.”

To register for this virtual event, visit: https://tinyurl.com/ywypwhfc

SAVE THE DATE: The Job Fair Returns to PC on April 18

We are excited to announce that Porterville College, the Workforce Investment Board, and Porterville Adult School are once again collaborating to bring the 2nd Annual Joint Job Fair to Porterville College!

This event will take place Tuesday, April 18, 2023, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm in the PC Quad.

Over 1000 jobs will be available from a wide range of employers! This event will be held outdoors and is open to the public.

PC Students Tour UC Merced

This past week PC staff took a group of students for a tour of the UC Merced campus. Students got a full campus tour and then listened to a student panel on the UC Merced experience. They also learned about dorm life, student life, and the services available to students, among other things, as they enjoyed the beautiful day in Merced. The day was more than just a chance to get away from the rainy skies and flooding of Porterville, giving real insight into what could become the fruits of their success at Porterville College.


Cerro Coso Community College

CC Marketplace addresses food insecurity

Have you checked out CC Marketplace? CC Marketplace was created to address food insecurity for students. It is Cerro Coso’s belief that no student should have to learn on an empty stomach. Bags of food and hygiene resources are for ANY student who may want it. There are no requirements to receiving a bag of food or hygiene resources, CC wants to make sure food and toiletries go to ANYONE who needs them.

We have the CC Marketplace program at all of our Cerro Coso campuses:

– IWV/Ridgecrest: room 145, across from the fountain on the first floor.

– ESCC Bishop/Mammoth: contact your counselor for more information!

– East Kern/Tehachapi: contact your counselor for more information!

Click here: https://www.cerrocoso.edu/studentservices/cc-marketplace for more information!

Cerro Coso Outreach Visits Burroughs High School

In between answering questions and letting everyone know about this week’s Virtual Open House, the Cerro Coso Outreach team challenged an endless string of brave burros to a few intense rounds of Roshambo.

Check out the video below!


Bakersfield College

Delano Learning Resource Center Nearing Completion

Construction for the new Learning Resource Center at the Delano Campus is nearing completion! The new facility is expected to hold classes beginning in the fall, and the two-story, 40,000-square-foot multipurpose center will feature 9 lecture classrooms, 2 computer labs, and 2 HyFlex classrooms. It will also feature plenty of resources for students to take advantage of, like a library, writing center, tutoring center, and faculty/staff office space. The LRC will offer designated spaces for comprehensive student services including counseling, advising, DSPS, student employment, and financial aid to support the needs and future student growth throughout the Delano and Northern Kern community.

2023 Spring Play Festival at BC

BC’s Theater Program announced the details of the 2023 Spring Play Festival, featuring four contemporary plays directed by BC Theatre students. The festival will run from March 22nd to April 2nd with all shows taking place in the Edward Simonsen Indoor Theatre at Bakersfield College. 

The first weekend will feature the critically-acclaimed and widely produced play ART by Yasmina Reza, directed by Victoria Gomez, playing March 22nd, 24th, and 25th. Also showing in the first weekend is Neil LaBute’s contemporary classic Reasons to be Pretty, directed by Liz Bomar, on March 23rd, 25th, and 26th.

The second weekend will feature  Alan Ball’s comedy Five Women Wearing the Same Dress, directed by Marina Gradowitz, playing March 29th, 31st, and April 1st. Along with it, Diana Son’s Stop Kiss, directed by Manuela Torres-Orejuela, plays March 30th, April 1st, and 2nd. Please note that all four of these plays contain strong language, adult themes, and discussions of sensitive issues. No one under 14 is permitted.

Purchase your tickets and come support BC’s Theater students as they begin to explore directing early in their education! 

BC Outreach Hosts Workshops for Graduating High School Students

BC Outreach held a New Renegade workshop on campus for graduating high school seniors. During the event, advisors shared information with our incoming Renegades about successfully getting started on campus, including: Bridge to BC, Financial Aid, how to view their Starfish CSEP, how to register, and so much more! Over 40 students and their parents came to learn what BC has to offer during their educational journey.  Those who attended qualified for Priority Registration for summer and fall 2023! Outreach and over 100 BC staff will lead Registration Rocks at over 30 high schools, assisting students with registering for their courses.

Transfer Pathways Partners with CSUB

Transfer Pathways invited the CSUB Admissions and Outreach team to BC on March 8th to meet  with students and answer questions regarding admissions requirements, upcoming events, and programs available when the students are ready to transfer! 


KernCCD Presents at Kern Tax Board

KernCCD Trustee President Romeo Agbalog presenting

A team from KernCCD – including Romeo Agbalog, Kylie Campbell, and Steven Watkin – presented on Dual Enrollment and the Early College Program to the Kern Tax Board this week.

Here’s a note from KCCD Chancellor Emeritus & incoming Interim Chancellor Tom Burke, who is on the Kern Tax Board:

“Romeo, Kylie and Steven did an excellent job representing and presenting the program.  It was very well received by the Association with the District receiving many compliments for the success and effectiveness of the program.”

Kylie Campbell, Tom Burke, and Steven Watkin

Kern CCD District IT Cloud Team Earns Award

Kern CCD DO IT Cloud team earns CISOA Technology Excellence award by moving all our applications to the cloud! We are the first district in the state to accomplish this task providing significant benefits in scalability, agility, security, and business continuity. 

Starting in 2018, KCCD’s Core Cloud Team consisting of Mike Arnold, Suyun Ding, Dana Tusaw, Joseph White, Patrick Ferree, Justin Wallace, Armando Martinez, Ian Mason, Hernando Mondragon, and Marco Galvez and with the help of additional team members, embarked on a Journey to identify as many on-premise IT applications and services as possible for migration to our AWS cloud.    

The team embraced and preserved through many challenges along the way including learning new skills, building out and optimizing KCCD’s AWS environment, automating deployment, addressing Security requirements, and optimizing costs all while managing day-to-day reactive duties such as Network/Systems troubleshooting and Help Desk tickets. 

The Journey culminated in June 2022 with a tally of 147 applications migrated and 13 new applications deployed to AWS cloud environment including AWS AppStream for remote Instructional use.   

In the News

Community Voices: Longevity — a wish come true

Dr. Brijesh Bhambi penned this Community Voices piece for The Bakersfield Californian.

“In a long-term Harvard study, a random variable demonstrated more power than a diet. A goal and passion in life, along with companionship, mattered more. It’s been correctly stated that the key to longevity is relationships, relationships, relationships.”

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

Lincoln Day Dinner 2023 at the Bakersfield Marriott:

Check out these pictures from PC Day at Staffords – PC staff were on hand to answer questions and help those new students get started with classes this summer or fall.

And here’s the KernCCD team at the Chief Student Services Officers Conference:

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That’s a wrap for now.
See you next Saturday!

The future is bright at Kern CCD.

-sonya
a joyful and grateful Chancellor

#KernCCDDaringMightyThings

Kern CCD Celebrating Women’s History Month

Last week kicked off Women’s History Month, which has been observed annually in March in the US since 1987.

This year’s theme is “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories,” recognizing “women, past and present, who have been active in all forms of media and storytelling including print, radio, TV, stage, screen, blogs, podcasts, news, and social media.”

Check out this post from NASA highlighting the history of women in space, beginning with Soviet cosmonaut Valentina V. Tereshkova. She was the first woman to orbit the Earth, in 1963. The first American woman in space was Sally Ride, who spent 7 days aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1983.

The Kern CCD will be hosting two events to celebrate Women’s History Month.

On March 21st at Bakersfield College’s event center, we will be Celebrating 50 years of Title IX: Women in Athletics and Education.

On March 30 at the Weill Center, we will host the 4th Annual Women in Leadership Panel, moderated by Senator Emeritus Jean Fuller.

I welcome you to join us for these events.

A photo of our beautiful skies snapped while I was walking Neo –

Good morning friends.
It is March 11, 2023.
The sun shines bright over Kern CCD


Porterville College

“Reimer Selected Works, 1990 – 2020” Now Showing at the PC Art Gallery

The public is invited to see the exhibition, Reimer Selected Works, 1990 – 2020, at the Porterville College Art Gallery.

DATES OF SHOW: March 9 – 30, 2023

GALLERY HOURS: Monday – Thursday from 12 – 2 pm and 4 – 6 pm

Terrance Reimer is a new media visual artist exploring the integration of experiential storytelling concepts and ideas using sound, video, and extended reality technologies.

Reimer graduated in 2020 earning a Master of Fine Arts degree in the multidisciplinary Communication Media Arts program at Ohio University (Athens, Ohio), studying documentary film and extended reality storytelling. His immersive virtual reality thesis film “Walking Past Abandoned Houses, I Think of Eric” shares personal poetic testimony about the opioid epidemic in Southeastern Ohio. The award-winning film was an official selection in the 2021 Fine Arts Film Festival at the Venice Institute of Contemporary Art, Venice, CA.

Prior to his MFA studies, Reimer started his career as a photojournalist, and since 1999, has been collaborating with many of the most renowned contemporary photographers of our time, creating fine art exhibition prints as a master digital printmaker.

There will be several short documentary films created by Reimer available for viewing in the gallery during the exhibition. The show will run from March 6 – 30, 2023. Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday from 12 to 2 pm and 4 to 6 pm.

Please contact Jim Entz at 791-2257 with any questions.

Math Battle Returns to PC

On Tuesday, March 7, the Math Division hosted its 3rd Annual PC Math Battle competition for local high school students. The Math Battle hosts both an individual and a team competition covering mathematics topics in geometry, algebra, algebra 2, and some trigonometry equations. Individual and team winners are awarded medals and the school with the highest average score receives a trophy.

This year also marked the 1st year the competition was held for local middle school students on campus with 33 students representing three middle schools taking part in the competition.

This year PC hosted 61 students representing five local high schools along with 11 faculty coaches for High School and 7 faculty coaches for 33 Middle School students in attendance. Twelve PC faculty members and 95 PC tutors, mentors, and professional experts helped to support our future STEM students over this multi-day event.

This year’s overall Math Battle winners were Harmony Magnet High School in the HS Division and Carl Smith Middle School for the Middle School Division. Congratulations to the winners and thank you to all those who participated and helped us make this event a great success!

Celebrating Women in STEM

PC Biology Instructor Denise Jackson, PC Student Ambassador and Event Host Alicia Vargas,
Engineering and Math Instructor Elizabeth Flynn

This month is Women’s History Month and PC is celebrating with several events highlighting the successes and accomplishments of Women on Campus.

Women’s History Month finds its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress passed Pub. L. 97-28 which authorized and requested the President to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982 as “Women’s History Week.”

Throughout the next five years, Congress continued to pass joint resolutions designating a week in March as “Women’s History Week.” In 1987 after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress passed Pub. L. 100-9 which designated the month of March 1987 as “Women’s History Month.”

As part of our month-long festivities, PC Student Life hosted the first in a series of discussions with women in various industries. This first event featured women in S.T.E.M. Careers and featured two of our very own S.T.E.M. superstars, Biology Instructor Denise Jackson, and Engineering and Math Instructor Elizabeth Flynn.

Both women discussed their influences and reasons for going into the fields they chose. They joined students, faculty and staff in the forum to answer their questions and discuss what it is like being a woman in science, technology, engineering, and math today.


Cerro Coso Community College

Student Spotlight: Karina

Originally from Mojave, Karina is graduating from Tehachapi High School ‘23 not only with her high school diploma, but also with three Associate Degrees: AS-T in Business Administration, AA in Liberal Arts: Arts & Humanities, and AA in Liberal Arts: Social & Behavioral Science!

While attending high school and Cerro Coso College, she was in Phi Theta Kappa, worked part-time, and she is very engaged in her family life. She plans on transferring to California State University of Bakersfield and will major in Business Administration with a minor in Accounting. After graduating, she plans on pursuing a business law degree.;

On top of her achievements, Karina is a proud first-generation college student and first-generation Mexican American.

“I grew up in Mojave and moved to Tehachapi about two years ago. The transition was hard. When I moved, I had to start from scratch. To make it worse, my freshman year was when COVID started, and I did the first two years of high school online. In-person school started my junior year. It was like being a real freshman this time. I had to get used to a new town and new high school. It was a lot. The school was significantly bigger. It was a big change in environment, students, teachers, overall so much change and adjustment. It wasn’t necessarily bad, it was just a lot of change at once.”

Read more on the Cerro Coso Community College website.

Cerro Coso Community College Art Gallery Presents: Corrugated Space

Cerro Coso Community College is excited to announce the restoration of Cerro Coso’s Art Gallery. The opening reception of “Corrugated Space” by artist Steve King will be held on April 7, 2023, at 6 PM .

Location
The Art Gallery located in the Library/LRC building
3000 College Heights Blvd
Ridgecrest, CA 93555

Time: 6:00 PM opening reception, 6:30 PM Artist Talk

The Art Gallery is open to the public and would love to see the community enjoy this cultural hub.

Refreshments and appetizers will be provided.

Cerro Coso Outreach at East Kern Career Expo

Cerro Coso Outreach represented Cerro Coso Community College at this year’s East Kern Career Expo. at Mojave Air & Space Port.

They spoke with over 1,000 6th-10th graders, raising career awareness as well as increasing exposure and access to the many incredible opportunities awaiting them at Cerro Coso.


Bakersfield College

Student Spotlight on Tearra Haney

At the Saddleback Invitational, Tearra Haney set a new school record in Women’s Discus with a throw of 154’3″ and earned recognition with the top throw in the state.

The record was previously held by Amanda Harvey in 2001. Tearra is a candidate for graduation this year and will be joining the Renegade Alumni as Class of 2023.

Industrial Automation Hosts Kern County Boys and Girls Club STEM Students

The Industrial Automation program hosted a group of STEM students from the Kern County Boys and Girls Club and gave them a tour of the various labs, focusing mainly on robotics. The INDA program aims to capture the attention of younger students to help foster their interests and skills.

BC Library to Host Another Set of Library Research Skills Workshops

The library will be hosting its second week of research skills workshops for the Spring 2023 semester during Week 9 (March 13th-16th). They will offer a total of 32 Zoom workshops on 8 different topics.

Check it out on the BC website!


TALE Blog

In this week’s Kern CCD TALE Blog, Porterville College’s Janet Uresti shared her thoughts about “Mindfulness, Teaching, and What Matters.”

“Last year, as things began to return to “normal” after the pandemic, there was a lot of discussion around social-emotional learning. This fascinated me. I don’t think as a society (or myself) that we saw how hard individuals were during the pandemic because a lot of their needs were being met by the educational system. We sometimes forget Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and how as people we cannot reach self-actualization without having a foundation of physiological and safety needs being met. “

Ag/Water/Energy Webinar March 14

The Valley Strong Energy Institute continues the second part of its Ag/Water/Energy (AWE) Education Series on hydrogen for Tuesday, March 14 at 3 p.m. The webinar will discuss benefits of hydrogen for energy storage, the regulatory atmosphere and permitting procedures for moving and using hydrogen, engineering of hydrogen pipelines, and hydrogen blending. 

The following speakers will be helping us dive deeper into the nuances of hydrogen energy: 

  • Nathan S. Lewis – Professor of Chemistry, Caltech 
  • Megan Silva – Regulatory Affairs Manager, SoCalGas 
  • Brandon Wood – Staff Scientist, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory 
  • Amado Galaviz – Project Manager, SoCalGas 

Register online here!

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

From last Saturday’s Migrant Parent Conference at CSUB, Kern CCD Trustee Yovani Jimenez, who gave welcoming remarks:

Corny Rodriguez was the keynote speaker!

And Yovani’s own words about the event:

Here’s Norma Rojas-Mora, Teresa Hitchcock and Trudy Gerald at our Workforce Investment Board meeting on Wednesday morning.

Porterville College’s Primavera Arvizu shared this from the Californoa Public Institution Navigate Summit:

Attending the California Public Institution Navigate Summit with a great team to innovate, explore, and implement. #studentsuccess

Carlos Medina shared this update:

Today we had the opportunity to meet Atlas from @BostonDynamics Thanks to a great partnership we have with @ROC_CTEC
and @BCIAutomation we’re going to ROBOTIZE Kern County!

And congratulations to Steve Watkin, who has been named interim Bakersfield College President beginnign May 15!

Blast from the Past

At the 2019 Sterling Silver dinner, BC Archivist Jerry Ludeke received the Bakersfield College Foundation Service Medal in recognition of her 60 years of service to BC.

Check out this video:

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That’s a wrap for now.
See you next Saturday!

The future is bright at Kern CCD.

-sonya
a joyful and grateful Chancellor

#KernCCDDaringMightyThings

Kern CCD Celebrating Black History Month and Celebrating Each Other

This week Kern CCD celebrated Black History Month with a Breakfast Celebration. We enjoyed an amazing program, great food, and fellowship. Thank you Steve Watkin and the planning team!

The district also recognized Dee Slade, Pastor Hayward Cox, and Nick Hill for their extraordinary service to our community.

And on Wednesday, the Kern CCD Board of Trustees announced that Chancellor Emeritus Tom Burke will serve as interim chancellor, and BC Interim President Zav Dadabhoy as deputy chancellor, when I begin my new position in June.

Our Board President, Trustee Agbalog commented:

“Whether increasing student enrollment and achievement, expansion of classes and programs, or development of new innovative projects to build and strengthen our local area workforce, the Board of Trustees knows that it is critical to have the right leadership in place that knows our community, understands the needs of our students, has institutional knowledge and deep understanding of our district and its mission to keep our work going, this is the same type of work that has earned our district statewide and national acclaim,” said Romeo Agbalog, Kern CCD Board President. “The Board of Trustees is confident that Tom Burke and Dr. Dadabhoy will keep Kern CCD at the forefront of driving continuous innovation to meet the academic, workforce and industry needs of our communities,” Agbalog said.

Good morning friends.
It is March 4, 2023.
The sun shines bright over Kern CCD


Porterville College

CHAP Highlights Mayan Culture at Latest Event

Dr. Ed Barnhart, Director of the Maya Exploration Center, spoke on “Maya Hieroglyphs-The Story of How the Code was Finally Broken” for the latest CHAP event, this past Friday, March 3, 2023, from 7:00 – 8:00 pm.

The Porterville College Cultural and Historical Awareness Program (CHAP) was organized in 2002 to enhance students’ awareness of certain important aspects of our society to which they may previously have had little or no exposure.

Maya Exploration Center Director Dr. Ed Barnhart is a renowned American archaeologist who has appeared on History Channel, Discovery Channel, and in multiple documentary films. He is a Fellow of the Explorer Club and a widely recognized authority on ancient astronomy, mathematics, and calendar systems.

During his over 25 years in American archaeology, he’s discovered the ancient city of Ma’ax Na in Belize, mapped over 4,000 ancient buildings, and published over a dozen articles and books.


Cerro Coso Community College

Cerro Coso Outreach visits Burroughs High School

As part of Cerro Coso’s continued effort of increasing visibility, expanding access to our incredible services and offerings, and engaging our local communities—the Outreach department made the first of its scheduled bi-weekly lunch visits to Burroughs High School.

They had so much fun speaking and hanging out with the amazing BHS students. Conversations were had about their future plans and countless Cerro Coso swag items were won thanks to our hypnotic Spinning Prize Wheel.

SSUC Students Give Back

The SSUC Club (Student Services United Club) at Cerro Coso Community College is trying to gather donations now until the end of March for the Ridgecrest Women’s Shelter.

Please scan the QR code or click this link: https://www.amazon.com/…/ls/2YI80CUE8YIIR/ref=cm_go_nav_hz to view list of needed supplies.

Feel free to reach out to Renee Santamaria or Rachel Barksdale with the Access Programs at 760-384-6250 for additional information about giving donations.


Bakersfield College

BC Represented at the Chamber of Commerce Galas

Faculty and campus leaders attended both the Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce Gala as well as the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Gala in February.

BC’s NaTesha Johnson and Professor Olivia Garcia served as emcee/presenter respectively, and we are so proud to see our campus and district represented so well. The partnerships we have forged with these organizations have been a huge part of creating an environment in which our students can learn and become the next leaders of business and entrepreneurship in our community.

BC Student Awarded Law Scholarship

Viridiana Santa Cruz of Bakersfield College has been awarded the $1000 Ruthe Ashley Pathway to Law Scholarship for her outstanding commitment to her education and her passion for the law. Viridiana, a student in the Pre-Law Program, is pursuing her dreams despite the many barriers she has had to overcome. Viridiana was born in Pueblo Viejo, Mexico and moved to the United States with her family when she was just 7 years old. She graduated from Mira Monte High School in Bakersfield and is now a full-time student at Bakersfield College majoring in American Sign Language and Political Science. Viridiana is a single parent to a 6-year-old daughter and works full-time to support her family. Her drive and dedication to her education has not gone unnoticed by her professor, Christian Zoller, who credits her with being an “outstanding student and a class leader”. 

BC Alum and Quarterback Hired to Coach Denver Broncos

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton has assembled his staff of 6 coaches, including BC’s very own Logan Kilgore, who will serve as Quality Control/Passing game Coordinator. From the time he played in high school, Kilgore has been credited with having obvious leadership qualities. During his time at BC he was known for playing a particularly cerebral game of football. His strategy was calculated, earning him 2,512 passing yards and 22 touchdowns. 

We are all looking forward to the continued successful career of a fellow Renegade!


Chancellor’s Seminar Series

This week, we continued the Chancellor’s Seminar Series with “Fueling Faculty Fires for Learning: How Side Projects Impact the Classroom Experience.”

Porterville College’s Bob Simpkins led the discussion with panelists Matt Andrasian-Jones (BC), Matt Flummer (PC), Ben Makino (PC), and Yvonne Mills (CCCC).

Check out this video from the seminar:

Bob also shared information about the upcoming TALE Fest, which will be held on April 14.

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

I’d like to share a few more photos from last week’s Board of Governors announcement:

Kern CCD was out in full force to support Kris Tiner at the CSUB Hall of Fame:

Ricardo Marmolejo, PC’s Director of Equity and Student Success, shared this post:

A huge congratulations to our @PCollegePirates Puente faculty, Dustin, Patty, and Elizabeth on completing year one and earning their stoles during @PuenteProject’s 40th anniversary.

PC’s Puente Team: Patricia Serrato, Dr. Dustin Acres, Dr. Elizabeth Buchannan

Check out this photo of the foothills from the BC Panorama campus at the end of the recent storm. What a beautiful place to be.

And Cerro Coso shared this update after their storms:

Today, our ESCC Mammoth Campus is finally able to dig the sidewalks out from the crazy storms that have occurred the past couple of days. There is currently 10 FEET of snow built up outside the front doors of the campus. Stay SAFE and WARM out there to our Mammoth Lakes students and community

Blast from the Past

In honor of Women’s History Month, I wanted to share this video from Bakersfield College’s Closing Week 2020, when we honored Sandi Taylor with a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award:

*****

That’s a wrap for now.
See you next Saturday!

The future is bright at Kern CCD.

-sonya
a joyful and grateful Chancellor

#KernCCDDaringMightyThings

California Community College System names the eleventh chancellor

On Thursday, the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges named the eleventh chancellor of the California Community College system.

My colleagues from Kern Community College District colleagues made the trek to Sacramento for the announcement. My Kern CCD family THANK YOU for your love and support.

Here are a few photos from the event.

I will begin my new position June 1, and I hope you continue to follow my blog in this new adventure. Kern is my home and my work will always be connected with the work here.

Here is a selfie snapped by Interim Chancellor Daisy Gonzales took – featuring the leadership at the state level. Interim Chancellor Daisy Gonzales, Board of Governors Member & former President Pamela Haynes, Board of Governors President Amy Costa, and Board of Governors President Hildegarde Aguinaldo.

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Last weekend, President Biden declared February 19, 2023, as a Day of Remembrance of Japanese American Incarceration During World War II. It was 80 years ago – February 19, 1942, that President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which led to the forced removal of over 125,000 people of Japanese descent to 75 sites – most from the West Coast.

It is one of the darkest periods in American history, and one we must remember so that we never repeat those injustices.

“I have always believed that great nations do not ignore their most painful moments — they confront them with honesty and, in doing so, learn from them and grow stronger as a result.  The incarceration of Japanese Americans 80 years ago is a reminder to us today of the tragic consequences we invite when we allow racism, fear, and xenophobia to fester.”

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This winter, California has seen a series of storms – and this week has been no exception. Throughout the state, California residents have experienced heavy rains – and even snow, with blizzard warnings issued for mountain areas.

Earlier this month, the LA Times did a feature showcasing the dramatic increase in water level at Lake Oroville – which was at 68% 2 weeks ago, up from 28% a few months prior.

The remarkable photos comparing June 2021 to February 2023 show us just how important – and beautiful – these stormy times can be.

Good morning friends.
It is February 25, 2023.
The sun shines bright over Kern CCD


Porterville College

Historic playoff win for PC Men’s Basketball as the Pirates move on to second round play

The Porterville College men’s basketball team have had a solid season with an overall record of 16-12 with its second consecutive postseason in as many years. The Pirates were named the No. 12 seed for the Northern California Regional Playoffs and hosted the No. 21 Monterey Peninsula College Lobos at the Pirates gym on Wednesday.

PC won its first playoff game in 23 years, winning 69-47.

The Pirates starting lineup of Mylo Santos, Cameron Walker, Julio Phipps, Jaylen Foy, and Assad Madassalia dominated the game from the opening tip-off.

The Pirates maintained a lead from early in the game with a strong court presence on both offense and defense, ending the first half up 41-25.

The Pirates strong play cornered the Lobos in the second half as the early Pirates lead began to pay off. The lead entering the second half continues as the Pirates continued to put points on the board and maintain a sizeable distance from the Lobos in points.

The last seven minutes the Pirates were in control with Santos and Sterling picking up a pair of layups. The Pirates’ Justin Sabater ran out to take the ball down the court and as he went for a fast layup he was fouled by the Lobos. Sabater nailed one of his free throws and raised the score to 67-43.

The Pirates’ final basket was thanks to a fast play started by Demir Conliffe. Conliffe made a rebound and passed the ball to Sterling to take it farther down the court. Sterling spun on his heels as he sprinted down the court and he passed the ball to Kiya McQueen. With no one between him and the basket, the guard dunked the final basket on the Lobos for the Pirates win.  The final score was 69-45.

The Pirates next scheduled game is away at West Valley against the Vikings today at 7p.m.

Check out the highlights below:

Join the Umoja Community at PC!

Ricardo Marmolejo

Uplift, Empower, and Unify as a member of our Umoja Community! Umoja is a Kiswahili word meaning unity. The Umoja program at Porterville College is part of a global organization that is dedicated to increasing the number of Black, African American, and people of color who earn their degrees, transfer to four-year colleges or universities, and return to the community as leaders and mentors to future generations.

Providing Culturally Relevant Education

Porterville College’s Umoja Community seeks to promote and uplift by deliberately and intentionally recognizing the voices and histories of our student community. We also take a proactive approach to reaching and serving Black, African American, and students of color at PC. The development of the academic, professional and leadership potential of Umoja students is centered on seven program principles: unity, self, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.

For more information, please reach out to Ricardo Marmolejo at ricardo.marmolejo@portervillecollege.edu.

PC kicks off partnership with Tule River Indian Tribe

This past Wednesday, the Tule River Indian Tribe and PC held a joint community event to relaunch, celebrate, and re-affirm our relationship in education. As part of this ongoing commitment, PC will provide the tribe, its members and employees with classes and resources offered directly on the reservation.

This new program will allow us to provide intentional offerings and services to our neighbors on the Tule reservation. We want to provide what the community needs, and by increasing our dialog with the Tribal Council, we will be better able to zero in on those specific needs of the community” said Reagen Dozier, PC Program Director of Title V programs.

The event was held in the Tule Recreation Department’s Gymnasium on the reservation.  Over 200 people attended the meeting with many of them signing up for the new course offerings on the spot.


Cerro Coso Community College

Student Spotlight: Annika Houck

Annika is currently a Cerro Coso student who is an Art History and Studio Arts major and will graduate with both transfer degrees this May 2023. Annika is part of the Cerro Coso Promise program and is proactive in school activities. Annika is a determined student who always has a smile on her face! We had the opportunity to catch up with Annika to ask her about her time being a college student at Cerro Coso and what her future holds.

“I’ve been taking classes at Cerro Coso since I was a freshman at Burroughs High School so there are many people whom I cannot thank enough for what they have done and continue to do at the college for me and other students. Tanner McGuire is the instructor for all my other on-campus art classes. Art in the academic environment is tricky without the right instructors. I am lucky to have lots of opportunities for artistic experimentation.

Read the rest at https://www.cerrocoso.edu/news/2023/0222-student-spotlight-annika-houck!

Cerro Coso Enjoys Dusting of Snow

Check out these photos of the Ridgecrest campus from this week’s storms:


Bakersfield College

Office of Student Life LGBTQ+ Initiatives Partners with Community for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

On February 14th, Office of Student Life LGBTQ+ Initiatives, the Consent Project Club, and Youth Empowerment, collaborated for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM) to celebrate and highlight healthy relationships and how love can look different to people.

The youth and club members discussed healthy relationships, healthy boundaries, and what love means to them. After the discussion, they all created a mural together. The Office of Student Life LGBTQ+ Initiatives requested submissions of art of all forms from students to showcase their view of love. 

BC’s Ag Department Attends World Ag Expo

BC’s vibrant Ag Department was in attendance at the 2023 World Ag Expo in Tulare, CA from February 14th – 16th.

This event is well attended by students of all ages, presenting a unique opportunity to generate interest in the program by young learners and adults alike. BC’s Ag department was able to connect with other Ag professionals, and hopes to continue deepening these relationships for the benefit of our future students and program success. 

Dr. Ashley Adams Presents Black History & Reparations Webinar

The Bakersfield College Social Justice Institute will host a webinar with Dr. Ashley Adams from Mills College at Northeastern University on Monday, February 27th from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM.  An expert on Black public history and public policy, Dr. Adams’ talk will feature a presentation on Allensworth State Park and contemporary policy discussions related to Black Reparations. 

The webinar is free and open to the public. Register for this free webinar at the BC Social Justice Institute webpage or by going directly to the Zoom registration link.

Carl Bryan Memorial Service

The Bakersfield College Athletics program and the East Bakersfield High School track and field program will be hosting a memorial service for the late Carl Bryan on March 3rd, 2023 at 9:00 AM.

In honor of Carl Bryan’s 35 years as the voice of Renegade Athletics, the service will take place at Memorial Stadium, a place Bryan called his second home for decades. Any community members who plan on attending should park in Lot 7 and enter through the southeast entrance of the stadium.


In the News

Ten Minutes With Tipton: Professor Emeritus Richard Goode

Check out The Porterville Recorder’s feature on Professor Emeritus Richard Goode, who taught Earth Science at Porterville College.

“Don’t listen to people who tell you you can’t do it. You can do anything you can put your mind to if you work hard at it. Going to college is not impossible – anyone can go to college. You can start at Porterville College and once you get a college education, doors open up for you and that opens up the opportunity for travel.”

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

Nicole Parra shared this post about the 2023 Trucking with Clean Fuels Conference and Zero Emission Convoy:

I am in Sacramento today, but thankful our KernCCD CREL team is there to take the lead and assist Linda Urata and the great teams at the SJCCC and Project Clean Air!

Thank you to my friends, Avenal Mayor Alvaro Preciado, Arvin Mayor Olivia Trujillo and KernCCD Trustee Yovani Jimenez & all the local electeds and community leaders riding in the Hydrogen bus! Thank you Stacey Shepard, Sara Sullivan and Yesenia Isbell from CREL for all your work helping Linda!!!

“The convoy and conference will showcase the latest in zero and low-emission commercial vehicles and provide the most up-to-date industry and regulatory information for trucking companies and vehicle fleet managers and owners.

The event, organized by the San Joaquin Clean Cities Coalition and Project Clean Air, will feature electric, hydrogen and
compressed natural gas vehicles on display throughout the day in the parking lot, a first-of-its-kind emissions-free vehicle convoy, and speakers inside the venue.”

Robert Simpkins shared this promotion for upcoming Kern CCD TALE Fest, set for April 14th at Bakersfield College:

And here’s a photo from McFarland Superintendent Aaron Resendez.

He says, “BC opened its gym doors to us today, allowed our boys the chance to practice in a big gym ahead of their Valley Championship game against Madera South at Fresno’s Selland Arena.”

Blast From the Past

I came across this great video the BC Executive Team made in July 2020 during the pandemic:

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That’s a wrap for now.
See you next Saturday!

The future is bright at Kern CCD.

-sonya
a joyful and grateful Chancellor

#KernCCDDaringMightyThings