Milt Younger, Bakersfield College salutes you

Check out the piece by Jason Kotowski and James Burger in The Bakersfield Californian

http://tinyurl.com/ydcsoo64

Good morning Bakersfield.  It is September 2, 2017, my brother Kevin’s birthday and a great day to be a Renegade.  And why not, we launch our Renegade Football season today with an 8:00 p.m. kickoff time.  Take a nap this afternoon and then bring your family and friends and head on out to Memorial Stadium at sundown, and spend the next three hours of your Saturday evening with your favorite people and your favorite team.  I hope to see you there.

Tonight’s Renegade Football Game Delayed to 8:00 p.m.

In light of this week’s record-breaking temperatures and the National Weather Service’s four-day “Extreme Heat Watch” warning beginning this Friday and running through the weekend, we conferred with team physicians, athletic trainers, and our coaching and administrative staff and decided to delay the start of Saturday’s home opener in Memorial Stadium to 8pm.

The evening start time will allow the bulk of game day activities to occur after projected peak temperatures have passed, thus reducing the risk of heat-related illness to our student athletes. In addition to altering the schedule, we have rented eight specialized misting fans in an effort to reduce the sideline temperature. We’ve also organized cooling areas on the each concourse on both sides of Memorial Stadium. This decision was made for the safety of all student athletes, and we regret any inconvenience this may cause in the short term, but we are confident that it is the best decision for the long term health of all involved.

Again, I invite you, your family, and friends to join me at Memorial Stadium this evening. Memorial Stadium is an incredible place. The double-decked concrete and steel stadium has been home to many great accomplishments and celebrations such as the first ever junior college bowl and the Kern County Shrine Club Potato Bowl. And here, on the corner of University and Mount Vernon, Jim Ryun, at age 20 broke the world record for running a mile in 1967. For generations, incredible athletic talent like that has come to this stadium to hone their skills, compete, and perform. But one of my favorite things about Memorial Stadium is that games played here are a showcase of work ethic.

Football has always been about more than wins and losses. The game teaches lessons that last a lifetime; lessons such as commitment, belief, doing what it takes in the moment, and brotherhood on and off the field. Football programs and college athletics around the country have consistently developed citizens of high character by instilling the true values of the game into the core of the student athlete. And Bakersfield College is no different. The determination and perseverance that our athletes will experience this season will stay with them their whole lives.

This season, I’m proud of our student athletes both on and off the field. And I’m proud to invite you to Memorial Stadium for a great game and great season of football! See you this evening for the kick off at 8PM.

Renegade Volleyball

But why wait until 8:00 p.m…. come spend your afternoon with us at the Gil Bishop Center and watch Renegade Volleyball

This is a “copy and paste” from gogades.com

The Bakersfield College women’s volleyball team started their 2017 season 2-0 in the Pierce College Tournament.

The Renegades def Mira Costa College 25-15, 25-17, 26-24, and then def Rio Hondo College 25-17, 25-9, 25-12.

Bakersfield displayed excellent offensive balance with five players notching at least 14 kills; Alex Paris led with 20 kills, Jourdan Muro had 19 kills, Brooke Horack had 17 kills, and both Rachel Hoover and Sarah Armendariz finished with 14 kills apiece.

Reece Stevenson and Sarah ran a 6-2 offense and registered 27 and 24 set assist each.

Haley Sanchez anchored the defense with 36 digs.

The Renegades play in the semi-finals Saturday at 1:30pm vs Santa Barbara City College.

 So proud of our coaches and student athletes

Here is a copy and paste from gogades.com

Not everyone can say they are a Renegade; it’s a special title that is earned by doing things our way; The Renegade Way. Coach Painton showed a part of that code today when he led BC Baseball over to the adjacent soccer complex to root on Men’s Soccer for their home opener. Coach P isn’t one to shorten practice or pass on an opportunity to work at getting better for darn near anything; and that made his decision to bring his men over all the more special. It wasn’t lost on Coach Vayron.

I am the luckiest and happiest college president ever!

Job Spot Ribbon Cutting

Last Tuesday morning, staff from BC were on hand at the grand opening for Bakersfield Adult School’s JOB SPOT.

Community leaders such as Dr. Bryon Schaefer, KHSD Superintendent and Dr. Dean McGee, KHSD Associate Superintendent of Educational Services and Innovative Programs greeted the community with a welcome and touched on the added value of the addition of the Job Spot.

Mark Wyatt, Bakersfield Adult School Principal shared the vision for the Job Spot and story behind what it took to make a dream a reality. Followed by John Means, KCCD Associate Vice Chancellor, Economic and Workforce Development, who touched on the Collaboration between the Bakersfield Adult School and Bakersfield College under the AEBG consortium.

Student Elizabeth Sanchez shared her story as a young mom who successfully navigated her way through the education system obtain her GED and just began her first semester at Bakersfield College. The Official Job Spot ribbon cutting was followed by Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh who spoke on the many aspects of this new site, providing employment and educational resource to the community. Attendees enjoyed refreshments and tours of the new facility. As always, our Mayor has some great photos on her Facebook and here is a photo of the BC crew!

John Means (KCCD) Elizabeth Sanchez (BC student who came over from Bakersfield Adult School) Abel Guzman (BC Delano) Debbi Anderson (BC Outreach) Jessica Flores (BC AEBG) Karen Goh (Mayor-Bakersfield) Richard McCrow (BC Dean) Endee Grijalva (BC AEBG) Raquel Lopez (BC Delano) Mary Jo Pasek (BC Community Relations) John Hart (BC Department Chair-EMLS) Kim Collins (BC AEBG).

KHSD is a great partner of the college.  Thank you Superintendent Bryon Schaefer for this great collaboration.

Student Involvement Festival

On Wednesday, almost 100 campus organizations and vendors showed up to the Renegade Crossroads in front of the Campus Center to get students engaged in BC and the community. Students were lined up in front of the SGA tent at the 2017 Student Involvement Festival, waiting for their opportunity to spin the wheel for some free BC merchandise.

Representatives from Counseling, Financial Aid, Academic Support, Veterans’ Services, Career and Technical Development and countless other campus groups were on hand to show students all of the services we offer to make their educational experience as enlightening and successful as possible, as well as student organizations like Theater Club, BC Renegamers and the American Sign Language Club that help keep students engaged with their campus experience.

There were also representatives from local health care and law enforcement organizations, as well as non-profit groups and businesses to showcase all of the opportunities available to members of the BC family. Thank you to the following organizations and groups:

AA Central Office of Kern Co. Advanced Center For Eyecare American Heart and Stroke Association AT&T Bakersfield Condors Bakersfield Police Department Bakersfield Pregnancy Center-Mobile Unit Bakersfield Vet Center Bank of America Bike Bakersfield Biomat USA Body Xchange Fitness California Department of Rehabilitation California Satsang Society-Eckankar California Veterans Assistance Foundation CAPK WIC CASA of Kern County Center for the Blind&Visually Impaired Clinica Sierra Vista Clinica Sierra Vista-WIC program Community Connection for Child Care Community Health Initiative of Kern County Costco Damsel in Defense David Hall- State Farm Ins Dignity Health Dress for Success Entrusted Legacy Faith in Kern GBLA Fair Housing Law Project Golden Empire Transit Independent Living Center of Kern County Jamba Juice Jim’s Supply Company Inc. Kern Behavioral Health & Recovery Services Kern County Homeless Collaborative Kern County Library (Beale) Kern County Narcotics Anonymous Kern County Superintendent of Schools Kern Federal Credit Union Kern Health Systems Liberty Tax Service Lolis Gonzalez Lupita’s Creations New Life Residential and Training Center

Omni Family Health Planned Parenthood Mar Monte Roger Morrison/Morrison Creation Rosi Rosas Mary Kay Inc. T-Mobile Wells Fargo Kern County Dental Society ADAKC, Alzheimer’s Disease Association of Kern County, Inc. WESTEC Kern Behavioral Health Recovery Services – Mental Bakersfield College Choirs BC Cheer BC Communication Department BC Library BC Transfer Center BCASS BC Counseling Center CSUB Transfer Center CTE Office Disabled Students Programs & Services EOPS Financial Aid MESA Office of Student Success & Equity – AAMP and LUPE Student Health Center Veterans Services American Sign Language Club Bakersfield college math club Bakersfield College Theater Club BC Ag Club BC Renegamers Computer Science Club Electrical Engineer Club Engineers Club FitMindBody Free on the Outside InterVarsity Christian Fellowship club Japanese Culture Club Korean Culture Club Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan Pre-Law Program WISE Club Office of Student Life BCSGA

 

M&O Tour

Over the years, the M&O (Maintenance and Operations) team has served the BC campus by improving and maintaining our facilities and I’m proud to share that they’re now getting a brand new and improved facility. The new M&O facility houses our campus tradesmen, custodial staff, and grounds keepers. This new location is also home to our mail room, shipping and receiving, and print shop.

The two-story structure is equipped with many features to accommodate a multitude of skilled employees on our campus. I was lucky enough to be one of the first to tour the building on Thursday morning. A grand opening and ribbon cutting is in the works and I’m excited to share those details with you as soon as the info is available. For now, here is a sneak peak and some photos from my tour with Bill Potter and our incredible M&O team!  I loved seeing Bill Potter’s excitement….he was like a kid in a candy store.

Here is the fabulous Dennis Spencer and Dalia Garcia

Thanks Earl Parsons and Tarina Perry for snapping photos.

During the tour, I had to stop by the rose bushes outside.

Andy Wilcut in our M&O department cared for these rose bushes for over a year while the water was cut off during the construction of this new facility. Andy mentioned the he wasn’t sure exactly who Hank Pfister was, but “he must have been well liked to have such a memorial dedication” so he wanted to make sure the area was well cared for. This is why I’m the luckiest and happiest college president ever.

 

Side note, Hank Pfister, was one of our 100 stars for our centennial year celebration. Here are the details all about Hank:

Hank Pfister, Jr.

Hank Pfister (born October 9, 1953 in Bakersfield, California) is a former tennis player from the United States, who won two singles titles (1981, Maui and 1982, Newport) during his professional career. The right-hander reached his highest individual ranking on the ATP Tour on May 2, 1983, when he became World No. 19.

How he got started: Born into a family of tennis players, Pfister picked up his racket early and never looked back. “I really had no aspirations to be a professional tennis player,” Pfister said, laughing. “When you find you’re good at something, you tend to enjoy it—it was just something I had fun doing.” After undefeated seasons at BHS and BC, Pfister was given a scholarship to San Jose State and didn’t lose a match his entire first year. “I honestly still thought I was going to be a P.E. teacher.” That didn’t stop him from training with (and beating) John McEnroe during McEnroe’s early years.

Career highlights: Hank competed with tennis greats Jimmy Connors, Andre Agassi, and Arthur Ashe (and beating them), being a US Open Doubles finalist, reaching the semi-finals at Wimbledon and the Australian Open three times, and was a two-time French Open Doubles Champion.

His heroes: Tennis pro Brian Gottfried, a friend, who happens to have been ranked #3 in the world in ‘77, makes the cut. But, for Pfister, tennis legend Stan Smith takes the cake. “I grew up watching Smith when I was in high school and college, when Smith was winning Wimbledon. To find myself playing him in front of 10,000 people later in life was surreal,” Pfister explained. Pfister would go on to beat Smith.

CCCApply Steering Committee Meeting

On Wednesday, BC’s Michelle Pena and Craig Hayward presented at the CCCApply Steering Committee. Since 2000, the CCCApply Steering Committee has governed the design and evolution of the online application for admission to the California Community Colleges. In collaboration with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO), the Committee and related workgroups represent stakeholders from large and small districts, rural and urban areas, Northern and Southern California, and different student information systems.

Veterans Roll Call

Bernadette Martinez sent an email that she creatively called “Veterans Roll Call.”  With all the new faces at BC for the upcoming year, she shared that each year we celebrate VetFest. This year, it will be a  week long celebration filled with activities and Bernadette said, “With that we also like to honor our own Renegades that are Veterans, by setting up a flag garden set up and would like to know who you are so you can be recognized. We will also allow family and friends of Veterans to purchase a flag for our loved ones closer to the week of.”

It’s going to be a fantastic week at BC. Have I told you recently that I’m the luckiest and happiest college president ever?

Did you know?

On Thursday, The Bakersfield Californian ran a correction from Jerry Ludeke about the original 13 students who attended Bakersfield College in 1913. She is quoted in the piece, saying

“Several years ago the BC Archives was given the original ‘Record of Junior College Students of Kern County High School, Bakersfield, Cal. Transcript from office record cards. May 1915 by PV.’ PV is Paul VanderEike, vice-principal of the high school who was in charge of the junior college classes. In his own handwriting, he lists the 13 original students along with the classes they took: Norman Buhn, Nora Burke, Alma Carter, Josephine Chase, Myrtle Dennen, Leland Ellis, George Gowan, Clyde Gregory, Lois Price, Ida Sybrandt, Viola White, Jessie Wiley, and Helen Warthorst. Ten of them had indeed graduated from KCHS.”

See the whole item in Things You Need to Know here!

The Eclipse by Nick Strobel

Nick Strobel’s article about the solar eclipse was published in the Bakersfield Californian today. Nick went to Montana on August 21st to see the eclipse from inside of the path of totality that spanned from Oregon to South Carolina where the moon completely blanketed the sun. Here is how Nick described the spectacle of getting to see such a rare astronomical event:

“Experiencing the dark shadow of the moon approach you at supersonic speeds, seeing the sky grow dark enough for the stars to come out within just a few seconds, looking at the sun with a huge black hole punched in the middle of it, and seeing the mysterious wispy glowing light of the corona around that black hole is an experience that strikes you at an instinctual, emotional and intellectual level all at once.”

For those who were unable to experience the eclipse from the area of totality, Nick recommends checking out the Eclipse Megamovie Project, which is collecting images all along the totality path in the hopes of demonstrating how the corona changed during the approximately 90 minutes of totality in the United States. The project also aims to take advantage of the “diamond ring effect” at different locations along the path of totality to more precisely measure the size of the sun. If the eclipse has sparked your interest in astronomy, you can buy tickets to the Dawn of the Space Age show on Thursday, September 21st at the William M. Thomas Planetarium or go to the Planetarium home page to see all of our upcoming shows.

First College Council Meeting:

We had our first College Council meeting on Friday and I was impressed with the quality and quantity of work this group accomplishes.

I snapped a few pictures when the chairs (Jason Stratton and Liz Rozell) of our Accreditation Self Evaluation report were presenting.  Informative and engaging presentation.

We have a fabulous group of SGA officers leading the Renegades.  Here is Lawrence Salcido, one of the SGA officers for 2017-2018 with Dr. Nicky Damania

Let me introduce you to the 2017-2018 College Council.

 

This was the 2016-2017 College Council

Walking the neighborhood

On friday a group of us walked the neighborhood close to BC and distributed a letter to our neighbbors from Tom Gelder, Executive Director of the Foundation with some BC goodies.  Although it was 110 degrees, it was a lot of fun.  Here are a few photos

Karen Snow (Research), Lori Ortiz (Research),  Jose Manuel Cortez (student), Zadden Mascorro (student), Dhruvi Patel (student), Janette Ramirez (student), Sonya Christian, Tarina Perry (Academic Senate, Delilah Castaneda (student), and Bre Parks (student), Chris Glaser (Office of the President).

Thank you Ashlea Ward (for gathering the students in a matter of moments) and Nicky Damania (for preparing neighborhood packets so quickly).

#WeAreBC

Loved this Facebook post from our librarians 

Wishing you all a happy and safe Labor Day

Two of our core values at Bakersfield College focus on wellness and community so this holiday weekend, BC has partnered with KGET to help stop drunk and drugged driving. Did you catch the piece on the news last night and did you snag your UBER credit? Please encourage your friends and family to always practice safe driving practices including designated drivers and utilizing safe driving options like UBER.

 

That’s all for now.  

Until next time.

With much Renegade Pride and Collegiality.  

sonya —
the luckiest and happiest college president ever

Tagged: Bakersfield College, Bill Potter, College Council, Earl Parsons, Jim Ryun, John Means, Lawrence Salcido, Mark Wyatt, Renegade Football, Sonya Christian, Tarina Perry