Good morning Bakersfield.
It is Saturday, November 17, 2018…..A great day to be a Renegade

Wildfires Affecting Many California Community Colleges

Many of our sister schools in the California Community College system have been gravely affected by the wildfires that raged across the state last weekend, bravely fighting to support the most vulnerable members of their communities while dealing with the loss of their homes and loved ones.

More than 70 people have died and 1000 are missing after the devastation of the Camp Fire in the North Valley, which completely destroyed the area around Paradise, California, a town of 26,000 people in the mountains above Chico in Butte County.

Butte College was surrounded on three sides by the blaze, but the campus was thankfully saved due to the valiant efforts of local firefighters. In a Student FAQ page on the Butte College web site, the campus announced that Butte College and all centers will remain closed until a tentative date of November 26, while some support services began this Thursday at the Butte College Chico Center, including mental health counseling, educational advising, referrals to local support services, and a food pantry for all those affected by the fire. The college has also established two GoFundMe accounts to support individuals affected by the fire: the Butte College Student Fire Relief Fund and the Butte College Faculty/Staff Fire Relief Fund.

The Butte College main campus continues to be used as a staging area for emergency service personnel, and “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” host Guy Fieri visited the area on Sunday to hand out food to relief workers, according to SF Gate.

While the Woolsey fire continues to burn along the California coast, with only 57 percent containment as of Thursday, November 15, a new blaze referred to as the Sierra Fire has started in the town of Fontana, just 50 miles east of Los Angeles, according to NBC News. Los Angeles Pierce College in Woodland Hills is being used as an evacuation area for the Southern California wildfires, as people and their pets who were displaced by the Woolsey and Hill fires have found refuge in the Pierce College gyms. The college also opened its pens and stables to house over 300 horses, donkeys, sheep and chickens, according to USA Today.

On Tuesday, California Community College Chancellor Eloy Oakley released a message across the state linking to the California Wildfire Relief Fund put together by the Foundation for California Community Colleges. All of the proceeds from the fund will go to directly support community college students and staff affected by the fires. The Santa Monica College Foundation is also partnering with the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District to raise money in the Malibu Fire Relief Fund.

Here at Bakersfield College, our hearts go out to all those who have been affected by these fires, and we hope that our partners in community college education can recover from this devastation as soon as possible.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank all of the first responders and firefighters around our state and those who have traveled, especially to California from other states, to assist. Earlier this year, we had a close call with a fire near campus, and you can read about it in my blog piece titled “Thank you firefighters and first responders.”

100 Years Since The End of World War I

Sunday was the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I, and throughout the world, leaders and communities solemnly honored the courageous people who died in the war. I came across a YouTube video which I found moving and poignant.

 The description of the video reads: “In fall 2015, Legion Magazine and Leonard Cohen released a video to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae. In a poignant tribute to McCrae, Canadian songwriter, painter, and poet Leonard Cohen has recited that stirring poem for this exclusive video. His voice is accompanied by stirring imagery from the First World War.”

BC is About Student Success

Bakersfield College received the 2018 state Chancellor’s Student Success Award on Friday in recognition of the college’s intensive focus on strengthening curricular alignment throughout the k-16 educational pipeline. The state Chancellor’s Office describes the annual award as one which “honors college and/or district programs that demonstrate a commitment and significant progress toward achieving success and equity goals for all students.”

In a recent study of 98 of the 100 largest metro regions in the country, researchers at the non-profit Measure of America found that Kern County has the highest rate of disengaged youth in the country. With 21.2% of those aged 16-24 neither in school nor working, over 26,000 young people in Kern County are completely disengaged. By developing various student success initiatives, BC has united programs and resources to improve outcomes and support the Chancellor’s Vision for Success.

In 2016, BC developed a county-wide college promise, The Kern Promise, which focused on Associate Degree for Transfer Pathways. To advance the work specifically relating to issues of transfer misalignment, BC established a transfer task force for faculty from both BC and CSU Bakersfield to jointly clarify the pathways so students can progress through the college system, locally, unabridged, and efficiently.

Bakersfield College has recognized the value of momentum points which include:

• Attempting 15+ units in the first term
• Completion of transfer-level math and English in the first year
• Attempting 30+ units in the first year
• Completion of 9 core pathway units in the first year

These momentum points, along with high-tech, high-touch innovations such as the Program Pathways Mapper, Completion Coaching Communities, and with the Finish in 4 initiative, students are gaining the clarity to efficiently complete their degree or certificate. Special thanks to the WARBA group including Matthew Garrett, Janet Fulks, Eleonora Hicks, Marisa Marquez, and Khushnur Dadabhoy and BC’s Leading from the Middle team including Craig Hayward, Billie Jo Rice, Jennifer Johnson, Mark Osea, Brynn Schook, and Jonathan Schultz.

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Student Success is on The Right Path

Student Success in Bakersfield was highlighted last weekend by Joseph Luiz in the Bakersfield Californian in his piece titled “Bakersfield College, Cal State Bakersfield see major increases in graduates.” In the article, Joseph cites BC’s Vice President of Instruction Liz Rozell highlighting
the college’s Guided Pathways model as one major reason we’ve seen such a significant increase. The article explains, “The goal of Guided Pathways is to graduate students more quickly by making the path to graduation more clear to students with a detailed plan and more counseling and other support services.” Read the full article at Bakersfield.com.

Speaking of student success, this week, a BC alum emailed his BC professors to share how being a Renegade has changed:

“I would like to thank the both of you, and the entire electronics/industrial automation department at BC. I just accepted a position as a broadcast engineer at our sister station in San Diego KGTV. This is a very big leap for my career as San Diego is in the top 30 markets of the US. For reference, Bakersfield is 122 in market size.

The success I’ve had so far in my career is directly related to the classes that I took in the electronics program at BC. Beyond learning electronics, PLCs, telecom and radio, I learned valuable life skills that I’ll carry the rest of my life. Once I start at KGTV my hourly rate will increase to $34.10 an hour, or $70,928 per year.  Your guys program is changing lives, I know it changed mine.”

Teaching 411

A BC team presented at the Teaching 411: Everything You Need to Know to Support and Prepare Future Teachers conference at College of the Canyons on November 9.  The conference brought together experts from across California to provide insights and information to those who create the pipelines and pathways for students pursuing careers in education from preschool through college level.

Dr. Kimberly Bligh, Isabel Castaneda, and Jessica Wojtysiak presented a workshop called “Guided Pathways and Teacher Preparation” with a focus on how Bakersfield College has embraced and institutionalized the Guided Pathways approach to education. The Education Pathway Completion team is laser-focused on finding ways to identify our community’s future teachers and ensure they can enter their pathway as early as possible, stay on their pathway, and ensure they have the courses, skills, and knowledge they need to obtain their degrees, transfer to a 4-yr institution, and complete the requirements they need to realize their career goals. It’s a good time to be a future teacher at BC!

L.E.T.S. TEACH

The Education Pathway team hosted a conference at the Bakersfield College Southwest campus for more than 120 high school students from 9 campuses who are on the pathway to become teachers. Fernando Lara and his team graciously supported the L.E.T.S. Teach BC education team of Dr. Kimberly Bligh, Isabel Castaneda, Christina Maldonado, Teresa McAllister, and numerous student volunteers and peer mentors as they took over the BC Southwest facilities for the day. The conference was funded through the Education Futures project, which is a grant through the California Community College Chancellor’s Office.

The conference offered 16 breakouts and included motivational workshops with a resource fair option with 15 vendors from multiple four-year institutions and community partners. Topics included:

• “Teaching from the Heart,” a presentation by Standard Middle School with LaStevia Dixon and Adan Garcia
• “How to Shine in a Teaching Interview,” with former Superintendent Dr. Domene from Hope International
• And a very cool hands-on Child Development activity facilitated by our very own Child Development faculty Amanda Tumblin!

The afternoon offered a great panel discussion with BC faculty Bill Chapman, Cato Middle School and BC Adjunct Faculty Amanda Gonzalez, and Samantha Hayes-Delaney, a BC Education Student and Classroom Aide at North Beard Elementary.

The BC L.E.T.S. Teach team will be hosting another conference in the spring for BC students in the Education Pathways. BC supports future teachers! #WeAreBC!

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BC’s Spanish Club Visits LA

BC’s Spanish club organized a cultural trip to Los Angeles where they visited the Plaza Olvera, the Museum La Plaza de Cultura y Arte, a Mexican restaurant, the Chinese American Museum, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels, and finished dining at a Japanese restaurant.

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Art, Architecture, and Archetypes – What’s a Museum?

Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg (our newly elected KCCD Trustee!), David Koeth, Rae Ann Kumelos, Duane Anderson, and Susan Pinza hosted an interdisciplinary panel discussion this past Thursday.  The discussion was titled “From the Lourve to the Museum of Ice Cream: What’s a Museum?” and is a series focused on the significance of art, aesthetics, and humanities on communities.  

David Koeth showed a slide saying there are approximately 850 million visits to American museums annually, which is more than the attendance for all major league sporting events and theme parks combined (483 million in 2011).  Museums support more than 726,000 American jobs and contribute $50 billion to the U.S. economy. This information was mind-blowing! I want to thank all of our participants, and Levan Center Director Reggie Williams who makes these events possible.

These discussions are free and open to the public, so make sure to keep your eyes open for future dates and topics!

Congratulations to Juan Pablo Buenrostro

Music Faculty Kris Tiner shared with me recently that one of his students, trumpet player and BC Music Major Juan Pablo Buenrostro, was selected to be a member of the prestigious Bakersfield Youth Symphony Orchestra. I’m also told this is a special year for the orchestra as they’ve been invited to perform in our sister city of Wakayama, Japan. Through his online fundraiser, Juan says, “Being able to participate in this international tour would be an enormous musical and educational opportunity for me.”

The sister city relationship between Bakersfield and Wakayama officially began on August 21, 1961, when the Bakersfield City Council adopted a resolution establishing an ongoing friendship with the city of Wakayama, Japan. This action was shortly followed by Bakersfield Mayor Gene Winer appointing a People-to-People Steering Committee to oversee the Bakersfield-Wakayama Sister City relationship. Later, the Bakersfield Sister City Project Corporation was created. Soon, Bakersfield officials and citizens were traveling to our new sister city, where they were overwhelmed by the friendly reception. In return, delegations from Wakayama began to visit Bakersfield, forming lasting friendships that continue to the present day.  Over the years, every Mayor of Bakersfield since 1964 has visited Wakayama, while every Mayor of Wakayama has visited Bakersfield.

Blessed are the Huggers’ by Jack Hernandez

Last weekend, it was a joy to see Jack’s most recent Community Voices piece, “Blessed are the huggers” in The Bakersfield Californian. With words of wisdom, such as “Hugging somehow blends us in a way that words don’t,” and “I believe, though, that even if we don’t hug others, we should hug ourselves,” Jack shares the importance of closeness, caring for others, and caring for ourselves. If you missed it in print, check it out on Bakersfield.com.

Gadfly Cafe – Suicide: In Pain, Protest, and Honor

The fall semester’s third and final Gadfly Cafe took place on Wednesday, November 14. Students gathered in the Norman Levan Center for the Humanities to discuss a very serious topic–Suicide: In Pain, Protest, and Honor.  Philosophy Professor Reggie Williams did a fine job moderating the discussion of a delicate topic.  Attendees shared stories of how suicide has affected their lives and how they have managed to cope with these sudden losses. It was a heartbreaking yet supportive atmosphere.  Stay tuned for more Gadfly Cafe events coming next semester!

Taking BC Adult Education Across Country

Fall leaves, beautiful weather, the Charles River and Adult Education, as Boston, Massachusetts was the site of the National College Transition Network (NCTN) 2018 Fall Conference. Program Manager Endee Grijalva had the opportunity to co-present with Bakersfield Adult School (BAS) Principal Mark Wyattand Administrator Jodi Loeffler on the partnership between BAS and BC–a partnership that has birthed an innovative and creative space for student success! This co-located one-stop for education and resources is the first of its kind and only the beginning, as the BC Adult Education team continues to take education to the people via Rural Initiatives.

Mech Ag Grand Opening

The Mechanized Agriculture Grand Opening took place on Wednesday, November 14, at Renegade Park, with opening remarks by Anthony Cordova, Career & Technical Education (CTE) Director, and Cornelio (Corny) Rodriguez, Dean of Instruction, welcoming everyone to the event.  Mechanized Agriculture Professor Matt Riley  spoke about how this program is developing a strong workforce for jobs in local industries, in particular oil and agriculture.

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More than a dozen students were on stage to share how the program has changed their lives.  Some told their stories of how they came into the program, including Raul Herrera, who gave a moving speech about how the program offered him hope for a new career.  Heavy equipment was on display, showing visitors the exact type of machinery these students will be using on the job.

Congratulations to all the students who will be completing this new degree program!  You are BC! For more coverage of the Mech Ag Grand Opening, read the story on Bakersfield.com or check it out on BakersfieldNow.com.

Deep Cuts and Conversations

Often when we hear a song that we enjoy, we sing along or tap a foot without even thinking about the artist’s personal life. On Thursday evening, the Levan Center hosted another round of Deep Cuts & Conversations with Josh Ottum, Kris Tiner, and Reggie Williams. The theme for the evening was musicians who were not the most exemplary people.

The evening started off discussing Merle Haggard. Although a celebrated country artist, Merle spent much of his younger years on the wrong side of the law. In 1950, at the age of 13 he was already involved in theft and writing bad checks. He had a knack for escaping incarceration and was eventually sent to San Quentin. In 1972 however, then-California Governor Ronald Reagan granted Merle a full pardon.

The conversation then turned to John Lennon. Although some of his songs have been used as celebrated anthems for peace, he was reputedly a horrible father who abandoned his son Julian at 5 years old. The song Imagine was played over the PA and Prof. Reggie Williams described how the song parallels the Communist manifesto. Prof. Kris Tiner added that the song was actually banned from some radio stations after the 9/11 attacks due to its anti-materialist sentiment.

The evening continued with mentions of Sam Cooke, Don Henley, Spade Cooley, and Beethoven for questionable aspects of their lives. Stay tuned for the next edition of Deep Cuts and Conversations.  Date to be announced soon!

Fun Photos from Midnight Madness

The Rural Initiatives team burned the midnight oil!  Express enrollment this week was Midnight Madness. We had a great turnout. Students were able to complete all matriculation steps in one day. Big shout out to the team!

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Fun Photos from Hot Rod Reunion Drag Race

BC Renegades and Automotive Technology professor Vic Posey participated in the 2018 Hot Rod Drag Race. Check out the fun photos!

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International Education Week

All this past week, the Bakersfield College community celebrated the diversity of our international students with a series of events in observance of International Education Week.  This year, approximately 60 students from 24 different countries to start their futures here at BC, said International Students counselor Shoreh Rahman.

On Tuesday morning, several international students gathered at the International Students office in the Center for Student Success to raise awareness of the program, which provides educational services and academic support for students coming from abroad. And on Tuesday night, faculty and staff met with international students in the Fireside Room to network and learn more about the countries the students come from.

This year, Rahman has sought to provide more opportunities and support for international students at BC by hiring several of them to work in her department. Transfer Pathways director Khushnur Dadabhoy, Testing and Placement Program Manager Kalina Hill, and EMLS instructor Elizabeth Rodacker are all advocates for international students at BC.

The event culminated on Wednesday afternoon with the Passport to the World event, where students hosted tables from each of their countries on the lawn between the Center for Student Success and the Library.  I’d like to thank Shoreh Rahman and the International Students department for participating in the nationwide celebration of International Education Week and striving to make Bakersfield College’s influence spread worldwide.

Chicano/Latino Community Leader Breakfast

The Annual Chicano/Latino Breakfast was hosted in the Fireside Room on the Bakersfield College campus on Thursday morning, November 15. What a great group of community leaders that came out in support of Bakersfield College. Mayor Karen Goh was in attendance along with many corporate and community partners.  It is always inspiring to see the support our college and students receive.  The highlight of the meeting was rhe commitment from those present to be “Padrinos” for students who may fall through the cracks and need a little guidance and support.  A Padrino will be someone our students can reach out to when they run into an obstacle or question about their education. The Padrino will provide information on resources and support avenues for the student to be successful.  Another start to great opportunities to ensure student success!

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Kern Energy Summit

Each fall, industry leaders gather in Bakersfield to exchange information on the latest advances and innovation in the energy industry, specifically as it affects Kern County’s position as a U.S. energy leader.  Kern EDC partners with other industry supporters every November to explore current challenges and opportunities facing the petroleum, utility, and renewable energy industries. The conference provides an opportunity to network with top industry experts and suppliers to learn about local innovations and technologies that are shaping the energy future of the state and nation.  Bakersfield College was a proud sponsor of the event. 

The agenda included a presentation by Lorelei Oviatt, Director, Kern County Planning and Natural Resources Department, a presentation on the Belridge Solar Project, a panel discussion on the future of energy in Kern County, and ended with a panel discussion on Gender and the Changing Face of the Energy Industry.  Next up was Peter Zeihan, Geopolitical Strategist It was great to see Bakersfield College well represented at the event with participation from the Career Technical Education team and the Bakersfield College Foundation staff and board members, including the Foundation Chair, Mr. Jeff Bell.

BC Giving Away Free Uber Rides!

We all know how important it is to promote safety for our students and greater community. Director of Student Life Dr. Nicky Damania and BC student Mataalofa Hubbard visited 17 News at Sunrise on Tuesday to explain the effort to keep drunk drivers off the roads. Read the full story on KGET.com

Santa Ana College Visits BC GPIT

On Tuesday and Wednesday, BC hosted 14 members of the Guided Pathways Implementation Team from Santa Ana College. Led by Fernando Ortiz, the faculty Guided Pathways Coordinator, the team members represented their Guided pathways Design Teams: Entry, Program Mapping, Communication, Student Support and Advising.

Santa Ana College is in the early implementation phase as one of 20 California Community Colleges participating in the statewide CA Guided Pathways Project, which follows the national AACC Guided Pathways project that BC participated in several years ago. BC was instrumental in bringing the project to California and is recognized as a partner in the CA Guided Pathways project. The Santa Ana College team met with BC’s Guided Pathways Implementation Team (GPIT) on Tuesday, and on Wednesday morning with  teams from Outreach & School Relations, Summer Bridge, Academic Support Services, Starfish Implementation, the Program Pathways Mapper, the Data Analytics Team and more for advice and to learn strategies in implementing Guided Pathways at Santa Ana.

Thank you Lesley Bonds for coordinating Santa Ana College’s team visit and thank you to GPIT and all of the teams that took time out of their busy schedules to meet with our visitors. I am proud that we are leading the way in Guided Pathways and improving the college system for not only our students, but for students all over California by assisting other colleges in implementing Guided Pathways. This is one more reason why I am the happiest college president. For more about Guided Pathways at BC, see BC Guided Pathways.

‘Boys in the Band’ Now Playing

Playwright Mart Crowley’s “The Boys in the Band” is considered to be a groundbreaking work in the American theater genre. It is truly the first honest portrayal of the lives of contemporary gay life in 1968. Taking place in an apartment in New York’s posh Upper East Side, the dialogue exchanges and witty remarks concerns 9 gentlemen who gather for the birthday. The play intertwines the conception themes of love, fear, self-loathing, alcoholism, stereotypes, friendships, betrayal, trust, and most importantly, the unknown. Cleverly directed by BC Professor Kimberly Chin, she brings this production to life with nine amazing BC actors with a bit of class and drama.

Renegade Report

If you missed watching the Renegade Report live this last Thursday at 11 a.m., check out the segments from this week’s show from the links below. This week’s highlights include segments with Athletic Director Sandi Taylor, TBC’s Jon Mettus and Head Football Coach Jeff Chudy.

Segment with Sandi Taylor

Segment with Jon Mettus

Segment with Jeff Chudy

Renegades of the Week

Renegade Athletics is proud to announce this week’s (10/28 -11/3) Wells Fargo Renegades of the Week:

Allie Crawley, Women’s Golf: Placed 4th at the SoCal Regional Tournament on 11/5 to qualify individually for the 2018 CCCAA Women’s Golf State Finals.

Emmett Kuntz, Wrestling: Took 1st place in his weight class (149 lb.) at the SEWA Conference Tournament on Saturday 11/10.

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Women’s Golfer, Allie Crawley, Finishes 16th at 2018 CCCAA Women’s Golf State Tournament

Renegade Women’s Golfer Allie Crawley represented the BC women’s golf program at the 2018 CCCAA Women’s Golf State Championship on Sunday (11/11) and Monday (11/12). Over the course of the two-day tournament, she shot a 78 the first day and an 82 on the second day to finish the tournament ranked 16th (out of 59) in the state. Way to go, Allie!

Men’s Soccer brings home host of post-season awards

The Renegade Men’s Soccer team finished their 2018 campaign with a 9-6-5 overall record. They posted a 4-2-4 record in conference which placed them in third place in the final Western State Conference (WSC) South Division. As the season has concluded, the team has racked up a number of post-season conference, region and state awards, which are listed below:

2018 Western State Conference 1st team

• Jesus Barajas (so)
• Jose Lara (so)
• Edgar Gonzalez (fr)

2018 Western State Conference 2nd team

• Christian Gonzalez (fr)
• Alexander Ramos (so)

2018 Western State Conference Honorable Mention

• William Johnson (so)
• Armando Alvarez (fr.)

2018 CCCSCA All-Region Team

• Jose Lara (so)
• Edgar Gonzalez (fr)

2018 CCCSCA All-State Team

• Edgar Gonzalez (fr)

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Roundup of Athletics Events this week

As always, it was a full week of athletics events for our Renegades teams. Highlights from the week include:

• Women’s Basketball drops 3 games on the road at Riverside City Tournament
  • Bakersfield at Riverside, November 9, 2018
  • Moorpark vs. Bakersfield, November 10, 2018
  • Cerritos vs. Bakersfield November 11, 2018
• Football Loses to Canyon
• Men’s Basketball Drops Games to Sequoia and Cerro Coso
  • Bakersfield at Cerro Coso, November 10, 2018
  • Sequoias at Bakersfield, November 9, 2018
• Wrestling Takes 2nd at SEW Tournament
• Men’s Soccer Closes out Season on Loss to Canyons
• Women’s Volleyball Takes Outright WSC Title with win over Canyons
• Women’s Soccer Drops Play-In Playoff Game to Golden West to End Season

Emails Worth Sharing

Tamara Baker, Community Relations Manager, and Rae Ann Kumelos, English Faculty, exchanged emails this week because Tamara waved Rae Ann into an open parking space.  See the email below.

Dear Tamara, Thank you for your act of generosity yesterday morning in giving me the rare and elusive parking spot. I was delighted to see you last night at the Levan Center!  Now I can thank you properly. Your kindness had a lovely ripple effect.

I was running late, had heavy bags of essays to schlep to Humanities, forgot a sweater and was wearing heels, so the full parking lot on Haley made me so grumpy. As I raced to the back lot hoping to find a spot, I was also saddened that I would not be able to share the latest morning parking drama with my beloved colleague, David Beest. As you may know, David passed away suddenly on Oct. 18th. We miss him terribly in the English department. David and I had a M/W ritual before class of comparing the daily parking story, and he would have appreciated this one.

More importantly, he would have appreciated and laughed at my silly warrioress parking mentality versus your generosity of spirit. My students keep a kindness journal and we often start class with someone sharing a kind act shared with them. Thanks to your kindness, I shared the story of your parking gift (something the students all relate to…), and your actions uplifted not only me, but the entire class. Thank you for making a lovely difference in my day–one that touched the students as well. I will be sure to pass your generous gift forward next time a parking challenge occurs (and we know there will be a next time).

Thank you again – wishing you all joy – and an empty parking spot whenever you need one.

Take care, Rae Ann

Stories like this show how even during the holiday season, something as simple as kindness in the parking lot goes a long way and spreads joy throughout our community.

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That’s all for now.

Until next time.

With much Renegade Pride and Collegiality.  

sonya —
the luckiest and happiest college president ever