Good morning, Bakersfield.
It is Saturday, March 30, 2019… A great day to be a Renegade.

Annual Foundation Sterling Silver Dinner

The 11th annual Sterling Silver Dinner, held last Saturday, recognized exceptional support and service to the BC Foundation and to the College. The beautiful event, at Seven Oaks Country Club, directly supports the Bakersfield College scholarship program providing educational opportunities for Renegades today and tomorrow.

The event brought together college supporters, donors, alumni, and friends for an evening of live entertainment featuring Kris Tiner and the BC Jazz Ensemble and culinary delights from Seven Oaks Executive Chef Paul Burzlaff and the BC Culinary Arts students.

It was great to see Renegade supporters like Congressman Kevin McCarthy, Mayor Karen Goh, Senator Shannon Grove, and Assembly Member Vince Fong.

This year, our 2019 recognition’s included:

Lynda and Stewart Resnick as Individual Philanthropists of the Year

Lynda and Stewart Resnick have championed education, health care and community development across the Central Valley. Together, they have transformed the lives of countless students by making college an achievable goal through generous scholarships and a robust education program. Their long-standing support for Bakersfield College has provided significant opportunities for youth throughout the region.

Aera Energy as Corporate Philanthropist of the Year

Aera Energy has supported Bakersfield College and students throughout Kern County with consistent and generous donations, creating opportunities and spaces such as the Aera STEM Success Center, inspiring young people to pursue STEM education and careers with their involvement in BC’s MESA program, ensuring Bakersfield’s success with participation in advisory boards, and offering internships as a vital part of a hands-on education.

Jerry Ludeke as BC Foundation Service Medal Winner

Jerry Ludeke has served the Renegade community for over 60 years, starting with her position teaching English and Art and eventually teaching in the Learning Center, receiving the Margaret Levinson Faculty Leadership Award, the Shirley Trembley Outstanding Teacher Award, and the Distinguished Service Award presented by the Kern Community College Board of Trustees. More recently, Ludeke spends her time giving back and preserving history with the BC Archives department.

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Thank you KGET for covering our event, see the KGET Video.

Thank you Tom Gelder, Norma Rojas-Mora and team for the 2019 Sterling Silver. Thank you Heather Penella for leading this effort. Thank you Tamara Baker and Dylan Wang for the social media support for the evening. We are BC!

Check out all the pictures by the talented April Massirio Sterling Silver Dinner on BC’s Smugmug.

Betty Younger

Local sculptor and community arts supporter Betty Younger passed away at the age of 88 — see the article by Steven Mayer in the Bakersfield Californian on Thursday. Betty was a champion for Bakersfield College along with her husband Milt, and dedicated her sculpture “Circle of Friends” in honor of Dr. Jim Young to the Panorama campus in 2014.

Back in 2014, I wrote about the dedication of Betty’s “Circle of Friends” sculpture. It’s a beautiful symbol of what higher education is all about – providing an environment where information and experiences are shared to make our community stronger and cultivating a better understanding of the world around us. “Circle of Friends” was created in honor of Jim Young, a KCCD Chancellor from 1978 to 1999 – you can visit the sculpture yourself on the hill between the Humanities building and the Child Development Center on Panorama Drive.

Betty’s history with the Renegades goes back as far as the 1940s and 50s, as her aunt Hattie Hoenshell was a chemistry teacher at BC when Betty was a young girl. Betty later attended classes at BC before embarking on a career as a painter and sculptor, as well as a patron and connoisseur of art in Kern County. Jerry Ludeke recalls that legendary BC administrator Grace Van Dyke Bird purchased one of her paintings.

I also wrote about Milt Younger at his passing in 2017 in the blog Bakersfield College – A Place of Dreams. The Renegade family misses Milt and Betty Younger, but their legacy lives on everywhere you look in Kern County, from BC, to CSUB, home of her sculpture “Owl of Knowledge”, to the Bakersfield Symphony and all of the wonderful programs and non-profit organizations that they supported.

Dual Enrollment: Helping all Students Gain Access to College

The first week of April is the first-ever Dual Enrollment Week across the state of California, and I want to observe the occasion by highlighting the amazing work our Dual Enrollment team is doing to make a college education more accessible for high school students.

BC offers UC/CSU transferable courses and Career Technical Education to more than 30 high schools, reaching approximately 10,000 students. BC’s Dual Enrollment program is estimated to be the largest in the state and within the California Community College system. The program started as a grant partnership with the Wonderful Company providing an Associate of Science in Ag Business to high school students in the Wonderful Academy. It has now expanded to four local high school districts, saving students and their families more than $2 million in education expenses.

Dual Enrollment Week was approved by the California state legislature last year to raise awareness of programs that give high school students the opportunity to earn transferable college credit at no cost. During Dual Enrollment Week, KCCD has invited the Get Focused…Stay Focused program to give an overview workshop at the Larry E. Reider Education Center at 2000 K Street on Friday, April 5. Get Focused…Stay Focused is a course for high school freshmen to learn more about college and make a ten-year plan for their education and career. Visit the Academic Innovations website to register and learn more information about the workshop.

Summer Bridge

As the Bridge to BC sessions for Summer 2019 are rapidly approaching, I thought it would be a great time to highlight Joseph Luiz’s article in the Bakersfield Californian from last year about the phenomenal growth in our orientation program for incoming freshmen and their families.

Last year, 1,200 students participated in the Bridge to BC program, and we expect even more students this summer. Bridge to BC, which is offered as a one-day class titled Academic Development B55: First Year Student Success, has been instrumental in getting our students ready for college and, with an emphasis on reaching out to first-generation students of color, easing the anxiety many students feel about starting their college journey.

During Bridge to BC, students are given a tour of the campus and information about financial aid, counseling and other resources. They also form teams and create a poster representing the path they’ll take from high school graduation to BC Commencement and beyond. “We want [students] to understand how to be a successful person in college and also how to successfully navigate our resources,” says Kimberly Bligh, faculty director of the program.

Registration for Bridge to BC sessions in Summer 2019 are available now. Visit the Bridge to BC website for more information.

Early College Launch in Shafter

Thursday night, the incoming Shafter High Class of 2023 flooded the Shafter High auditorium in a kick-off event for 9th-grade registration. When Shafter High School Principal Russel Shipley took the stage to tell incoming students and their families about the opportunities they would have in high school, he had an amazing new opportunity to share with them — Early College. Head Counselor Juan Leyva explained to the high school students that they would have the opportunity to earn college credits during and after the traditional school day right on their own high school campus. To assist with the program debut, Kern Community College District Trustee Romeo Agbalog was invited to share some remarks.

“We are committed to improving access and opportunities for Shafter High students to reach their academic and career goals, as well as supporting the college going culture in the community of Shafter. Through the Early College program, each student will be on a guided path to earn college credit while in high school,” said Agbalog. “These efforts translate directly into time and tuition savings for the student, savings for the taxpayers, and securing a brighter future through the power of education,” he added.

Following the presentations in the auditorium, students went into the quad to learn more about the opportunities they would have in high school. Staff from BC’s Rural Initiatives, Dual Enrollment, and Outreach teams (Jaime Lopez, Kylie Swanson, Steve Watkin, Debra Anderson, and Jessica Garcia) were present from BC to share with both incoming 8th graders and current high school students and their parents about the Early College program and the jump start that it provides students for their college education and career.

Adult students also learned about the many evening course options being offered in collaboration with Shafter High School on their campus. Working at the forefront of the partnership between BC and Shafter, Executive Director of Rural Initiatives Abel Guzman shared:

“The City of Shafter is an incredible partner of BC, committed to the success of students throughout the community. Together, as we incorporate more educational opportunities and offerings, like the Early College program, we will level the playing field. And by bringing college closer within grasp for these students, we are granting them a head start towards a college degree and successful career.”

Starting in the 2019-2020, Shafter High School’s incoming 9th-grade students will follow a plan to complete over 30 general education units prior to their high school graduation through a combination of dual and concurrent enrollment courses. Students will also have access to additional CTE dual enrollment opportunities in the areas of agriculture, welding, and woodworking. As the partnership between BC and Shafter High continues to grow, the goal is for students to be able to complete complete college-level certificates and degrees during their time at Shafter High School.

For more information on the Early College work being done at Shafter High, visit BC’s Early College at Shafter

Adios Amore Screening

Filmmaker Laurie Coyle came to BC for a screening of her documentary about one of the forgotten heroes of the 20th-Century farm worker rights movement in the Indoor Theater on Thursday night. Coyle hosted a panel with five BC DREAMer students to talk about how they related to the story of Maria Moreno, a farm worker with 12 children and a second-grade education who became a spokesperson for a nationwide agricultural union.

The film, titled “Adios Amor: The Search for Maria Moreno”, documents the search for Maria’s family and details about her life through photographs, news articles reel-to-reel audio tapes and video footage recovered in attics, archives and museums across the United States and Mexico. Years before the grape boycott and before Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta led the work that would blossom into the United Farm Workers organization, Moreno was picked to be a spokesperson for the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC) was funded by the AFL-CIO. Moreno would travel the nation telling stories about the extreme poverty her family faced in the fields of the Central Valley and how her oldest son once became blind from starvation when their family didn’t have enough to eat.

Moreno eventually disappeared from public records after the collapse of AWOC, and Coyle wasn’t able to find the rest of Moreno’s story until one of Moreno’s granddaughters reached out to her. After leaving the organization, Moreno became a Pentecostal preacher who travelled the desert between Mexico and the American Southwest feeding the poor and hungry in every town she stopped at. Some of the most powerful moments of the documentary are when Moreno’s family are reconnected with old photographs and footage of their mother and given the chance to visit their childhood home.

Production costs for “Adios Amor” were funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the film has been screened across the American Southwest. Coyle said she was surprised that the Endowment would fund the film since they usually only fund projects about well-known historical figures, but Moreno’s story as an immigrant Mexican woman organizing a labor union was an important one to document.

After the film, BC students Jovana Espinoza, Jesus Arias, Pedro Coata, Edith Mata and Maria Jaimes sat on a panel with Coyle to talk about how they related to Moreno’s story as the children of first-generation immigrants themselves. Many of the students saw glimpses of their own mothers in Moreno’s strength and resolve in the face of adversity, and the women on the panel felt empowered by the ways that Moreno challenged the norms of how women were expected to act in traditional Mexican culture and were inspired to speak up against injustice regardless of the consequences.

Coyle encouraged people in the audience to find stories about people in their community that aren’t being told in any medium available to them. “History is about how we get by, and the values that we take with us wherever we go,” Coyle said. “Does your family have a story that isn’t being represented?”

I’d like to thank the Social Justice Institute, the National Endowment for the Humanities, Director Laurie Coyle, moderator Jessica Martinez, and the five DREAMer students who spoke for making this event a huge success.

Adios Amore in Community Voices

Oliver Rosales’ latest op-ed for the Community Voices section of the Bakersfield Californian helped spread the word about Thursday’s screening of “Adios Amor: The Search for Maria Moreno” in the Indoor Theater.

Rosales wrote that the film sheds light on one of the forgotten heroines of the agricultural farm labor movement of the mid-20th Century.
Rosales describes “Adios Amor” as “a beautiful mosaic of borderlands history” that provides an important resource of representation for first-generation college students and immigrant families to connect with the story of the California farmworkers’ movement. Rosales wrote, “these stories offer a vital link to past struggles for civil rights and inclusion.”

Blue and Gold Day

It’s never been easier for BC Renegades to transition into CSUB Roadrunners, and CSUB hosted Blue and Gold Day in the CSS Lawn Area on Thursday to inform BC students about all of the transfer services and educational opportunities that are available to them.

The CSUB Student Transfer Center hosted a tent in the middle of the lawn with information about Finish-in-Four and the California Promise, and representatives from CSUB’s social science, STEM and graduate studies departments lined the perimeter with booths about all of their degrees and programs. There were also representatives from CSUB Financial Aid, the Veterans Center and various student organizations to get the word out about all of the support that our students can receive when they decide to join the Roadrunner family.

I’d like to thank everyone at CSUB who made this event possible, as well as BC’s Transfer Initiatives team for facilitating the creation of Blue and Gold Day. As we continue to develop our partnership with CSUB and begin construction of the new BC SouthWest Center on the edge of the CSUB campus, informational events like these will only become more important.

BC Art Student Exhibition

BC students are showing off their talents in a variety of media during the 2019 BC Art Student Exhibition in the Wylie and May Louise Jones Gallery inside the library. The annual gallery event celebrating the best work created in BC art classes is running from now until May 2 during the Jones Gallery from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. An opening reception was held on March 14.

Everything from paintings, illustrations, photographs and sculptures to mixed media, collage, digital art and video projects are on display in the exhibition, and everyone is encouraged to take time to celebrate our students’ creativity .

Former SGA President Encourages East-High LUPE Students

This week BC’s LUPE students were inspired by the success story of Ms. Danitzia Romo – (BC Alumni and former SGA President). Her uplifting presentation revolved around working diligently to succeed in college, and her appreciation for the educational opportunities BC has to offer.

Ms. Romo urged students to bring their parents’ hardworking mentality into their current and future studies and to persevere through any obstacles that may come their way. Students were inspired by her humble beginnings as an immigrant, her professional development, and successful career path. Ms. Romo addressed the significance of community involvement, embracing hard work, and the importance of portraying the success of immigrants, regardless of their immigration status.

Building upon the momentum from the STDV B2 class, LUPE students conducted a student panel at East Bakersfield High School where they addressed graduating AB540/Dreamers/DACA seniors and spoke about their personal success stories and strategies, barriers, and challenges, persevering through adversity, and the importance of not letting their immigration status negatively impact their educational goals.  The panel was made possible through the assistance and collaboration of the entire EHS Administration & Counselors, CSUB’s ETS Trio Program, CalSOAP, EOP&S, and above all, the fantastic LUPE students.

World Autism Month

April is World Autism Month and April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day, so I wanted to take a few moments and share a quick story about a colleague, Nicholas Hernandez.  If you haven’t met Nick, he works at the District Office as a Construction Project Manager.

Nick has a grandson named Nicholas (or Bubba) who was officially adopted almost one year ago. Bubba has autism and they are trying to raise the needed funds for an Autism Service Dog. I’m a major fan of dogs and especially these service dogs. You can read about their story, and donate to the cause if you’d like, at Paws for Bubba

Nick’s granddaughter also came up with the idea to make “Paws for Bubba” bracelets as a way to help raise funds and to promote Autism awareness in general.  We hope that Bubba gets his Autism Service Dog!

Email Worth Sharing: BC Student Heading to Baghdad

I wanted to share this email I received from Paul Beckworth this week:

Hello all,

Just a heads up that one of our BC students, Elaine Moreno @00[…], is being deployed with the National Guard to Baghdad.  She is currently in Georgia training up to go overseas. She is a nursing major and has been at BC since fall 2017. Here is a clip of her from last semester.

She knew she was being called up so she did not enroll for spring but did call Armando yesterday to ask about taking summer online BC classes from Iraq.  Quite a resiliency, if you ask me!

I will let the veterans know tomorrow so we can get some care packages sent out to her soon.

Fun Photos: Chief Student Services Officers Conference in LA

Michelle Pena, Dan Hall, and Becky Weaver (consultant) presenting: Plan, Nudge, and Schedule: Using Ed Plans, ALERT’s, and the Course Schedule the Ultimate Integrated Approach to Student Success.

Fun Photos: Circle of Friends

Just to show how much the Circle of Friends is a part of the Bakersfield College Campus, here are some fun photos taken during the IT/Marketing retreat last summer.

Fun Photos: Abel Guzman at the Beat

Renegades of the Week

Renegade Athletics is proud to announce this week’s (3/17-3/23) Wells Fargo Renegades of the Week.

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Sarah Lopez, Beach Volleyball – Went 2-0 last week with partner Lanie Camarillo, with wins over Glendale and Victor Valley.

Isaiah Muhammad, Men’s Track & Field – Finished 1st in his first time out in the 110 hurdles with a 15.79, which ranks 5th in the conference. He also finishes 2nd in the 400m hurdles, which moved him into the 7th place ranking in the conference.

Jeremy Staat Selected for the 2019 CCCAA Hall of Fame Class

Former Renegade Football and Track and Field student athlete and current BC Welding Instructor, Jeremy Staat has been selected as a member of the 2019 California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Hall of Fame Induction Class.

Staat, a native of Bakersfield who has returned to his hometown where he’s a welding instructor at Bakersfield College, was a three-time state champion discus and shot put thrower for the Renegades while also earning Western State Conference MVP accolades and setting school records in both.

He lent his prowess to the football team as well, helping Bakersfield to a 20-2 record and two Potato Bowl championships over his two-year career, while adding all-conference recognition both seasons. Staat was selected as Bakersfield College’s Freshman Athlete of the Year in 1995 and, subsequently, was the Most Outstanding Sophomore Athlete a year later.

After a standout football career at Arizona State, Staat was second-round NFL Draft Pick in 1998 by the Pittsburgh Steelers, beginning a professional tenure that lasted until his retirement in 2003. He then followed the inspirational lead of former ASU teammate Pat Tillman and joined the Armed Forces. Staat served a tour in Iraq before returning to finish his education and begin the Jeremy Staat Foundation. He is also currently a sought after motivational speaker.

“The CCCAA Hall of Fame induction to me is the pinnacle of achievement for my junior college career.” Staat said, “I am so grateful to my family and to Bakersfield College, my coaches, and teammates that supported me during my time here at Bakersfield College. Bakersfield College was the catalyst that propelled me to achieve everything in my life up to this point. Bakersfield College helped make it happen and I am very thankful, honored, and blessed to have been selected for such a prestigious honor.”

Staat, along with four other inductee’s, was honored at a ceremony on Wednesday, March 27 at the Hilton Concord during the CCCAA’s annual convention. Read the CCCAA press release.

Cynthia Maner selected to the CCCAA Scholar Athlete Honor Roll

Renegade Athletics is proud to announce that former swimming student athlete, Cynthia Maner has been selected as a member of the 2018 California Community College (CCCAA) Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll.

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Being selected as a member of the Student Athlete Honor Roll is an accomplishment only a handful of the over 24,000 student athletes in the CCCAA system receive annually. Manor was honored at a luncheon on Wednesday, March 27 at the CCCAA Celebration of Scholar-Athletes Luncheon in Concord, CA as part of the CCCAA’s annual convention.

Athletics Roundup

• Baseball Tops LA Mission 7-3
• Golf Notches Season-Low Score at WSC #7
• Men’s Tennis Beats Santa Barbara
• Baseball Over LA Mission, 12-4
• Softball Blanks Santa Barbara and Fahy Gets Second No-Hitter of the Season

Tagged: Bakersfield College, Karen Goh, Kevin McCarthy, Lynda Resnick, Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg, Shannon Grove, Sonya Christian, Stewart Resnick, Vince Fong