This morning, I thought I would start with a poem from Jack Hernandez:
Take Five
Going through the motions
in and out the same doors
working the usual chores,
life has closed his veins
stopped the blood that pours
like surf on unfamiliar shores.
movement now is confined
to thoughts circling his head
like flies above the dead.
But amid the chattering rhymes
his pulse begins to drum
a jazzy jazzy jazzy beat,
bold rhythms now freely speak,
hot sax cool piano chords
swing him into the jostling street,
so many riffs so much jive
take five take five take five.
It was perfect timing, because just a few days before he sent this, I saw on Facebook that BC Jazz Studies shared their Jazz Combos have been able to start outdoor, in-person rehearsals.
These steps show that we are slowly returning to normal. Every new update, each part of our lives that we’re able to regain – even if it looks considerably different than last year – brings me such joy. Beautiful music, gorgeous weather, and finally being able to come together: it’s truly wonderful to take five and appreciate how far we have come.
Good morning Bakersfield.
It is Saturday, March 6, 2021 … a great day to be a Renegade.
Sterling Silver on KGET
A little over a year ago – last February – we held our annual Sterling Silver dinner to honor and recognize our generous donors and community supporters. I didn’t imagine that night just how different this year’s event would look. But despite a pandemic and social distancing, our BC Foundation is still able to celebrate those that lift our students by supporting the college’s mission. This year’s event will be broadcast on KGET/Channel 17. Make sure to tune in tonight at 7PM!
This year, honorees include:
Patricia Mettler and Margaret “Peggy” Haight – Individual Philanthropists (posthumously)
Greg & Mary Bynum, Bynum, Inc. – Corporate Philanthropists
Becky Whitson – BC Foundation Service Medal (posthumously)
This annual event is usually an elegant dinner with proceeds helping to fund scholarships for students, providing vital opportunities to make higher education a reality for thousands of Renegades. In this unusual time, I hope that you will join me this year in watching the show while eating dinner.
BC Foundation Executive Director Cheryl Scott was on the KGET Sunrise program this week to talk about the event.
And BC Foundation Board Chair Marko Zaninovich penned this Community Voices piece about recognizing Bakersfield College’s supporters – the the important work those donations allow.
“These gifts are reason to celebrate and remind our community of the work required to educate students. Our donors have thoughtfully placed their resources, all to benefit students and our community. They share a pride in the community. The message is consistent: Invest in education today to develop thinkers and problem solvers for tomorrow.”
Thank you Connie Perez-Andreesen, Foundation Board Member, for your generous donation to #SterlingSilver2021.
Thank you Heather Penella for leading the planning effort.
Vaccination Schedule for next week
The Bakersfield College Student Health and Wellness Center is now hosting multiple vaccination clinics for any eligible individuals who meet the COVID-19 Vaccine Schedule per Kern County Public Health. This opportunity is voluntary.
Tuesday, March 9, 2021 between 10am and Noon. Click Here to register for an appointment.
Thanks to our partners at VIPMD, we have a Moderna vaccine clinic on-campus in Levinson Hall next Tuesday, March 9, 2021 between 10am and Noon. Please note you will need to bring your photo ID, VIPMD registration packet, and your insurance card with you.
Thursday, March 11, 2021 from 2 to 4pm – BCSHWC’s First Clinic. Click Here to register for an appointment.
I am proud to announce that our known BC Student Health and Wellness Center has now been allocated the one-shot Johnson and Johnson’s Janssen vaccines to be distributed on Thursday, March 11, 2021 from 2 to 4pm in Levinson Hall. Please note you will need to bring your photo ID.
Saturday, March 13, 2021 between 10am and 2pm. Click Here to register yourself for an appointment.
Thanks to our partners at Dignity Health, we have a drive-thru Moderna vaccination clinic on-campus at the Stadium Parking lot next Saturday, March 13, 2021 between 10am and 2 pm. Please note you will need to bring your photo ID and be able to drive through the clinic space. The BC Drive-Thru Flow Site Map will provide some guidance as to how the flow will work.
Monday, March 15, 2021 between 3pm and 6pm – Delano. Click Here to register yourself for an appointment.
Thanks to our partners at Dignity Health, we have a Moderna vaccination clinic at the Delano Campus on Monday, March 15, 2021 between 3pm and 6pm. Please note you will need to bring your photo ID.
2nd Annual Jean Fuller Women in Leadership Panel
Bakersfield College kicked off Women’s History Month with a discussion and panel, moderated by Early College champion and Republican Senator Emeritus, Jean Fuller. The event premiered on BC’s YouTube channel on Thursday, March 4, at 6:00pm.
The Jean Fuller Women in Leadership Panel featured:
- Dr. Mary Barlow, Kern County Superintendent of Schools
- Ms. Katie Russell, Superintendent, Panama Buena Vista Union School District
- Assemblywoman Emeritus Nicole Parra, Manager, California Government Relations, Marathon Petroleum Corp.
If you missed the panel, you can still check it out on YouTube:
And I invited you to read Senator Emeritus Fuller’s Community Voices piece in the Bakersfield Californian about the panel.
“However, women’s leadership and empowerment is not a recent endeavor for BC, but deeply rooted in its history, as the college came to be what it is today under the leadership of a woman named Grace Van Dyke Bird. She first came to teach in 1917 and was appointed as college chief executive, the position now known as president, in 1921. She was among the first to suggest using the term “community college” instead of junior college, arguing that community was more descriptive of the institution’s role.”
The event is part of BC’s month-long celebration of Women’s History Month. Bakersfield College’s Office of Student Life, in collaboration with the Student Government Association, also hosted journalist and activist Elaine Weiss as part of the college’s Distinguished Speaker series on Tuesday, March 2nd. You can watch the video on the BCSGA Facebook page.
COVID-19 Virtual Seminars
This week, we continued the President’s Virtual Seminar Series with two discussions.
Tuesday’s discussion featured updates from the Student Information Desk and BCSGA. Thank you to Gian Gayatao, Dan Hall, Zav Dadabhoy, Jenny Frank, and Tina Johnson for participating.
Then on Thursday we discussed the BC Vaccination clinic, results of a college-wide survey, and vaccinations and higher education. We heard a vaccine clinic update from Nicky Damania, as well as information from Craig Hayward, Jennifer Johnson, and Kimberly Nickell.
As always, thank you to Todd Coston, Nicky Damania, and Earl Parsons for all the work you put into producing these seminars.
You can see videos from all the President’s Virtual Seminars on the COVID-19 website.
California Community Colleges Women’s Caucus Meeting
The California Community Colleges Women’s Caucus (CCCWC) is celebrating International Women’s Day with their second official business meeting on March 8 at Noon. CCCWC is excited to welcome Eleni Kounalakis, California Lieutenant Governor and BOG Member as the guest speaker. Register for the CCCWC March 8 meeting.
Express Enrollment Events This Week
Bakersfield College will hold two special virtual Express Enrollment Events for new and returning students on March 10, 2020 from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. and March 13, 2020 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Educational advisors who assist students in the affinity groups for African American students, Latinx students, and Veteran students will also be available for these events. Counselors and support staff will be available to assist students with their registration process, placement, enrollment, and financial aid.
Commencement Virtual Celebration
Mark your calendars for Sunday, May 16, 2021, when we will celebrate the Bakersfield College Class of 2021 with a special televised virtual commencement event! It will air on KGET as well as streaming online — bringing the celebration to your home while maintaining safety precautions. I hope you will watch with the rest of Bakersfield as our graduates’ images brighten your television screen as their names are read aloud.
BC Graduates must petition for graduation and opt-in to participate in the celebration. For more information and to sign up, visit Bakersfield College Commencement.
Health Science Virtual Outreach Event
On Thursday, February 25th, we hosted our first Health Science Pathway Virtual Outreach Event. This event was to provide the opportunity for current BC, high school, and perspective students to learn more about each of our health science programs and have the chance to explore them with us.
There were over 170 attendees and a faculty representative from 11 programs and Early College! Breakout rooms were very interactive and we received many great questions and comments from students. As one student stated “I loved everything about the presentation and how everyone had a chance to direct their questions to people directly instead of waiting for a pending email.” In the survey provided after the event, 95% of students indicated that they are more likely to register for late start and/or summer classes due to the information learned at the event.
Thank you to our phenomenal Health Science team for all of their work and time to make this event successful! Keep your eye out for more Health Science events in the future! #WeAreBC
Outreach & Early College Host Bring Your Stuffed Animal to Work Day
The Outreach & Early College Team had some special guests in their morning meeting this week. The team had a Bring Your Stuffed Animal to Work Day. Team members brought 1 (or more) of their trusted, tried, and true stuffed animals to the morning zoom meeting and shared the stories behind them. In the picture you can see that some team members really got into the spirit with an assortment from dogs, to narwhals, to Disney characters, and even a mood reflecting octopus!
Spotted on Social Media
Abel Guzman shared this throwback to a workshop with BC Dreamers about writing personal statements:
The Renegade Room shared these amazing photos of the delicious food they’ve been creating for takeout service:
Mary Jo Pasek shared some photos from her garden:
And Mindy Wilmot shared a new Renegade in her family:
Athletics
Renegade Spring Sports Update
Starting Friday Renegade Athletics are back in the following sports for the Spring I season (March-April): Men’s Soccer, Volleyball and M/W Basketball. Be sure to head to GoGades.com to check schedules. While fans are not allowed in-person at games right now, you can still keep up with the teams on social media and watch live-streams when available through this link. Click the link below to follow the official Renegade Athletics social media accounts.
- Facebook: Bakersfield College Athletics
- Twitter: @GoGadesGo
- Instagram: @gogadesgo
De La Cruz Headed to William Jessup University
Congrats this week to women’s tennis student athlete Grecia De La Cruz as she signed to continue her athletic and academic career at William Jessup University. In the 2019 season she was the women’s tennis #1 player when she went 5-3 as the Renegades #1 singles player. We are excited for Grecia and wish her the best!
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, Cheryl Scott, Heather Penella, Jack Hernandez, Sonya Christian, Sterling Silver
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