This week I had the opportunity to travel to San Diego for the 2021 ACCT Leadership Congress. The Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) is a non-profit education organization headquartered in Washington, DC. With a membership of more than 6,500 trustees who govern over 1,200 community, technical, and junior colleges in the United States and beyond, ACCT is the only national conference dedicated to community college trustees.
Check out the KCCD delegation at the conference – including Trustees Yovani Jimenez, Romeo Agbalog, and Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg, as well as Cerro Coso Community College President Sean Hancock.
Good morning, friends…
It is October 16, 2021.
The sun shines bright over KCCD.
This week, the Pirates, the Coyotes, and the Renegades continue to
#DareMightyThings
Porterville College
PC Student becomes one of the first to take advantage of a new state program
The DREAM Act Service Incentive Grant Program (DSIG) encourages California Dream Act Application (CADAA) students with a Cal Grant B award to perform community or volunteer service.
For the first time, this new program allows CADAA students to apply to for an award of $1500 to complete up to 150 internship hours a semester through the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC).
We are pleased to report that current Porterville College Freshman and graduate of the Granite Hills ACE Pathway Program, Rosaura Castro Gatica, has been chosen as one of only 200 students statewide to be a part of this new program. She has shown impressive initiative and determination in receiving this honor.
As part of the program, Rosaura will be interning on campus with the PC Student Services department to support Access Programs (EOPS, CARE, Undocumented Services, CalWORKs).
Her evolving story is a great example of the impact of collaboration and partnership on a student’s life journey. Thank you to PC’s partners at Granite Hills High School and the ACE Pathway Program for being a strong force in helping local students achieve their educational goals.
Congratulations Rosaura! We’re excited to see all that you will accomplish!
For more information on this program, you can visit www.csac.ca.gov/dsig
Porterville College Foundation Scholarship Application Window opens
The Porterville College Foundation has officially opened the window to apply for scholarships for the 2022 academic year. The Foundation will be accepting applications through their website (https://www.portervillecollegefoundation.org/scholarships.html) from October 15th through November 30th, 2021.
Porterville College awards scholarships to students presently enrolled and attending Porterville College and graduating sophomores continuing their education at a four-year institution. Applicants are considered for all awards for which they qualify.
Applications are available online during the filing period. Some scholarships are awarded based on grades alone, but many also have other requirements. The Porterville College Foundation scholarship application is available on the Foundation website from mid-October through mid-November for the following year. The annual Scholarship Awards Ceremony is held in late April.
To be eligible, you must be a regular admit student. You must also have completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form or The California Dream Act Application (CADAA) and have completed a minimum of 12 units at Porterville College by the end of the Fall 2021 semester with a cumulative GPA of 2.5. For more information on the requirements for scholarship and the application process, students can attend one of the virtual workshops offered by the Foundation.
Manuel Muñoz Joins PC Writer & Poet Speaker Series on October 21st
The Porterville College Writer & Poet Speaker Series welcomes its next speaker on Thursday, October 21st, from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM via Zoom.
Manuel Muñoz is the author of a novel, What You See in the Dark, and the short-story collections Zigzagger and The Faith Healer of Olive Avenue, which was shortlisted for the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award.
He is the recipient of fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York Foundation for the Arts. He has been recognized with a Whiting Writer’s Award, three O. Henry Awards, and an appearance in Best American Short Stories. His next collection, “The Consequences,” is forthcoming from Graywolf Press in late 2022 or early 2023.
Muñoz is a native of Dinuba, California, and a first-generation college student. His work has appeared in numerous publications, including the New York Times, American Short Fiction, Glimmer Train, Epoch, and Freeman’s, and has aired on National Public Radio’s Selected Shorts. Muñoz has been on the faculty of the University of Arizona’s creative writing program since 2008. He currently lives and works in Tucson, Arizona.
To join us for this event, please register via Zoom at https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/91235194383
Cerro Coso Community College
CC Promise Students Assist in Set Up of New Salvation Army Store
New corps officers Lts. Chris and Gina Noble’s first task was to completely refurbish the Salvation Army Family Store and Donation Center. On Sept. 15, the Salvation Army stopped accepting household donations, and on Oct. 1, the doors to the popular thrift store were closed to the public. Volunteers have helped to breathe new life into the tired, warehouse building by sorting, cleaning, painting, and remodeling. Cerro Coso Promise students, Ladaija Baker, William Hoover, Dorothy Lindula, Aileen Bundy, and Butterfly Sawyer joined Outreach Director Katie Bachman to assist in the setup of the newly remodeled center.
Cerro Coso Promise students are required to provide 8 hours of outreach activities per semester, and eligible students worked from 9 am to 3 pm earning 6 hours of outreach volunteer hours.
The Chris and Gina Noble praised their volunteers for giving time to serve others that they don’t even know.
Mammoth Campus Gets First Sprinkling of SNOW
You never outgrow the excitement of looking out your window and seeing the season’s first snowfall. The Cerro Coso Mammoth Lakes Campus got its first snow on Friday, October 9th.
A reminder that the Eastern Sierra Ski Season is only four weeks away with the Mammoth Mountain Ski resort scheduled to open on November 13th.
Photos taken by ESCC Education Advisor Kimberly Blackwell, “it’s a beautiful 20° in Mammoth,” she said. “The 2nd picture is my office view. Worth the drive on the ice slab today.”
Mammoth Mountain was founded in 1953 by Dave McCoy, and averages an impressive 400 inches of annual snowfall, allowing it to have one of the longest ski seasons in California. McCoy recently passed away at 104 years. He was also instrumental in the development of the Mammoth campus and the Mammoth Lakes Foundation, which assists local students in a big way through scholarships.
McCoy is the only recipient of an honorary Associate of Arts Degree from Cerro Coso, presented to him in June of 2015 at the age of 99.
The beautifully located Mammoth Lakes Campus is a full service campus offering educational opportunities through classes in transfer degrees, career growth, technical education, or simply for personal enrichment. A wide range of classes are offered on campus, televised through interactive television, or online, and in schedules ranging from a semester to a few weeks.
Students looking for the most beautiful ski town college should look no further than Cerro Coso’s Mammoth Lakes campus.
Wall of Courage
CC Military and Veterans Services invites all military and veteran students, alumni, staff, faculty, spouses, dependents, and community members to submit a photo for the 2021 Wall of Courage. A tribute to honor all those who serve or have served in the United States Armed Forces, the Wall of Courage is an exhibit of photos and service information that will be on display in the Ridgecrest Campus Student Center and online the whole month of November. To submit your entries please go to: https://form.jotform.com/212417068868161 .
On the 11th hour…of the 11th day…of the 11th month…the fighting of World War I ended in 1918. Due to the conclusion of “the War to end all Wars,” November 11th became a recognized day of celebration.
Cerro Coso will honor all veterans…who unselfishly placed their lives on the line for our freedom during the month of November. The Wall of Courage serves as a unique reminder that our military defends us 365 days a year.
Veterans Day isn’t just a day for veterans – it’s a day for all Americans. It’s a time to say “thank you,” and honor those who selflessly devoted their time to protect our freedoms. It’s an opportunity to pay respect and let those who have made many sacrifices know that their dedication has not gone unnoticed. Today and Always. Thank you for your service.
Bakersfield College
Homecoming for the Renegades
This week was homecoming for the BC Renegades and the Office of Student Life had many fun activities. In addition to TikTok Challenge on Monday and Tuesday, Wednesday featured Mural Painting, and Thursday was a Pop Up Renegade Closet. The week ended with the traditional showing of Renegade Spirit judging and winner selection. Today the fun continues with the 17th Annual Make a Difference Day at various locations around Bakersfield.
BC Presents 2021 Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees
Bakersfield College proudly presents the 2021 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees. Inductees consisted of standout former student athletes, coaches, administrators and other community members who have rendered extraordinary service to the department.
The list of inductees this year included: Gil Bishop, Carl Bowser, Bruce Burnett, Gerry Collis, Bob Covey, Billy Cowan, George Culver, Frank Gifford, Dean Jones, Colby Lewis, Aisha Harrison Matson, and Hank Pfister Jr.
The sold-out ceremony was held at Luigi’s Warehouse.
A big thank you to our presenting sponsors Southern California Orthopedic Institute, our legacy sponsor Clifford & Bradford Athletic Foundation, all American sponsors: Congressmen Kevin McCarthy, Mary Trichell, Christopher Lake and Strata Credit Union. In attendance from the community were Action Sports, BC Foundation, SC Anderson, Premier Lighting and many more.
I was unfortunately unable to attend the event, but I wanted to share my taped remarks with you:
The nomination form for 2022 is now open and the community can start nominations for next year’s class.
BC Art Students in Action at Via Arté
Bakersfield College and the BC Foundation are proud sponsors of Via Arté at the Marketplace October 16 & 17. We’re even MORE proud of BC’s art students who will be out creating their chalk masterpiece under the guidance of BC’s Art Department Professor Joseph Tipay.
Artists will start work on Saturday morning, finishing up on Sunday afternoon. Be sure to come out and watch our BC Art Students in action! There will be plenty of time to enjoy Via Arte AND cheer the Renegades on to a win against Canyons Saturday evening!
More information about Via Arté.
Early College presents at Arvin High School’s Parent University meeting
The Early College team headed out to Arvin High School this past Monday night to present at their Parent University meeting for 9th grade students and their parents. Early College Director Kylie Campbell, Program Manager Berenice Arellano, and new Educational Advisor Diana Figueroa presented to students and parents on the Early College opportunities at Arvin High School and how students can graduate high school with an Associate Degree for Transfer in Communication Studies. They even stopped by “Hazte Loko” afterwards for some fun treats! The ladies recommend this as a must for those visiting Arvin!
You can learn more about Early College opportunities at Arvin High School at https://www.bakersfieldcollege.edu/earlycollege/arvin.
BC Participates in the Annual National Night Out
Thank you to Pat Smith, Professor of Criminal Justice, for submitting this summary.
National Night Out is a community-police awareness event that takes place on the first Tuesday in October throughout the United States. The event is meant to bring the community together and share information about police programs and supportive agencies.
The Bakersfield College Public Safety Department and the Delano Campus, participated in the National Night Out event at Cesar Chavez Park, 925 Ellington Street, Delano, on October 5, 2021. There were approximately 40 vendors who attended this event and met with the many families who arrived at the park. Many of the vendors provided games and prizes for the children making it a fun night for the families. We were able to speak to several early college students who stopped by our booth. Some shared they are currently enrolled at BC and they will soon be graduating from high school. One student said that he is currently attending high school, BC and has a class at CSUB. It was amazing to hear that many of the high school students in this area are enrolled in early college. Brent Burton demonstrated CPR on a mannequin to an 11-year-old child, who is already interested in the medical field. Local reporters interviewed our BC staff about Bakersfield College participating in this event. It was a very successful neighborhood event that strengthened partnerships within the Delano community and certainly for Bakersfield College.
A big thank you to Dean Rich McCrow, Derek Robinson, Brent Burton, Pat Smith, Raquel Lopez, Carolina Madrigal, Charles Truvillion, Jaime Lopez and Vickie Coffee for representing Bakersfield College at this event that was organized by the Delano Police Department.
Poetry Corner
Please enjoy this poem from Jack Hernandez:
An Old Man
An old man sits alone
at an empty table,
he cradles his coffee cup
looking at no one,
inward only at his solitude,
after isolated time passes
he rises to leave
discarding his cup,
outside walking
and talking,
waving a finger
in indifferent air,
he persists,
coming back each day
for his coffee
and thoughts
about which roads
will take him
to truth
and home.
Quick Tips for Teaching Success
This week, Porterville College continued their Quick Tips for Teaching Success series with a session on Wednesday called “Quick Tips for Sneaky Strategies to Improve Student Success.“
Check out all the session resource page, or see the Quick Tips for Teaching Success homepage to catch up on previous sessions.
In the News
The Daily Independent in Ridgecrest shared this writeup from the visit Cerro Coso Community College’s founding president, Dr. Richard Jones, made to the college last month.
Fun Photos and Spotted on Social Media
On Saturday, BC attended the Kern County Farm Bureau’s Bounty of Kern County.
BC attendees included Stephanie Baltazar, James Selgrath, Lindsay Ono, Domenica Trinidad, and Anthony Cordova. It was so nice to see you all there. We also saw State Senator Shannon Grove!
Check out these moves from Porterville College Men’s Basketball Coach Amaurys Fermin:
I loved this tweet from Brian Sylva about running into KCCD Trustee Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg at the ACCT Conference:
Steven Watkin shared this photo from a BC Outreach/Early College Zoom meeting –
The Vision Continues!
And check out the Student Government of Cerro Coso:
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That’s a wrap for now.
See you next Saturday!
The future is bright at KCCD.
-sonya
a joyful and grateful Chancellor
#KCCDDaringMightyThings
Tagged: Bakersfield College, Cerro Coso College, Kern Community College District, Porterville College, Sonya Christian
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