Monthly Archives: February 2022

KernCCD stories of our people

Uncategorized February 26, 2022 Leave a comment

This is a sad week. Hundreds of individuals have lost their lives in Ukraine, with many more to follow. I have been heartbroken by the stories and images coming from the region.

Journalist Tim O’Brien shared a series of photos last night as cities across the globe showed their support for the people of Ukraine.

While it may seem small, these symbols of peace and solidarity strive to be beacons of hope and peace, reinforcing that across the globe, across borders, across ethnicities or religions or beliefs, at our core we are all connected and must show love and compassion to one another.

Good morning, friends…
It is February 26, 2022.
The sun shines bright over KernCCD.

This week, the Pirates, the Coyotes, and the Renegades continue to 
#DareMightyThings

Porterville College

PC Breaks ground on Allied Health Building

This past Thursday, Porterville College held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction on a new building that will significantly expand the school’s ability to provide health education to meet the growing community need.

The $21 million building will be the on-campus home for PC’s Nursing, Psych Tech, and EMT programs. Once completed, it will allow PC to move those programs from small portable classrooms to a state-of-the-art facility.

The project is being funding by bond measures G and J, approved by the voters for facility improvements.

In her opening remarks to the crowd gathered for the ceremony, PC President Dr. Claudia Habib stated, “There will be more than enough room to increase the size of these programs to meet the growing need for health care and emergency response professionals in Tulare and Kern Counties.”

Trustee John Corkins offered comments in his usual casual and humorous style.

Kim Behrens, Associate Dean of Health Careers for PC said, “I’m most excited about growing our current programs and adding new programs. When we brought Nursing to Porterville in 2003, we moved from the administrative building into the temporary classrooms with the hope of [eventually] being able to build a new building. That dream is finally coming true 20 years later.”

Afterwards, guests were able to view plans and see a “walkthrough” video from the architect showing off the ambitious designs for the building. Immediately following the program, the ceremonial “first shovels” of dirt were dug to kick off the construction phase of this project.

The building will be 23,000 square feet with classrooms, offices, and support spaces.

Pirates surge to No. 15 in state rankings with second-place CVC finish

Porterville’s impressive play under new head coach Amaurys Fermin isn’t going unnoticed. On Monday, the Pirates climbed five spots to finish out the season in second place in the Conference, at No. 15 in the latest California Community College Men’s Basketball Coaches Association (CCCMBCA) State Rankings.  The Pirates finished the year with an impressive 20-7 overall record.

Alberto Laureano scored a season-high 26 points to help lead Porterville College to an 88-82 win at Reedley College in its Central Valley Conference finale on Friday.

The Pirates faced a must-win game at Reedley last Friday to ensure its second-place Central Valley Conference showing. PC held a slim 41-40 lead at halftime and was able to pull out the victory.

The Pirates secured the second-place finish just before their eighth straight win (vs. LA Harbor on Wednesday). This was a make-up of an earlier non-conference game that was originally scheduled for late December. The Pirates can now focus their attention on the postseason as PC will likely earn an at-large bid into the Northern California Regional Playoffs.

Men’s Basketball Makes the Most of Closure on the Grapevine

This week, after being named number 15 in the state in the CCMBCA Coaches Poll, the Pirates men’s basketball team took a well-deserved snow break during a detour on the way to their game with LA Harbor. 

After being unavoidably redirected because of a closure on the Grapevine, the Pirates took the opportunity to do some team building and spent time playing in the snow.  It’s this team spirit and ability to get through challenging situations that makes these men so great at what they do.  We can’t wait to see what they do in the playoffs. Go Pirates!

Check out these great photos:

Cerro Coso Community College

CCCC Covid Update

The changing regulations of California’s approach to the pandemic are again evolving. Last week Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the expiration of the statewide indoor mask requirements for vaccinated individuals.

Management and staff are monitoring the situation and will make adjustments upon careful consideration of additional information, health organization announcements, and positivity rates. Since the original order for Californians to wear face coverings went into effect in 2020, the mask requirement has changed multiple times in response to rising and falling COVID case rates.

The American College Health Association (ACHA) has stated that comprehensive COVID-19 vaccination is the most effective way to return to a safe, robust on-campus experience in fall 2022.

Tread safely, Coyotes.

Coyote Softball Looked to Bounce Back at Home

Emily Curtis up to bat

On Thursday 2/17/22, the Lady Coyotes took on regional rival, the Porterville Pirates in CCCAA softball play. The game, a non-conference contest, still was a significant piece of the developmental puzzle for the Coyote 2022 spring season.

The Coyotes dropped two difficult losses earlier in the week to Santa Barbara City College during a double header where the team just wasn’t able to keep the momentum rolling. The Coyotes showed a lot of grit as Emilia DeSanctis pitched 14 complete innings and the team battled through difficult weather to stay focused through the end, but ultimately could not string enough runs together to keep up with the Vaqueros.

The team has had a bit of the injury bug early in the season forcing Coach Gray to shuffle players around the field, but he believes that as the early season develops, frustration will pay off  as the schedule unfolds leading into conference play. As the Coyote Softball team continues to heal and players hit their stride there will be much to cheer about, as the team has shown signs of progress with Kyla Collins hitting .433/13 H/1 2B/1 3B/1 HR. Defensively Sara Calderas has held down outfield play, and in the circle, Emilia DeSanctis has 47 IP with 36 Ks.

Celebrating Five Decades of Student Success

In 2023, Cerro Coso Community College will celebrate 50 years of helping thousands to realize the dreams of a college degree, transfer preparation, career, new skills, and personal development.  

The College officially opened in the fall of 1973, and within the year began expanding its service area to include the present region. CCCC now serves the largest geographic area of any community college in the state of California. 

The 50th Anniversary of the college’s founding, provides the school with an opportunity to reflect on the last five decades and to honor the staff, faculty, and students who have helped shape the institution.  It will also be a time to celebrate what lies ahead as the college looks forward to the next 50 years as the leading provider of an accessible, affordable, and high quality.

A 50th Anniversary Task Force is being formed to establish a 50th Anniversary theme and logo; and plan year-long activities that increase the awareness of the people, history, and impact of CCCC.  All current students, faculty, staff, retirees, alumni, trustees, donors, foundation members, corporate partners, and friends are encouraged to participate in the planning process. 

For more information, or to share ideas, please email 50anniversary@cerrocoso.edu.

Bakersfield College

BC has a SMARTER Strategy

In statewide news, last week Governor Gavin Newsom announced California’s new “endemic” strategy to combat COVID-19, marking a shift away from the pandemic approach. The new strategy is summarized in the acronym:  “SMARTER”: Shots, Masks, Awareness, Readiness, Testing, Education, and Rx (pharmaceutical treatments). Charles Collom, BC’s Director of Student Health and Wellness, shared that BC has been using the SMARTER strategy for more than a year to keep our community safe:

S: Vaccinations (“Shots”) have been provided at no cost to students, faculty, staff, and our local community since early 2021.

M: “Mask” wearing has been part of our campus protocol since the Spring 2021 academic semester.

A: Contact tracing and completing the Daily Health Checker (“Awareness”) has been a part of our campus community response to drive awareness since the implementation of the KCCD Campus Pass app in January 2021. Awareness also leads to understanding various prevention strategies, such as social-distancing, symptom checking, and our shared responsibility to care for one another on campus.

R: Cleaning supplies and PPE (“Readiness”) continue to be ordered, stocked, and distributed by our M&O team, who continue to provide sanitization and safe filtration of indoor spaces. Additionally, our intentional sanitization protocol and cleaning efforts continue to ensure a safe and healthy working environment.

T: Free COVID-19 PCR testing (“Testing”) continues to be available at no cost to the campus and community in our Fireside Room and drive-through testing facility.

E: Information sharing (“Education”) is facilitated by BC’s COVID Response Team to scale down broad epidemiological trends and information into readily available and easily digestible information which is relevant to our campus community. Campus-wide presentations and quick turn-around on data ensures that our community is well informed and up to date.

R: Any student who believes they are at risk from COVID-19 or may be infected, can contact BC’s Student Health and Wellness Center for evaluation and treatment (“Rx”). Employees may contact Human Resources for similar resources as needed.

Congratulations to the Newly Tenured Renegade Faculty

Reaching tenure is a major milestone in a faculty members’ career. The following Bakersfield College faculty members received tenure and were recognized at last week’s KCCD Trustees Board Meeting: Allison Ament, Radiologic Technology; Fabiola Butcher, Communication; Ashley Choate, Biological Science; Jeffrey Eagan, English; Bonnie Hammond, Electronics; Christina Howell, Behavioral Science; Maryam Jalalifarahani, Engineering; Francisco Llamas, Social Science; Rudy Menjivar, Business Management; William Rockey, Biological Science; David Rohac, Behavioral Science; Kellie Smith, Radiologic Technology; Sara Wallace, English; Emily Wilson, Biological Science; and Jamal Wright, Social Science.

Allison Ament
Fabiola Butcher
Ashley Choate
Jeffrey Eagen
Bonnie Hammond
Christina Howell
Maryam Jalalifarahani
Francisco Llamas
Rudy Menjivar
William Rockey
David Rohac
Kellie Smith
Sara Wallace
Emily Wilson
Jamal Wright

Bakersfield College Alumni Hall of Fame Nominations

The BC Foundation, in conjunction with the BC Alumni Association, are excited to announce that nominations are open for the 2022 Bakersfield College Alumni Hall of Fame!  

We all know BC alums who have gone out in the world and achieved great things. We’re looking for your help in identifying these examples of Renegade excellence! Nominees may include alums who earned their associate’s degree, those who transferred directly to a four-year university, or alums who attended classes for continued education (without earning a degree).  Posthumous nominees are also welcomed. If you would like to submit a nomination, please visit the BC Alumni Hall of Fame Nomination form.

Nominations are open until 5:00PM on Friday, March 18th. Selected individuals will be honored at a gala set for June 23rd at Seven Oaks.

BC’s ENCORE Program Sets Students on Path to Success

BC’s ENCORE program has been up and running with student-participants since last year, giving disadvantaged youth the opportunity to receive a career-focused education. The program is still open to eligible candidates for the 2022 academic year and any interested and eligible youth are welcome to still apply.

One of the successful graduates of the ENCORE program, Mariana Jimenez, is currently preparing to take the NREMT state certification exam after completing the Emergency Medical Technician Certificate program through Bakersfield College’s ENCORE program.

“When I came across the advertisement for the ENCORE program, I thought this is my chance for having a good career I can rely on. I was stuck in a hard place working in the grape fields and feeling hopeless, switching jobs out of high school. I could not figure out how I could make it into college without any help or assistance” she said.

Learn more about BC’s ENCORE Program.

Celebrating the Life of Jack Hernandez

In November 2021, the Bakersfield College campus community lost a legend – Jack Hernandez.

Check out this 3:23-min video from the Board of Trustees meeting in November 2021

It is hard to put into words how tremendous his impact on Bakersfield College and our Bakersfield community has been over the past 60 years. He joined Bakersfield College as a faculty member in 1961, and served the academic community at BC in several prominent roles until his retirement in 2017. He was also a prolific writer, penning Community Voices pieces for the Bakersfield Californian or writing one of his many poems which have been published in this blog. He will be greatly missed.

Please join us April 1st, 2022 at 4:00 p.m.  in celebrating the life and legacy of Jack Hernandez.

Sonya and Jack Hernandez.

BC, CCCC Team Up to Offer Clinical Medical Assistant Courses

Multiple courses necessary to earn a Clinical Medical Assistant certificate are now open for registration and will be held at Bakersfield College’s Delano campus and at BC Southwest. The courses are being made available in cooperation with Cerro Coso Community College through the Kern Community College District.

These core courses also satisfy requirements for the Administrative Medical Assisting Certificate. 

Courses start March 14th, 2022. More information about the courses is on the Cerro Coso website. Online registration workshops will be held to assist new or returning students with enrolling or learning more about the certificate. Interested individuals should register for one of the Zoom workshops.

Black History Month Breakfast

On Monday, February 28, at 8 am, the Kern CCD will be hosting a breakfast event to celebrate Black History Month.

The event will be livestreamed at https://youtu.be/LKuan1rll4M – please tune in!

Getting to Know: Amaurys Fermin

The best way to build the spirit of collaboration and partnership across Kern CCD is to get to know one another. So, working with the communications teams at the three colleges, I am launching a series called “Getting to Know” where we will profile an employee of the district.   #KernStories

Let’s #gettoknow Amaurys Fermin, the Head Men’s Basketball Coach and a kinesiology instructor at Porterville College. 

As I shared earlier in this blog post, the Porterville College Pirates have had an incredibly successful season. Amaurys joined the team in July, and has put together an amazing group of young men who are headed to the playoffs – PC Men’s Basketball’s first playoff appearance since 2003!

You can read more about Amaurys Fermin on the KernCCD website. #KernStories #Gettoknow our people.

Thank you, Roger Perez, for organizing this profile.  Thank you, Stacey Shepherd, for the write up.

In the News

Community Voices: BC expands opportunities for students to become more worldly

BC adjunct faculty member Yuki Takeuchi-Chan penned this piece in The Bakersfield Californian about the new AA degree in Japanese that BC offers – the program graduated its first student in May 2021.

“Learning a new language is a special and life-changing opportunity. Sometimes, these opportunities can take you to unexpected places. A Rotary international scholarship placement brought me from my hometown of Nagano, Japan to Bakersfield in 2003.“

Women lead charge in latest BC production

I enjoyed this piece from Stefani Dias in The Bakersfield Californian about BC’s spring production of “The House of Bernarda Alba.”

Director Cody Ganger shared how she changed her original show plans after seeing “so many fantastic young women audition.”

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

Bakersfield College’s Industrial Automation partnered up with The World Famous Harlem Globetrotters last Friday to keep SPOT’s Kern County Tour momentum going. SPOT is the robotic dog and newest addition to the Industrial Automation Lab’s robots I have written about in previous blogs. Industrial Automation students had the opportunity to meet the Globetrotters team prior to the game and coordinated a special Bakersfield script for the evening show. The INDA team had the privilege to sit courtside with the Globetrotters and participate as part of the show to introduce SPOT to the community.

I spotted this fun video on Krista Moreland’s Facebook – check out this screenshot:

Cerro Coso’s Caitlin Fabel got her first college home run this week!

Sondra Keckley shared that she and her husband Kurt had paid off their house, 20 years to the month they moved in. She shared these great side-by-side pics recreating their move in:

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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

KernCCD team in DC

Uncategorized February 19, 2022 Comments: 2

I recently saw the movie “Belfast,” Kenneth Branagh’s homage to his childhood city and growing up during The Troubles in Northern Ireland. The movie – nominated for a Best Picture Oscar, as well as Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Song, and Best Sound – shares the story of 9-year old Buddy and his family, Protestants, living in Belfast beginning in 1969, as increasing sectarian violence eventually forces them to make difficult decisions about their future. The movie echoes Branagh’s own childhood. He has said it’s not autobiographical, but rather inspired by his memories – “a look at a people and a place in tumult.”

And there is a fun scene with Jamie Dornan performing Everlasting Love. I could only find 52 seconds of it on youtube. Go ahead and watch it …. you will totally love it.

And here is the trailer of the movie

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I got a chance to catch a little bit of Olympics over the past few weeks. wow…. talent, discipline and sportsmanship.

A few highlights:

Chloe Kim defended her gold medal from 2018, winning again in the women’s snowboarding halfpipe:

Nathan Chen set a world record for his score in the Men’s Figure Skating short program – on his way to a gold medal.

And did you catch one of the newest Olympic sports – monobob? It made its Olympic debut this year. The US took gold and silver in the inaugural event, with Kaillie Humphries winning the gold and Elana Meyers Taylor taking the silver.

And last week, I traveled to the Community College National Legislative Summit in Washington, DC, with a KCCD delegation that included Trustees Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg and Yovani Jimenez, as well as Senator Emeritus Jean Fuller. 

While there, a group of us from the Community College League of California met with US Department of Labor Assistant Secretary Angela Hanks to discuss the key role that community colleges play in training our workforce.

We also met with Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal to advocate on behalf of community colleges across California.

Trustee Jimenez and I snapped a photo with Assistant Secretary of Commerce Alejandra Castillo.

It was so inspirational to listen to First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, who was the keynote speaker. She is a fierce advocate of community colleges – did you know she is a professor of English at Northern Virginia Community College?

She spoke of the key role community colleges play in transforming lives and boosting local economies:

“We’ve seen how entire towns can be transformed when community colleges and private companies work together to train students for jobs that are desperately needed—with skills like manufacturing or modernizing our electrical grid.”

I am so excited to continue the important work that Kern Community College District is doing to prepare the workforce of the future. #KernDaringMightyThings

Good morning, friends…
It is February 19, 2022.
The sun shines bright over KernCCD.

This week, the Pirates, the Coyotes, and the Renegades continue to 
#DareMightyThings

Porterville College

PC Men’s Basketball makes push for the playoffs

The Porterville College men’s basketball team put on an impressive showing versus the Fresno City College Rams to improve their record to 18-7 overall with a 9-4 record in the Central Valley Conference. This win comes at the tail end of an impressive six-game winning streak.

The Pirates came into this week with an 85-78 win against Fresno City after what was a very tense game. Isaiah Josue led the team in scoring with 20 points, and Quame Smith had an equally impressive 19.

The night started with a celebration of PC’s Sophomore players for their fantastic tenure. Sophomores Jaden Jones and Chirrag Sidhu were honored for their time as Pirate Student-Athletes before tip-off.

After a mostly tied first half, the Pirates went into halftime leading 44-33. PC head coach Amaurys Fermin highlighted the need to keep aggressive in his halftime remarks to the team. “Continue to stay positive. Stay locked in… They go harder at the rim; we have to keep pressure. In the second half we run our lanes and keep up basket pressure. It’s just 20 minutes guys, lock it up!” encouraged Fermin.

The second half of play was just as tense as the first with the score being tied several times throughout the half. The Rams started the stretch taking the lead with a three pointer for a short time before the Pirates would tie again at 49-49. This was the last time the Rams would be this close. 

The score would be 80-72 in PCs favor by the time there were 38 seconds left to play. Several fouls led to an 84-75 lead from the Pirates with the final box score being 85-78.

This marks the first time PC has swept Fresno City since 2001. PC is also looking to make it to the state playoffs for the first time since it won the state title in 2000.

“This means a lot to us. These wins are so good to have. Especially since coach Haynes used to be the Pirates head coach just last year.” said Fermin. “I think this breaks some twenty-year streak where we couldn’t beat them twice in a season. With the right play at the right time, we’ve been able to build up this six-time win streak.”

When asked about his feelings on this season so far, Fermin could only express joy. “I couldn’t be happier about our offense and defense. We played hard all year for this and watching our sophomores Jaden (Jones) and Chirrag (Sidhu) leading our games, it’s been a thrill to coach them. With the season finishing against Reedley (on February 18th) I’m looking to clinch the playoffs for the first time in years.”  

Staff and Faculty Share thoughts on Equity and Inclusion with Students

PC Faculty and staff presented the first in a series of Black History Month events this Thursday, with a panel discussion called “Real Talk”. 

Students joined our Real Talk panel on zoom and in person at our STEM and Literacy Innovation Centers to have a frank conversation about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion on campus.

The panel, moderated by Reagen Dozier, PC’s Title V Coordinator, consisted of Dr. Julian West, Director of Equity and Student Success, Dr. Denise Jackson, Biology Instructor, and Dr. Arlitha Williams-Harmon, KCCD Chief Financial Officer.  The group discussed the impact that Porterville College has had on their lives and the opportunities they have been given to succeed here.  They discussed their own personal stories and answered student questions on topics related to the struggles our students go through every day.  Special attention was paid to the student experience and opening perspectives to see beyond our own belief systems.

“Someone has to give that support guidance and structure to our students.  Everyone needs to work together to make sure everyone has the same student experience.” -Dr. Denise Jackson

“Failure is not an option.  What do we need to do to make sure our students succeed? I’m going to help be a part of the solution, so all students feel included.” -Dr. Arlitha Williams-Harmon. Join us on February 24th from 12 pm – 1:15 pm as we present Guest Speaker Dr. Edward Bush. Dr. Bush is an inspiring higher education leader, author, scholar, and speaker. You can learn more about him in his bio here.

Students and a bit of spring return to campus

Students returned to campus this week as the majority of classes are now being offered in an in-person format for the first time this semester. It is wonderful to have a return to “normalcy” with students changing classes, meeting in the cafeteria, and going about their daily class routines once again.  It’s also nice to see the return of sunny skies and flowers on the trees as Spring starts to show itself again on campus!

Cerro Coso Community College

CC Reaps Benefits of Garden Club Efforts

Cerro Coso Garden Club was established in Jan 2021 with the support of Phi Theta Kappa and President Hancock, and since then members have been active with two projects – rehabilitation of the pistachio grove, and establishing a garden plot with raised planters.

To revive the forgotten pistachio grove, Garden Club members dug watering trenches around each of the 30 pistachio trees. These trenches not only define the beds, but also hold excess water near the trees to prevent run-off. Furthermore, because pistachio trees grow best with infrequent, deep waterings, members fine-tuned the watering schedule and periodically fertilized the trees. These efforts paid off as the trees recovered, showing lush foliage growth and flowers during early spring. With the denser vegetation, a diversity of birds have returned to the area, as observed by members of the Kerncrest Audubon Society during their regular walks in the area.

A main objective of the Garden Club is to create a campus garden to teach students sustainable gardening skills and to provide hands-on experience in growing their own food. This garden was constructed last fall on the east side of the campus: Cody Pauxtis and his team leveled the ground, fenced off the area, and set up a programmable watering supply to the area. CCCC Hunger Free Program funded the purchase of materials for building planter boxes, and with technical advice from Don Seymour, professors Claudia Sellers and Guck Ooi built fourteen raised planter boxes in the Art Building. The CCCC Foundation provided funds for the purchase of vegetable seeds, resulting in the seeding of eight of these planters for the fall and winter growing season. They are all showing optimistic signs of growth!

It has been a productive growing season despite everyone vegetating during the cold winter break, and we hope to update you with the progress. If you wanted to branch out and do something down to earth, join the Garden Club. To participate, email us at gardenclub@cerrocoso.edu, connect with us through Pronto (group code EUQ9CJ), and follow us on Instagram cccc_gardenclub.

AAUW hears about educational opportunity in Tehachapi

Nicole Griffin, who shared information about Cerro Coso, was introduced to AAUW by Anne Marie Novinger, right.

Nicole Griffin shared her enthusiasm about working at Cerro Coso College at the February meeting of American Association of University Women. She is dean of Career-Technical Education, a recent promotion since joining the college staff in 2017.

She declared that education is transformative. One of AAUW’s main goals is promoting education for women and girls, so all were in agreement with her statement.

Griffin gave several examples of students who were able to turn their lives around, find satisfying employment and new interests after graduating from Cerro Coso.

She explained the many classes and majors which are offered and encouraged checking www.cerrocoso.edu for a complete listing.

Membership in AAUW is open to both women and men with a 2-year or higher degree from an accredited institution.

Information about Tehachapi Mountain Branch AAUW may be found at tehachapimountain-ca.aauw.net. Call 714-313-0456 for more information.

Promise Student Kylie Timmons says CC offers lots of Great Classes Locally

A typical Cerro Coso College student?  That would be impossible to describe as our students hail from different backgrounds, possess a variety of skills and talents, and each pursue their education and interests on their own terms.  Yet, they all found their fit at Cerro Coso Community College through a variety of educational options, delivery modes, and dedicated faculty. 

Like Promise student Kylie Koch, who is pursuing her dream of becoming a nurse.  While the hours required to become a nurse are challenging, Kylie knows the time and effort will be worth it in the end.  Like all nursing students, Kylie will help people when they need it most.  Whether they are sick, injured, experiencing pain and joy. Nurses entering the healthcare industry know they will always be essential and make a significant impact on people’s lives.

The Cerro Coso Promise scholarship has “helped me get involved in the community, meet new people, and provided financial help,” said Kylie.  She ran across the Promise application while searching the college website for scholarship opportunities. She encourages other full-time students to consider the Cerro Coso Promise program, “Promise scholarships help student not working, financially.  Gives you a chance to show your face in the community, and share what Cerro Coso has to offer.”

Getting into the nursing program at the college is one of Kylie’s favorite memories at Cerro Coso.  One step closer to making her dream of becoming a Registered Nurse (RN) come true.  “Cerro Coso offers a lot of great classes locally that you can take towards your degree before moving on,” she said.  One of Kylie’s favorite classes was Anatomy and Physiology with Professor Guck Oui, “very fun and he is a very smart teacher”.        

Born and raised in Ridgecrest, the ability to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse and getting the education she needed locally was important, because she is part of the family owned business.  She is grateful for the opportunities and support that she has received from Cerro Coso and the Promise program, and hopes to graduate this May with her certificate in nursing.          

Education opens minds and possibilities.  The Cerro Coso Promise program helps students remove a barrier to pursuing their higher education – by making it affordable.  Full-time students who hold to their “promise” receive $1,000 per semester, for up to 4 semesters, (even if they are not eligible for financial aid), to help with enrollment fees, books, and more.  Certain restrictions apply.  Find out more today at www.cerrocoso.edu . 

Bakersfield College

BC and the Livermore Lab Foundation Launch New Partnership

Bakersfield College and the Livermore Lab Foundation have launched a partnership focused on scientific technical assistance, community education, and workforce development. The partnership will support BC’s Valley Strong Energy Institute, a public education series, as well as provide technical expertise from lab scientists and engineers on research, grant applications and regional initiatives.

In addition to the formal partnership with Bakersfield College,  LLF and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory recently launched the Carbon Cleanup Initiative, which provides public education and classroom learning materials on climate change, carbon mitigation and storage solutions. More than 30 educators statewide were selected to participate in the inaugural cohort class, including two BC professors – Gilbert Ayuk and Paul Murray.  Additional information on this program can be found at http://carboncleanupinitiative.org/

And check out this amazing article from John Cox in The Bakersfield Californian about the partnership.

Bakersfield College Hosts BC Early College Convening 

The BC Early College team was excited to host administrators, counselors, and instructors from over 40 of their high school partners for the 2022 Early College Convening that took place on Friday, January 28th. The morning began with a special keynote presentation by retired state senator Dr. Jean Fuller, who was joined by Wonderful College Prep Academy class of 2018 graduate Celeste Galvan. Dr. Fuller and Ms. Galvan both shared their inspiring journeys and about the role that Bakersfield College played in each of their lives. What a great reminder of the “Why?” behind out work!

Next, Early College Director Kylie Campbell shared data and updates on the success of the Early College program, which she attributed to the hard work and collaboration between BC and each of their high school district partners. The team shared this short video of highlights from the program from the last year.

After the opening session, several BC staff from other departments partnered with the Early College team to offer breakout sessions about CTE programs, academic support services, scheduling, instructor support tools, DualEnroll.com, health science pathways, concurrent enrollment, academic standing, and more! All breakout session recordings and materials are available here for you to check out.

Thank you to the Early College team and all departments who contributed to make this year’s Early College Convening at Bakersfield College another great success!

BC Offers Success for Online Learning for Students Needing Help with Hybrid and Online Learning

Do you know students who are having difficulty with hybrid or online learning? Or who needs a little more practice navigating Canvas for F2F classes? Bakersfield College has designed a course for struggling students or students who just want to optimize their overall learning strategies. The course is titled “Success for Online Learning (EDUC B68NC)”. It is a non-credit, fully online, 1-week course with Zoom drop-in support hours available for all sections. There are no fees or additional materials required.

Students will learn strategies to more effectively navigate and use Canvas features, practice using features in their BC email and Canvas Inbox communications, work in online groups, turn in online assignments, become a successful independent learner, and many other tools for online student success.

Hundreds of students have participated already, and more than 600 students have given positive feedback after completing the course.  Some of the student responses were:

  • “I think this class is very valuable, especially for students that aren’t tech savvy”
  • “I think this course was very good in clearing up most of the confusion I had regarding online courses.”
  • “The course was very helpful and I am thankful that it was offered.”

For more information about this course visit the course registration page in the BC Catalog

Renegade Athletics Update

Softball nabbed a pair of victories over Orange Coast (7-3) and Monterey Peninsula (10-4) on Saturday, February 12th. The Renegades had a total of four home runs including a season first grand slam from Shelby Buchanan in the second game.

Women’s basketball had another overtime stunner on Saturday evening and won against visiting West LA 70-67! Their overall record is 18-5. The team is currently in playoff contention. Two more games will determine the women’s basketball fate.

Women’s tennis won 8-1 this past Tuesday, February 8th, against Antelope Valley College in their first conference matchup! Baseball won 9-3 over Canyons on Tuesday, February 8th, and had a road win of 11-10 on Saturday, February 12th, over Ventura.

Chancellor’s Brief

Here is the Chancellor’s Brief from February 1, where I discussed work on the Chancellor’s Goals:

  • Advance Student Success and Equity
  • Resource Development
  • Develop inter-district collaboration and cooperation
  • Develop technology infrastructure to support colleges

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

Steven Watkin and Paula Parks were at the Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce 20th anniversary gala, where Paula received the Educator of the Year Award:

Fifth Graders from Inyokern Elementary School that participated in the virtual I’m Going to College Day received their t-shirts and some Cerro Coso swag for their attendance, and signed the 2022 banner that serves as a symbol of their commitment to consider Cerro Coso Community College after graduation and the college’s commitment to be there for them when they are ready.  Shout out to Katie Bachman coordinator of the event and all those who made this a truly life changing affair for the children. 

Check out this sweet photo or Dr. Bill Baker with his grandson:

Diana Cabrera, Dr. Habib, Dr. Jonathan Hernandez, and Jeff Jacobs hit the stands to cheer on the Pirates Mens Basketball Team!

Look who was at Second Saturday in downtown Bakersfield:

Bill Moseley and Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg

And here’s Cheryl Scott with her dogs:

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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

KCCD spreading Umoja (Unity) across our communities

Uncategorized February 12, 2022 Leave a comment

Congratulations Dr. Paula Parks

Norma Rojas-Mora snapped this picture of Paula at yesterday’s Hall of Fame event and I felt it was appropriate to start my blog with the person who taught me the word Umoja and the importance of unity.

Dr. Parks inducted into the
CSUB Alumni Hall of Fame

Also, KCCD was well-represented at last week’s Community College League of California Annual Legislative Conference in Sacramento. Trustees Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg and Yovani Jimenez met with colleagues from around the state to discuss the importance of our California Community Colleges and the road ahead to support students.

Nan also presented with Dr. Martha Garcia, president of College of the Desert.

One highlight of the conference was the legislative town hall featuring Assemblymember Jose Medina, whose work on AB 927 – which makes the Baccalaureate Degree Pilot Program permanent – will be transformational for so many of our students, and for the communities we serve.

Working together and building partnerships to improve our students’ lives – that’s what we do at the Kern Community College District!

Good morning, friends…
It is February 12, 2022.
The sun shines bright over KernCCD.

This week, the Pirates, the Coyotes, and the Renegades continue to 
#DareMightyThings

Porterville College

PC Returns to In Person Instruction on the 14th

PC President Dr. Claudia Habib informed the campus community on Feb 9 that PC will be returning to in person instruction starting Monday, Feb. 14th.

In a letter to the campus community, Habib stated, “I am optimistic that with everyone’s help, we will manage conditions on campus and continue to provide the safest environment for our students, faculty, and staff. Currently, Tulare County’s Positivity Rate is at 22.1%. This number reflects improvement on pandemic conditions over the past several weeks, and I hope it continues trending this way.”  She did add a bit of reality to that optimism, stating, “It is, however, essential to remember that COVID isn’t over, and there are still new cases in our community every day. For that reason, department staffing will continue to adapt with flexible schedules as needed.”

Students, faculty, and staff continue to use the KCCD App every day to support a successful return. Thank you to our students, faculty, and staff for continuing to take these essential steps to keep yourself and our community safe.

For more information on PC’s COVID-19 protocols at our website: https://www.portervillecollege.edu/healthy-return-campus.

PC Promotes Umoja Program at PC

PC is spreading the word about a fantastic program created to provide resources and support for African American and other students.

Umoja, which is a Kiswahili word meaning unity, is a community and critical resource dedicated to enhancing the cultural and educational experiences of African Americans and other students.

Students participating in UMOJA receive academic advising, culturally relevant professional and personal development resources, support for their academic success, access to a multi-college and university network, peer mentorship, and access to the PC UMOJA Village.

If you would like more information or are Interested in joining our Umoja Community, visit https://www.portervillecollege.edu/are-you-interested-joining-umoja

#ShowUsYourRedPIRATES

The Pirates face Fresno City College

The PC Men’s Basketball team grabbed a critical win against Fresno City College on Wednesday (74-65).  Join our Pirates as they head back home for the next step towards a winning season this Saturday, February 12, versus West Hills Coalinga at home!

The Pirates were ranked 28th going into this week in the California Community College Men’s Basketball Coaches Association Poll. Cheer on the Pirates as they fight to finish the season in the top 30 for the state.

Spectators are allowed in the gym for this game (thank you for wearing your mask and protecting our student-athletes), so SHOW US YOUR RED, Porterville!

Communications Instructor Dr. Jonathan Hernandez
shows his incredible school spirit at Wednesday’s Game!

Cerro Coso Community College

How About Them Coyotes

The Cerro Coso men’s basketball team entered their home court on Wednesday night with a season long goal of pursing the playoffs in focus. But in order to do so, they would need to go through conference rival, San Bernardino Valley College. SBVC came into the Cerro Coso Gym as the #1 team in the IEAC and ranked #8 in the CCCAA coaches poll with a record of 9-2/17-4.

From the very tipoff, Cerro Coso controlled the tempo and won in the “little parts” of the game. Josh Miller (21 pts) won the tip and from there the Coyotes would roll on to a big 96-87 win over the Wolverines. Cerro Coso’s high energy performance was led by the hardnosed play of Kyren Gardner (17 pts) who really stepped up for his teammates Wednesday night by fighting for rebounds, playing strong on defense, and attacking the basket to keep the Coyotes on pace. Nathaniel Jackson also proved to be a key to the victory as he helped to keep a stingy SBVC defense out of rhythm with some shifty ball movement and cashing in on 20 points. 

With the win, Cerro Coso moves to 17-5 overall and 8-3 in conference and will travel to Palo Verde this weekend and face the pesky Pirates.

Cerro Coso returns home next weekend for their final home series when they face College of Desert on February 19 and 20.

Valles says CC Guides You Toward Bigger Goals

Meet Cerro Coso Promise student Geraldine Valles.  Originally from Laredo, Texas, Valles followed her boyfriend to Ridgecrest when he was picked up to play Baseball for the Coyotes.  Vales, an athlete herself, has been playing on the Women’s Volleyball team for two years.  She plans to graduate this May with a transfer degree in Liberal Arts Math and Science.  Her goal is to transfer to the University of Texas at Austin next fall and major in exercise science and psychology.  Ultimately she would like to become a sports psychologist to help athletes reach their full potential not only on the court/field but also mentally.

Valles says the Cerro Coso Promise program has not only helped her focus on helping others at Cerro Coso and in the community of Ridgecrest, but has also helped her financially with books, transportation, and tuition.  She believes other students should apply for the promise program “because it gets you involved at Cerro Coso by meeting new people, helping out around the campus, and has a great financial impact on college expenses.”

Her favorite memory of Cerro Coso “has been forming relationships with not only her fellow students but also faculty and staff.  Especially, Ms. Connie…she has always motivated me and made me feel like Cerro Coso is my home, she always asks how I’m doing and it’s great to always see her around campus to catch up whenever we can.

Valles encourages others to consider Cerro Coso because, “they have the best faculty and staff to help you throughout your college journey.  They helped me tremendously.  Even though, when I got to Cerro Coso Covid-19 had just started, the college implemented great ways to connect to professors and offered new technological advances for many subjects.

For the first time since launching in 2017, the Cerro Coso Promise Program is opening up for new applications this spring offering students up to two full-years of tuition-free education.  The Cerro Coso Community College Foundation (CCCC Foundation) launched the program in 2017 to ensure that no deserving student is denied the opportunity to earn a college degree or certificate.  Besides covering two full years of tuition-free education, the program helps with textbooks, counseling, and the kind of hands-on support that is helping student within the Kern Community College District service area develop an education plan to meet their career and academic goals. 

What makes this program unique is that it is not based on personal income and is open to all full-time students…new, returning, continue students who meet the criteria. 

The Cerro Coso Promise program provides access to community college education for students who might otherwise have been excluded due to financial barriers. 

Information and application for the Cerro Coso Promise Program is available on the college website at www.cerrocoso.edu

The Cerro Coso Promise is funded through the support of generous donors and the statewide California College Promise.

Students attending Cerro Coso Bishop and Mammoth Lakes campuses are eligible to apply for the Inyo or Mono Promise. 

5th Graders Attend Cerro Coso College Day Virtually

As they approach middle school, now is an ideal time to get fifth graders thinking about higher education.  What does a day in the life of a Cerro Coso student look like?  That and many other college related questions were the focus of the 5th Grade I’m Going to College Day held virtually on Tuesday, February 8th, 2022.

Cerro Coso is no stranger to technology, and now our society is better equipped than ever before to connect with each other virtually and that includes fifth graders. Unable to hold the event for the last two years, CC Outreach Director Katie Bachman leveraged college and local school technology to hold the event virtually and helped elementary school students embrace the new normal.  Three area elementary schools participated in the three-hour event via Zoom with 146 5th graders in attendance.  Activities allowed the 5th graders to experience college in a playful, creative, and collaborative way that would inspires them to pursue a higher education. 

Instructors and staff offered engaging sessions to help those in attendance learn about the educational options available to them at Cerro Coso.  Dr. Sean Hancock opened by welcoming and encouraging the students to consider their future as a Coyote at Cerro Coso.  Paralegal Professor Dawn Ward held a fun “Who Did It” session, English Professor Melanie Jeffrey’s led classes in Mad Libs, Counselor Karee Hamilton shared how high school students can earn a degree before graduating high school through the college Dual/Concurrent Enrollment program, Ashley Nichols familiarized students with the Library with some fun activities, and Cerro Coso students talked about student life on campus and their experiences at the college. Not sure what they want to do after high school?  That’s okay, Jennifer Marshall showed students how the CC Career Center can help. 

Each child will receive an “I’m going to college” t-shirt, share the Kern Pledge with mom and dad, and will sign a Kern Pledge banner indicating they intend to be responsible citizens by going to college or directly into the workforce. 

The experience is one they will never forget and stresses the importance of going to college long before they are ready to go.  “You have BRAINS in your HEAD. You have FEET in your SHOES. You can STEER yourself any DIRECTION you CHOOSE.” – Dr. Seuss

Cerro Coso Holds Evacuation Drills

Knowing what to do and where to go in an emergency can save lives. The week of January 31 through February 4, Cerro Coso exercised a series of Emergency Evacuation drills at all campus locations. 

Everyone in a building that was being evacuated was instructed exit the building in the quickest and safest route and travel to the closest evacuation assembly area. 

These drills are held every semester so everyone in the buildings knows and understands the evacuation plan and knows what to do in the event of a real emergency.  They also provide an opportunity to identify areas of concern to be addressed, and alter plans accordingly.

Keeping everyone fully trained is the best way to ensure an evacuation drill is effective at fulfilling its purpose. 

Bakersfield College

Umoja Celebrates Black History Month

BC’s Umoja Community kicked off Black History Month with their 4th annual conference. CSULA professor/performer Funmilola Fagbamila engaged attendees in a conversation on building coalitions in the Black community. The chat was on fire with comments and questions from BC students, BC faculty, and community members. Please consider joining one of the remaining events this month, including:

Congratulations to Olivia Garcia, KCHCC’s Newest Chair

This past weekend, the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual awards dinner and welcomed in the new Chair of the Executive Board, BC’s Professor of History, Olivia Garcia.

With Corny Rodriguez and Paul Beckworth.

Bakersfield College was also recognized with an award, which was accepted by KCCD Trustee President, Romeo Agbalog.

Ralph Bailey congratulated Olivia and KCHCC President Jay Tamsi, who received a Humanitarian Award, on his show:

BC Art Professor Speaks to Liberty High School Students

Joseph Tipay, Professor of Art, presented to the Hispanics in STEM Club at Liberty High School just before the holidays. In addition to discussing his professional accomplishments, Joseph shared about being a first-generation college student, being system impacted, growing up facing adversity, and failing early in his college career.

After the presentation, students shared inspiring stories about their own journeys and dreams for the future. Joseph noted, “I’ve done panels and large Zoom conferences, but these intimate conversations are often the most impactful.” Tipay teaches Art classes in the Rising Scholars Program and at other BC locations. You can learn more about his work at Joseph Tipay Art.

Chancellor’s Seminar Series

Last week, the Chancellor’s Seminar Series focused on budgets with a session called “Dollars and Sense of Budgeting”.

Mike Giacomini shared insight into the process at Bakersfield College:

Lisa Couch spoke about Cerro Coso Community College:

And Arlitha also discussed Porterville College:

You can catch up on all the Chancellor’s Seminar Series at https://www.kccd.edu/chancellors-office/chancellors-communications/chancellors-seminar-series.

In the News

Meet Cerro Coso’s Dean

The Loop published this article about Cerro Coso Dean of Career-Technical Education Nicole Griffin, who spoked at the monthly Tehachapi Mountain Branch AAUW (American Association of University Women) of Tehachapi meeting.

Her talk described the transformative power of education for all, especially women and those in marginalized groups. 

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

Check out these photos Diego Gutierrez Monterrubio shared from his figure drawing class:

“We’re getting art show work ready! My Figure Drawing class was FIRE last night! I’m happy their enthusiasm and morale has them creative from beginning to end.“

Porterville College shared this from the KCCD Leadership Academy:

“What a wonderful and inspiring day sharing about PC projects and programs with the KCCD Leadership Academy!“

The Cerro Coso Learning Assistance Center shared this beautiful snapshot from campus:

“It’s a great day to close the textbooks and take a walk through campus.
Or, gather your things and find a spot to study.
Happy Friday!“

Spotted John Means with Dolores Huerta on Facebook

I loved these beautiful flowers that BC Astronomy Professor Nick Strobel shared:

“The first of our California Poppies are blooming along with our African Daisies.“

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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

February here we come

Uncategorized February 5, 2022 Comments: 2

Check out this article in The Bakersfield Californian by Julie Plata, faculty at Cerro Coso Community College, about Black History Month and its beginnings – did you know that before Black History Month was celebrated nationwide, Bakersfield began honoring Black History Week?

Carter G. Woodson began the idea in 1926, choosing a week in February because of the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln on February 12 and Frederick Douglass on February 14.

His idea didn’t take hold nationwide until February 1970, when the first Black History Month was celebrated (President Gerald Ford declared it a national observance in 1976).

But in 1953, Bakersfield Mayor Frank Sullivan joined mayors across the country honoring the celebration on a city level, and he issued a proclamation officially acknowledging Feb. 15 to 20 as Black History Week.

“Beginning today, citizens of Bakersfield and surrounding areas are asked to join the nation in giving recognition and showing appreciation” for both the efforts of African Americans and their contributions “in the fields of religion, education, science, music, art, law, entertainment, athletic and national leadership.

Today, our KCCD colleges celebrate Black History Month with resources and events: At Bakersfield College, Cerro Coso Community College, and Porterville College.

Good morning, friends…
It is February 5, 2022.
The sun shines bright over KCCD.

This week, the Pirates, the Coyotes, and the Renegades continue to 
#DareMightyThings

Porterville College

Baseball puts first win of 2022 on the board against Barstow

It may not have been the perfect start to the season that new Porterville College head coach J.L. Buchanan envisioned. After taking over the program in late 2020, Buchanan and the Pirates were unable to play in 2021 because of the pandemic. But after making the long-awaited return to the field (for the first time since March 2020) with a disappointing opening day loss, the Pirates rallied in their next outing to bring home the first win for the Pirates under Buchanan with an 11-2 win over Barstow Community College on Saturday, January 30, 2021.

Porterville’s bats came alive on Saturday as the Pirates totaled 12 hits, including three from Luca Dincola. He went 3 for 4 with 3 RBI to lead PC at the plate.

Dincola’s two-run single in the bottom of the third inning scored Chris Ortega and Daniel Clancy with the go-ahead runs. The Pirates went on to score five runs in the third to erase an early 2-1 deficit.

J.T. Edmunds also had a big game at the plate, going 2 for 2 with 2 RBI and a pair of walks from the lead-off spot. Tyson Tellez (2 for 3) added two hits and drove in a run.

Aaron Hernandez pitched well in the start. He allowed two runs and three hits over four innings. He struck out 7 and walked four. Ryan Blondell picked up the win in relief as he closed out the contest with five dominant innings. He struck out 10 and walked two.

PC, returns to action on Tuesday (Feb. 8) when the Pirates hit our home field again for a 1 p.m. game.

ASPC has important discussions with new “Mental Health Mondays” project

The PC Student Government organization, known as the Associated Students of PC (ASPC) has started posting a new series of videos on Instagram they are calling Mental Health Mondays. 

In this series, they plan to bring awareness to mental health issues at Porterville College by sharing their own experiences, by discussing solutions to everyday problems, and by having conversations on important issues and hardships faced by students every day at PC. 

Each Monday, the group plans to share videos that relate to mental health awareness in some way.  ASPC President Carlos Rodrigues hopes that other students will jump into the conversation and help others just by engaging with the Porterville College student life community. 

Rodrigues recently kicked off the series with a video of his own. He was joined in the following week by ASPC Vice President, Lorena Villa.  Each shared their story in hopes that someone would relate to their journey and know that there is hope and help at PC.

Every Monday, we will see new video testimonials, discussions, tips and more on this very important topic.  Videos will be posted to the PCStudentLife Instagram account.  If you would like to see more, you can follow PCStudentLife on Instagram or watch one of the videos below.

PC Celebrates Black History with events and offerings throughout February

Porterville College is joining in the Black History Month celebration with several events and offerings in February, including: 

February 17th at 1pm:
Join us for a discussion on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as we present: “Real Talk”, a Black History Month Panel Discussion from the PC Family.

February 24th (time TBA):
Join us for a thoughtful discussion from Guest Speaker, Student Mentor, and Ph.D., Dr. Edward Bush. 

All Month Long:
Visit our Black History Month Website at https://www.portervillecollege.edu/celebrating-black-history for a curated collection of media content, articles, and information that explores the diverse culture and contributions of African Americans throughout history.

From PC TimelyCare:
We are excited to offer two special yoga and meditation sessions for Black History Month.  These sessions, which are FREE to all students, serve to create a safe space for Black students and allies, while also celebrating Black professionals in health and well-being.  We can’t wait to see you there! You can register for these sessions HERE.

For more information on these and other Black History Month events, please visit https://www.portervillecollege.edu/celebrating-black-history or follow @pcstudentlife on Instagram.

Cerro Coso Community College

Collaboration Equals Innovation

Cerro Coso Community College and Bakersfield College hosted a student information session via Zoom last week to introduce students to the Medical Assisting program at Cerro Coso.

Jackie Stoner, Vanesa Hernandez and Kylie Campbell from Bakersfield College coordinated the event for BC students interested in health careers to assist them with exploring Cerro Coso’s online program.

Matthew Wanta led the information session along with BC’s Dean of Nursing, Carla Gard.

With a high demand for Medical Assistants in the Bakersfield area, Cerro Coso’s program is certainly gaining the attention of the Bakersfield community.  Designed around the Model Curriculum established by the California Community College Chancellor’s Office for preparation for the State Exam for Medical Assistants (CCBMA), the program provides students with the opportunity to develop the necessary administrative and clinical skills not only needed to be an effective medical assistant, but also to attain state certification. 

Terri Hack (CTE Career Counselor) and Jennifer Marshall (Job Development Specialist) also presented an overview of the student services available at Cerro Coso.

More than 100+ students were in attendance!   Cerro Coso is excited to be able to launch another late-start cohort of Medical Assisting this spring.

Coyote Basketball Earns #2 Position in IEAC

Cerro Coso Basketball picked up another huge win on Wednesday as they traveled to Chaffey College to take on the Panthers in Inland Empire Athletic Conference (IEAC) conference play. Although the final score at 76-69 ended up closer than Coach Dugan would have preferred, the Coyotes maintained control of the game from the opening tip. As always, the talented Panthers kept the contest close through the first half, knotting the score up at 24-24, but an explosive Coyote offense returned for the second half by extending the lead to 20 points at times and never let go until the final buzzer. With the win, the Coyotes move to 16-4 overall and 7-2 in IEAC play. A Copper Mountain loss to SBVC on this night has also moved Cerro Coso into sole possession of second place. The current IEAC playoff race is as follows:

IEAC Men’s Basketball Standings:

  1. SBVC 7-1
  2. Cerro Coso 7-2
  3. Copper Mountain 6-2
  4. MSJC 5-3

The Coyotes currently control their own destiny, but Coach Dugan knows he will need to prepare the team for a tough finish, as they will host SBVC at home on February 9 and then travel to play Copper Mountain on February 16. Both contests are likely to hold playoff implications for all teams.

#Onlyus #MakeYourMark #HowlYes #CoyoteSpirit

Cerro Coso Admissions & Dream Act Workshop

The Cerro Coso Community College student body is made up of a variety of students from many different backgrounds.  At Cerro Coso we honor and celebrate the wide variety of students we serve.

The College is holding an Admissions and Dream Act Workshop on Thursday, February 17th from 9 to 10:30 a.m. via Zoom to provide a step-by-step demonstration on how to apply to Cerro Coso Community College and the California Dream Act.   Admissions Technician Jessica Kawelmacher will guide the demonstration and will be available to answer questions, she will share best practices for admissions and the AB 540 residency process, which includes undocumented students. 

A Financial Aid representative will be available to provide an overview on the California Dream Act application.  The California Dream Act is a state-based financial aid program for eligible undocumented students and can help ease the financial burden of attending college.

Cerro Coso Counselor Jesus Gaytan will also be available at the workshop to answer questions and translate information. 

For more information on the admissions process at Cerro Coso contact the Admissions & Records Department at 760-384-6374.  For information on the California Dream Act contact the college’s Financial Aid Department at 760-384-6221.

Bakersfield College

BC Expands Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Opportunities

Last December, Bakersfield College was accepted into a select cohort of 52 California Community Colleges to participate in the Military Articulation Platform (MAP), which allows colleges to create, approve, store, and adopt articulations that credit veterans for prior learning outside the classroom. Through this process, BC’s student veterans will get the credit they deserve, validating their experiences and learning completed while in the service.

Students who have acquired skills through military training, industry training, state/federal government training, apprenticeships, internships, work-based learning, or other industry-based experiential learning, validated volunteer and civic activities (e.g. Peace Corps) can be awarded credits toward their degree or certificate.

BC’s MAP offers specific credit in targeted college programs based on military occupation and zip code, and students can upload their JST (Joint Service Transcript) in MAP and immediately see the college credits they qualify for at regional MAP-enabled colleges. The MAP Cohort kick-off will begin in mid-February.

MAP is a statewide and multi-agency collaborative effort of the Academic Senate of the California Community Colleges (ASCCC), the CCC Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO), ACE, CalVet, and local and regional legislators.

To learn more about BC’s Credit for Prior Learning opportunities, visit the Credit for Prior Learning webpage.

Spot the Robot in the News and at the Condors

I shared about Spot the Robot, BC’s Industrial Automation program’s newest robot, in my January 22nd, 2022 blog. Sport was also the topic of a news story from  KBAK EyeWitness News last week.  Spot the Robot will continue making rounds about town with an appearance at The Condors game, Saturday February 12th at 7 p.m., for Robotics Night. 

Industrial Automation (INDA) can be described as interconnected equipment, technology, and systems working together to maximize production, assure safety, use resources efficiently, and ensure product quality. BC offers a Certificate of Achievement, Associate’s Degree and Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Automation and Spot, along with other robots, play an important part of lessons.  Find out more about the program and how you can apply on the BC website’s Industrial Automation Program.

CLCA Scholarships Awarded to BC Students

Two Bakersfield College Agriculture Students received scholarships from Kern County California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA). The students were each presented with a $500 scholarship at the Kern County CLCA meeting last Thursday. A warm congratulations to Susan and Rose on their achievement! 

Student Life and BCSGA Celebrate Cake Day

The Office of Student Life and BCSGA hosted a pop-up for National Chocolate Cake Day this past Thursday. Students enjoyed delicious chocolate cake treats and received information about the services offered by the Renegade Pantry. We had two full Welcome Weeks hosted by the Office of Student Life this year, and National Chocolate Cake Day was a sweet grand finale – the icing on the cake!

Renegade Innovation Fund

BC Employees, it’s time to submit your Renegade Innovation Fund application! The deadline is Monday, February 7th, 2022, by 12:00PM. The Renegade Innovation Fund was established to support student activities, classroom equipment, travel, and so much more, with a focus on INNOVATION.  For more information on general guidelines, procedures, and reporting, as well as the application, please refer to the BC Foundation website.

If you have any questions, contact Alyssa Cross at alyssa.cross@bakersfieldcollege.edu. 

Chancellor’s Seminar Series

Last week, we continued the Chancellor’s Seminar Series with “IT Infrastructure and How It All Works” on January 25. We heard from Todd Coston, Eddie Alvarado, Mike Campbell, Jay Navarrette, and Brett Redd as they talked about the ways IT works together to provide services throughout the district.

You can see videos from all the Chancellor’s Seminars at https://www.kccd.edu/chancellors-office/chancellors-seminar-series.

I also shared my Chancellor’s Brief. This brief focused on Adult Education:

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

Porterville College professor Jonathan Hernandez shared this look at campus:

“Beautiful day in THE VILLE“

The Bakersfield College Renegade Room held its first service of the Spring 2022 semester:

PC President Claudia Habib posted this from last weekend’s vaccination clinic:

“Thank you California Farmworker Foundation and Adventist Health for hosting a vaccination clinic on campus today. There is still time to get your vaccinations or booster. Apoyando a nuestra comunidad ofreciendo vacunas contra el COVID.#MaskAndVax#BoosterDose @PCollegePirates“

The Renegade Chorus performed at the BC Women’s Basketball Game:

“Last night the Renegade Chorus sang the National Anthem at the BC Women’s Basketball game! We’ve only had two rehearsals so I am incredibly proud they would step up and learn the arrangement and be willing to give their time to do this. I love working with such amazing tenors and basses. Come and join us on Thursday nights at 5:45 pm!!! #realrenegadessing #bcrenegadechorus“

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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

Sonya Christian's Blog