July 2022 – Happy B’day America | Sonya Christian's Blog

Could July 2nd have been Independence Day?

It was in fact July 2nd that the Continental Congress voted in favor of Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee’s resolution in favor of independence. That very day, John Adams – our second president – wrote to his wife Abigail, saying that July 2 “will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival.”

In the end, it was July 4th – the date that the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence – that became the day we celebrate our nation’s birth.

Happy Birthday America! Calla Lilies from this immigrant to the country I love.

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Yesterday was an anniversary for me, completing my first year as Chancellor of the Kern Community College District. Photos – day 1, year 1 and day 1, year 2.

It has been an incredible year, and I am grateful for every minute; thank you Board of Trustees for your support. I have enjoyed working with colleagues at each of our campuses, and I look forward to what the next year will bring as we #DareMightThings.

Good morning, friends.
It is July 2, 2022. Happy Birthday America
The sun shines bright over Kern CCD.

Porterville College

PC to Start New Program for Underrepresented Students this Fall

PUENTE Program Faculty and Counselor Elizabeth Buchanan, Dustin Acres,
and Patricia Serrato

Porterville College is starting a new program to support underrepresented students on their journey through higher education. The PUENTE program will start this Fall Semester with its first cohort of students on the PC campus.

PUENTE, meaning bridge in Spanish, is a program that consists of rigorous instruction, focused academic counseling, and mentoring by members of the community. It acts as a bridge for transferring to a four-year institution. This academic, counseling, and mentoring support program is designed to help students build the skills necessary for academic and career success.

Students who are enrolled in the PUENTE program work closely with their Counselor, English Instructor and Mentor to prepare for transfer to four-year colleges and universities. The program is open to all students.

Apply to become a Puente Student today. All students receive a mentor and take field trips to 4-year institutions and local businesses. They also receive assistance filling out applications and financial aid forms and get their own “personal” English professor.

Visit https://www.portervillecollege.edu/puente to learn more or to apply to the program.

Celebration of Pride at PC

Porterville College Students, Visitors, Faculty, Staff and Administration gathered in the campus quad on Thursday, June 24^th to celebrate Pride Month. Each year we gather to provide acknowledgement, support, and allegiance to our LGBTQIA+ Community.

Dr. Habib Joins the Celebration in the Quad

Pride Month is currently celebrated each year in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. The Uprising was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States where the last Sunday in June was initially celebrated as “Gay Pride Day”.

Event Organizers Monica Daniels, Katherine
Figueroa, and Jasmin Quinones

In major cities across the nation the “day” soon grew into a month-long series of events. Today, celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts, and LGBTQ Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world.

Happy Independence Day from PC!

On this Independence Day, we would like to thank everyone who has contributed to each and every one of the freedoms that we are so privileged to have.

As lawyer and author Wendell Willkie said, “I believe in America because we have great dreams, and because we have the opportunity to make those dreams come true.” Keep following your dreams and using the power of education to make them a reality.

Happy 4^th from all of us at Porterville College!

Cerro Coso Community College

Take Your Creativity to New Heights this Fall at Cerro Coso

Tap into your creative side and take an art class at Cerro Coso Community College this fall. Interested in art history, meeting new people, rekindling a lost passion, or just because you have always wanted to take that class? Cerro Coso is offering a variety of art classes both online and at the Ridgecrest campus.

Loren Sandvik will be instructing an Introduction to Art class ART C101 online. The class provides a general introduction to art that offers a look at works of art through the study of theory, terminology, themes, design principles, media, techniques, with an introduction to visual arts across time and diverse cultures. Students are given studio art experiences with various studio media to reinforce the concepts presented.

Also online is Survey of Western Art from Renaissance to Contemporary (ART C106) taught by Katherine Hover-Smoot. Additional art classes offered online include: Modern Art (ART C108), and Drawing I (ART C121).

And at the Ridgecrest campus an overview of western art and architecture from prehistory though the Middle Ages is the topic of ART C105 to be taught by Tanner McGuire. The class will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11 to 12:25 p.m. in the Learning Resource Center Room 709.

Other art classes being taught at the Ridgecrest campus this fall include: Art and Design Foundations 3-D (ART C115) Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30 to 4:40 pm; Painting I (ART C131) Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:30 to 4:40 pm; Ceramics (ART C141) Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:15 am to 12:25 pm; Drawing II (ART 221) Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:10 to 8:20 pm; Painting II (ART C231) Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:30 to 4:40 pm; Intermediate Drawing (ART C821) Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:10 to 8:20 pm; Intermediate Painting (ART C831) Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:30 – 4:40 pm; Intermediate Ceramics (ART C841) Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:15 am to 12:25 pm.

The fall 2022 term at Cerro Coso Community College begins August 22, 2022 . Complete registration and course information is available at www.cerrocoso.edu or contact the Counseling Department at 760-384-6219.

Studies have shown that students who take art classes do better in school overall. Explore your potential at Cerro Coso Community College this fall.

Coyote Alumni, CJ Grant doing BIG things on and off the field!

Great Falls Voyager Pitcher/Actor CJ Grant-DuBose

By: Dylan Johnson, Syracuse University Graduate Student ’22

From the Pioneer Baseball League to the TV screen. That’s what the offseason was like for Great Falls Voyager pitcher CJ Grant-DuBose.

Grant-DuBose appeared on “All American Homecoming” on The CW Network, a spin-off from the original show “All American.” Part of the show is about the baseball team at a fictional HBCU called Brixton University, set in Atlanta.

“Being in that atmosphere, it’s a different thing. It’s a different lifestyle, and it’s honestly very enjoyable,” Grant-DuBose said.

Grant-DuBose doesn’t have a speaking role but can be seen in action scenes playing second base, outfield, or pitching.

“Just helping out as much as I can on the field and keeping actual baseball on TV,” Grant-DuBose said. “I feel like sometimes we don’t see actual baseball moves and players on TV and televise certain things regarding TV shows and movies and stuff.”

Grant-DuBose said it’s important to him that the show brings light to HBCU baseball and the student experience at HBCUs.

“Just as a person of color myself, I wish I would have gone to an HBCU growing up,” Grant-DuBose said. “HBCUs, are often overlooked, and the ideals and teachings at HBCUs, I don’t feel like they are valued as much as they should be. So having a TV show projecting the lifestyle and showing how rich the atmosphere of being at an HBCU is amazing.”

The opportunity came to him from Kevin Martin, a scout for the Atlanta Braves. Martin reached out about extras needed for a TV show. Grant-DuBose initially would be the double for the main character, played by Peyton Alex Smith. When he didn’t turn out to be an identical match for him, he pivoted into the baseball player role.

Grant-DuBose got to film in the Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, CA, where one of the Batman movies was filmed. He also got to see the Batmobile and other props during a studio tour, something he said was surreal.

Acting and filming are something that he said has always been in the back of his mind, and that he’s not the type of person who turns down new things anyway.

“I’m big blessings and opportunities guy, and I don’t really turn down too many opportunities, so I just felt like this was a way for me to get my foot in the door and meet people and grow connections throughout life,” Grant-DuBose said. “Because you never know when you might meet anyone, or you never know who you might meet to elevate your life to the next level.”

He filmed three times a week with the show from the beginning of October to when filming wrapped up on February 23, sometimes having to be on set as early as 5:30 in the morning. The first episode aired on February 21 on the CW Network and has aired new episodes on Tuesdays on the CW app. The first season has ten episodes, with the season finale airing on May 2.

Grant-DuBose called it a fantastic project that was well-done by everyone involved. They’re hoping it gets renewed for a second season, but for now, he can enjoy seeing himself on TV.

“I’m able to look at myself, and I know the background work, and I know the hours we put in being on set for 13, 14, sometimes 15 hours, the different takes and angles we had to do, so it’s just amazing to see it all come together into such a beautiful project,” Grant-DuBose said.

If it does get renewed for a second season, Grant-DeBose hopes to be able to keep acting and filming during baseball off-seasons moving forward.

“Who knows, maybe one day when my career in baseball ends, I can get on the big screen and get some lines, and who knows, maybe I’ll be like the next big actor,” Grant-DuBose said.

For now, he said he misses traveling with his teammates and competing in front of the crowds and atmospheres in the Pioneer League and is excited about his upcoming season in Great Falls.

“Everything about the Pioneer League is something I’ve always dreamed of, and I can’t wait to be back a part of it, and I can’t wait to just watch the boys take off,” Grant-DuBose said.

Look for fall schedules in your mail soon!

Print marketing is not dead. In fact, it is still relevant, viable, and an important part of the marketing mix. It’s been a while, but Cerro Coso has made the decision to print fall 2022 schedules and mail them to all homes in its service area. A strategy to boost engagement and enrollment, a number of success metrics have been put in place to evaluate effectiveness of the schedules. A printed schedule provides a tangible and personal resource that communicates importance to some people. Research shows that people who use a print item remember what they read longer than those who read the same content in a digital format. Those in the CC service area can look for their schedules to arrive in the mail soon.

Bakersfield College

College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Returns to BC

CLEP is back at the Testing & Placement Center at Bakersfield College! CLEP is a means through which academic credit may be given for non-traditional forms of educational experience, also known as credit by exam. Those who may have reached a college level of education through home or correspondence study, on-the-job training, television courses, military service, or other means may take the CLEP examinations which are offered by the College Entrance Examination Board. The list of subjects for which credit may be obtained by taking the CLEP is listed in the Bakersfield College Catalog. For more information, visit the CLEP Information page.

BC Outreach Team Hosting Virtual Express Enrollment Event

College is a very exciting and challenging time for new students. BC’s Outreach Team has prepared a fast-paced, one-day event so students can get through all of the enrollment steps and leave registered for courses. BC’s goal is student success, and that is why any new student, even if they are not enrolled, is welcome to participate.

Participants will get an introduction to Bakersfield College, receive information on financial aid assistance, get an overview of placement and education planning, and get enrollment help. Students have the opportunity to become a Renegade in one day!

For more information, please visit the Express Enrollment information page.

Project HireUp Hosts event Celebrating Graduates

Bakersfield College’s Project HireUp hosted a celebration for the graduates of the Summer Cohort 2022 on June 30th at The Summit, a facility and coffee shop at Canyon Hills Church. Those who participated in the program were recognized for their accomplishments and received a Certificate of Completion to commemorate their completion of the program.

Project HireUp was launched in the Spring 2020, a collaboration between BC, the Mission at Kern County, the faith-based local non-profit City Serve, and industry partners including Adventist Health.

The goal of Project HireUp is to decrease homelessness in Kern County through a creative and innovative partnership that supports students who are currently experiencing housing insecurity in continuing their education and securing employment.

Congratulations to all of the graduates of the program, and thank you to everyone who contributes to the success of Project HireUp and its participants.

Office Of Student Life Celebrates LGBTQ+ Pride Month with Pride Rocks!

Wednesday June 29th the Office of Student Life along with the Consent Project Club held a fun Pride event called “Pride Rocks!”. Freemomhugs was also onsite for the event! The BC community came and enjoyed rainbow-colored drinks and snacks while they painted rocks for Pride to inspire and encourage people while also putting smiles on everyone’s face.

Kern Coalition for CERF

This week, the Kern CCD hosted a series of events that brought together The Kern Coalition – a group of local entities working toward the goal of securing a CERF (Community Economic Resilience Fund) grant from the state.

In addition to the Kern CCD, the coalition includes Community Action Partnership of Kern, B3K, and the Kern, Inyo & Mono Counties Central Labor Council. Kern CCD will be the fiscal agent for this grant.

On Wednesday, the Kern CCD hosted two online meetings discussing updates to the CERF application.

Here’s the video from the 11 am meeting:

Check out this article by John Cox for The Bakersfield Californian.

And stay up to date about the process by visiting the Kern Coalition CERF website at https://www.kccd.edu/cerf.

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

Here are some great photos from last weekend’s Beautiful Bakersfield Awards:

The BC Team:

And Kern CCD Trustees Yovani Jimenez and Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg:

PC President Claudia Habib shared this post on the the CC League Leadership Program:

Wonderful time at @CCLeague Leadership Program, learning and talking to fellow CEOs @CalCommColleges inspired by the amazing Pascale Charlot. Thank you @EloyOakley for visiting with us. #CollegeCEOs #Leadership #Courage #Equity #StudentFocused

Cheryl Harris Scott shared this from the BC Foundation:

BC Foundation Planning Retreat. It was a day filled with strategy and planning for the coming academic year…with a lot of fun and laughs mixed in, too. Oh yes, and some Escape Room sleuthing (and screaming) as we searched for, and found, Bigfoot!