Last weekend was an unusually beautiful weekend.  No traveling.  I spent time enjoying glorious weather in Bakersfield, gardening, cooking and binge watching The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. 

It’s such a funny show. The main character – Miriam Maisel – has an idyllic life in late 1950s New York when her life takes a surprising turn. She ends up discovering her hidden talent for stand up comedy. Rachel Brosnahan is just fantastic, and Alex Borstein, who plays her manager Susie is wonderful.

And here is photo #3 of the tree that I’m watching leaf out that I mentioned in previous posts. The story of the tree again – over the last five years I have been watching a beautiful tree in our neighbor’s front yard go through the cycle of shedding leaves in the fall, going dormant in the winter, coming back to life in spring, and providing glorious shade in the hot summers. I enjoy this tree each morning and evening during my Neo walks. I have started taking photos to chronicle its annual rebirth. First photo, March 15, 2023, second photo March 23rd, third on March 29th

And in case you are wondering how Neo is doing…

Good morning friends.
Happy Easter
It is April 8, 2023.
The sun shines bright over Kern CCD.

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Porterville College

PC Vice President Named as Rising Presidents Fellow

We are proud to share that PC Vice President of Student Services Primavera Arvizu has been selected as one of 35 up-and-coming community college leaders to participate in the Aspen Institute’s Rising Presidents Fellowship.

These fellows are selected for their commitment to student success and equity and their demonstrated ability to lead change. As a #PresFellow, Ms. Arvizu will spend almost a year collaborating with top community college experts and developing new skills to support Porterville College and our talented students.

Learn more here: https://highered.aspeninstitute.org/meet-the-rising-presidents-fellows/

PC draws large crowds for High School Connection Event

The Porterville College Student Services Department hosted nearly 450 students and their parents for the 2023 PC Connection High School Senior registration event this past week on campus.

Students and community members from 11 local high schools lined up on campus on Wednesday and Thursday, April 5th and 6th to register for Summer and Fall classes at PC.

PC Connection is an annual event held each spring by the Student Services office to provide on-demand registration services and to help local high school students get a jump on Summer and Fall classes with priority registration, advising, and counseling.

Transgender Day of Visibility

The members of the PC Pride Club celebrated the national Transgender Day of Visibility here on campus with a T-party. The group gathered in the Pirate’s Cove, shared tea and refreshments and enjoyed each others company in order to raise awareness of the day.

International Transgender Day of Visibility is an annual event occurring on March 31 dedicated to celebrating transgender people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide, as well as a celebration of their contributions to society.

If you would like more information on the club, contact studentlife@portervillecollege.edu

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Cerro Coso Community College

Student Spotlight: Julianna Gorduyn

We had the opportunity to catch up with Cerro Coso student, Julianna Gorduyn! Julianna is currently a dual major in IT and Cybersecurity and part of Student Government.

Can you give a shoutout to someone who has made an impact on your time here at Cerro Coso?

“I became a temporary staff here recently, and it really changed my perspective on how I see the staff. The staff here at Cerro Coso put their heart and soul into the work that they do for the students, without skipping a beat. The entire staff here are nothing short of selfless, kind, and generous people.”

Lastly, do you have any words of wisdom for your fellow students?

“It’s okay to fail because that’s how you learn, but it’s not okay to give up. Here at Cerro Coso, you can fail, but everyone here will pick you back up. Remember that you are the author of your future, so when you sit down to write, make sure that you write your chapters well.”

Read more at https://www.cerrocoso.edu/news/2023/0327-student-spotlight-julianna-gorduyn.

Allied Health Information Session April 10

CC Bishop students, future students, and community members, are invited April 10th from 5 PM to 6 PM for an Allied Health information session at the Bishop Cerro Coso Campus! Come prepare for the medical assisting program starting this fall! We hope to see you there. 

2023 Employer Meet & Greet April 12

Mark your calendars for April 12th from 4 pm to 7 pm for the 2023 Employer Meet & Greet at Cerro Coso Community College in Ridgecrest! This is a great opportunity to meet potential employers! We hope to see you there.

The free event is open to the public.

NAVAIR Pathways Program Information Session

A huge THANK YOU to the Infrastructure Resources and Planning Management department with NAWCWD for taking the time to come out and speak to our students about the Pathways Program.

The Pathways Intern Program provides paid opportunities to explore federal careers for current students in high school, college, trade school, and other qualifying educational institutions while completing their education.

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Bakersfield College

BC Adds Bachelor’s Degree Program in Research Laboratory Technology

Bakersfield College now offers a Bachelor’s degree program in Research Laboratory Technology! This program is designed to give students hands-on experience in laboratory research techniques and technologies.

As a graduate, you’ll have the skills and knowledge to work in various laboratory settings, from healthcare to biotechnology. Don’t miss the opportunity to jump-start your career in this high-demand field. Apply today and start your journey toward success!

Art Student Exhibition

The directors of the Wylie and May Louise Jones Gallery are pleased to present the 2023 Bakersfield College Art Student Exhibition. The exhibit includes student-made artwork created in Bakersfield College art courses in media ranging from charcoal drawings, acrylic paintings, photography, graphic design, ceramics, video and many others. The work was juried by California-based artist and educator Audia Yvonne Dixon.

The exhibition will be open Mon-Thurs. from 2pm-5pm; March 30th-May 4th in the Jones Art Gallery inside the Grace Van Dyke Library.

Activism, Philanthropy, and Systemic Change- Distinguished Speaker, Dr. Melanie Lundquist Next Week!

From Dr. Maria Wright:

It is with great enthusiasm that I invite you to attend our final Distinguished Speaker event of the semester! It is an honor to welcome the incredible activist and philanthropist, Dr. Melanie Lundquist. Together with her husband, the Lundquist’s have donated more than $450 million over the past decade to multiple educational and cultural initiatives as well as health care efforts, predominantly in Southern California. Her focus on affecting change on a systemic level is inspiring and can be seen in how she makes it a point to be active in all levels of the organizations she is involved with.

Next week on, Thursday, April 13^th, 2023, you will have two opportunities to see her in the Renegade Events Center:

• 2 PM in the Renegade Events Center, Campus Center, 3rd Floor; and
• 7 PM in the Renegade Events Center, Campus Center, 3rd Floor.

Please remember to share this incredible event with your students and encourage them to come.

To find out more about the amazing Dr. Melanie Lundquist, please visit our Distinguished Speaker Series page. We look forward to seeing you all there next week!

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Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

Here’s another photo from last week’s Sterling Silver event. Norma Rojas-Mora:

PC President Claudia Habib shared this post:

Today’s Rainbow Flag Raising Ceremony was a beautiful and inspiring event; the result of student’s courage and a demonstration of support and solidarity. At @PCollegePirates we hope LGBTQIA+ students are thriving, feeling safe, healthy, supported and loved. #PC_PrideClub

From Bakersfield College Rural Initiatives:

What a great way to finish our our week at our Wasco community. We had the opportunity to greet people as they were finishing their shopping at Walmart. Many of the ones that approached us, were previous BC students and glad to hear about all the services we currently provide in Wasco. We can’t wait to see everyone on April 12, 2023 stating at 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm for our Express Enrollment at Wasco Adult Education Center 1445 Posó Dr., Wasco, CA 93280. Thanks to my partner Carolina Leyva for supporting this event.

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Tagged: #KernCCDDaringMightyThings, Bakersfield College, Cerro Coso College, Kern Community College District, Porterville College, Sonya Christian