Earth Day – Celebrating Our Planet

Uncategorized April 23, 2022 Leave a comment

This is how we did Easter 2022. My daughter and Bessie visited …. Neo, needless to say, was ecstatic with Bessie at home.

Yesterday was Earth Day, and it is always nice to take a weekend in spring to truly enjoy the world around us – and think of ways to protect it for future generations.

Check out this message from the League for Innovation:

“Today is #EarthDay2022, an annual day to celebrate our fragile planet and make a pledge to support and cherish its environment. This year’s theme is “It’s going to take all of us.” Enjoy this spring weekend and consider ways in which you can pitch-in. http://ow.ly/ZX3150IQkFQ“

EarthDay.org had livestreams of the Earth Day Climate Action Summit, which brought together great minds from across the globe.

I particularly thought the panel on regenerative agriculture. John Piotti, president of the American Farmland Trust, said, “We can actually reverse temperature increase over time if we ultimately get enough carbon back in the soil.” Innovative ideas like this are an amazing way to build our workforce, improve sustainability, and protect our planet.

You can watch it on YouTube:

Good morning, friends.
It is April 23, 2022.
The sun shines bright over KernCCD.

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

Porterville College

Job Fair Brings Job Seekers to Campus

Porterville College, in partnership with the Porterville Adult School and the Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County, presented the 2022 PC Job Fair on Tuesday, April 19th.  The event, held in the PC Campus Quad, was a huge success, bringing hundreds of job seekers out on the beautiful spring day to meet with potential employers and apply for over 1000 available jobs from employers including Amazon, Eagle Mountain Casino, Starbucks, T-Mobile, The City of Porterville, State Farm, the Kern Community College District, Sierracare, the Porterville Unified School District and many others.

There were also multiple “Job Readiness” workshops offered by PCs Business Innovation Center to support the event and help prepare those job seekers for a better chance at landing the job of their dreams.  Five “pre” workshops were offered in the two weeks leading up to the event to prepare students to put their best foot forward during the Job Fair.  The workshops covered a series of topics from interview and resume preparation to networking and job search skills.

Speakers discuss the life and legacy of Cesar Chavez at CHAP event

The Porterville College Cultural and Historical Awareness Program (CHAP) presented an event honoring the life and legacy of Cesar Chavez entitled The Cesar Chavez Legacy Continues on Thursday. The event was created in partnership between The Porterville College Dreamer’s Success Center, the Cesar Chavez Foundation, and O.L.A. RAZA, Inc.

Guest speakers Andres Chavez of the Cesar Chavez Foundation, Roberto DeLa Rosa of the United Farm workers association and Reyna Rodriguez of Proteus, Inc. spoke to the crowd about the legacy of Cesar Chavez and what it has meant to our culture and the movement he created to empower those seeking to make change.

When asked about how he feels living up to his grandfather’s legacy, Andres Chavez responded, “My grandfather said  ‘It’s my deepest belief that only by giving our lives, can we find life’.  I hope that I am of enough service to others that I can live up to him”.  

Reyna Rodriguez talked about how we can all find connection through our stories.  “By realizing that by not walking alone, we are stronger”. 

And Roberto De La Rosa discussed how “Si, Se Puede!” was more than a slogan for the UFW, it was a call to action. He said, “by looking at our history, we can find our strength”. He then led the audience in an inspired chant of si se puede!, si, si se puede!, si se puede!

Students Showcase Amazing Artwork at PC Art Gallery

Each year, the Porterville College Fine and Applied Arts Division presents a showing of the hard work and creative talents of their art students. The culminating projects of these students are presented in a gallery exhibition of their work at the PC Art Gallery. 

After being forced to take this exhibition into a virtual format for the past two years, we are excited to announce the return to an in-person showing of PC student work. The public is invited to enjoy this annual student art exhibition in the PC Art Gallery on campus.

The show began on April 18th and will continue until May, 5th. Hours are Monday – Thursday from 12 – 2 pm and 4 – 6 pm

For more information on the show or our Fine and Applied Arts programs, contact Jim Entz at 791-2257.

Cerro Coso Community College

Cerro Coso Recipient of Inaugural 2022 Excellence in Placement Award

Cerro Coso Community College has been named a 2022 Champion for Excelling in Equitable Course Placement honoree for the inaugural 2022 Excellence in Placement award by the Campaign for College Opportunity.

Since the passage of AB 705 (Irwin) in 2017, the California Community Colleges has drastically increased access to credit-bearing courses across all racial and ethnic groups, doubling the number of students who complete transfer-level Math and English courses. This spring the Campaign is thrilled to recognize over 40 Community Colleges for their work in eliminating remedial education courses at their institutions and ensuring students enroll and succeed in college-level courses.

Cerro Coso Community College has been named a 2022 Champion for Excelling in Equitable Course Placement in Black English Enrollment & Black Math Throughput.  The college successfully supported 100% of Black students to enroll directly into transfer level English coursework and at least 60% of its Black students who enrolled in a transfer level Math course successfully complete it within 1 year of their initial enrollment. CCCC supported Black students at rates equivalent to or even exceeding those of the student body as a whole. “We applaud your dedication and commitment to California students,” stated in the award letter.   

The Campaign for College Opportunity will recognize Cerro Coso Community College at their inaugural award installation ceremony, Excellence in Placement: Honoring Community Colleges Excelling in Equitable Course Placement for Students, on Thursday, May 12, 2022.

Joining this special celebration will be Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, and other California Community College honorees.

Four Complete KCCD Leadership Academy

Four Cerro Coso Community College employees have completed the 2021-2022 Kern Community College District (KCCD) Leadership Academy, a professional development program that prepares employees for leadership roles throughout the district.

Each year, KCCD presidents submit the names of employees to participate in the program.

Tehachapi faculty members: Jaclyn Kessler (Math), Gaysha Smith (Art), and Vonetta Mixon (Business), and Cody Pauxtis (Director of Maintenance and Operations) at the Ridgecrest Campus, were selected for the 2021-2022 cohort after a competitive application process.

The KCCD Leadership Academy is a year-long program of monthly meetings on topics specific to community colleges. Academy participants from around the district attended the day-long sessions covering topics on: leadership, decision making, communication, budgeting, student success, accreditation, and more.

They also worked outside the sessions on team-based projects to effect positive change across the district.

The KCCD Leadership Academy identifies, educates, innovates, motivates, and develops potential college leaders by exposing program participants to the challenges the colleges face and the opportunities that are available for growth; provides a communications network between present and future college leaders; and promotes leadership on a planned, continuing basis for the development of District and employees. 

The KCCD Leadership Academy is currently accepting applications for the 2022-2023 cohort.  All interest employees are encouraged to talk to their supervisors about program participation.

“Leadership is not about executive position or title.  It is about connection and influence. Leadership is all about adding value to the world and blessing lives through the work you do.” – Robin Sharma

Congratulations to the KCCD Leadership Class of 2021-20221

Sexual Assault Awareness Month at CCCC

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Cerro Coso has a number of activities planned to bring awareness to this year’s campaign.

On Thursday, April 28, 2022 the College Safety and Security Department are hosting Guest Speakers: Emmanuel Arias from the Women’s Center High Desert who will talk about the definition of sexual assault, types of assault, the importance of bystander intervention, and resources available through the Women’s Center High Desert.  Detective Mixon of the Ridgecrest Police Department will be on hand to discuss sexual assault crimes.  The event will be held from 12:30 to 1:30 pm in the Community Room 350 and via Zoom for students at other campuses.  Lunch will be provided for those attending in-person. 

Denim Day 2022 is also April 28th.  The College encourages everyone to wear their logo wear and denim on the 28th and send us a picture showing your support and honoring survivors.  Send pictures to ndorrell@cerrocoso.edu .

Why denim? The campaign was originally triggered by an Italian Supreme Court ruling which overturned a rape conviction because the justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans, she was implying consent. The following day, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim. Peace Over Violence developed the Denim Day campaign in response to this case and the activism surrounding it. Since then, wearing jeans on Denim Day has become a symbol of protest against erroneous and destructive attitudes about sexual assault.

Wear jeans on April 28th  as a visible means of protest against the misconceptions that surround sexual assault.

Bakersfield College

BC Celebrates Grand Opening of the Automotive Technology Training and Auctions Facility

Through the support and partnership of the Greater Bakersfield New Car Dealers Association (GBNCDA) and WSM Auctions, Bakersfield College has opened its new Automotive Technology Training facility at the Bakersfield Auto Mall. The partnership will provide students the opportunity to train and learn on trade-in vehicles which will then be auctioned resulting in support for the College’s program.

The 10,000 sq. ft. building, located at 2703 Blue Mountain Way, features a classroom and multiple shop bays, where students will learn and train in a hands-on environment using trade-in vehicles, provided by GBNCDA’s dealerships. Also housing the business operations of WSM Auctions, the building includes a full auction floor where vehicles that are repaired by students may be auctioned. 

Bakersfield College developed a comprehensive training curriculum, taught by SAE and ASE certified instructors, that prepares automotive students to be hired into entry-level and intermediate automotive technician jobs. At the new facility, BC will offer this training using state-of-the-art equipment from cutting edge industry leaders, such as General Motors, Snap-On Tools, Bosch Auto Parts, AES Wave, Integrated Supply Network, Hunter Engineering, and Chemical Guys.

Congratulations to the Automotive Technology Department on this wonderful partnership which will benefit students, the local automotive industry and the community for many years to come. Thank you to all of the faculty staff and community leaders that have all played a part in making this dream a reality.

Industrial Automation Day 2022

​The Bakersfield College hosted Industrial Automation Day 2022 on Friday. Local high schools and community members were invited to take part in the event which featured informational booths, laboratory tours, hands-on demonstrations, and much more.

The event highlighted the Industrial Automation department and their Bachelor’s degree program and how it encompasses many of Kern County’s leading industries including oil, energy, agriculture, aerospace, manufacturing, and others. 

The booths featured several companies from the region and gave attendees the opportunity to see product demonstrations and to interact with professionals in the industrial automation industry.

BC Hosts Peak Performance: Back to Life Seminar

In an increasingly busy and stressful world, people may find it hard to focus on their academic goals or their work-place performance. In an effort to address such issues, BC offered a free seminar Tuesday afternoon at the Panorama campus titled ‘Peak Performance: Back to Life Seminar’.  The featured speaker was Dave Seymour, LMFT and addressed various topics relating to personal performance and functioning.

Seymour said this about the event, “My goal for this seminar was to provide valuable information about how to overcome the pull into lower states of functioning that result from events happening in our environment, and our reactions to those events. I discussed both informational and experiential understanding of how to transition “back to life” as our best self. We cannot make this transition without the recognition that things are different and we might need to BE different in order to function effectively in our return healing.”

BC’s Rodeo Club Competes

The newly formed Rodeo Club recently traveled to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo to compete in a College Rodeo against nine other colleges and universities.  These nine colleges and universities are members of the West Coast Region of the National intercollegiate Rodeo Association. This was the ninth rodeo held for the season, with the final rodeo to be held at the South Pointe Casino in Las Vegas in May.

The team competed in the Cuesta College Rodeo and the Cal Poly, SLO Rodeo which included various events including bull riding, tie-down calf roping, saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, and several others.

The Rodeo Club had a successful first year as a new member school for the region and hopes to grow the team in the coming years. 

BC Performing Arts Department Presents “The Wolves”

The Bakersfield College Performing Arts department presents “The Wolves”, a play written by Sarah DeLappe.  This in-person performance will take place at the Edward Simonsen Outdoor Theater April 27, 28, 29 and 30 at 7:30 pm.  The play is directed by Brian J. Sivesind and Cory Geurtsen and all are welcome to attend.

The play presents a fascinating and honest portrayal of nine adolescent girls in America who compete together on an indoor soccer team.  It follows their experiences as individuals, teammates and ultimately human beings balancing life between athletic competition, big life questions and doing their best to score some goals.

Tickets are $12 for general admission and $8 for students, staff and seniors.  To purchase tickets in advance, visit the Performing Arts online box office.

In the News

Cesar Chavez honored at Porterville College event

The Porterville Recorder published this great article by Jaime A. Hunt about PC’s Cesar Chavez CHAP event.

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

I wanted to share this email and these photos from PC Math Professor & Division Chair Sherie Burgess:

“Yesterday, the Math Division hosted it’s 2nd Annual Math Battle competition for local high school students. There were 53 high school students in attendance, along with 10 HS faculty coaches, 7 PC faculty, and 20 PC tutors/mentors/professional experts helping to support our future STEM students! We had a fun day with Math where students competed in individual and team rounds. Highlight of the day is when an unexpected team was formed with two students from PHS and SCCA (they didn’t know each other and only met that morning) worked together as a team and won the team round!!! What a fun surprise.”

1st place team with coaches
2nd place team
3rd place team & overall winning High School
Faculty scoring room

Check out this Blast from Tulare’s past:

Retired Cerro Coso President Jill Board shared this post featuring Michael Garrison – check it out at https://www.navair.navy.mil/news/NAWCWD-researchers-develop-safer-BPA-alternatives/Mon-04182022-1253?fbclid=IwAR020-1eg93lV_E73M6uM0eVJLHac3s6Bz03CAP-FZxBwJHUV_YTuzodRjk.

Cerro Coso held a one-stop application and registration day on Friday:

Cerro Coso President Sean Hancock shared these photos from the event:

Motor City Buick GMC shared this post from the grand opening of the BC Automotive Technology Training and Auctions Facility:

BC’s Adult Education shared this update – thank you to Mayor Karen Goh for helping cut the ribbon!

Today we celebrated the Grand Re-Opening of the CityServe Educational Collaborative Center! This space serves as a resource center for the surrounding community and the hub for Bakersfield College Project HireUp. We are excited to re-introduce the center to the community and thank all partners involved.

And I will leave you with this video of Paula Parks receiving the Regina Stanback Stroud Diversity Award:

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That’s a wrap for now.
See you next Saturday!

The future is bright at KernCCD.

-sonya
a joyful and grateful Chancellor

#KCCDDaringMightyThings

Happy Easter 2022

Uncategorized April 16, 2022 1 Comment

Check out this beautiful Easter message from Andrea Bocelli … in caption he wrote:

“Two years ago we gathered at a time of crisis across the world. My concert at Duomo di Milano carried a message of hope. Now as Easter arrives again, a time of resurrection, I hope that message can be reborn, and brings you solace, and a reminder that hope can never be defeated.”

Good morning, friends… Happy Easter
It is April 16, 2022.
The sun shines bright over KernCCD.

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

Porterville College

PC holds GradFair event in preparation for the return of in person commencement

The excitement is beginning to build for the return of in-person commencement to Porterville College.  As mentioned in a previous post, the 2022 commencement ceremony will be held on campus at Jamison Stadium for the first time since 2019, due to the covid pandemic. 

This past Wednesday, the 2022 graduates were treated to the first taste of that pomp and circumstance at the first ever PC GradFair.  The event was created as a one-stop shop for Commencement needs at PC to ensure graduates had all of the information they need along with opportunities to properly commemorate their remarkable achievement. 

During the event, Grads visited the quad, the student center conference room and the PC Bookstore for all things commencement. They were able to try on and order their cap and gown, take graduation portraits, pre-order event photo packages, and more.

Ultimate Exposure Photography took graduate portraits and gave students information on getting photos taken during the ceremony on May 13th. Along with the cap and gowns, the PC Bookstore had diploma covers, tassels, and more for sale. The ASPC and other campus departments were also on hand to provide information on the commencement ceremony and tickets as well as to provide activities for grads.

PC’s CHAP Celebrates Cesar Chavez Holiday with event

The Porterville College Cultural and Historical Awareness Program (CHAP) is celebrating Cesar Chavez  with a FREE event for the campus and Porterville Community. The event, entitled The Cesar Chavez Legacy Continues, was created in partnership between The Porterville College Dreamer’s Success Center, the Cesar Chavez Foundation, and O.L.A. RAZA, Inc. It will feature quest speakers Andres Chavez and Reyna Rodriguez and be held on Thursday, April 21st from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm in the PC Quad.

The speakers will share how Cesar Chavez’s vision has grown to become embraced world wide. In fact, his legacy is still impacting laws being created today while helping to develop policies that impact equity and inclusion.   

Andrez Chavez is the executive director of the National Chavez Center (NCC) and leads the arm of the Cesar Chavez Foundation that educates and promotes the legacy of his grandfather across the nation. Their mission is to carry on Cesar’s life’s work of uplifting the lives of Latinos and working families by inspiring and transforming communities through social enterprises that address essential human, cultural and community needs.

Reyna Rodriguez is a Public Relations Specialist for Proteus Inc, a non-profit organization that provides training, education, and community services within the agricultural communities of the Central San Joaquin Valley.  Proteus administers approximately 50 different programs ranging from adult, youth, and dislocated worker programs, to programs related to energy conservation, emergency supportive services, foster family services, youth services, migrant child care, and other educational components offered through the William M. Maguy School of Education.

This event is FREE to everyone.  Tacos, rice and beans will also be served free of charge.

PC to host mental health workshop for veterans

According to the 2021 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report veterans still account for over 17 suicide deaths each day. The stresses that we face can sometimes be overwhelming and often impossible to deal with, especially in the wake of the pandemic. Being an armed services veteran can often add to those stresses and issues. We know how important mental health can be for all of us.  We often talk about the importance of mental health care for our students, particularly our veteran students.  That is why the PC Veternans Services program is presenting a mental health workshop for veterans and students on Monday April 18th via zoom. 

This virtual workshop is for anyone interested in learning about the importance of addressing mental health with the same care that we give to our medical health.  The session will be led by Veterans Affairs Representative Derric Brown, an expert in the mental health issues that veterans face every day, whether they are still in service, or have been long discharged or retired. 

Mr. Brown has been working in the social service field for over 10 years and his experience includes working with at risk youth in group home settings, adults with developmental disabilities and veterans with co-occurring disorders.

His depth of experience has allowed him to develop an understanding of individuals development throughout the lifespan. Therefore he is equipped to “meet people where they are” and collborate with them and develop goals to overcome obstacles that may hinder their biological, psychological, social and spiritual development!

We hope you can join us for this FREE event on the 18th.  You can register at the following link: https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/93289535799

Cerro Coso Community College

Respect for Law Recognition Dinner

CTE Liaison, Nicole Harper, attended Ridgecrest’s annual John Ward Annual Respect for Law Recognition event this year.

The event honors a law enforcement officer from each of the local agencies: Ridgecrest Police Department, China Lake Police Department, Kern County Sheriff’s Office, and the California Highway Patrol.

As a graduate of Cerro Coso’s Administration of Justice program, Nicole was able to promote the college and network with officers as well as local service organizations and elected officials including Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer, CA State Assemblyman Vince Fong, and representatives from the offices of Congressman Kevin McCarthy and Senator Shannon Grove.

Four officers from four different agencies were honored:  California Highway Patrolman Officer Jose Madrigal, Kern County Sheriff Deputy Isaac Azua, China Lake Police Officer Joseph Schatz, and Ridgecrest Police Department Officer Kyle Cushman.  These individuals were chosen by their peers to receive the prestigious award of Officer of the Year.

Congratulations along with certificates were awarded to each officer from their commanding officers as well as local service organizations and elected officials.

Congratulations to the officers who have embraced these challenges and shown themselves as heroes.

CCCAOE Conference (California Community College Association for Occupational Education)

Peter Fulks, Administration of Justice professor, presented at the California Community College Association for Occupational Education (CCCAOE) conference in Sacramento this month.

The CCCAOE Spring 2022 Conference focused on programming that leads to STRENGTHENING CONNECTION, PARTNERSHIPS, INNOVATION, and SHARING the voices of those who aren’t being heard, and HIGHLIGHTING the great work that is happening all across the state.

Fulks’ presentation, titled “Voices from Prison – A Model for Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (JDEI)”, focused on overcoming the hurdles and maximizing student success in an unlikely and underserved population.  The Cerro Coso Community College Incarcerated Student Education Program (ISEP), governed by a college-wide governance committee, is a national leader and model of CTE practices and student-centered program evaluation to maximize student success in an unlikely and underserved population. At the core of this, is a case study of how program research, evaluation, and assessment can be used at scale to overcome immense JDEI hurdles.

The CCCAOE Conference fosters discovery and problem solving through idea sharing and community building, INNOVATIVE and FRESH ideas that encourage COLLABORATION, AND CREATING A BRIDGE FOR STUDENT SUCCESS.  Participants connect and network with other career education practitioners that share best practices and learn how to navigate the California Community College system to advocate more effectively for college programs.

NEW AA-T Degree in Law, Public Policy, and Society

Are you interested in working in a law-based profession to help people and society?  

Are you interested in an education path that could lead to law school?

Are you interested in becoming a politician or working in government offices?

Cerro Coso Community College has a NEW Associate of Arts for Transfer Degree in Law, Public Policy, and Society.  This new program introduces students to the study of law and the legal field. Focuses on the over breadth of how law affects public policy and society for a socially responsible career in law. Prepares students to continue in a related degree such as legal studies, political science, communication, social or behavioral sciences, criminal justice, or other similar degrees. This interdisciplinary degree covers multiple areas of the law for possible careers as:  Paralegal and Legal Assistants, Legal Secretaries, Lawyers, or Judicial Law Clerks..

Enroll in the new Associate in Arts for Transfer in Law, Public Policy, and Society today. Courses are offered online and on-campus.  Current and prospective community college students are encouraged to meet with a counselor to review their options for transfer and to develop an educational plan that best meets their goals and needs.  This degree has an option to take a more civil or more criminal law-based pathway to completing the program depending on your interests.  Classes are offered online and on campus. 

This degree is specifically designed for transfer.  Associate in Arts Degrees for Transfer (AA-T) provides students with a clear pathway to a baccalaureate degree.  Earning an AA-T or AS-T guarantees acceptance to many four-year universities with junior standing and prepares students to complete a bachelor degree in a similar major at a CSU or participating UC, HBCU or private university. 

Schedule of classes available at www.cerrocoso.edu. Register now for Summer and Fall 2022 at Cerro Coso Community College. 

Bakersfield College

KCMEA Jazz Day at Bakersfield College

The Performing Arts Department hosted the 5th Annual KCMEA Jazz Day last Thursday, April 7th, and it was an incredible success! Almost 150 students from 9 local junior high and high schools joined our Bakersfield College Jazz Studies faculty in the Performing Arts Center for a day filled with performances, workshops, and clinics for the county’s best young jazz musicians. 

The day-long event featured some truly wonderful performances from these musicians, as well as impressive showings from the BC Faculty Jazz Ensemble, the Kern County Honor Jazz Band, and our very own BC Jazz Ensemble. After two years of hiatus while live events were on hold, the energy in the Edward Simonsen Performing Arts Center was indescribable. 

We’re thankful for the partnership with the Kern County Music Educators Association, our local organization that brings the county’s music teachers together to continue making music in our schools a vital part of education. KCMEA organizes festivals and concerts, provides networking and professional development opportunities, and builds a strong community among Kern County’s music educators, all with the goal of providing more and better music education to Kern County’s young musicians.

A special thank you to the Outreach department for lending your support and helping Jazz Day students with their journey to becoming Renegades. 

Congratulations to all involved on another wonderful Jazz Day. How great it was to be back together!

Sandi Taylor Earns Spot in CCCAA Hall of Fame

​Former Renegade Softball Head Coach and Athletic Director, Sandi Taylor, was inducted into the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Hall of Fame this afternoon during the annual CCCAA Convention. 

During a 30-year career at Bakersfield College, Taylor served as Head Softball Coach, Associate Athletic Director, and Athletic Director at Bakersfield College. In that time, BC’s Renegades captured many Western State Conference (WSC) championships across the 20 sports under her leadership.

Sandi’s efforts over the years supported and shaped thousands of Renegades into champions on the field and in the classroom. Her commitment to Bakersfield College can be seen in her work with the community, in our many championships, and in every Renegade student success story, including the numerous CCCAA state championships in various sports and numerous CCCAA regional competitions.

“Sandi carried the torch of excellence for the Renegade Athletics department for many years. She developed and built our program into what it is today,” said Reggie Bolton, BC’s Athletic Director. In her time, BC has hosted 9 CCCAA State Softball Championships, one CCCAA Track and Field State Championship, one CCCAA Southern Cal Wrestling Championship, one Southern Cal Men’s Golf Championship, one CCCAA Football State Championship and numerous CCCAA regional competitions.

National Student Employee Week at OSE

On April 5th, the Office of Student Employment celebrated National Student Employee week. Over 100 students stopped by to receive a token of appreciation and a slice of pizza! Students shared how their on-campus employment experience has helped them build on their transferable skills that they will be able to apply to their future occupations. 

Some expressed gratitude for the flexibility that on-campus employment allows because it has helped them to prioritize their school work and spend more time with their families. We continue to employ over 200 students each semester and look forward to increasing those opportunities in the coming semesters.

BC Team at Edwards Air Force Base

On Saturday morning, a crew from BC traveled with SPOT and Pepper to Edwards Air Force Base. Led by SPOT on his Kern County Tour, the team was invited to participate in the military family STEM day at Starbase Edwards, a joint program of the Department of Defense (DOD), the 412th Test Wing, educators, and industry. The program is committed to promoting STEM education and provides positive inspiration with role models found within local communities and on military bases and installations.

Tony Cordova, Monika Scott, and Carlos Media met Air Force Brigadier General Matthew Higer and NASA’s Armstrong Flight Center Deputy Director, Bradley Flick. The open house event welcomed over 250 students from Edwards Air Force Base and had many exhibits and activities to share different aspects of DoD STEM and mission partners’ STEM initiatives with all attendees.

Former BC Student Awarded Barry Goldwater Scholarship

Former BC student Annabelle Recinos has received a Barry Goldwater Scholarship to study Engineering at CSU Fullerton. Her career goal is to earn a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, and become a research lab manager. She wants to research improving transportation infrastructure and materials in industry.

Her mentors were BC professors Jonathan Brown, Deborah Rosenthal, and Wayne Cooper.

The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation is a prestigious award that was established by Congress in 1986 to serve as a living memorial to honor the lifetime work of Senator Barry Goldwater, who served his country for 56 years as a soldier and statesman, including 30 years in the U.S. Senate.

The Goldwater program aims to identify and support college sophomores and juniors who show exceptional promise of becoming this nation’s next generation of natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering research leaders.

I wanted to share these words from Deborah Rosenthal:

“Annabelle was my SI instructor for 2 years. Although she chose Dr. Cooper, Dr. Brown and myself to write the letters, the entire BC community should be applauded. None of us work alone and every action is intertwined to create the atmosphere and work ethic that filters down to the students.”

Getting to Know: Jackie Verduzco

This week’s “Getting to Know” feature is looking at Porterville College lab technician Jackie Verduzco.

“When the pandemic forced education at all levels to move online, it posed a particular challenge for classes that have corresponding instructional labs. But at Porterville College, lab technician Jaqueline Verduzco Alanis sprang into action and devised creative solutions so students could still get the valuable, hands-on experience that is so critical to the sciences.”

Read more on the Kern CCD website.

Thank you Stacey Shepherd for this beautiful story.

Kern CCD Board of Trustees honors Chris Hine

At this month’s Kern CCD Board of Trustees meeting, we formally recognized General Counsel Chris Hine as he retires after years of service to the district.

I’d like to share this short video in recognition and appreciation of Chris’s service:

Leadership Academy Participants Present

Recently, members of the 2021-2022 KCCD Leadership Academy gave presentations on ideas to help the Kern Community College District in various areas.

Team Birds was made up of Cody Pauxtis, Felisa Hannah, and Jamal Powell. Their presentation was on “how to make professional development easier.” This team shared ways that the district could utilize NeoEd to facilitate professional development using online training courses.

Team BESTwas made up of Daniel Chavarria, Todd Dearmore, Jacelyn Kessler, and Trudi Blanco. They looked at KCCD’s Strategic Goal #5: Strengthen Organizational Effectiveness. They focused on ways to increase collaboration across the district, and came up with the idea of holding a one-day district-wide conference at a neutral location.

Team Reptile, made up of Sabrina Aguilar, Amani Crosshabeyeh, Frank Ramirez, and Gaysha Smith, looked at encouraging lifelong learning by utilizing Canvas for employees. The content in Canvas would be to help familiarize employees with the district as well as improve their knowledge on other areas including technology.

Team Mammal, made up of Scott Dameron, Monica Daniels, Susan Hubbell, and Vonetta Mixson, looked at creating an online employee orientation using Canvas. This orientation would orient new employees (and refresh existing employees) to all the buildings, service, and things available on campus. 

Thank you to all our Leadership Academy participants for your thoughtful work and collaboration!

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

Karen Goh, T Johnson, and Michael Bowers shared photos as Dr. Brijesh “Brij” Bhambi was named recipient of the Save Heart Foundation “Heart Saver Award.”

Sierra View Medical Center shared a photo of Porterville College students:

California Community Colleges shared this beautiful picture for Dolores Huerta’s 92nd birthday on April 10:

And check out this video from Kern Living, asking the Bakersfield College Renegades to play “This or That”:

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That’s a wrap for now.
See you next Saturday!

The future is bright at KernCCD.

-sonya
a joyful and grateful Chancellor

#KCCDDaringMightyThings

April 2022 — Season of roses and poems

Uncategorized April 9, 2022 1 Comment

I have been savoring my walks with Neo as the world around me has been bursting out in bloom …. and roses everywhere.

April is also poetry month and April 2022 is particularly significant to me since Ms. Eula, my high school English teacher, who taught me to love poems, passed away.

Ms. Eula, Mount Carmel Convent

Ms. Eula, this excerpt from John Keats Ode to Melancholy is for you. Keats gives us permission to grieve deeply.

But when the melancholy fit shall fall

       Sudden from heaven like a weeping cloud,

That fosters the droop-headed flowers all,

       And hides the green hill in an April shroud;

Then glut thy sorrow on a morning rose,

       Or on the rainbow of the salt sand-wave,

               Or on the wealth of globed peonies;

Or if thy mistress some rich anger shows,

       Emprison her soft hand, and let her rave,

               And feed deep, deep upon her peerless eyes.

==========

Good morning, friends…
It is April 9, 2022.
The sun shines bright over KernCCD.

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

Porterville College

PC draws largest attendance ever for High School connection event

The Porterville College Student Services Department hosted over 500 students and their parents for the 2022 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 6th and 7th to register for Summer and Fall classes at PC. President Dr. Claudia Habib spent time visiting with students at the event.

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.  Food was provided for all those in attendance.  This year’s turnout was larger than we’ve ever seen before with over 500 attendees over a 2 day period.

PC Celebrates Poetry Month with web resources and open mic event

Porterville College is celebrating the Academy of Poets National Poetry month with a curated page of poetry videos, links and other resources.  You can find these resources at https://www.portervillecollege.edu/national-poetry-month

The success of Black History Month in February and Women’s History Month in March led to the initiation of National Poetry Month in April by the Academy of American Poets.

The first-ever National Poetry Month was celebrated in 1996, but the history of poetry itself goes back thousands of years. Dating back to 2100 B.C., the “Epic of Gilgamesh” is cited as the first-ever written piece of poetry, which tells an epic tale of a hero in ancient Mesopotamia.

We will also be closing out the month with Poem in Your Pocket Virtual Open Mic event to celebrate Poem in Your Pocket Day.  It will be held on April 29th from 12 pm to 1 pm and feature students, faculty, and staff reading, sharing, and celebrating poetry together. This year’s theme is Personal to World Justice: Poems of Conflict, Unity, and Peace.

Poem in Your Pocket Day was initiated in April 2002 by the Office of the Mayor in New York City, in partnership with the city’s Departments of Cultural Affairs and Education. In 2008, the Academy of American Poets took the initiative to all fifty United States, encouraging individuals around the country to participate. In 2016, the League of Canadian Poets extended Poem in Your Pocket Day to Canada.

Visit www.portervillecollege.edu for more information.

PC Student Athlete becomes first ever to sign 4-year letter of intent for Cross Country

Noah Aparicio (center) poses with his parents and Cross Country
Coaches Mike Kasimoff (pictured left) and Jordyn Zorn (pictured right)  

PC congratulates Cross Country Athlete, Noah Aparicio for becoming the FIRST Cross Country Athlete at Porterville College to sign a letter of intent to run Cross Country at a four year school following his time here at PC! 

The Porterville College freshman cross country standout has signed a National Letter of Intent to continue his academic and athletic career at the University of Providence.

Located in Great Falls, Montana, the University of Providence Argos compete at the NAIA level and are a member of the Frontier Conference. Aparicio is set to compete for head coach Tony Arntson this upcoming fall 2022 season.

Aparicio was honored on Monday, April 4th with a signing ceremony inside the PC gymnasium in front of family, friends, teammates, and the campus community.

Noah is also a member of the Pirate’s Baseball team so you can still catch him on the field this Spring.  Great job Noah and  good luck with the Argos!

Noah Aparicio signs his letter of intent as  coach Mike Kasimoff looks on.

Cerro Coso Community College

CC Career Day – Roadmaps to Success

Indian Wells Valley highs school students toured Cerro Coso’s Ridgecrest Campus, enjoyed refreshments in the Sculpture Garden, and explored employer exhibits at Cerro Coso’s Annual Career Exploration Day held on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. 

Business and agency exhibits lined the gymnasium floor promoting their businesses as they would normally do during an average career fair, giving high school and college students and community members a chance to visit with each company checking out job opportunities with their organizations and provide information on careers.

The goal is to inspire students to connect the dots between the classroom and real world opportunities and create relationships between companies and future employees. 

“I’m excited because students have missed out on face-to-face networking over the past two years,” said Outreach Director Katie Bachman.  “It is important that students have this opportunity to interact personally with employers and college programs that provide real-world connections.”

Employers spoke with students about the types of jobs they offer, the skills, certifications or degrees needed to obtain a position, and helped students understand what a day-in-the-life looks like.

Each student was provided with an interactive survey that helped guide the student through the career exploration process. 

Participants interact with different companies to learn about local careers, their work environment, necessary skill sets, earning potential, and the training needed to become employed.  Career Exploration day is a roadmap to success for students and the community. 

Cerro Coso offers NEW Classes in Addiction Studies

Are you interested in the growing field of drug and alcohol dependency treatment, prevention, and education?  Cerro Coso Community College is offering NEW classes in Addiction Studies this fall. 

Professor Melissa Bowen will instruct three new online courses in Addiction Studies this fall. 

ADST C101 – Introduction to Addiction Studies is a career-oriented course that introduces historical and sociological perspectives on the use, abuse, and social control of psychoactive, psycho-pharmaceutical, and/or psychotropic drugs.  Students receive information about the bio-psycho-social nature of addiction; the impact of addiction on children, families, and society; contemporary treatment and prevention approaches; and the addiction counseling profession. 

ADST C102X – Physiological Effects of Addiction presents an overview of the physiological processes and impacts of psychoactive drugs on the person, including risk factors related to addiction, acute and chronic health problems, communicable diseases, and fetal impacts.  Issues related to synergistic risk factors, detoxification, and withdrawal are also reviewed. 

ADST C103X – Addiction Prevention, Intervention, Treatment, and Recovery covers the philosophies, practices, policies, and outcomes of the most generally accepted and scientifically supported models of prevention, intervention, treatment, recovery, and continuing care for addiction and other substance-related problems.  Professional and ethical codes of conduct and behavior are also reviewed and emphasized. 

The Addiction Studies Program offers a contemporary and comprehensive study of addiction through the primary lens of Psychology.  Students will explore both theoretical and evidence-based concepts, practices, and policies of Addiction and Recovery.  Coursework will look at the mental and behavioral impact of substance use, addiction and recovery on individual, families, and communities while also considering how problems and solutions must meet the concerns of multicultural and diverse populations. 

Students interested in further pursuing an education in Addiction Studies are encouraged to contact the college Counseling Department at 760-384-6219 or email counseling_forms@cerrocoso.edu. 

To Bee, or Not to Bee

Did you know there are around 1600 species of bees that are native to California alone, many of which can be found in your own backyard? During spring break, Cerro Coso Professors Claudia Sellers and Guck Ooi participated in the native bee identification conference, organized by the College of the Canyons (CoC) Biodiversity Initiative. The two-day workshop covered a comprehensive approach to native bee identification, collection and pinning practices, and data input.

This workshop is part of the CoC Campus as a Living Lab (CALL) initiative, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The aim is to use college campuses as a living laboratory where students can research native bee biodiversity – all of which is crucial research needed to address the current rapid loss of biodiversity affecting pollination services and ecosystem stability.

Fifteen faculty members from ten California Community Colleges attended the Bee Conference to kick- start the CALL Initiative. CALL provides opportunities for underrepresented community college students to engage in undergraduate research in a local context, while also integrating Cerro Coso as a part of a future network of colleges that can collaborate and share both resources and class experiences. The first part of the project will document existing campus bee biodiversity and to identify species gaps. Collected research data will be shared among participating colleges through public databases to promote ongoing pollinator research and to create more undergraduate research opportunities. Subsequently, a habitat enrichment plan will be developed to transform the campus landscape into stable habitat islands that our native bees can thrive in.

Now that Spring is in full bloom with bees buzzing around, in the coming weeks two Cerro Coso students – Danielle Armstrong and Elajae Lee – will be trapping and identifying bees around the campus. Their work will be a mentored research as part of a larger project funded by the NSF. Bee active y’all!

Bakersfield College

STEM Conference Recap

The STEM and Pre-Health conference took place this past Saturday, April 2nd. Participants learned about opportunities to further their careers in STEM or pre-health. The conference goal was to educate and inform the community about what STEM and Pre-Health education is like. 

Financial aid counselors, college advisors, industry leaders and student organizations all attended the conference to answer questions from participants. This event was open to members of the community and served to provide career exploration support for those interested in STEM or Pre-Health education via workshops, keynote speakers and a resource fair.

Celebrating the Life of Jack Hernandez

Vice President Emeritus Bob Allison
Trustee Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg
Prof. Emeritus Sally Hill

In November 2021, the city of Bakersfield lost a legend – Jack Hernandez. 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. 

Jack joined Bakersfield College as a faculty member in 1961, and served the academic community there in several prominent roles until his retirement in 2017. He was a prolific writer, penning Community Voices pieces for the Bakersfield Californian and writing many, many poems on just about every topic in life – from love to loss and memories we leave behind. He will be greatly missed.

This past Friday, April 1st, BC and KCCD staff, administrators and faculty, along with community members from across Kern County, came together to celebrate his life and legacy. 

Reggie Williams, Director of the Levan Center, joined me in announcing a new award named in his honor – the Jack Hernandez Phronesis Award – and a new lecture series that will also bear his name, the Jack Hernandez Lecture Series. ​

​In this video to announce the award, Laura Ehlers, Jack’s daughter, speaks to his practical and impractical nature and the particular appropriateness of this award being named after her father.

I also wanted to share this touching tribute that BC English Professor Neal Stanifer wrote about Jack.

“But Jack proved something to me, as he turned a reader into a scholar, as he instilled in me humility, charity, and curiosity, qualities I hadn’t really possessed before. He proved to me that a man can pass the profits of his labors on to others. And I’m living proof.”

BC attends CCCAOE Spring 2022 Conference “Strengthening Community Inclusion and Engagement”

Tony Cordova, Jackie Stoner, Kylie Campbell, Berenice Arellano, Martin Perez, Alma Feathers, Carlos Medina

BC was well represented this week at the CCCAOE Spring 2022 Conference in beautiful Sacramento. Staff from our Career Education, Early College, Rural Initiatives, and Health Sciences teams joined together with representatives from California Community Colleges and career education partners to focus on the conference theme “Strengthening Community Inclusion and Engagement”. 

This important engagement with partners enables us to strengthen our services for our student populations from high school through adult learners. As industries continue to innovate and automate, the team at BC is connected and ready to shift to meet the new demands. Thank you to CCCAOE for being the statewide advocate for administrators and educators carrying out this work across the state.

Congratulations to Dean Tony Cordova for being voted in as the 2022-2023 CCCAOE Regional Vice-President for the central region! We know you will represent our students, colleges, and industry partners well.

BC Foundation’s Alumni Hall of Fame Set for June 23

The BC Foundation, in partnership with the Bakersfield College Alumni Association, will honor alums who have made a significant impact and have proven to be an outstanding example of Renegade excellence. The nomination period recently closed and inductees will be announced soon. The Hall of Fame dinner is set for June 23rd, 2022, at Seven Oaks.

Since its establishment in 1913, Bakersfield College has produced countless graduates and attendees who have taken their knowledge and skills into the world to make a significant and positive influence.

This is the first Hall of Fame event presented by the BC Foundation. However, during BC’s 109-year history, alums have been honored in a variety of ways, including the previously presented “BC Alumni Association Hall of Fame” between 1987 and 2013. In 2021, the BC Athletics Department introduced the Bakersfield College Athletics Hall of Fame. Their second annual event will be held in October.

Chancellor’s Seminar Series

On Tuesday, we had part 2 of the Chancellor’s Seminar Series on Personal Reflections and Visions of Teaching and Learning. Robert Simpkins moderated the panel, and this week we were joined by Jaclyn Kessler and Karen Oeh from Cerro Coso Community College; Alex Rockey and Matt Andrasian-Jones from Bakersfield College; and Dustin Acres and Elisa Queenan from Porterville College.

To give you a taste, here is Question 1 from the panel discussion:

I also shared a Chancellor’s Brief:

You can see all the videos from this week’s seminar, as well as previous seminars, at https://www.kccd.edu/chancellors-office/chancellors-communications/chancellors-seminar-series.

In the News

Community Voices: Giving our best to young Black men

I enjoyed this piece from Keith Wolaridge in The Bakersfield Californian reflecting on a recent panel sponsored by the Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce to “inspire, instruct and invigorate” the students in the Project Best program.

“Our society tends to award and provide accolades when men of color jump high, run fast, score or entertain, but few discuss their value outside their gifts…We can all do better by recognizing these young men as future business owners, scholars, scientists, farmers, physicians, elected officials, fathers, husbands and pastors.”

Keith Wolaridge

Community Voices: Partnership builds next generation of automotive professionals

John Pitre wrote this piece for The Bakersfield Californian about the partnership between the Greater Bakersfield New Car Dealer Association and Bakersfield College’s Automotive Technology program, which will open the Automall Bakersfield College Training Site on April 21.

“It’s important for the GBNCDA that we continue to support homegrown talent that will help Kern County thrive, even through changing times. We aim to employ local, train local, skill-up local, and grow our own. Over the years, the faculty and staff at Bakersfield College have done an incredible job of giving local dealers and industry professionals a voice at the college in regard to what we need in the trade and in the workforce.”

John Pitre

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

Stephen Waller shared this from the STEM Pre-Med Conference:

Eddie Alvarado shared this from a recent day trip:

Todd Coston shared that his family got his a Discovery flight for his birthday – check out the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6r4DaJlHI0.

Check out Corny Rodriguez with a 52 Chevy!

Nicole Parra shared this from the Latina Leaders of Kern County mixer:

And here are a few photos from the 6th Annual Cesar Chavez Legacy Breakfast.

The event honored Superior Court Judge Honorable Marcos Camacho, who is the most prominent Farmworker Institute for Education and Leadership Development (FIELD) graduate. Marcos was initially placed in remedial classes in high school, but an attentive teacher guided him to advanced placement courses and he graduated top 5 in his high school. He spent 2 years at Fresno State before leaving to work with Cesar’s UFW as a paralegal. Marcos went on to pass the bar on his first try, and eventually became General Counsel for Cesar himself.

Today he serves as a judge for the Kern County Superior Court.

The event also recognized community members and organizations for their hard work and dedication to FIELD.

KernCCD Trustee Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg accepted a certificate of appreciation on behalf of the district.
Kern CCD Trustee Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg, Wasco Mayor Alex Garcia, FIELD President/CEO David Villarino, Kern County Superior Court Judge Wendy Avila

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That’s a wrap for now.
See you next Saturday!

The future is bright at KernCCD.

-sonya
a joyful and grateful Chancellor

#KCCDDaringMightyThings

April 2022 — Here we come

Uncategorized April 2, 2022 Leave a comment

While clear blue sunny skies are lovely, it’s always nice to take the time to appreciate the beauty when the clouds roll in as well:

On Tuesday, I was so excited to announce at our 6th AWE Webinar that our community was selected for two US Department of Energy grants through the Communities Local Energy Action Program (LEAP) — on Carbon Capture and Sequestration and Microgrids. Kern CCD partnered with the county for one and with the city for the other along with numerous other partners.

Here is my announcement from Tuesday:

Once again, the Kern Community College District is at the forefront of innovation as we work toward sustainability and securing a better economic future for all in our region.

Check out this article from John Cox in The Bakersfield Californian about the grant.

This week I was invited to meet US Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.

It was wonderful hanging out with Chancellor Eloy Oakley and other CA higher ed leaders – UC Merced Chancellor Juan Sanchez Munoz, Compton College President Keith Curry, Cerritos College President Jose Fierro, University of La Verne President Devorah Lieberman, and Long Beach City College President Mike Munoz, as we discussed ways the US Department of Education can support our most disadvantaged students.

Women in Leadership Panel

On Tuesday, the Kern Community College District hosted the 3rd Annual Women in Leadership Panel. Moderator Jean Fuller led a discussion featuring Martha Flores, Porterville Mayor; Wendy Avila, Kern County Superior Court Judge; and Brenda Lewis, CA Board of Education Member and former Kern High School District Superintendent.

It was so inspiring to hear these accomplished women speak about their roles and how their histories led them to where they are now.

And the panel discussion:

Here are some fun photos.

Good morning, friends…
It is April 2, 2022.
The sun shines bright over KernCCD.

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

Porterville College

PC Hires New Gear Up Manager, Begins to move program to the community

PC welcomes the new Gear Up Program Manager, Gloriann Garza.

Gloriann migrated with her family to the central valley from the island of Puerto Rico when she was just 7 years old and has lived in the area ever since.

She is a first-generation student who earned her Bachelor’s in Psychology and Master’s in Educational Counseling from CSU Bakersfield.

For the past 10 years, she has worked for her Alma mater as a Financial Aid Counselor, and most recently as a University Outreach Counselor.

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) is a federally funded program designed to elevate the academic achievement, college attendance, and graduation rates of first-generation, low-income, underrepresented, and underserved students.

GEAR UP works in partnership with educational and community institutions to provide students and families with individual and group advising, academic and tutoring support, college and career exploration opportunities, skill building workshops, enrichment programs, college visits, and educational field trips. Porterville College was awarded the GEAR UP Grant in the Fall of 2021.

The Porterville College GEAR UP program is partnered with Porterville Unified School District and Earlimart School District to provide exclusive services to the Class of 2028.

Two PC students Qualify for Phi Theta Kappa All-California Community College Academic Team

Erica Coon
Javier Corona-Rosas

Porterville College Students, Erica Coon and Javier Corona-Rosas have all been selected to be a part of the 2022 Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) All-California Academic Team. This year, 114 students were selected out of the millions of community college students enrolled in California schools.

Ms. Coon was ranked among the top 75 community college students in California which put her onto the All-California 2nd Academic Team. Mr. Corona-Rosas was ranked among the top 100 students, placing him on the 3rd team. They join two students from Bakersfield College, to represent the Kern Community College District in the All-California Teams this year.

The purpose of the Phi Theta Kappa All-State Academic Team Program is to provide recognition at the state level for our top community college students.

Grades, leadership, and community service determine selection to the All-California First, Second and Third Teams. The students selected represent some of the best of over two million students enrolled in California’s 116 community colleges. Students have undoubtedly faced many additional and unprecedented challenges over the last two years. The 2022 winners should be exceptionally proud of their achievements during these difficult times.

To view the team selections and rankings, click here. Please join us in congratulating these fine students for this outstanding collegiate achievement.

Sandra Cisneros will discuss recent works for PC Writer & Poet Speaker Series

Sandra Cisneros is a poet, short story writer, novelist, and essayist whose work explores the lives of the working-class. Her numerous awards include NEA fellowships in both poetry and fiction, the Texas Medal of the Arts, a MacArthur Fellowship, the PEN/Nabokov Award for International Literature and the National Medal of the Arts, awarded to her by President Obama in 2016.

Ms. Cisneros will discuss her work with the Porterville College community as the next guest speaker in our PC Writer and Poet Speaker Series on April 21st from 12pm to 1pm.

Her novel, The House on Mango Street has sold over seven million copies, has been translated into over twenty-five languages, and is required reading in elementary, high school, and universities across the nation.

She will be discussing her new book, Martita, I Remember You/Martita, te recuerdo, a story in English and in Spanish, that was published in 2021. In the fall of 2022, a new collection of her poetry, Woman Without Shame, her first in 28 years, will be published by Knopf Publishing.

Cisneros is a dual citizen of the United States and Mexico who earns her living by her pen. You can register for this upcoming event at via zoom at https://tinyurl.com/3v8m6xnr. It is open to everyone.

Cerro Coso Community College

CC Garden Club – Seed Planting Success

Alan Esparza and Elajae Lee

Many students participate in college clubs to extend their learning opportunities and make new friendships.  The Cerro Coso Garden Club provides a great way for students to learn about gardening and gain hands-on experience growing their own food, and tasting the fruits (and vegetables) of their labor. 

A successful garden club experience requires planning and patience, and most of all, a spirit of adventure. 

Novice and experienced gardeners know that no matter how well you plan, Mother Nature will add her own variables like scorching hot days, cabbage worms, and even freezing rain. 

The Cerro Coso Garden Club is experiencing great success with their garden.  Promise student Alan Esparza and PTK President Elajae Lee are actively involved in the garden club project. Professors Guck Ooi, Claudia Sellers, and Sarah King, all have been working very hard to bring the club to life and produce food items like carrots, onions, arugula, and so much more.  The idea is to provide fresh produce for students, faculty and staff on a regular basis and continue to work closely with the Coyote Cupboard.  Fresh produce days are coming and will be available campus wide very soon.  Donations will be helpful when anyone takes an item — all donations will go back to support the Garden Club and Coyote Cupboard.

Gardening is a wonderful learning experience. It is also an exercise in patience, trial and error, and working with uncontrollable variables like the weather.  Whatever they cultivate will be a worthwhile learning experience for CC students. 

Take Control of Your Future – Register for Summer and Fall Classes at Cerro Coso

No matter where you are on your educational journey, Cerro Coso Community College has a program designed to meet you where you are. 

This is the time to focus on your future and take steps toward achieving your goals.

Open registration for summer and fall classes will begin April 13, 2022.  The new student registration process delivers a fresh user experience with a modern look and feel.  Features include: increased efficiencies, new tools, and improved capabilities.  The upgrade launched March 1, 2022 and those registering for classes will notice changes to the registration process, and there are lots of resources available to help understand how to use the system. 

On campus offerings this summer include Kinesiology and Welding.  Online classes include Administration of Justice, Paralegal, Web Management, Art, Spanish, Sociology, and a lot more.  A complete listing of summer and fall classes is available online at www.cerrocoso.edu .  Plan today to secure a class schedule that works best for you. 

Summer is a great time to get a head start on your college journey.  For more information contact the Cerro Coso Counseling Department at 760-384-6219 or email them at counseling_forms@cerrocoso.edu.

Need help paying for college?  Cerro Coso has lots of resources to help pay for college.  Contact the college Financial Aid Office for assistance with FASFA, State Financial Aid, Scholarships, Finish Line Scholars, Promise and more at 760-384-6221 or email at cc_faid@cerrocoso.edu.   Summer classes begin June 6, 2022 and Fall classes begin August 22, 2022.  There is something for everyone at Cerro Coso Community College.  Your hometown college.      

Find Out How Your Student Can Earn College Credit While In High School

Getting a head start on college credits during high school will save money, impress college admissions departments, and offer greater degree flexibility. Earning college credits in high school is a great way for students to take initiative, strengthen their chances of admissions, explore their interests, or try something new.  By gaining credits towards a degree while still in high school, students can graduate faster, spend less money, and position themselves for success. 

Cerro Coso Community College is hosting a virtual Dual and Concurrent Enrollment Programs Workshop for parents of high school students on Tuesday, April 12 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

If you are the parent of a junior or senior in high school, find out how your student can get a head start in earning college credits before they leave high school, ultimately making their college experience more affordable, efficient, and enriching.

Cerro Coso Community College offers dual and concurrent enrollment classes for high school students throughout its service area.

Parents are being asked to pre-register for the Zoom workshop at www.cerrocoso.edu.

For more information contact the College Outreach Office at 760-384-6150 or email outreach@cerrocoso.edu.

Registration for summer and fall 2022 classes begins April 13. 

Bakersfield College

Bakersfield College Honored with Shafter Education Award

Bakersfield College was honored with the education award at the annual Shafter Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet last week for our work with the City of Shafter to reopen the community library in January. The library was closed at the start of the pandemic in March 2020, when it was part of the Kern County Library system.

The City of Shafter has since taken over the operation of the library and has partnered with Bakersfield College to staff and operate the facility. In preparation for the re-opening, a significant investment has been made in new books, with a focus on children. The city also provides classes, tutoring and access to computers at Shafter Learning Center, co-located at library, and Bakersfield College also offers classes, registration events and counselor support at the center through our Rural Initiatives program. Bakersfield College is proud to help provide our rural communities with the same access to educational resources as their big city counterparts.

Thank you to Kern CCD Trustee President Romeo Agbalog, who accepted the award.

Industrial Automation’s Robotic Dog SPOT Continues Tour of Kern County

It has been a busy couple of weeks for Industrial Automation’s robotic dog SPOT as he continued his tour of Kern County.

On March 9th, SPOT along with Industrial Automation program manager Carlos Medina and faculty Dr. Paul Murray, were interviewed on a local TV show “Do The Math.” On the show, they discussed how SPOT ended up at BC, other robots in the program, how SPOT enhances the programming learning experience in BC classrooms, and more. It was a wonderful time showcasing SPOT’s features and functions.

On March 22nd, SPOT joined the Agriculture Department at Farm Day in the City at the Kern County Fair where he was able to interact with elementary students and challenge them in a push up competition.

It is amazing to see young students in Kern County having the opportunity to interact with BC faculty and staff, and to see first hand how education and creativity can produce amazing designs like SPOT.

BC Alumni Association to Host Fundraising Event

The BC Alumni Association will be hosting the “Kern County Premium (KCP)” Fest at the Temblor Brewing Company on Saturday, April 23rd, 6:00PM – 10:30PM. The event will feature live performances by Mento Buru and DJ Mikey, and will feature drink specials for attendees. The event is open to all ages and is 5 dollars to attend.

The KCP Fest will benefit the Bakersfield College Alumni Association. It will be a great opportunity to reconnect with BC friends and family, while raising funds that will benefit future Renegade students and alumni. We hope to see you there. For more information visit the BC Alumni Association Facebook page.

BC Hosts Grad Fair

Bakersfield College’s 108th Commencement is quickly approaching.  To help eligible students prepare for the ceremony, BC hosted a Grad Fair on the main campus this week. Students had the opportunity to get all of their graduation materials including regalia, invitations, mementos, rings, portraits, and more.

It truly is an exciting time for our students as they have the opportunity to participate in the first in-person commencement celebration in several years.

In the News

PC orchestra director to perform at Grammys

The Porterville Recorder published this piece about Dr. Tianna Heppner Smith, the Director of Band and Orchestra at Porterville College, who will perform at this weekend’s Grammys, taking place on Sunday at 5pm.

“Music has been a passion of mine since I began in my local program in sixth grade and I can’t imagine doing anything else,” she said. “I love performing, I love being a pedagogue and helping students and novice string instrumentalists improve on their instruments.”

New 150-tree arboretum beginning to take root at Bakersfield College campus

Steven Mayer wrote this article in The Bakersfield Californian about a new arboretum on BC’s campus.

“One of the concepts behind the Bakersfield College Arboretum is to create an outdoor living laboratory for the students of horticulture, forestry and plant science to have an eyes- and hands-on learning experience,” said Melissa Iger, a certified arborist who heads the Tree Foundation of Kern.

Fun Photo and Spotted on Social Media

PC President Claudia Habib shared this from the Porterville College Plant Sale:

Cerro Coso President Sean Hancock was also spending time with his college’s garden:

Vice Chancellor of Educational Services John Means was recognized at the Kern Education Pledge Convening. This was his last KEP meeting and he was honored with a very nice resolution on a plaque presented by Mary Barlow. 

Cheryl Scott shared these photos from the KernCounty STEMposium & Career Expo:

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That’s a wrap for now.
See you next Saturday!

The future is bright at KernCCD.

-sonya
a joyful and grateful Chancellor

#KCCDDaringMightyThings

Sterling Silver 2022

Uncategorized March 26, 2022 Leave a comment

Last weekend, the Bakersfield College Foundation’s 14th Annual Sterling Silver event returned to in-person, after last year’s televised recognition celebration.

The annual benefit dinner recognizes exceptional support and service to the BC Foundation, and to the college, with proceeds from the evening going directly towards the Renegade scholarship program and supportive services. The sold out event took place Saturday March 19th, 2022 at the Panorama Campus.

Thank you to the top Sterling sponsors

Joel and Connie Perez-Andreesen–Reception Sponsor

Ordiz Melby Architects–Sterling Level Sponsor

Chevron–Sterling Level Sponsor

Corporate Philanthropist Award: Bank of America

Individual Philanthropist Award: The Contreras Family

BC Foundation Service Medal: Assemblymember Rudy Salas

Lifetime Achievement Award: Congressman William “Bill” Thomas

Check out this 2-minute photo roll of Bill Thomas

I loved the impromptu remarks made by four of our trustees, led by President Romeo Agbalog. It was the cherry on top of the icing of a wonderful evening.

Bill Thomas with Kern CCD Trustees Kay Meek, Yovani Jimenez, Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg, and Romeo Agbalog

Executive Director of BC’s Foundation, Cheryl Scott said, “Sterling Silver is one of our favorite times of the year because we’re able to recognize the thoughtful generosity and long lasting contributions of leaders who have stepped forward to make a difference in the lives of students. These individuals are creating a legacy of positive growth and inspiring bright futures through expansions, education, and support.”

BC’s brand new event space, located on the 3rd floor of the newly constructed Campus Center building hosted the special evening.

Here are a some photos:

More photos

Fabulous culinary students

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

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

Porterville College

PC Writer & Poet Speaker Series Returns with Helena María Viramontes

PC has announced Helena María Viramontes as the next speaker in the PC Writer & Poet Speaker Series.  She will join the PC community on March 31st at 12pm – 1pm via zoom at: https://cccconfer.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcqfuysrjopGtQdfBym9zfAGULd_IIWTzia

Viramontes is the author of The Moths and Other Stories (1985) and two novels: Under the Feet of Jesus, which bears witness to the struggles of a makeshift family of migrant farmworkers in California, and Their Dogs Came with Them (2008), a masterful depiction of the lives of the dispossessed, the working poor, the homeless, and the undocumented of East Los Angeles, where Viramontes was born and raised.

In the 1980s, Viramontes became co-coordinator of the Los Angeles Latino Writers Association; later in the decade, Viramontes helped found Southern California Latino Writers and Filmmakers. In collaboration with feminist scholar Maria Herrera Sobek, Viramontes organized three major conferences at UC-Irvine, resulting in two anthologies: Chicana Creativity and Criticism-Charting New Frontiers in American Literature (1988) and Chicana Writes: On Word and Film (1993).

You can find more information on Viramontes via her Cornell faculty page and register for the event at https://cccconfer.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcqfuysrjopGtQdfBym9zfAGULd_IIWTzia.

Getting to Know the PC ASPC in 4 questions:
ASPC Marketing and Publicity Representative Brayan Quevedo

At Porterville College, we believe that one of the keys to student success is a complete student life experience.  The Associated Students of Porterville College (ASPC) plays a large part in shaping student life on campus. 

We recently had the chance to connect with the Associated Students of Porterville College (ASPC) Marketing and Publicity representative Brayan Quevedo who shared about the journey to PC, studies and areas of interest, and future plans:

Can you tell us about your life before you came to PC and your journey that led you here?

My life’s a wild story. More specifically, before PC I lived in Oregon. I graduated last June (2021) from Sprague High School with a diploma in STEM. I knew I wanted to further my education through college but didn’t really know where to attend. What I did know was that I loved Computer Science and Mathematics, so I applied schools in Oregon and California that specialized in STEM.

During the college application process, some of my family members got sick and needed to be cared for so my mother and I moved. Since I was between two states, college admissions got extremely tricky as it’s quite uncommon to be moving during the final weeks of school, so I was charged out-of-state tuition for all the schools I got accepted to. What really motivated me to attend PC as opposed to other colleges were the cost, location, and small class sizes. Having just moved to the Central Valley, college costs were extremely worrying as it felt like I was spending money left and right, but Porterville College was extremely affordable – even as an out-of-state student. Instead of seeing $70k cost of attendance bills, it was only a few thousand, which made attending the school an obvious choice. Furthermore, they also helped me through the financial aid process to minimize my bill as much as possible!

Finally, the class sizes. One of my biggest concerns with going to a state school were the 200+ class sizes in huge auditoriums for an introductory level class, taught by a professor who couldn’t recognize one student from the next. At Porterville College, every instructor knows me by name, and genuinely wants me to succeed in their class. It’s such a welcoming environment that no state school could match.

What are you majoring in at PC and what career path do you have in mind?

As mentioned previously, I’m currently studying Mathematics and Computer Science. I chose these majors for their difficulty and their impact. I love tackling a hard problem and spending hours seeing what the most efficient solution is. Furthermore, you can use these tools that you learn in my majors to create REAL impact on the world! You could design the next biggest app, create infrastructure that millions of residents use yearly, help the human race reach intergalactic travel – truly the applications are limitless!

What are your hobbies and interests outside of school?

Besides just academics, I’ve been known to be a tree hugger for my love of nature and running. I spend any time possible at Sequoia or Yosemite. The entire experience of scaling a multi-thousand-foot mountain with your friends while messing around and enjoying yourselves brings me genuine joy and happiness that calls me back, one weekend after the next. I believe everyone should experience nature as often as possible, so they can see how beautiful the planet they live on is!

What are your plans after you finish at PC?

After graduating from Porterville College, my plans are to transfer to a UC to continue my study of Computer Science/Math. I aspire to get a Masters in one of these fields to push the bounds of what’s possible. After this, I hope to work in Silicon Valley to create products and services that better our lives!

PC Announces in-person Commencement, first Grad Fair for class of 2022

The last in-person commencement at PC’s Jamison Stadium was held in 2019.

Porterville College has announced that the commencement ceremony for the class of 2022 will once again be held in-person after a two year hiatus due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. In a letter from PC President Dr. Claudia Habib to graduating students, she states “I am delighted to report that this year, we will be honoring you and your families in an IN-PERSON Commencement Ceremony for the first time since 2019! The 2022 Commencement Ceremony will be held on Friday, May 13th, beginning at 7:00 pm inside PC’s Jamison Stadium. I can’t wait to see you all walk across that stage and become graduates!”

Due to the construction and upgrades project currently happening at the stadium, there will be limited seating for spectators this year. To accommodate this and ensure that everyone is able to invite family members, the college will provide six (6) spectator tickets to each graduate for guests to attend the event.

This year, PC will also hold the first “PC Grad Fair” on Wednesday, April 13th from 11:00am to 1:00pm. Scheduled to be held in the campus quad, this event will be a one-stop shop for all things commencement. Graduates will be able to order their cap and gown, take graduation portraits, pre-order event photo packages, and more.

Cerro Coso Community College

Coyotes Participate in Little League Opener

Little league – the opportunity for a community to create a local youth baseball program, built on life lessons, socialization, and sportsmanship that benefits the children and the adult volunteers who support those efforts.

Now practicing for several weeks, the Indian Wells Valley (IWV) Little League officially kicked off the baseball season on Saturday, March 13th with a fun and full day of festivities, including a complete slate of games.  Not even the threat of wind could dampen this first class show.

In a parade of players and coaches and a crowd of camera-clicking moms and dads the, Cerro Coso Baseball team was on hand to congratulate the players and wish them a successful season as they passed through the gauntlet of Coyotes.  Each team from every division was introduced, the players and coaches tipping their caps in proud acknowledgement before taking their place on the apron of the infield.    

It was a great day for parents too.  “It’s great to see everyone getting out and enjoying the fresh air and sports again,” said Outreach Director Katie Bachman.

Little League is a place where kids can have fun, and learn important life lessons.  It provides a sense of connection across generations, common ground between parent and child, and a reminder of what binds us together as a community and the source of our strength as a nation.  Cerro Coso plays an important role in serving as both mentors and supporters. 

What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?

A teacher.  A nurse. A rock star. An astronaut.  As a child your career aspirations are the stuff dreams are made of.  Secure in the knowledge that when you grow up you can be anything you want  to be.

To explore the intriguing connection between childhood career aspirations and adults’ chosen occupations, Cerro Coso participated in the Trona High School Career Day on March 18th.   The goal of Career Day is to help students understand the curriculum as it relates to specific, real-life job opportunities and a rewarding future.  The event provides students the opportunity to start thinking about their future, broadens their perspectives, and further motivates them to pursue productive careers.

Professor Vivian Baker, CTE Counselor Teri Hack, and Outreach Director Katie Bachman shared their job experiences and passion for the work they do.  The objective was to provide the students a relatable link to the real world, hands-on expertise, and concrete examples of how academics relates to future educational and occupational opportunities. 

A total of 29 organizations participated, and students, grade 5 through 12th, were able to listen to six different presentations.  Presenters included the following occupations: banking, law enforcement, probation department, veterinary care, nursing, heavy equipment operations, utilities technicians, teaching, fire program, photography, journalism, science and technology, EMT, and social services.

“Our students and staff really enjoyed having presents at our school.  I have been getting a lot of positive comments from students, staff, and parents,” said Ruth Soto, Trona High School counselor. 

What do you want to be when you grow up? The answer is right here in your own community, at CCCC the possibilities are endless.   

CCCC 48th Annual Commencement

Cerro Coso Community College will be hosting an in-person graduation in the gymnasium for the first time since 2019 on Friday, May 13th at 11 a.m.

Last year’s event was a unique scaled-down celebration, balancing safety and tradition.

This year Cerro Coso graduates will once again walk across the stage in the Gymnasium at the Raymond A. McCue Athletic Complex to receive their degrees in front of friends and family. 

“Throughout the pandemic our college community has come together to adjust and adapt our plans to prioritize the health and safety of our communities, and the same is true for commencement,” said President Sean Hancock.  “We have remained committed to honoring the achievements of our graduates, the Class of 2022, in person, on the campus many call home.”

The college’s Eastern Sierra College Center will hold their own in-person ceremony on Friday, May 6th in Bishop. 

The decision to host in-person events comes after the college considered current CDC and local health department protocols.

Bakersfield College

BC and CityServe Celebrate 13 Graduates of the Project HireUp Program

Bakersfield College and CityServe celebrated the graduation of 13 participants who successfully completed the program, earning one of three certificates in either Basic Office Skills, Basic Employability Skills, or Life Development. This is the 5th graduating cohort to successfully complete the Project HireUp program since its launch in 2020. 

Project HireUp is an innovative program combining community-based efforts, free education, and internship style employment, giving those in need the resources to change their lives. BC and CityServe launched Project HireUp alongside the County of Kern, the Mission at Kern County, M Street Navigation Center, and Adventist Health, with a pilot cohort of over 20 students. The students embarked on a 8-week journey to rediscover life skills, learn new ones, and engage in developing on-the-job-skills with entry level employment.

BC Professor Dr. Paula Parks Receives Prestigious Award

Dr. Paula Parks, Professor and Coordinator of the Umoja ASTEP Community, has been selected to receive the 2022 Stanback-Stroud Diversity Award by the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges. This award was created to recognize an individual that is exceptional in their contribution to the advancement of intercultural harmony, equity and campus diversity at their academic institutions.

Dr. Parks will be honored at the 2022 Spring Plenary Session in April.

Congratulations Dr. Paula Parks on being recognized for your hard work and efforts that contribute to making Bakersfield College a positive academic environment for all students, faculty and staff. We are proud to have you as part of our BC team.

Valley Strong Energy Institute Hosting Energy Education Webinar

Join us for the next webinar in the Valley Strong Energy Institute’s Ag/Water/Energy Education Series, which is dedicated to keeping Central Valley residents informed on natural resources infrastructure and its impact on our daily lives. For this session, we’ll be talking about microgrids, which are self-sustaining energy systems designed to power large facilities using renewable energy. 

Featured speakers for this session include California Energy Commission Vice Chair Siva Gunda, Mojave Air and Spaceport CEO Todd Lindner, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory engineer Cecilia Klauber. 
To participate in this webinar, visit the registration link at bit.ly/AWEWebinar6.

Renegade Athletics Update

Over the last weekend, men’s tennis hosted the first annual Pfister Tournament.

Swimming competed at the WSC #2 meet this past Saturday at Cuesta College. The women finished 2nd overall while the men finished in 4th.

Softball won against College of the Canyons 2-0 on Tuesday and 10-1 against Glendale on Thursday. Currently, the team is 16-5 on the season and will be playing at home tomorrow (March 22nd) at 2:30PM.

Beach Volleyball competed in the conference opener and went 2-1. BC defeated Glendale 5-0 while Moorpark defeated BC 3-2.

Women’s History Month

As Women’s History Month comes to a close, I wanted to share with you a piece I had published in EdSource: “Heroic students who are also mothers deserve more support.“

“Community colleges are ‘success incubators’ for the marginalized. Seeing our student mothers and their needs clearly through data, through stories and through our commitment to meeting our basic goals indicates that investing in our student mothers, and especially student mothers of color, will produce great benefits to our society as a whole.“

And to close out Women’s History Month, the Kern Community College District is hosting the third annual Women in Leadership forum, moderated by Senator Emeritus Jean Fuller and featuring panelists Martha Flores, Porterville Mayor; Wendy Avila, Kern Superior Court Judge; Brenda Lewis, CA Board of Education Member; and Karen Goh, Bakersfield Mayor.

The forum will be at 11:30 am at the Weill Institute on Tuesday, March 29 is sold out. However, you can join the livestream at bit.ly/WomenInLeadership2022.

In the News

Research continues on Artemis moon missions

Bakersfield College Astronomy Professor Nick Strobel‘s recent article in The Bakersfield Californian discussed the ongoing research into NASA’s Artemis program, which hopes to get humans back to the surface of the moon in the next 3-4 years. Currently, they are analyzing lunar samples brought back 50 years ago during the Apollo program.

“In an example of foresight uncommon today, NASA set aside a small amount of the samples for future research 50 years later, with the assumption that future generations of scientists and engineers would have developed more sophisticated analysis techniques and technology.“

Nick Strobel

Green Side Up to kick off Castle Fire Restoration project

The Porterville Recorder published this article about the upcoming Castle Fire Restoration project. The “Green Side Up” project is hosted by the Rotary Club of Porterville, the Porterville Breakfast Rotary Club, the Rotary Club of Woodlake and Foothill Rotary of Lindsay in partnership with the Sequoia National Forest, Porterville College and CAL FIRE. On April 30, volunteers will plant trees and kick off the Castle Fire Ecological Restoration project.

Celebration of life set for Bakersfield College professor Jack Hernandez

Jose Franco published this piece for KGET about the upcoming Celebration of Life planned for Jack Hernandez. Jack passed away in November. He was an English and philosophy professor and the Dean of Students at BC, before serving as Vice Chancellor of the Kern Community College District. He was also the founding director of the Levan Center.

A celebration of life is scheduled for April 1 at the Bakersfield College Campus Center Conference Room. Doors open at 4 p.m.

Sonya and Jack Hernandez.

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

Cerro Coso College posted about their Coyote Cupboard:

BC Rural Initiatives shared this post:

Congratulations to our amazing ENCORE Educational Advisor, Vikki Coffee, on being recognized today by Kern Behavioral Health and Recovery Services for her work and dedication to youth in our community.

Vikki was also previously recognized in February by the Transnational Aged Youth (TAY) Collaborative. #WeAreBC

I loved this throwback from BC Cheer about when they performed at Robobank with New Kids on the Block:

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That’s a wrap for now.
See you next Saturday!

The future is bright at KernCCD.

-sonya
a joyful and grateful Chancellor

#KCCDDaringMightyThings

Sonya Christian's Blog