Tag Archives: Bakersfield College

Hello Spring 2021 … One year later

Uncategorized March 20, 2021 Leave a comment

When President Joe Biden announced his pledge of 100 million vaccinations during his first 100 days, it was an ambitious goal requiring coordination to increase vaccine distribution across the country. But we have reached that goal – with 42 days to spare!

It was bittersweet to see that news on the one year anniversary of when we announced a physical campus closure at Bakersfield College, just hours before Governor Gavin Newsom issued a statewide order to shelter in place.

Public Safety secured campus for our physical closure last March.

In that ensuing year, we have come together and innovated in ways we never previously dreamed would be possible – or necessary. I want to thank everyone in our Renegade community – students, staff, faculty, and administration – for all of the creativity and effort you have all put into making sure BC was able to continue the mission of educating and preparing our students.

And now, we’re slowly starting to open up again, while BC has become a vaccination center. You can stay up-to-date on BC’s vaccination clinics, and schedule your appointment at https://www.bakersfieldcollege.edu/studenthealth/clinic. The next clinic will be Sunday, March 21, from 10 am to 3 pm.

Check out these photos submitted from our Renegade community this week:

Craig Hayward
Jordan Rude
Sondra Keckley

If you have photos from your Covid-19 vaccination, please send them to president@bakersfieldcollege.edu. You can see all our submitted photos in our online gallery.

I love seeing these photos – every vaccination brings us that much closer to returning to normal.

Good morning Bakersfield.
It is Saturday, March 13, 2021 … a great day to be a Renegade.

Jones Art Gallery Exhibit Dolores Huerta: Revolution in the Fields / Revolución en los Campos

Dolores Huerta speaks to United Farm Workers members and supporters during an open-air meeting, location unknown,
ca. 1970s

Unidentified photographer. Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State 
University, Detroit, Michigan.

This week will be the kickoff with the opening for the new exhibit Dolores Huerta: Revolution in the Fields / Revolución en los Campos in the Jones Art Gallery!

Thursday, March 25, 2021 at 3PM, festivities begin with a Conversation with Dolores Huerta. Dolores Huerta will talk via Zoom with Dr. Taína Caragol, Curator of Latino Art & History at the Smithsonian Institution. This event is free and open to the public, and it is co-sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, the Dolores Huerta Foundation, the Wylie and May Louise Jones Art Gallery at Bakersfield College, and the Norman Levan Center for the Humanities at Bakersfield College. Register for the Conversation with Dolores Huerta.

That same day, we will unveil our virtual 360 tour of the Dolores Huerta: Revolution in the Fields / Revolución en los Campos Exhibit in the Jones Art Gallery. This virtual exhibition features bilingual descriptive text (English-Spanish) of historic and personal photographs and documents, along with protest art from the farm workers’ movement.

The Bakersfield College Jones Gallery display also features unique artworks, awards and historical objects courtesy of Dolores Huerta, Lori de Leon, and the Dolores Huerta Foundation. Dolores Huerta: Revolution in the Fields / Revolución en los Campos is organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in collaboration with the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C. See the virtual tour and get more information at the Jones Art Gallery.

Thank you to Oliver Rosales, Ronnie Wrest, and Jeffrey Huston for all your hard work in bringing the Smithsonian Exhibit to BC and organizing the virtual tour.

Music Open House

Photo by: Diana Martin Photography (www.DianaMartinphoto.com)

Bakersfield College has many music programs in our Performing Arts Department. You, or someone you know, may love music and be missing out on some of these opportunities. During these socially distant pandemic times, we haven’t been able to showcase traditional public musical demonstrations. Dr. Jennifer Garrett is thinking outside of the box to showcase music performances through a Music Open House this afternoon from 2PM-4PM. 

This event will begin with an introduction to faculty and the beautiful BC Performing Arts Center. Breakout sessions will include: the various ensembles at BC, meeting with private instructors to get to know and work with them, learning about the Commercial Music Certificate, the Music Major classes, a general Q & A, and more. Sessions will include performances by private instructors.

This virtual event is open to anyone interested in learning more about music at BC – incoming students, future students, high school students, the community and all BC students, faculty & staff. Due to the pandemic the event will be hosted on Zoom.  Sign up for the Zoom event.

For more information, please contact Dr. Jen Garrett at jennifer.garrett@bakersfieldcollege.edu.

Jack Hernandez Poem: “Walking”

Please enjoy this poem from Jack Hernandez:

Walking

On this sun bright afternoon
we walk along neighborhood paths,
she slowly behind her walker
stopping occasionally to pick up trash,
we talk about our youthful places
those times of flashing newness.
A father throws a baseball to a boy,
he misses and I pick it up
failing to throw it very far,
she tells me that it’s difficult
to read regular print anymore.
Her husband and son have recently died
but she continues on living alone
waking and walking each day
accepting what comes, what goes.
A lesson I have learned
this gleaming day.

BC Vaccination clinics

In Delano on March 15, 2021. Thank you Trustee Romeo Agbalog.

In Arvin on March 14, 2021. Thank you Mayor Olivia Trujillo and Trustee Yovani Jimenez

Drive thru at the Panorama Campus on March 13, 2021

BC faculty to take part in Humanizing STEM academy

Bakersfield College has been invited to participate in the Humanizing STEM academy this summer. The academy is a 6-week online professional development course designed to support faculty as they integrate humanizing practices in their courses with the goal of helping to eliminate equity gaps. Faculty applied for the academy in record time — we were able to identify 11 Renegade STEM instructors to participate in the academy in one day! Alex Rockey and Pam Rivers will serve as faculty support.

Jess Nieto Memorial Conference

The third annual Jess Nieto Memorial Conference goes virtual this week with a series of Zoom events and panel discussions. All Zoom events are free and open to the public, but require prior registration. Please visit the Jess Nieto Memorial Conference homepage for a schedule of events and links to register.

The Jess Nieto Memorial Conference is an annual event honoring the memory of Professor Jesus “Jess” Gilberto Nieto. A noted internationalist, entrepreneur, civil rights, and educational leader, Nieto was responsible for establishing a Chicano Studies program and Chicano Cultural Center at Bakersfield College and was the first advisor for the campus’ MEChA chapter. His influence and legacy at BC are still visible in the college’s course offerings related to Latinx history and experience as well as various student organizations and services on campus.

All conference programming is free and open to the public. ZOOM events require prior registration to attend.

Spotted on Social Media

Jen Garrett‘s puppy Remi is as adorable as ever:

Kalina Hill shared a picture with her son:

The Padrinos de Bakersfield College held a virtual mixer:

Look who turned 4 on March 17 2021

Neo turns 4!

Athletics

Athletics to hold Inaugural Hall of Fame in 2021-22

Renegade Athletics announced publicly this week that they will be establishing the Bakersfield College Athletics Hall of Fame this coming school year. The first class will be honored at an event this coming fall. A newly organized Hall of Fame committee consisting of former BC student athletes and community members will review nominees for induction each year.

We are excited about this new hall of fame and if you know of anyone who is deserving of being nominated into the inaugural class, please visit this link to do so.

Action Photos

Enjoy some of these photos from last week’s athletic action on campus. Remember that to watch the livestreams for each event go to team schedules on GoGades.com.

Men’s Soccer

Men’s Basketball

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That’s all for now.
Until next time.

With much Renegade Pride and Collegiality.
sonya –
the luckiest and happiest college president ever

An evening to remember. Sterling Silver 2021

Uncategorized March 13, 2021 1 Comment

This week, while she was getting her vaccine at BC’s very own vaccination clinic, Jennifer Serratt stopped by to visit our culinary program. She sent me this photo:

Did you know our Renegade Room is back open for take-out service? Thank you so much to Christian Flores-Castaneda and everyone in our culinary arts program for all the work you’ve put in to making it possible for our students to serve our community.

Good morning Bakersfield.
It is Saturday, March 13, 2021 … a great day to be a Renegade.

Sterling Silver

Last Saturday’s Sterling Silver broadcast on KGET/Channel 17 was an amazing celebration of our outstanding philanthropists. I hope you were able to tune in and watch as the BC Foundation honored Margaret “Peggy” Haight, Patricia Mettler, Greg & Mary Bynum, and Becki Whitson.

If you missed the production, or if you’d like to check it out again, please enjoy the following videos.

Thank you to KGET-17’s Tami Mlcoch, who served as emcee for the evening:

BC Foundation Executive Director Cheryl Scott:

My introduction:

KCCD Board of Trustees President Romeo Agbalog‘s remarks:

Of course, our honorees.

Margaret “Peggy” Haight:

Patricia Mettler:

Greg & Mary Bynum:

And Becki Whitson:

And finally, the conclusion of our production:

Thank you so much to our honorees; to Cheryl Scott, Heather Pennella and the BC Foundation team; Norma Rojas-Mora and the BC Communications team (especially video editor Valerie Urso); tp Tami Mlcoch and everyone at KGET; and to everyone who put so much careful time and effort into creating a memorable evening.

We are BC!

Previous Sterling Silver Celebrations

Sterling Silver 2020

Feb 29, 2020 Celebrating Leap Year & showcasing Sterling Silver 2020

Sterling Silver 2019

2019 Sterling Silver

BC Vaccination Clinic

BC’s Renegades have been dedicated to being a part of the solution to end this pandemic. Today, BC’s Student Health and Wellness Center hosted BC’s first vaccination clinic to distribute the Johnson and Johnson Janssen vaccine. THANK YOU to BC’s nursing students and faculty, the KC Latino COVID-19 Task Force, and all our partners who provided PPE, support, and guidance helping BC do our part to serve the community. #WeareBC!

You can see a photo gallery from the clinic on the BC SmugMug site.

Our updated vaccination clinic schedule is available on the BC website at https://www.bakersfieldcollege.edu/studenthealth/clinic. Any any eligible individuals who meet the COVID-19 Vaccine Schedule per Kern County Public Health are able to attend these clinics.

Billie Jo Rice also shared with me these photos of our students giving vaccines at Bakersfield Heart Hospital:

Our BC community is continuing to get vaccinated, and I enjoy every time another photo comes into my inbox. Check out these recent Vaccinated Renegades:

If you have a photo of your COVID-19 vaccination, please send it to president@bakersfieldcollege.edu.

And be sure to check out our gallery of vaccinations.

Virtual Theatre Performance: The Book of Fairy Tales

Spring 2021 THEA B27: Acting Theatre Lab class produced a virtual performance of “The Book of Fairy Tales: Stories from Around the World.” The stories were adapted and directed by Cody Ganger and inspired by Angela Carter’s Book of Fairy Tales.

Each piece was first discussed and rehearsed over Zoom before meeting in small groups to film. The actors and crew followed masking and social distancing guidelines for all in-person meetings, including being masked any time they were in the same space as other actors.

The cast of the performance is Vanessa Beltran, Connor Deming, Ivy Hasselbar, Alexxandra Lamacchia, Jason Land, Michael Morales, Serena Ornelas, Abraham Ortega, Abigail Putman, April Toelle, and Shane Young.

The stories include Kate Crackernuts (England), The Rabbit (Swahili), The Princess in the Suit of Leather (Egypt), The Letter Trick (Suriname), East o’ the Sun and West o’ the Moon (Norway), The Three Lovers (Mexico), The Wicked Stepmother (West Africa), The Werefox (China), The Armless Maiden (Russia), Nature’s Way (Armenia).

The performance will be available online until Sunday, March 21.

A Shot of Reality – Alcohol Awareness

The Office of Student Life held a zoom viewing of “A Shot of Reality,” an interactive alcohol awareness program presented by two professional comedians. A Shot of Reality has performed for the US Navy/Army and hundreds of colleges. The presenters have a realistic interactive discussion about the destructive and deadly consequences of alcohol abuse, assault, DUIs, health issues and more. This program was created with health professionals, local police, and members of various alcohol rehab programs. The two presenters not only use comedy to engage the audience, but they also attack the serious impact of this national campus epidemic.

You can view the “A Shot of Reality” video at https://vimeo.com/148129896

Tutoring Center – Open for Students

From an email from Tutoring:

Great news! The Bakersfield College Tutoring Center is open, available online and ready to support our students. The BC Tutoring Center offers free, one-on-one online peer tutoring with CRLA trained tutors.

Services offered:

  • Weekly 50-minute appointments
  • 15-minute drop-in tutoring (for Math and English)
  • Tutors available in many subjects

For more information and to sign up for tutoring, go to our website at https://www.bakersfieldcollege.edu/student/tutoring.

The BC Tutoring Center is a proven student success service that provides FREE online tutoring to all currently enrolled Bakersfield College Students. Our one-on-one Peer Tutors, who are trained and certified, can assist you with many Bakersfield College courses. Whether for course content, assignments, required papers (at any stage of the writing process) and/or academic skills, assistance is available through drop-in and scheduled appointments for most BC courses. Please feel free to share this information with your students. Thank you so much.

Thank you to the BC Tutoring Center Team – Bradley Cramer, Monica Huyck, and Sonia Avila – for proving this important service to our students!

Community Voices

Political Science professor Allen Bolar wrote a piece in the Bakersfield Californian about using Discord – an app originally used by gamers – in the classroom to encourage connection and engagement.

“Text chatting on Discord allows students to show their personality as discussions segue from the pros and cons of upcoming ballot propositions to a movie recommendation to advice about scholarships to a question about the next quiz deadline. We even had a heated debate about what makes the perfect pizza. It’s much easier to respond quickly (and painlessly) to requests, and students benefit from seeing questions others ask rather than being isolated in an individual email silo.”

Spotted on Social Media:

Isabel Castaneda gave a shoutout to Carlos Medina:

EODAC shared a Zoom photo of a recent meeting:

Abel Guzman gave a radio interview to encourage the Latinx community to enroll at BC:

Nick Strobel shared some beautiful springtime poppies:

Athletics

Renegade Athletics Are Back!!

After much work and tireless coordination – Renegade Athletics became one of the first colleges in the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) to return to sports competition this last week. BC is one of a handful of schools from the over 100 CCCAA schools that compete in athletics to 1) Opt-in for the Spring I season and 2) Have enough regional opponents to create a schedule of games.

Volleyball and Men’s Soccer started the Spring I season off with a bang by winning their opening games of the Spring I abbreviated season. Both teams played College of the Sequoias in their respective sports with Volleyball winning 3-1 and Men’s Soccer 4-2.

At the current time only Men’s Soccer, Volleyball and Men’s and Women’s Basketball are playing. All teams however are practicing and conditioning on-campus. While strict COVID protocols do not allow for fans in the stands at this time, it doesn’t mean you have miss out on the action – make sure to visit GoGades.com to know days/times for each sports and catch the live-stream’s through this link: https://video.ibm.com/channel/bc-renegades-athletics.

Action Photos

Seems like a dream that some of our student athletes are back in action, soon we’ll have more teams competing as well! Here are Volleyball and Women’s Basketball in action this week. Thank you Brandon Urry for getting these photos to me.

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That’s all for now.
Until next time.

With much Renegade Pride and Collegiality.
sonya –
the luckiest and happiest college president ever

BC – bold rhythms freely speak…so many riffs

Uncategorized March 6, 2021 Leave a comment

This morning, I thought I would start with a poem from Jack Hernandez:

Take Five

Going through the motions
in and out the same doors
working the usual chores,
life has closed his veins
stopped the blood that pours
like surf on unfamiliar shores.
movement now is confined
to thoughts circling his head
like flies above the dead.
But amid the chattering rhymes
his pulse begins to drum
a jazzy  jazzy   jazzy beat,
bold rhythms now freely speak,
hot sax    cool piano chords
swing him into the jostling street,
so many riffs    so much jive
take five   take five   take five.

It was perfect timing, because just a few days before he sent this, I saw on Facebook that BC Jazz Studies shared their Jazz Combos have been able to start outdoor, in-person rehearsals.

BC Jazz Studies

These steps show that we are slowly returning to normal. Every new update, each part of our lives that we’re able to regain – even if it looks considerably different than last year – brings me such joy. Beautiful music, gorgeous weather, and finally being able to come together: it’s truly wonderful to take five and appreciate how far we have come.

Good morning Bakersfield.
It is Saturday, March 6, 2021 … a great day to be a Renegade.

Sterling Silver on KGET

A little over a year ago – last February – we held our annual Sterling Silver dinner to honor and recognize our generous donors and community supporters. I didn’t imagine that night just how different this year’s event would look. But despite a pandemic and social distancing, our BC Foundation is still able to celebrate those that lift our students by supporting the college’s mission. This year’s event will be broadcast on KGET/Channel 17. Make sure to tune in tonight at 7PM!

This year, honorees include:

Patricia Mettler and Margaret “Peggy” Haight – Individual Philanthropists (posthumously)

Greg & Mary Bynum, Bynum, Inc. – Corporate Philanthropists

Greg Bynum, Sonya Christian, Mary Bynum

Becky Whitson – BC Foundation Service Medal (posthumously)

Becki Whitson

This annual event is usually an elegant dinner with proceeds helping to fund scholarships for students, providing vital opportunities to make higher education a reality for thousands of Renegades. In this unusual time, I hope that you will join me this year in watching the show while eating dinner.

BC Foundation Executive Director Cheryl Scott was on the KGET Sunrise program this week to talk about the event.

And BC Foundation Board Chair Marko Zaninovich penned this Community Voices piece about recognizing Bakersfield College’s supporters – the the important work those donations allow.

“These gifts are reason to celebrate and remind our community of the work required to educate students. Our donors have thoughtfully placed their resources, all to benefit students and our community. They share a pride in the community. The message is consistent: Invest in education today to develop thinkers and problem solvers for tomorrow.”

Thank you Connie Perez-Andreesen, Foundation Board Member, for your generous donation to #SterlingSilver2021.

Thank you Heather Penella for leading the planning effort.

Vaccination Schedule for next week

The Bakersfield College Student Health and Wellness Center is now hosting multiple vaccination clinics for any eligible individuals who meet the COVID-19 Vaccine Schedule per Kern County Public Health. This opportunity is voluntary.  

Tuesday, March 9, 2021 between 10am and Noon. Click Here to register for an appointment.

Thanks to our partners at VIPMD, we have a Moderna vaccine clinic on-campus in Levinson Hall next Tuesday, March 9, 2021 between 10am and Noon. Please note you will need to bring your photo ID, VIPMD registration packet, and your insurance card with you.

Thursday, March 11, 2021 from 2 to 4pm – BCSHWC’s First Clinic. Click Here to register for an appointment.

I am proud to announce that our known BC Student Health and Wellness Center has now been allocated the one-shot Johnson and Johnson’s Janssen vaccines to be distributed on Thursday, March 11, 2021 from 2 to 4pm in Levinson Hall. Please note you will need to bring your photo ID.

Saturday, March 13, 2021 between 10am and 2pm. Click Here to register yourself for an appointment.

Thanks to our partners at Dignity Health, we have a drive-thru Moderna vaccination clinic on-campus at the Stadium Parking lot next Saturday, March 13, 2021 between 10am and 2 pm. Please note you will need to bring your photo ID and be able to drive through the clinic space. The BC Drive-Thru Flow Site Map will provide some guidance as to how the flow will work.

Monday, March 15, 2021 between 3pm and 6pm – Delano. Click Here to register yourself for an appointment.

Thanks to our partners at Dignity Health, we have a Moderna vaccination clinic at the Delano Campus on Monday, March 15, 2021 between 3pm and 6pm. Please note you will need to bring your photo ID.

2nd Annual Jean Fuller Women in Leadership Panel

Bakersfield College kicked off Women’s History Month with a discussion and panel, moderated by Early College champion and Republican Senator Emeritus, Jean Fuller.  The event premiered on BC’s YouTube channel on Thursday, March 4, at 6:00pm.

The Jean Fuller Women in Leadership Panel featured:

  • Dr. Mary Barlow, Kern County Superintendent of Schools
  • Ms. Katie Russell, Superintendent, Panama Buena Vista Union School District
  • Assemblywoman Emeritus Nicole Parra, Manager, California Government Relations, Marathon Petroleum Corp.

If you missed the panel, you can still check it out on YouTube:

And I invited you to read Senator Emeritus Fuller’s Community Voices piece in the Bakersfield Californian about the panel.

“However, women’s leadership and empowerment is not a recent endeavor for BC, but deeply rooted in its history, as the college came to be what it is today under the leadership of a woman named Grace Van Dyke Bird. She first came to teach in 1917 and was appointed as college chief executive, the position now known as president, in 1921. She was among the first to suggest using the term “community college” instead of junior college, arguing that community was more descriptive of the institution’s role.”

The event is part of BC’s month-long celebration of Women’s History Month. Bakersfield College’s Office of Student Life, in collaboration with the Student Government Association, also hosted journalist and activist Elaine Weiss as part of the college’s Distinguished Speaker series on Tuesday, March 2nd. You can watch the video on the BCSGA Facebook page.

Elaine Weiss

COVID-19 Virtual Seminars

This week, we continued the President’s Virtual Seminar Series with two discussions.

Tuesday’s discussion featured updates from the Student Information Desk and BCSGA. Thank you to Gian Gayatao, Dan Hall, Zav Dadabhoy, Jenny Frank, and Tina Johnson for participating.

Then on Thursday we discussed the BC Vaccination clinic, results of a college-wide survey, and vaccinations and higher education. We heard a vaccine clinic update from Nicky Damania, as well as information from Craig Hayward, Jennifer Johnson, and Kimberly Nickell.

As always, thank you to Todd Coston, Nicky Damania, and Earl Parsons for all the work you put into producing these seminars.

You can see videos from all the President’s Virtual Seminars on the COVID-19 website.

California Community Colleges Women’s Caucus Meeting

The California Community Colleges Women’s Caucus (CCCWC) is celebrating International Women’s Day with their second official business meeting on March 8 at Noon. CCCWC is excited to welcome Eleni Kounalakis, California Lieutenant Governor and BOG Member as the guest speaker. Register for the CCCWC March 8 meeting.

Express Enrollment Events This Week

Bakersfield College will hold two special virtual Express Enrollment Events for new and returning students on March 10, 2020 from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. and March 13, 2020 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Educational advisors who assist students in the affinity groups for African American students, Latinx students, and Veteran students will also be available for these events. Counselors and support staff will be available to assist students with their registration process, placement, enrollment, and financial aid.  

RSVP for Express Enrollment

Commencement Virtual Celebration

Mark your calendars for Sunday, May 16, 2021, when we will celebrate the Bakersfield College Class of 2021 with a special televised virtual commencement event! It will air on KGET as well as streaming online — bringing the celebration to your home while maintaining safety precautions. I hope you will watch with the rest of Bakersfield as our graduates’ images brighten your television screen as their names are read aloud. 

BC Graduates must petition for graduation and opt-in to participate in the celebration. For more information and to sign up, visit Bakersfield College Commencement.

Health Science Virtual Outreach Event

On Thursday, February 25th, we hosted our first Health Science Pathway Virtual Outreach Event. This event was to provide the opportunity for current BC, high school, and perspective students to learn more about each of our health science programs and have the chance to explore them with us.

There were over 170 attendees and a faculty representative from 11 programs and Early College! Breakout rooms were very interactive and we received many great questions and comments from students. As one student stated “I loved everything about the presentation and how everyone had a chance to direct their questions to people directly instead of waiting for a pending email.” In the survey provided after the event, 95% of students indicated that they are more likely to register for late start and/or summer classes due to the information learned at the event.

Thank you to our phenomenal Health Science team for all of their work and time to make this event successful! Keep your eye out for more Health Science events in the future! #WeAreBC

Outreach & Early College Host Bring Your Stuffed Animal to Work Day

The Outreach & Early College Team had some special guests in their morning meeting this week. The team had a Bring Your Stuffed Animal to Work Day. Team members brought 1 (or more) of their trusted, tried, and true stuffed animals to the morning zoom meeting and shared the stories behind them. In the picture you can see that some team members really got into the spirit with an assortment from dogs, to narwhals, to Disney characters, and even a mood reflecting octopus!

Spotted on Social Media

Abel Guzman shared this throwback to a workshop with BC Dreamers about writing personal statements:

The Renegade Room shared these amazing photos of the delicious food they’ve been creating for takeout service:

Mary Jo Pasek shared some photos from her garden:

And Mindy Wilmot shared a new Renegade in her family:

Athletics

Renegade Spring Sports Update

Starting Friday Renegade Athletics are back in the following sports for the Spring I season (March-April): Men’s Soccer, Volleyball and M/W Basketball. Be sure to head to GoGades.com to check schedules. While fans are not allowed in-person at games right now, you can still keep up with the teams on social media and watch live-streams when available through this link. Click the link below to follow the official Renegade Athletics social media accounts.

De La Cruz Headed to William Jessup University

Congrats this week to women’s tennis student athlete Grecia De La Cruz as she signed to continue her athletic and academic career at William Jessup University. In the 2019 season she was the women’s tennis #1 player when she went 5-3 as the Renegades #1 singles player. We are excited for Grecia and wish her the best!

That’s all for now.
Until next time.

With much Renegade Pride and Collegiality.
sonya –
the luckiest and happiest college president ever

BC – the week of vaccinations

Uncategorized February 27, 2021 Leave a comment

I was so excited to see how many of our BC faculty and staff were able to get their COVID-19 vaccinations this week. Vaccinations are the first step to getting back to seeing each other in person – and every person I see getting their shot brings a smile to my face as we find hope to end this pandemic.

I’ve especially appreciated some of the notes that have been shared.

“After nearly a year away, I almost cried when I saw Michael Korcok! I was so happy to see my hallmate in person for the first time since March 16th 2020.” – Helen Acosta

Abel Guzman shared that his vaccine was administered by a BC LVN student, Jesus:

Here are some of the other photos of Renegades getting vaccinated:

Please share your COVID-19 vaccination photos to president@bakersfieldcollege.edu so they can be added to our growing gallery.

Good morning Bakersfield.
It is Saturday, February 27, 2021 … a great day to be a Renegade.

How BC Firefighters Land Their Dream Job

Bakersfield College, in collaboration with our City and County Fire Departments, assists students in landing their dream job in the community as firefighters. A key to reaching that goal is the right combination of education and training. Future firefighters receive both instructional and hands-on training.

This training lasts for months, and upon successful completion students are qualified to apply to work at many fire departments. Dean Lora Larkin, FIRE Faculty Charles Truvillion, Chief Mike Lencioni, and Captain Bryce Campbell met to see student progress first hand in a rare opportunity this past Saturday to see our students in a firefighting training. 

Participants included Charles Johnson (KCFD), Victor Reyes (KCFD), Austin Lackey (KCFD), Temo Rojo (KCFD), Chris Wells (KCFD), Johnathan Amaya (KCFD), Bryce Campbell (KCFD), Wyatt Paxton (BFD), and Mike Lencioni (BFD).

What many may not know is that the training through Bakersfield College continues even after a person is offered a job with the Fire Departments. The Recruit Academy is provided through Bakersfield College as well, where all previous education and training are cummulatively built upon and applied in real world scenarios. For many months recruits work long days at the training facility, and study into the night each night. Some of the topics covered are fire behavior, military discipline, auto extrication, and firefighter survival. 

Live fire training provides the students enrolled in the academy the best opportunity to experience what it truly takes to perform the tasks of a firefighter under realistic conditions. This high level of training cannot be simulated through other means. It is the mission of the teaching cadre for the Bakersfield College Firefighter 1 Academy to best prepare the cadets for their future career as firefighters providing both the academic education and the necessary experience in applying what they have been taught.

While the fire service career path can seem daunting at first, supportive staff are there for our students through the entire process. Encourage those within our community to enroll in the Bakersfield College Fire Technology program; you never know where it can take you! 

BC, KCCD Awarded Nearly $2 Million for Kern Regional Workforce Coalition

The Kern Community College District and Bakersfield College have been awarded $1,999,725.30 to convene industry, worker organizations and community around shared interests in energy, workforce, and industry needs of Kern County and the Central Valley. This initiative, known as The Kern Regional Workforce Coalition is a  High Road Training Partnership (HTRP), aimed to create a stronger, healthier, and more economically resilient community by focusing on equity, education, industry security, and job quality.

To meet these objectives, the Kern Regional Workforce Coalition will work with many local community, labor, industry stakeholders and contributing partners including the Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK), The Kern, Inyo, and Mono Counties Building Trades Council, The Kern, Inyo, and Mono Counties Central Labor Council, Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce, Kern Taxpayers Association, Farmworker Institute for Education and Leadership (FIELD), and others to conduct research, strengthen and expand regional workgroups, and invest in worker-centered workforce training, development, economic diversification and the right industry sectors to build the region’s foundation for high road training partnerships. 

Umoja Celebrates Black History Month with several events

The Umoja Community program and the Umoja Club held events during February for Black History Month. Highlights include the Club’s third annual conference and the Program’s presentation of East African acrobats.

The conference keynote Dr. Afiya Mbilishaka spoke on “Untangling Racial Trauma.” The DC-based psychohairapist wove hair together as an expression of African culture, with the hair as both symbol and target of marginalization.

Dr. Afiya Mbilishaka

She traced the history of hair oppression from Louisiana forcing formerly enslaved women to cover their hair with a headwrap to today’s students being bullied, not allowed to play sports, or suspended for wearing their hair in braids, locs, or afros. From the 1700s to now “there have been laws and rules how we were allowed to wear our hair,” Dr. Mbilishaka added.

But hair is also a cultural affirmation, a type of self care, and a way to protest. She explained that those escaping enslavement braided maps into their hair: “I don’t want to present a story that is victimizing. We always fought back.”

African drummer Dramane Kone and his group provided energetic drumming and dancing as part of the conference.

Another event was Tanzanian Zuzu Acrobats. Performances included balancing on stacked chairs, riding a unicycle three wheels high, folding into contorted positions, and forming a human pyramid — all to the rhythm of African music. During the post-performance question and answer, choreographer Matiga Koba explained that the moves were from celebration rituals from the Tanzanian tribes represented by the performers.

Kudos to the Umoja Club officers and Umoja Program Coordinator Dr. Paula L. Parks for putting on such celebratory, educational, and engaging Black History Month activities.

2nd Annual Jean Fuller Women in Leadership Panel

Cynthia Giumarra, Rosalina Rivera, Blanca Cavazos, Shannon Grove, and Jean Fuller at the 2019 Women in Leadership Panel.

Bakersfield College will kick off Women’s History Month with a panel, hosted by me and moderated by the fabulous Senator Emeritus, Jean Fuller. The panel will include local women who will share their influences, challenges, and successes along with words of advice for young women. The event will premiere on BC’s YouTube channel at 6 pm on Thursday, March 4, 2021.

The Jean Fuller Women in Leadership Panel features the following guests:

  • Dr. Mary Barlow, Kern County Superintendent of Schools
  • Ms. Katie Russell, Superintendent, Panama Buena Vista Union School District
  • Past Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, Manager, California Government Relations, Marathon Petroleum Corp.

The event is part of BC’s month-long celebration of Women’s History Month. Bakersfield College’s Office of Student Life in collaboration with the Student Government Association is also hosting journalist and activist Elaine Weiss as part of the college’s Distinguished Speaker series on Tuesday, March 2nd.

New Renegade Orientations for High School Seniors Begin

The Outreach & Early College team, along with colleagues from other Student Affairs departments, held their first New Renegade Orientations for matriculation high school seniors. This past week nearly 350 high school seniors attended to learn more about attending Bakersfield College after graduation. During these orientations, seniors have the opportunity to learn more about their transition from high school to college, discover resources and tools for success, and explore their individualized Comprehensive Student Education Plans. Eight more sessions are scheduled for interested seniors to attend.

Visit: https://www.bakersfieldcollege.edu/outreach/high-school-seniors to learn more!

Tutors for Panorama/SW Campus Host Spring 2021 Virtual Conference

Last Friday, tutors from the Panorama and SW campuses held their Zoom Tutoring Conference for Spring 2021. All tutors were invited to contribute to open discussions on their tutoring experiences in general and their coping mechanisms for tutoring during COVID.

Connie Gonzalez, Director of the MESA Program, was the featured guest speaker, addressing the issue of Emotional Intelligence (EI) and its connection to learning. Her presentation culminated in an insightful questionnaire that assessed the EI of each attendee — helping us see where we might need work on our EI!

Perhaps most impressive thing about this Conference was that it was 100% tutor-run as part of a tutor training course that all tutors are required to take. Tutors expertly organized and implemented every aspect of the Conference. Their ease with technology was evident throughout, and they added the delightful touch of including 2 online games, Kahoot and Skribbl.io.

When all was said and done, each participant left the meeting with a reinforced sense that they were part of a community of peer educators with the mission of providing students the best tutoring experience possible. Their growth mindset is inspiring as they continually embrace new approaches, even during COVID. Looking forward to the next conference!

Virtual Forums: Summer & Fall 2021 Preliminary Plans

On Tuesday, we continued the President’s Virtual Seminar series. This week’s session focused on our preliminary plans for Summer & Fall 2021, as we gradually increase physical access to our campus.

Thank you to our panelists – Billie Jo Rice, VP of Instruction; Rosita Barron, director of the Child Development Center; Jeremy Staat – Welding Professor; and Anna Melby – Culinary Arts Professor; for sharing their insight as we navigate back toward reopening our campus and creating our new normal.

As always, thank you to Earl Parsons for providing programming support, and Todd Coston for providing technical support and serving as our emcee.

You can catch up on all the virtual forums on BC’s COVID-19 website.

Opening Day Spring 2021

Today, I’m sharing a few videos from the second day of programming for our Opening Day Spring 2021 celebration.

We took a look at the Project HireUp program:

We also enjoyed a performance from the Bakersfield College Choir, Chamber Singers, and Renegade Chorus:

You can see all the videos from the Spring Opening Day celebration on the Bakersfield College website.

In the News

Community Voices: Why choose a career in education? Teachers change lives

Kimberly Bligh, Education Department chair, wrote about the importance of teachers in our society, and shared how BC can prepare future – and current – teachers.

“Bakersfield College has one of the top teacher education programs in all of California’s community colleges. We have multiple pathways and programs available for people who want to pursue any type of teaching career. Teaching paths include pre-K, elementary, middle school, high school, community college and university levels. Within those levels, teachers can specialize in early childhood, nutrition, special education, STEM, career and technical fields, education technology, research, curriculum design, administration, counseling and so much more.”

Community Voices: Student government members impact so many on campus

BCSGA Vice President Emma McNellis wrote a Community Voices piece urging students to consider joining student government.

“By joining your student government, you will be given an opportunity to meet several new people, develop strong leadership skills and join a team of several dedicated student leaders. You will meet a variety of students who share the common goal of effectively representing the students to make college life better for all. Additionally, no matter the amount of leadership experience you begin with, I guarantee that student government will enhance your leadership skills, as it has honed my own soft skills for the past two years”

New cafe Nixtamal to support Children First Campaign

Culinary Arts Adjunct Faculty Marah Meek has joined the Nixtamal team, which supports the Children First Campaign in East Bakersfield. The charity is opening a new cafe, and is also selling monthly pastry boxes – which are prepared by students in the BC Culinary Arts Department.

You can find out more about this program in the story on the KGET website.

Sunrise Interview: Early College

Kylie Campbell, Outreach and Early College Director, appeared on KGET News at Sunrise to talk about BC’s partnership with the Kern High School District.

Spotted on Social Media

BC Cheer shared a Throwback Thursday picture from 2016 New Student Convocation:

Cheryl Scott shared this adorable picture of her dogs:

Matt Andrasian-Jones continued his Discern and Draw series with an Allen Wrench Monkey Tail:

Krista Moreland‘s cat took a nap on her desk:

Isabel Castaneda shared an update about the new Renegade in her family:

Athletics

Jonathan Hunter Receives His Wrestling State Championship Ring

Congrats to last year’s individual wrestling (174lb) state champion and Renegade Athletics Male Athlete of the Year, Jonathan Hunter, on receiving his state champion ring this week. Jonathan dominated his opponents throughout the 2019 wrestling season and quickly worked his way to victory at the state wrestling championships. He will now have this piece of hardware to remind him of his hard work and accomplishments the rest of his life.

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That’s all for now.
Until next time.

With much Renegade Pride and Collegiality.
sonya –
the luckiest and happiest college president ever

Renegades creating history every step of the way

Uncategorized February 20, 2021 Comments: 2

This week, Michael O’Doherty, one of our Foundation Board members, sent me this picture:

Renegades control rebound, 1963”
Courtesy Los Angeles Public Library
Michael O’Doherty

“Live in Black and White on the wall of Vons in the Marketplace is this action shot of Renegade Basketball.”

One of the things I love best about Bakersfield College is how connected it is throughout the community. I love the interaction between the campus and Bakersfield – BC truly is a community college. That sense of community pride strengthens our students, faculty, staff and administration as we all work toward our common goal of helping our students achieve their educational goals.

And I love the notes and emails that people share with me when they see BC being represented throughout the community. Keep those notes coming.

Btw, Have you seen this picture at Vons?

Good morning Bakersfield.
It is Saturday, February 20, 2021 … a great day to be a Renegade.

KHSD Expanding Early College Partnership with BC

The Career Technical Education Center on Old River Road, home to several of our Early College courses at KHSD.

The Kern High School District is offering a select number of students the opportunity to earn an Associate’s degree. With BC’s Early College program expanding into the Kern High School District, students can get a 2-year head start on their baccalaureate degree, and all books and transportation will be provided to them free of charge.

Check out the news story from 23ABC:

Applications for KHSD parents to enroll their students in Early College end on March 26. For more information, visit the Early College website.

Thank you Dr. Jean Fuller and Trustee Romeo Agbalog for your leadership in the #EarlyCollege movement.

Learning Together with the Library

The BC Library continued its series of conversations around cultural competency during the All-Campus Virtual Seminar on Thursday. English professor Pam Boyles and history professor Erin Miller discussed their thoughts about the video titled “Fighting Racism Without Shaming”, featuring Moral Courage Project founder Dr. Irshad Manji.

Thank you to Mindy Wilmot for moderating the discussion, Todd Coston for serving as our emcee, and Earl Parsons for providing the programming support for the Virtual Seminar Series.

Check out the video below:

You can find videos from previous Learning Together seminars, as well as other virtual forums, on the President’s Events page. (Check the Virtual Forums tab!)

Recognizing Robert Tafoya

This week I saw a wonderful article from Jose Gaspar in the Bakersfield Californian honoring Judge Robert Tafoya, who retired February 5 after being appointed to the bench by Governor Gray Davis in 2002.

I’m not sure if you are all aware, but Judge Tafoya was the person behind creating Bakersfield College’s inmate education program. I remember when Chancellor Emeritus Sandra Serrano called me about working with Kern Valley State Prison to create an educational opportunity for inmates, with a goal of providing opportunities for these individuals while reducing recidivism rates.

After this phone call, I pinged Rich McCrow, then director of the Delano campus. Rich put his head and heart into building this program — and Bryan Hirayama was the first faculty member to teach at KVSP.

The program began at Kern Valley State Prison in Spring 2015. The pilot course, COMM B1 – Public Speaking, had 27 students enrolled.

Our first Inmate Scholars cohort of 17 students graduated in August 2019.

I am grateful for Judge Tafoya and Chancellor Serrano for seeding this work that has made such a profound change in these inmates’ lives.

COVID-19 Vaccinations

On Friday, Kern County Public Health announced that more sectors will be eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines beginning next week. It’s been reassuring seeing members of our Bakersfield College community being able to get their vaccines as well.

Di Hoffman, one of our nursing faculty, shared that she got her vaccine this week:

If you have photos of yourself or loved ones getting vaccinated for COVID-19, please email them to earl.parsons@bakersfieldcollege.edu or president@bakersfieldcollege.edu.

I’d also like to share another video from our February 2 Virtual Forum with Dr. Michael Saag. In this clip, he talks more about the vaccine rollout process and our ability to scale up our supply and distribution:

Mars Rover Perseverance Watch Party

On Thursday, NASA successfully landed a new rover, Perseverance, on Mars. Astronomy professor Nick Strobel hosted a Zoom watch party for our Renegade community. Before the landing, he shared lots of great information about Perseverance’s mission and about Mars.

The Perseverance mission is looking for signs of possible past life on Mars, as well as collecting rock and soil samples and testing oxygen production in the atmosphere to prepare for potential future human travel to the Red Planet.

Nick also wrote about the Mars Perseverance mission in his February 21 Bakersfield Night Sky column.

Opening Day Spring 2021

This week, I’m sharing two videos from Day 2 of our Spring Opening Day celebration.

We opened the day’s production with this photo roll from Fall semester:

And please enjoy this performance of “Stomp on the Fire” from the Bakersfield College Chamber Singers:

Check out all the videos from our 3-day Opening Day production on the Spring Opening Day website.

Spotted on Social Media

BCSGA shared this picture of Maya Angelou’s visit to Bakersfield College in the 1970s:

Librarian Mindy Wilmot shared this throwback photo:

Professor Buggs’ Level 2 RN students celebrated completing their first round of clinical:

Shannon Musser tuned into BC’s Perseverance watch party with her kids:

The Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce had this positive message to share:

Athletics

Head Coach Spotlight – Casey Goodman, Renegade Softball

Our Renegade Coaches are the glue that keep their teams together. All of our coaches spend countless hours behind the scenes preparing their teams for competition and life. This week we’re shining the spotlight on Casey Goodman, who leads our softball team.

Coach Goodman has been at BC since 2017 and has already won two Western State Conference (WSC) Championships and been named the 2019 WSC Coach of the Year. Coach Goodman played college softball at the University of Louisiana at Monroe where as a player she earned multiple post-season awards and has since been inducted into the ULM Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018.

We are proud to call Coach Goodman a Renegade and know she’s still yet to accomplish many great things in her coaching career!

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That’s all for now.
Until next time.

With much Renegade Pride and Collegiality.
sonya –
the luckiest and happiest college president ever

Sonya Christian's Blog