Tag Archives: David Koeth

March in Like a Renegade!

Uncategorized March 16, 2019 1 Comment

Good morning, Bakersfield.
It is Saturday, March 16, 2019… A great day to be a Renegade.

Kern Economic Summit

Bakersfield College attended the Economic Summit earlier this week, put on by Kern Economic Development Corporation, CSU Bakersfield, and the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce. As always, the summit was wonderful, and the information extremely impactful.

Manny Mourtzanos and Nan Gomez Heitzeberg

Corny Rodriguez, Michael ODoherty, Tom Gelder

Sonya Christian and Trustee Romeo Agbalog

During the panel titled “Fostering a Strong Entrepreneurial Culture in Kern County,” Goli Ameri, CEO of StartItUp, stated that Bakersfield College and CSU Bakersfield’s Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC)’s support of entrepreneurs has been vital to the development of young entrepreneurs. She also stated that out of all the cities and counties that she’s worked with in Southern California, Bakersfield and Kern County are by far the most enthusiastic and supportive of creating an entrepreneurial-friendly community.

JP Lake, Goli Ameri, Neeraj Rama, Irma Olguin

Bakersfield College is always ready to support and guide our young entrepreneurs! We are so proud of the work that has been done here.

Fun Photos: Economic Summit VIP Dinner

On the night before the Kern Economic Summit, the Economic Summit VIP Dinner was held in downtown Bakersfield. Thank you to April & Co. for the great photos!

Melissa Hurtado Swears In

Newly-elected Senator Melissa Hurtado of the 14^th District held her swearing-in ceremony in Bakersfield at South High School on March 9. Senator Hurtado spoke about her experiences as a first-generation American citizen, being the first person in her family to graduate high school, and being a first-generation college student.

Woman speaking at podium — Senator Melissa Hurtado speaks about her experiences as a first-generation American citizen.

Tamara Baker and Nan Gomez Heitzberg — Tamara Baker and Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg

Community Relations Manager Tamara Baker and Trustee Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg attended the event, where Assemblyman Rudy Salas introduced the new Senator and gave a bit of background on their work together. We are extremely excited to get to know Senator Hurtado and show her what it means to be a Bakersfield College Renegade!

Celebrating Pi Day

March 14 is celebrated around the world as Pi Day, and BC honored the discovery of one of the most important mathematical concepts in human history with free pizza and pie in the Levan Center.

Women behind booth — Free pizza and pie makes everyone happy!

Several academic departments hosted booths in the courtyard of the Science and Engineering building in celebration of Pi Day, and a student dressed in a raptor costume handed out flyers with facts about pi.

Inflatable dinosaur eating woman's head — Dinosaurs get pretty hungry on Pi Day!

Pi, a mathematical constant of approximately 3.14 used to calculate the perimeter and radius of a circle, was discovered by several mathematicians in ancient China, Egypt and India, but around 250 BC, the Greek mathematician Archimedes developed a polygonal algorithm that could calculate an extremely accurate approximation of pi, which is why the number is often referred to as “Archimedes’ constant.”

Geometric methods for calculating pi remained the dominant technique used by mathematicians until the revolutionary invention of infinite series in the late 1500s and early 1600s, and Sir Isaac Newton was able to calculate pi up to 15 digits using infinite series techniques. Today, computers are able to calculate pi to the two-quadrillionth digit, which happens to be 0.

BC Screens ‘Served Like a Girl’

Last Monday, BC Women’s History and More (WHAM) Committee and the Levan Center presented a screening of Director Lysa Heslov’s powerful documentary ‘Served Like a Girl,’ which explores the lives of several American women who were wounded in action and are now transitioning from soldier to civilian after serving their country in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The film exposes heartbreak, triumph, and inspiration as the veterans struggle with PTSD, homelessness, broken families, and other tragedies. It is an engaging and honest look at an often unseen veteran reality. Check out the trailer.

At the BC Main campus, Professor of English for Multilingual Students Elizabeth Rodacker, who served as moderator, introduced the documentary and facilitated discussion about the film.

In Delano, Professor Patricia Smith introduced the film and moderated a discussion with Lt. Col. Cheri Provancha, who served in the U.S. military for 31 years, deploying to both Iraq and Afghanistan.

I’d like to give a special thanks to WHAM for putting on this event, and also to the Levan Center for the Humanities for providing funding and accommodations.

For more information, visit Women’s H istory Month.

BC Puts on ‘A Piece of my Heart’

Last week in the Black Box Theater, Professor of Theatre Kimberly Chin directed a student production of Shirley Lauro’s dramatic play ‘A Piece of My Heart,’ which is the true story of six women (five nurses and a country western singer) who went to Vietnam to entertain the troops.

This event was provided as a collaboration between the BC Performing Arts Department and the BC Women’s History and More Committee (WHAM), with funding provided by the BC Alumni Foundation.

I’d like to thank everyone involved for putting on this fantastic production. To learn more, visit Women’s History Month.

Fun Photos: Memorial Stadium

Brandon Urry, Sports Information Director snapped this great photo of Memorial Stadium against the backdrop of the mountains. Nice job, Brandon!

Industrial Automation Video

I loved seeing this news story on Channel 23ABC about our Industrial Automation program offering a Bachelor’s degree. It’s so exciting to see our campus moving forward into another aspect of higher education.

Read the story and watch the video on turnto23.com. We are BC!

Dr. Anna Laven to Serve on Regional K-12 Strong Workforce Program Selection Committee

Dr. Anna Laven, Program Manager for Dual Enrollment, was selected to serve on the inaugural Central/Mother Lode Regional Consortium (CRC) K-12 Strong Workforce Programs Selection Committee. Honored to represent Bakersfield College, Dr. Laven is one of 18 members serving a two-year term.

Dr. Anna Laven (right) will serve on the inaugural Central/Mother Lode Regional Consortium (CRC) K-12 Strong Workforce Programs Selection Committee.

With $150,000,000 in total grant funding available from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office – Division of Workforce and Economic Development, in partnership with the California Department of Education, the Strong Workforce Program (SWP) aims to provide more and better Career Technical Education to increase social mobility and fuel regional economies with skilled workers. Focusing on innovation and risk-taking, SWP is meant to increase the number of students enrolled in programs leading to high-demand, high-wage jobs.

Culturally Responsive Teaching

On Friday, March 1, the Bakersfield College Dual Enrollment Program, in partnership with CSU Bakersfield and funded by the College Futures grant, hosted a professional development opportunity for more than 40 local educators from Arvin to Wasco at the Bakersfield College Delano Campus. The half-day event focused on implementing place-based and culturally responsive pedagogies in the San Joaquin Valley classroom throughout the PK-16 pipeline.

Woman explaining something with her hands

After welcomes by Dr. Anna Laven and Abel Guzman, Dr. Adam Sawyer of CSU Bakersfield lead the participants in an interactive activity and provided opening remarks focused on understanding the importance of place-based education. Sharing her research on “citizen science work across the curriculum,” Dr. Brittney Beck of CSU Bakersfield explained how culturally relevant curriculum can be included in diverse areas, including STEM fields, as action research projects that promote positive community change.

Dr. Oliver Rosales facilitated a conversation with Roger Gadiano, Delano resident and activist, on the importance of oral history in creating archives within a community and the use of the Larry Itliong Curriculum Resource Guide. Robust conversations followed in concurrent sessions with the three presenters, with attendees yearning for more!

In the wrap-up, participants agreed that they would enthusiastically attend a follow-up two-day seminar that offered an even deeper dive into culturally responsive teaching and curriculum. Always a good problem when participants want even more! The Dual Enrollment program thanks the Delano campus staff for the warm welcome and hosting the seminar.

Dr. Sawyer and Dr. Rosales offered these comments on the seminar:

“Teachers across the region are yearning for ways to better connect with and improve the learning outcomes of our culturally and linguistically diverse student population. The Delano workshop provided useful theory, examples from practice, and standards-aligned curricula for these educators (and future educators) to use the local socio-historical context and the cultural and linguistic assets of local students as resources for rich and meaningful content area learning across subject areas and grade levels. This work is truly transformational and Friday in Delano was just the first step.”
— Dr. Adam Sawyer

“This was a wonderful opportunity to create a humanities learning and professional development experience for faculty and teachers across multiple grade levels and educational institutions. The fact that we did it too in the rural communities is so significant. Recognizing the historical and cultural capital of our rural communities is a high priority for our rural teachers and college/university faculty. Finding the intersections between humanities and STEM learning also guides our work. This conversation among educators who care about our rural communities was an important one to initiate and we have definitely built a framework for future collaboration, innovation, and interest across institutions, including the elementary, secondary community college, and university levels.”
— Dr. Oliver Rosales

Active Shooter Response and Tourniquet Training

Public Safety held a series of training seminars in the Levan Center to teach BC students and staff the proper way to respond to an active shooter situation on campus.

School shootings are increasingly common in the United States, and there is no consistent profile of an active shooter, Chris Counts said. In the wake of dozens of mass shootings that have occurred since the Columbine massacre in 1999, campus security services at schools around the country have changed their emergency protocols to be more proactive during these incidents.

Two males practicing tourniquet application — Knowing how to apply a tourniquet can save someone’s life.

The most important thing to prevent active shooter incidents is to report any suspicious activity to campus security or BC’s Students of Concern team. In almost every mass shooter incident, someone else knew that it was being planned, and reporting suspicious notes or social media posts can save lives.

Man holding red shirt — EMT and Public Safety Training instructor Brent Burton taught everyone how to properly use a tourniquet.

In the event that you hear shots being fired from a distance on campus, the first thing you should do is be aware of building exits and leave campus as soon as possible. If that isn’t possible, lock and barricade the doors, turn off all lights, cell phones and any source of noise, and hide somewhere out of sight from windows. It is extremely rare that active shooters will try to breach any barricaded rooms.

If you’re unable to run or hide in time, then it’s time to fight for your life. Use anything available to you as a weapon, and overwhelm the shooter with numbers while giving emergency responders time to react. You won’t be punished for acting in self-defense, and your bravery could save your life and the lives of countless others.

After the presentation, EMT and Public Safety Training instructor Brent Burton demonstrated how to properly use a tourniquet to prevent serious loss of blood in the event someone is shot. If someone is arterially bleeding, it’s very likely that they’ll lose all their blood and die before emergency responders can arrive on the scene, so knowing how to apply a tourniquet can save someone’s life, Burton said.

Military-grade tourniquets will be added to all of the red bag first aid kits available to every department on campus soon, but if you don’t have access to a tourniquet, you can use a belt or a shirt instead. First, apply pressure to the wound until bleeding has ceased. Then, apply the tourniquet two inches above the wound, avoiding any joints, then mark the time that the tourniquet was applied somewhere on the person’s body and leave it on until emergency responders arrive.

Thank you to Chris, Brent and our Public Safety team for organizing these important training sessions.

Art, Architecture, and Archetypes

On Wednesday, current and former BC professors talked about the ways that art is inspired by storytelling during the second Art, Architecture and Archetypes event for the Spring 2019 semester.

Five people sitting at table and looking to their left — The Art, Architecture, and Archetypes panel discussed how art is inspired by storytelling.

Rae Anne Kumelos discussed the ways that advertising re-contextualizes utopian imagery from mythology to sell products. David Koeth and Miriam Valenzuela focused their discussion on operas and paintings that depict the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg talked about the revolutionary work of Mexican artist Enrique Chagoya and his use of Aztec codices as a storytelling tool, and Duane Anderson talked about how architecture techniques have evolved throughout history to match the stories that cultures tell about themselves.

Thank you to the Levan Center and the Art, Architecture and Archetypes panel for this enlightening discussion about the relationship between art and storytelling.

YES Conference Empowers and Supports Foster Youth Across Kern County

Woman with video camera and two male students — Reyna Harvey filming Matthew Stubblefield and Carlos Lopez for the news clip.

The Youth Empowering Success (YES) program was highlighted by Reyna Harvey on KBAK this week. She featured BC Professor Ian Anderson and Renegade Matthew Stubblefield as they shared how impactful this program has been. Check it out at bakersfieldnow.com.

The annual YES Conference returned to BC last Friday for their annual event to support local foster youth, encouraging them to finish school and follow their dreams. Photos can be found on BC’s Smugmug.

The YES program is also holding a Trivia Night fundraiser from 6-8 p.m. on April 1 at the Stockdale Affairs Event Center, located at 201 New Stine Road, Suite 350. To support this program, tickets may be purchased online.

Fun Photos: OB Nursing Teaching Fair

For their final projects, teams of students in BC’s Nursing department hosted informational booths and tables with games, activities, and prizes to teach fellow Renegades about safe sex, maternal health, and pregnancy.

Fun Photos: St. Patty’s Day

Two men loving each other — Mike Ivey and Pam Kelley showing some serious ST. PATRICK’S DAY spirit!

Bill Kelly: Agriculture Icon

Bill Kelly is one of BC’s most legendary instructors, and his history with the campus dates all the way back to 1966, when he earned his associate’s degree in agriculture as a student. He has taught agriculture at BC since 1982, after 20 years of teaching at Fresno State University and South High School. He was the 2015 recipient of the Teacher of Excellence Award from the California Agriculture Teachers’ Association.

Bill Kelly smelling flowers — Bill Kelly takes a moment to stop and smell the flowers.

Last week, Tabatha Mills of KGET highlighted Bill Kelly’s contribution to Kern County agriculture in a piece that aired on the local news, highlighting how Kelly has launched agriculture careers for thousands of BC students. Kelly’s students have worked for the US Forest Service, California Department of State Parks, and the Bureau of Land Management, and include several people in management positions at Paramount Farms and a VP at Bolthouse Farms.

Kelly serves on the Board of Directors for the Tree Foundation, a non-profit organization that plants trees throughout Kern County. He also supervises interns for BC and the Panorama Vista Preserve, and is a member of the Society of American Foresters. In the Wasco FFA’s recommendation for the Teacher of Excellence Award, Advisor Denise Morales wrote that Kelly “is a living, breathing example of someone that wants the best for all his students.”

I feel honored to work with such a caring and distinguished person as Bill Kelly, and I know that his kindness has helped Kern County continue its proud tradition of feeding the world.

‘Those Outspoken’ Speaks Out to Students

On Thursday, March 7 several inmates from Taft Correctional Institution spoke to students in the Levan Center about daily life in a federal prison and how to avoid making bad choices that could take away their freedom.

The inmates were part of a group called “Those Outspoken,” formerly known as “Those Outspoken Against Drugs,” which reaches out to young people in Kern County to help them avoid making the kinds of decisions that could lead them to a jail sentence. Those Outspoken, which was founded by inmates at Taft Correctional Institution, is not a “Scared Straight” style outreach program; rather, the inmates speak honestly at the audience’s level about their lives and the lessons they’ve learned during their time in jail.

They answered questions from the audience about what they’d learned from reading “Incarceration Nations”, Baz Dresinger’s book about mass incarceration around the world and the community read for last year’s One Book, One Bakersfield program. The book focuses on the success of rehabilitation programs at prison systems in other countries and how similar programs in the United States could reduce recidivism rates.

While many of the inmates in Those Outspoken suffered from the kind of structural inequality that lead people into a life of gangs, drugs and crime due to a lack of other opportunities, several inmates ended up in federal prison as a result of financial and business choices that ended up hurting themselves and their families. The inmate who called himself “Darrell,” for instance, grew up in a life of privilege, started a multimillion-dollar stationery company before turning 18, and was president of his local chamber of commerce. He’s now serving an 8-year sentence for mail fraud and money laundering as a result of making shady business decisions in the wake of the 2008 economic crash.

“Taking shortcuts led me to prison,” “Darrell” said. “[My family are] the true victims, and they’re paying the most for my actions.”

“Hector” is serving a second 10-year sentence for distributing drugs, and he only was out of jail for a little more than a year after his first sentence before he started associating with gang members again and was caught attempting to distribute fentanyl. He described the shame he felt in missing his daughter grow up during the first sentence, and how he’ll miss the opportunity to see his daughter get married and have grandchildren during the second sentence.

“No matter how tough someone thinks they are, it hurts,” “Hector” said.

Thank you to Mark Olsen and the Levan Center for bringing Those Outspoken to BC.

Kern County Science Fair

Joe Saldivar, Biology Department Chair, was the guest speaker for the Kern County Science Fair on Tuesday, March 12. Hundreds of 4^th–12^th grade students assembled to display the results of their science projects and compete for awards. Dr. Saldivar presented on Curi-“loss”-ity: the challenge of keeping critical thinking alive as we grow older. Here is the abstract of his talk:

We are living in the most incredible time in human history. Advancements in technology, engineering and scientific research occur on a daily basis. With these advancements, comes the bombardment of information: Feng Shui will balance your life, alien abductions occur all the time, Earth is flat, the Holocaust never happened, cancer is prevented with an alkaline diet, pills are better than exercise, evolution is incorrect, magnets in your shoes will heal pain, a bronze bracelet will equalize your energy levels and you can speak to the deceased through a medium. Unfortunately, many people believe these claims are based on science. Joe Saldivar’s presentation describes how humans are all born as scientists and why humans eventually lose our ability to think critically.

Joe Saldivar speaking to large audience — Joe Saldivar explains to a captive audience why humans eventually lose our ability to think critically.

The presentation received numerous accolades from parents, students, and professional colleagues.

Check out one of Joe Saldivar’s Renegade Talks:

Family Math & Science Night

Some of BC’s EDUC B24 students were stars at a nearby elementary school’s Family Math & Science Night. Eighteen teams of 2-3 BC student volunteers from Dr. Bernadette Towns and Teresa McAllister’s “Introduction to Classroom Teaching” classes came up with creative, engaging, and interactive learning activities for the elementary students and their families.

Three BC students and two children making art projects

As it turns out, Nick Strobel also participated in this event.

By all appearances both the BC and elementary students had a wonderful time!

Local Renegade Puts the ‘Baker’ in Bakersfield College

KGET highlighted BC culinary arts student Maria Lopez and her business Baking Encanto, which is helping support her family and pay her way through college.

Lopez runs Baking Encanto out of her kitchen while attending school full time and taking care of her newborn baby who inspired her to pursue her dream of becoming a baker. It’s often very stressful, but Lopez knows that all of her effort will lead to success.

“With hard work, dedication and determination, anything is possible,” Lopez said. “There are days and night that I don’t sleep because I have to bake, but truly it’s worth it.”

Lopez is set to graduate from BC at the end of this semester and hopes to move her bakery into a new location. You can follow her bakery on her Instagram account, @baking_encanto.

See the whole story on KGET.com.

ProSoft Technology Presents on Industrial Automation

On March 13, 2019, the Bakersfield College Career Education Department welcomed engineers from ProSoft Technology. They provided a presentation that enlightened students from the industrial automation and engineering programs about the current and future trends of industrial automation.

Presenters delivered personal advice about their educational backgrounds and careers. ProSoft Technology is dedicated to supporting our students as some of the staff that presented were alumni from BC and could not be more thrilled that we have made history with our Industrial Automation Bachelor of Science program.

Thank you to Carlos Medina, Job Development Specialist and the INDA and Engineering department for coordinating a great event for our students.

BC’s College Council

We had a another great College Council meeting. Laser focused on student learning and student achievement. Here are Manny Mourtzanos, Jonathan Ward, and Crieghton Magers presenting the Business Pathways Outcomes.

Manny Mourtzanos, Jonathan Ward, Creighton Magers

Here are Craig Hayward and Jessica Wojtysiak presenting the Vision for Student Success goals to College Council.

Gadfly Cafe Talks Love

On Wednesday, students participated in a friendly debate about love as part of the Gadfly Cafe series. The official topic name was ‘Love: It’s Meaning, Purpose and Value.’

It’s always good to see our Renegade youth being able to discuss love in such an open and inviting manner. Thanks to Levan Center Director Reggie Williams for putting on these monthly events!

Fun Photos: Trees at BC

Andrew Willcut was very helpful with our KHSD students earlier this week. He gave them a safety lesson using hedge trimmers and explained how the BC maintenance crew keeps all the hedges the same general length.

Then, he demonstrated how they plant trees along the parking lot and let some of the students plant a few trees.

Thank you to Andy and the BC team for coordinating this program and working with the KHSD students. Always great to branch out into the community!

Former Renegade Football Coach Inducted into CCCFCA Hall of Fame

Sonya Christian, Duane Damron, unidentified male — I was honored to be there to support Coach Damron on his special day!

Former long-time Renegade Football Assistant Coach Duane Damron was inducted into the California Community College Football Coaches Association (CCCFCA) Hall of Fame this last Saturday. Sandi Taylor, Frank Gornick (former BC administrator), Carl Bowser (former BC Football Coach), Dr. William Baker (BC Athletic Team Doctor), and I along with many others, including Duane’s family, were there to honor his career and his commitment to BC.

Duane Damron speaking — Duane Damron gave a rousing speech.

Duane was born and raised in McFarland and had several opportunities to move up and out in the coaching world, but always chose to stay in beautiful Bakersfield.

Congratulations Duane and thanks for your dedication to BC!

Renegades of the Week

Renegade Athletics is proud to announce this week’s (3/10-3/16) Wells Fargo Renegades of the Week.

Gabby Lugo, Women’s Track and Field

Lugo achieved the A standard for both the 800m (2:18.86) and the 1500m (4:51.02) at the Oxy Distance Carnival on Saturday (3/9).

Ryan Dickerson, Baseball

In his first game back from having his hamate (wrist) bone removed three weeks ago, Dickerson had a walk-off RBI double to claim the 7-6 victory over LA Valley on Saturday (3/9).

Mayor Goh at BC Baseball & Softball

Mayor Goh and BC Softball team — Mayor Goh with softball

Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh came out to support BC Baseball and Softball this past Saturday. She was able to spend time with each team before the start of their games and encourage them to keep representing the college with pride. We are fortunate to live in an area with such strong support for our college.

Mayor Goh and BC Baseball team — Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh sits in the dugout with a few members of the BC Baseball team.

Ten Renegades Named to 2019 CCCBCA Academic All-State Team

A big congratulations goes out to our ten Renegade baseball players who made this year’s California Community College Baseball Coaches Association (CCCBCA) Academic All-State Team. To be considered for the award student athlete needed to have participated as a member of a community college baseball program, completed a sophomore level of academic credits with a minimum of a 3.5 overall GPA. The ten include:

Desi Garcia (Shafter HS, Shafter, CA)
Hudson Hartley (Garces HS, Bakersfield, CA)
Kyle Willman (Ridgeview HS. Bakersfield, CA)
Kamrom Willman (Ridgeview HS. Bakersfield, CA)
Colby Freeman (Centennial HS, Bakersfield, CA)
Luke Lewis (Centennial HS, Bakersfield, CA)
Luis Omphoy (Kaiser HS, Honolulu HI)
Sage Voda (Desert Christian HS, Bakersfield, CA)
Konner Dodge (Frontier HS. Bakersfield, CA)
Trey Harmon (Foothill HS, Bakersfield CA)

Roundup of Athletics Events This Week

As always, it was a full week of athletics events for our Renegades teams. Highlights from the week include (click/tap for the story on GoGades.com):

Men’s and Women’s Swimming take place at Cuesta Invite:
- Men’s Results
- Women’s Results
Beach Volleyball falls to Saddleback and Santa Ana
Men’s Golf places 11th at Eagle Golf Classic
Men’s and Women’s Track & Field compete at Oxy Distance Carnival
- Men’s Results
- Women’s Results
Men’s Tennis Falls to Folsom Lake
Women’s Tennis Tops Folsom Lake
Baseball Tops LA Valley off Walk-off double
Softball Tops Monterey
Softball Falls to Sierra
Men’s Golf places 4th at WSC #4
Softball Over Ventura, 2-0
Baseball Falls to LA Valley
Softball Over Allan Hancock, 6-1

We are BC!

Uncategorized May 5, 2018 Comments: 2

Good morning Bakersfield. It is Cinco de Mayo, 2018 and a great day to be a Renegade!

Loved the Women’s Empowerment Summit coordinated by Lisa Baca at BC this afternoon. Both Liz and I were invited to speak and Carla Musser was recognized as the 2018 Distinguished Woman of the Year! Here is a panel of young women engineers who inspired the audience.

And loved seeing our hardworking Budget Analysts on a Saturday hard at work preparing BC’s budget that will go to the board this June. Thank you Zach Quiroz and Somaly Boles!

Zach Quinoz and Somaly Bloes May 5 2018.jpg

Zach Quiroz, Somaly Boles working on saturday, cinco de mayo!

Less than a week to Commencement

Less than a week to making history at the Home of the Renegades! On May 11, join us at Memorial Stadium as we celebrate the largest graduating class in BC history, the first graduating class of the Industrial Automation Baccalaureate Program, and the first graduating class of Wonderful dual enrollment students in Agriculture Business!

Wow! What a year! I hope you will join us to celebrate this momentous occasion.

Celebrating Nan – Artist, Teacher, Dean, Vice President, Friend, and more–

Friends and family came together at the Indoor Theater on Friday night to honor Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg, who retired earlier this semester after working for 35 years in the Kern Community College District. Of course the evening started with Jazz and Kris Tiner.

Past President Greg Chamberlain and his wife Kelly drove all the way from Idaho to be present for Nan’s event.

Thank you Trustee Romeo Agbalog for attending the event. Trustee Agbalog is in the photo with Prof. Kim Flachman from CSUB and Khushnur Dadabhoy.

Nan warmly greeted everyone entering the theater from an ornate Renegade Red throne. Our Renegade drummers led us in procession to the Indoor Theater to begin the evening.

Current and retired faculty from throughout the decades gave tribute to Nan with video testimonials that added a fun yet bittersweet tone to the retirement celebration. She was also presented with a joint resolution of recognition from the California state legislature by Andy Vidak representative Michael Bowers, a certificate of recognition from the Kern County Board of Supervisors, and a beautiful pink hat by former BC chef Pat Coyle.

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Nan Gomez Heitzeberg with Resolution from Board of Supervisors

Nicole Villaruz and Nan Gomez-Heitzberg

We love you Nan!!!!

I want to thank the planning committee led by David Koeth who put this evening together so meticulously. David Koeth (chair), Lynn Hall, Corny Rodriguez, Cindy Collier, Tom Moran, Pam Boyles, Jennifer Serratt, Wendy Lawson, Chris Glaser, Manny De Los Santos, Kristin Rabe, and Monika Scott.

AB 705 Workshop

On Friday, we hosted a workshop at Bakersfield College focused on learning more about the requirements of AB 705. We heard from members of the AB 705 Implementation Committee regarding how to use data to come into compliance with AB 705.

The morning’s first speaker was Michelle Siqueiros, President of The Campaign For College Opportunity. She spoke about her own journey and how having support systems and good public policy was crucial to her success.

Other speakers included Nicole Bryant, Nika Hogan, and Janet Fulks who titled their talk “Keeping Students at the Center” and Craig Hayward who presented on the research behind default placement rules. Summer Serpas and Myra Snell presented on “The Promise of Concurrent Support Models in English and Math” and Alice Perez spoke about “The Social Justice Fight of Our Time.”

Nicole Bryant, Nika Hogan, Janet Fulks

Janet Fulks

Craig Hayward

Summer Serpas

Alice Perez

The afternoon focused on teams, as together we worked through exercises and data that are a challenge for implementation. We wrapped up with a discussion of common concerns and shared solutions so that we left with a plan to come into AB 705 compliance.

$The math team.jpg$

Michele Siqueiros and Sonya Christian

Sonya Christian and Nick Strobel

Special thank you to BC Food Services and Chef Eric Sabella who made everything beautiful and delicious.

And thank you to the amazing staff who pulled all this together — Chris Glaser, Monika Scott, Manny de Los Santos, Kristin Rabe. and thank you Tarina Perry for leading this effort.

3rd Annual BC Law Day Conference

This year’s theme is “The Separation of Powers: Framework for Freedom” and the 3rd Annual BC Law Day Conference focused on how checks and balances preserve political liberty. Students got the opportunity to learn more about the process of how laws are created and enforced at the state and federal level at Friday morning’s Law Day event in the Indoor Theater.

left to right: Aaron Falk, representative for Congressman Kevin McCarthy; Janea Benton, representative for California Assemblyman Rudy Salas; Tanner Dyrness, representative for Assemblyman Vince Fong; Charles Kim, BC political science professor and moderator.

Gabriela Gonzalez (left) and Pearl Urena, BC academic advisor for the Pre-Law pathway.

Pre-Law academic advisor Pearl Urena organized this year’s Law Day conference, which featured representatives from across all of Kern County’s branches of government. BC political science professor Charles Kim gave a brief lecture explaining how the US Constitution’s separation of powers divides governance between executive, legislative and judicial branches at both the federal and state levels, with a system of check and balances to ensure that one branch isn’t more powerful than the other. He also gave an explanation about presidential executive orders and the ways that the federal court system is able to judge the constitutionality of a specific executive order.

After the lecture, Kim moderated a panel on the functions of the legislative branch featuring representatives from the offices of California Senator Andy Vidak, Congressman Kevin McCarthy, and California Assemblymen Rudy Salas and Vince Fong. The panelists shared their experience working as staff members for Kern County’s elected officials and how they fight for the needs of their constituents by supporting legislation that addresses their concerns. There was also a second panel about the judicial branch featuring court officials from the Kern County legal system. See all the photos at BC’s Smugmug.

Dual Enrollment Celebration

On the morning of Tuesday, May 1, BC hosted the first Dual Enrollment Celebration event in the Fireside room. Approximately 60 attendees from Kern County high schools, school districts, and Bakersfield College came to celebrate the successful growth and achievements of the dual enrollment program. Serving 29 sites spread across five school districts, the admissions, enrollment, scheduling and instruction for dual enrollment would not be possible without the tireless effort of high school site staff, instructors, administrators and support services.

Cornelio Rodriguez

The program began with an overview of dual enrollment provided by Dean of Instruction Cornelio Rodriguez. Dean Rodriguez noted that although we have visited other colleges to explore best practice, the Bakersfield College dual enrollment program already far exceeds most other programs in breadth of offerings, number of students served, and number of partnerships achieved. Dr. Anna Laven, Dual Enrollment Program Manager, later revealed that the census enrollment for Summer 2017 through Spring 2018 has reached 7,100.

Seeing dual enrollment as an opportunity for students to improve their educational attainment and connect to a career pathway, many attendees noted the significant impact of dual enrollment in reducing the barriers of educational access. One attendee explained, “I support dual enrollment because my students don’t always believe that college credit is within reach, they attend a school where the perception is that everyone has money and support, but that simply isn’t true. Dual Enrollment allows them to take the first step and build confidence.”

Group Photo of School District Representatives– from left – Ben Sherley, KHSD; Robert Cobb and Kevin Tallon, WUHSD (Wasco); Paul Chavez, DJUHSD (Delano); Abel Guzman, BC; Maria Herrera, MUSD (McFarland); Anna Laven, BC; Angelica Rios, WCPA (Wonderful College Prep Academy); Raquel Lopez, BC

Dual Enrollment is part of the Bakersfield College effort to support access for all students. Another attendee shared that dual enrollment helps “students understand they can break the poverty cycle and know that anyone can go to college.” Abel Guzman, Interim Director of the Delano Campus, explained that two-thirds of dual enrollment courses are offered in rural communities whose access to college is often limited. A true success story, Raquel Lopez presented that the Wonderful Prep Academy, also a rural site, will celebrate the graduation of their first 30 students with an AST in Business Ag at next week’s commencement exercises.

Offering a good reminder that the hard work of supporting dual enrollment is worth the effort, an instructor from Delano sent Dr. Laven this note, “Just wanted to say great job today at the dual enrollment celebration. You presented quality info and I am glad that we are pioneers as a program in this area. Keep up the good work!”

The Celebration event could not have taken place without the help of the campus, including food service, CTE staff, Delano campus, Outreach, Event Services and Media Services. More photos available on BC’s Smugmug.

Rural Archives Show Case “Digital Delano: Preserving an International Community’s History.”

On Tuesday, May 1 the Bakersfield College Delano Campus hosted a rural archives showcase event. Sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities Common Heritage initiative, the “Digital Delano: Preserving an International Community’s History” project has spent the 2017-2018 academic year hosting a variety public outreach events throughout the greater Delano area to preserve family and local histories through digital preservation and oral history. Project Directors Elisabeth Sundby (Delano Campus Librarian) and Dr. Oliver Rosales (Professor of History & Faculty Coordinator, Social Justice Institute) organized the showcase event on May 1 to highlight the work being done within the archival project, as well as featuring a public panel with three archival donors and a keynote speaker.

Allison Burch – Delano Campus Adjunct Librarian, Monte Marshall – Community Archive contributor, Elisabeth Sundby – Delano Campus Adjunct Librarian, Kimberly Arbolante – Contributor and Writing Center Lead, Christine CruzBoone – Bakersfield College Professor of Communication, Anhelica Perez – Graduating BC student, Oliver Rosales – Bakersfield College Professor of History, Dawn Mabalon, Keynote speaker and Professor of History, San Francisco State University

Over one hundred students and community members attended the event, which included a wonderful lunch provided by Bakersfield College food services. High school students from the Delano Joint Union High School’s migrant program and RFK high school attended the event and were able to pick up information about attending Bakersfield College and becoming future renegades, in addition to learning more about the importance of family history.

The archive donor panel consisted of Monte Marshall, a native of Delano with deep family ties dating back to the founding of the city; Kim Arbolante, Bakersfield College Writing Center Coordinator who spoke of her grandmother Luz Arbolante, a pioneering leader within Delano’s Filipino American community; and finally Anhelica Perez, a graduating student at Bakersfield College and Office of Student life employee who spoke of her grandmother Josephine Fraire, an active member in various civic organizations in the McFarland area since the 1960s. Each donor shared with the audience the process of archival donation, highlights from their family histories, and why the project was important to them.

The keynote speaker for the event was San Francisco State University historian Dawn Mabalon. An expert on Filipino American history, Professor Mabalon addressed the audience about the importance of preserving family history, as well as her process from moving from getting a “D” in high school history, toward completing her undergraduate degree at UCLA, PhD at Stanford, and ultimately writing her first book Little Manila Is In the Heart: The Making of the Filipina/o American community in Stockton, California (Duke University Press 2013). Professor Mabalon stressed to the audience how important it is for young people, particularly children of color, to see themselves in the curriculum.

The project directors wish to thank Carolina Madrigal and the entire BC Delano Campus staff for helping host the event, Bakersfield College Library Chair Kirk Russell, Librarian Allison Burch, Professor Chris Cruz-Boone, the Delano Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Bakersfield College Student Government Association CCA Grant. Special thanks as well to Arnold Bon for taking wonderful photographs of the event, as well as numerous student volunteers who helped coordinate the event. We are BC Delano!

Adventures with BC Geology Club

In late April the Bakersfield College Geology Club explored the desert and plains surrounding our community.

geology club in huge hauler tire at Borax mine

Professor Benker led the students on a field trip east to visit the Rio Tinto Borax pit mine and Mojave National Preserve. Students were able to visit the Borax museum and learn about the process of mining the valuable economic mineral out of the ground. They were also able to see boulder sized chunks of the mineral Kernite named after our county.

At the Mojave National Preserve students explored the ring trail and observed the Swiss cheese like weathering in rhyolitic tuff making up Hole in the Wall Canyon, wondered into the depths of a lava tube in the Cima Volcanic Field where they even sent me a fun video!

The group trudged up the Kelso Dunes.

The following week Professor Pierce led students into the Carrizo Plains to view the salt flats and explore Wallace Creek to view offsets and scarps produced by San Andreas Fault movement over the last 3,800 years. Professors Benker and Pierce tell me, friends of BC and our community is invited to become part of the Bakersfield College Geology Club. You, too, can join in on these adventures!

Black and Gold Scholarship Banquet

Mayor Karen Goh

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. held its 10th annual Black and Gold Scholarship Banquet to honor four high school seniors and two community members. At the festive event, the Fraternity presented scholarships to Bryce Jackson, Colby Maiden, Leslie Ceciliano, and Heavenly Ford. Ruscel Reader, a retired principal who has held many leadership positions in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., received the Community Service Award along with Dr. Ronnie Claiborne, a physician who is active in health and education organizations.

The keynote speaker was Dee Slade, director of the African American Network of Kern County. She shared with the audience the stories of several African-American scholars and inventors and told the students that anytime anyone tells them that they can’t do something, not to believe them because African American history suggests otherwise.

The Fraternity also honored Dr. Brad Anderson and Mr. Jamal Powell as Man of the Year. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., established in 1906 at Cornell University, is the oldest African American Greek lettered organization. They focus on community service and involvement while promoting academic excellence, brotherhood, and leadership.

Honors Fiesta

The BC Foundation and the Financial Aid Department treated its Honors and scholarship recipients to a Fiesta celebrating their accomplishments on Wednesday.

The Foundation team transformed the courtyard of the Administration building into a plaza with festive decorations, a taco bar provided by Food Services, and a Mexican helado cart filled with La Rosa Fruit and Ice Cream Bars. There was also a photo booth area where participants could dress up and have their picture taken. Special thanks to the BC Foundation and Financial Aid for organizing this fun event honoring the contributions of our amazing students.

BCSGA Transition Ceremony

There was plenty of laughter amongst some of the tears shed at the closing of the 93^rd Session of the Bakersfield College Student Government Association. As the newly elected officers for 2018-19 were sworn in, Former BCSGA President, Dezi Von Manos, encouraged the new officers to “work together as a team” and reminded them “the position you now hold is not about you, but the students you represent.” She encouraged them not to give up when it seemed hard or stressful, but to push harder. Former BCSGA Vice-President, Lawrence Salcido, encouraged this year’s officers to not only dream big, but to execute a plan for that dream.

Newly elected BCSGA President, James Tompkins, stated that the goal for this year was “giving students a larger and louder voice,” while newly elected Vice-President, Ashley Harp, recognized the past officers and looked to the future for increasing communication and connections with the students and especially the sometimes forgotten Delano students while working together to bring a larger presence from BCSGA to the campus. A heartfelt THANK YOU goes out to all of the BC Student Government officers who have served during 2017-18 and a warm welcome and congratulations to the new officers of 2018-19. WE ARE BC!

Student Art on Display

The hallway in the Fine Arts Building morphed into the Renaissance this week as Professor Diego Monterrubio’s Advanced Drawing class created incredible masterpieces over the semester.

Renegades Voices in the Community

It was wonderful to see the piece titled “Community Voices: BC’s Industrial Automation program equips students with right tools” by Renegade, Kori Masilon published by the Californian on April 24th.

Kori shared her journey beginning in 2015, the year BC announced we were selected as one of 15 community colleges in the state of California to pilot a 4-year degree.

This year, Kori will be one of the 7 first graduates from Bakersfield College to receive a baccalaureate degree. Join me in congratulating her and her cohort and make sure to read to piece to see what she is up to and how her degree is changing her life.

Outreach and School Relations Director, Steve Watkin also had his Community Voices piece published which focuses on the student success guidance and how these efforts are changing the statistics for our incoming generation of students.

In his piece, “Support efforts are crucial to student success” he mentions the incredible work of the college and the high recognition from organizations such as League for Innovation and the Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce. Thank you to these organizations and thank you Steve for highlighting them and the work that BC accomplishes.

Olivia Garcia

Olivia Garcia authored a great article titled “Filipina American historian to visit Delano, discuss importance of preserving family histories” and highlighted the work in Delano by Dr. Oliver Rosales and Elisabeth Sundby.

She quotes Dr. Rosales in the piece:

“The most meaningful thing to me has been the many tears from students, and by extension their grandparents and elder relatives that did not think their histories matter,” Rosales said. “Family history does matter. This project has allowed young people, students in and around the greater Delano community, to see how their family stories connect with larger historical forces that have shaped their past.”

Renegade Athletics

Renegade Softball won yesterday in the CCCAA Southern California Regional best of 3 payoff series. Was happy to see Trustee Romeo Agbalog and his family cheering our term.

#21 Kara Morgan (Frankhouser) left a beautiful post on the BC Softball Facebook page.

#21 Kara Morgan

“6 years ago, I played ball at the Dean & Adah Gay complex for the last time. It was regionals and my team, OUR team, made BC history time and time again, just as your team has, and we were able to host regionals for the first time, on this beautiful field we all get to call home. I didn’t want it to be my last time. I wanted to play in State, on OUR field, and win. I wanted Coach Sandi to finally get the pay off she deserved from giving all of our teams year after year all that she had. I wanted to go to Disneyland with my team, celebrating that huge victory. We could taste it, dream it, feel it, and we were freaking good.

But we all have dreams that we don’t quite reach.

Yeah, I knew I was probably going to continue playing after BC. I had dreams of D1 ball, playing on the field against top national teams, and continuing to get the fire in my gut that we all get as we play this game. But let me tell you, playing on the UCLA field and shaking hands with Lisa Fernandez, seeing my name on ESPN, flying in airplanes and walking as a proud unit that still donned the Bakersfield name on my chest, playing the game for money, NOTHING compares to the love and fire I get when I walk into that BC stadium.

You see, at BC you are a part of something bigger, something greater. You have decades of alumni who still show up to cheer you on. You have a school athletic coaching staff that cares about you and knows your name. You have a secret weapon of an athletic trainer who makes your mind, body, and spirit align. You have a coach who bleeds Bakersfield and wants to give back to the city who raised her. You girls are given everything you need to win. So just play ball.

I hope you girls spend this week mentally preparing. Thinking about the reasons WHY you play this game. Not how you play it. Not about the future, or the past. Think about the present. Stay close to the why. Because the why gets you through the darkest of times in the softball world, trust me. When you’re mad and hate the game, remember why. When you’re on fire, on top of the world, remember why. We all have different why’s. Learn about your teammate. Figure out why they play the game. Get closer to them. You guys are about to go to war together. As Sandi always told us, you just gotta win your last game.

You will hang it up before you know it. Your old glove will get stiff. You’ll start losing your equipment piece by piece as you move into adulthood. But what an amazing feeling it is when you run into your old team mate that had your back more than anyone when that fight broke out at home plate (Kelsey and Jessica “HEY THATS MY CATCHER”) or you come across old pictures of you and your pitchers locked in together. Sometimes you’re unpacking boxes when you move and you find your old game visor, or warm up jacket, and you just can’t help but remember why that game meant so much.

Take it in, ‘gades, we’re all rooting for you!!!!!!”

Celebrating Retirees

At Thursdays, KCCD Board of Trustees, we presented Felix Ramirez with his plaque of recognition. During his years of service at Bakersfield College, Felix had countless friends across campus. Many employees have fond memories of Felix patrolling the hallways and especially, his kind knock on the door to remind them it was time to go home at 5:30PM.

With years of service in the Marines and in the Army National Guard, Felix always had a calm, authentic security and warmth with him where ever he was. His retirement is truly deserved with a job well done. Felix, thank you for your service to our country, our community, our Renegade family, and BC.

Kay Meek and Felix Ramirez

Math and Science celebrated a little Retirement Luau for Andrea Garrison and Rafael Espericueta

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Celebrating Faculty and Staff

Congratulations to Manny Fernandez who was awarded Outstanding Industry Partner for the Kern High School District!

Manny Fernandez Regional Occupation Center Event

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image_f29b9004-3795-4339-956a-9d6a1c5a114120180504_142736

On Wednesday morning, I received an email from Jackie Lau in BC’s Admissions and Records sharing that she feels so fortunate to be at BC and a part of Michelle Pena’s team.

Jackie said, “She was a great speaker! Several institutions staff were coming up to our team telling us how lucky we were to have her as a Director because she’s is so knowledgeable and shares information in each session.”

I loved seeing Jackie’s post also on Facebook! #WeareBC!

ASCCC Career and NonCredit Education Institute 2018

A group of amazing individuals from BC are also attending the ASCCC Career and NonCredit Education Institute in Costa Mesa. The website states, “The ASCCC Career and Noncredit Education Institute is the first ASCCC event to bring faculty together from these areas to collaborate on a statewide level on how best to integrate the services, practices and instruction of these areas. Presentations cover topics in areas such as career education, noncredit education, counseling and student services, Adult Education Block Grant (AEBG), and apprenticeship.”

Endee Grijalva, Jaime Lopez, Jennifer Johnson, Stephanie Baltazar and Tony Cordova

Physics Olympics

Friday, April 28th, was the 30th annual Physics Olympics take-over of BC. Over a thousand high school science students (many of them future Renegades) came to BC to put into action the physics and engineering concepts they’ve learned on paper in the classroom. Mark Trunnell from Centennial and Dan Halbur from Foothill work with BC professor Rick Darke to put on the event at BC. The map below shows where the events took place.

Foothill physics teacher Dan Halbur encourages these South High students in the “Efficiency Bridge” contest. Using ordinary wood pieces like popsicle sticks, coffee stir sticks and toothpicks glued together, students construct a bridge that can carry a 5.0 kg load across a 60-cm span. Designs are judged on how much the bridge flexes, and the total mass of the bridge.

Physics Olympics students. The ever-popular egg drop was on the north side of the stadium. In that event students design a container holding a raw egg and drop the container from a three-story height. Successful containers will keep the egg intact.

Paper airplane contest has students design paper airplane that fly the longest and straightest. These students found out that throwing the paper airplanes with a lot of force causes the typical paper airplane to swirl around off course, often coming right back to the thrower, especially if the plane is the typical design with big wings. I advised one team to make the plane more like a missile and practice throwing it before doing the contest (advice based on experience gained in competing with my brothers growing up).

Paper tower event has students building the tallest tower out of just paper and tape.

Super Quiz that pits high school teams against each other in rapid-fire physics questions. The teams are cheered on by their friends in the bleachers. Nick Strobel shared his excitement by telling me, “Yes! An astronomy question was included!”

Guided Pathways Peer-to-Peer Work Plan

BC sent a team to the first California Guide Pathways Peer-to-Peer Work Plan Reading Circle, an event sponsored by IEPI and the Chancellor’s Office, on April 27th. Dean Steve Waller of our STEM pathway, education pathway counselor Brynn Schock, and Guided Pathway Implementation team faculty members Janet Fulks and Jessica Wojtysiak worked within regional teams to identify themes and share concerns about future policy and support efforts.

That’s all for now.

Until next time.

With much Renegade Pride and Collegiality.

sonya —
the luckiest and happiest college president ever

Bright Futures start with Good Teachers

Uncategorized February 24, 2018 Comments: 3

Good morning Bakersfield.

It is Saturday, February 24, 2018 and a great day to be a Renegade.

This was a short but action packed week. I traveled to Santa Rosa to present at the Association of California Community College Administrators (ACCCA). The drive was long to Santa Rosa and back. There were several high points in this trip, including (1) hearing from the President of Santa Rosa College of how they supported the community during and after the fires and (2) crossing the bay on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge.

We have all been impacted by the California fires…. here is a poignant piece by Thomas Fuller in the California Today section of the NYTimes about Santa Rosa. https://tinyurl.com/y8bv77jk

From the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Feb 21 2018.jpg

Photo snapped from the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Feb 21 2018

The Richmond-San Rafael Bridge is the northernmost bridge crossing over the San Francisco Bay. I, like everyone else likes to ride the train and enjoy bridges. Apparently, this 5.5-mile engineering feat was rejected by Frank Llyod Wright for its aesthetics. Wright must have taken after Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg, who tolerates everything and anything with a gentle soul but is unforgiving when it comes to poor design and bad colors. I don’t remember where this photo was snapped, but all I can say is that this I stay quiet when Nan is in a serious art conversation with David Koeth.

The Conference held at Santa Rosa is the annual ACCCA conference and I was invited to present at the opening plenary. As I walked in I spotted Gustavo Enrique and Jaime Lopez from Bakersfield College.

BC is such a large campus, and I am always surprised and delighted to see us all over the state. I spot BC administrators, faculty and staff presenting at different statewide conferences via tweets and posts on facebook and other social media. #WeAreBC

Here are my fellow presenters at the ACCCA — Reagan Romali, President of Long Beach City College; Joe Wyse, President of Shasta College; and Willy Duncan, President of Sierra College. We are in the photo with Susan Bray, Executive Director of ACCCA who is in the middle.

Sonya Christian, Reagan Romali, Susan Bray, Joe Wyse, Willy Duncan

So now for few of the very many activities on campus…..

Judge Raymonda Marquez

Yesterday, we held the 3rd annual YES! Youth Empowering Success Conference. The all-day event began with a welcome and introduction from Judge Raymonda Marquez of the Kern County Superior Court. She spoke of how there are people in our lives who believe in us, even when we sometimes doubt ourselves.

An article from last November titled “Families changed for the better on National Adoption Day in Bakersfield” mentions Judge Marquez. She introduced the keynote speaker by saying, “With all of the adversity he faced in life, his experiences inspired him to dedicate his life to helping troubled youth and adults overcome the negative challenges within their own lives and discover that they have greatness within them.”

The keynote speaker of the morning, Mark Anthony Garrett, opened with a video recounting how his third grade teacher is “his hero.” The video can be seen on his website, www.teachersareheros.com. Mark shared his life story in a compelling, motivational, and inspiring talk that pumped up the audience before the smaller breakout sessions.

Mark Anthony Garrett

It brings great joy to our campus to provide a place for events like this that not only inspire, but empower our young students to achieve greatness. As Mark said,

Everyone is brought to this world with a special gift. When one discovers what that gift is, they must let it shine so that others lives will become brighter. Teachers shine that light every time they impart knowledge to a student.

Special thank you to Kern County Superintendent of Schools Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program, Human Services, Kern High School District, and QPI. Special thank you also to Aracelli Navarro, and the team from BC who worked so hard to make the event a success.

Child Development CenterThe Child Development Center provides a hands-on laboratory experience for our students as they pursue their certificate or degree in child development.

Beyond the educational opportunities the Child Development Center provides, it also offers a child care for students with small children so they can go to their classes — knowing that their child is well taken care of. The proximity of their children helps our students access campus services and study opportunities while their children are safe and sound right here on campus.

As a traditional Child Development Center, our center provides important direct laboratory experiences and opportunities for students in child development programs and allied health programs. Students have access to supplies and materials, trained teachers who mentor them through the experience, a quality physical environment with vibrant classrooms, and low student-to-child ratios. Together, these benefits make for a quality facility for children and an outstanding educational environment for our students.

Calling Future Teachers

Are you inspired to teach? Learn about the programs at BC that lead to careers in education of all ages. Two upcoming events will answer all your questions so you can know what’s needed to qualify to become a teacher at a variety of levels. Events take place March 3rd at the Delano Campus and March 20th on the Panorama Campus. Learn more here.

Kern County Career Expo

The Kern County Career Expo took place on Thursday night and BC was represented in a HUGE way! #WeAreBC

This career awareness event geared towards the students and employers of Kern builds career awareness for tomorrow’s workforce. Employers from Kern County had the opportunity to promote the different career opportunities that are available within their companies through interactive booths. I loved seeing BC students in this clip on ABC 23.

It is exciting to see all the various departments at BC sharing their programs with the future generations of Renegades. I especially love seeing how the Engineering programs and Industrial Automation brought out the robotics and 3D printing machinery to inspire visitors. Nursing and RAD tech were out in full force and so was the team from Adult Education and our Rural Initiatives team. Special thanks to the CTE team for their work on organizing BC’s involvement with this fantastic event. #WeareBC!

Can you see why I’m the luckiest and happiest college president ever?

Engineering and INDA Booths at the Career Expo

Rony Recinos and Automotive Tech Students

And a tweet from Pam Gomez

CHAP at Allensworth

Laura Hooton and Oliver Rosales

On Saturday, Feb 10, the Bakersfield College Delano Campus Cultural and Historical Awareness Program (CHAP) participated in a Black History month event at Allensworth State Historical Park located just northwest of the Delano Campus in Tulare County. Allensworth is the only state historic park in California dealing exclusively with the history of African Americans. The CHAP program hosted a booth at the event in partnership with the National Endowment for the Humanities Common Heritage grant “Digital Delano: Preserving an International Community’s History.”

Professors Oliver Rosales, Paula Parks, Michelle Hart, and Librarian Elisabeth Sundby were joined by BC students Danielle Wiley, SGA Photographer and Christian Bravo, SGA Mascot, as well as PhD Candidate Laura Hooton from UC Santa Barbara, an expert on rural African American History in the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands, to visit the historic Allensworth site in the goal of spreading information about the digital history effort at the Delano Campus to “harvest local and family histories” related to the San Joaquin Valley. A number of contacts were made among attendees, particularly community members with familial ties to Allensworth and historic black families from Tulare County.

Elisabeth Sundby , Laura Hooton and Oliver Rosales

What makes Allensworth unique as a space of historical significance is it draws African Americans from across the state for its annual celebrations. Folks from San Diego, Oakland, Richmond, Los Angeles, and elsewhere visit Allensworth because it represents a place of great importance to the history of African Americans in the United States. If you haven’t made the trek to Allensworth, the entire CHAP team strongly recommends attending one of Allensworth’s annual events. More information can be found at the Allensworth SHP Website.

Bridging the Racial Divide

Students had a great opportunity to talk to leaders from local law enforcement agencies across Kern County, who were all in the same room for a special forum in the Levan Center on Tuesday. BC criminal justice professor and former Arvin police chief Tommy Tunson moderated the forum, titled “Transformational Policing: Bridging the Racial Divide”, which addressed how the community policing model is evolving nationwide in response to several high profile officer-involved shootings in Baltimore, Ferguson, Missouri and other cities over the last few years.

left to right: FBI Special Agent Bennett O. Scott, Kern County Assistant District Attorney Scott Spielman, McFarland Police Department Chief Scot Kimble, CHP Commander Ron Seldon, Bakersfield Police Department Chief Lyle Martin and BC criminal justice professor Tommy Tunson talk about restoring the public’s faith in law enforcement on February 20th in the Levan Center.

Tommy Tunson, a criminal justice professor at BC and the former Chief of the Arvin Police Department, moderates a discussion on transformational policing in the Levan Center on February 20th.

Before giving the floor over to the panel—which included police chiefs from McFarland and Bakersfield, a California Highway Patrol Commander, a Kern County Assistant District Attorney and a field agent from the local FBI office—Tunson showed video from a police brutality protest, pointing out that every officer on the field is one cell phone video away from being on the national news, no matter how small the city that they’re tasked with keeping safe. He then outlined the Transformational Policing Model (TPM), a two-pronged approach to law enforcement that emphasizes using data analysis to target areas where agencies can serve the public better, as well as community and media outreach to restore the public’s faith in the people who protect and serve them every day.

Bakersfield Police Department Chief Lyle Martin talked about the work he’s done during his time as chief to keep the lines of communication open with the public and the media. When something controversial happens around one of the officers in his department, he is proactive in reaching out to local media before they reach out to him, and he’s leveraging the power of social media to reach out to the increasing number of people who don’t read the newspaper or tune into local news.

Bakersfield Police Department Chief Lyle Martin outlines the importance of proper law enforcement training at the Transformational Policing Forum on February 20th in the Levan Center.

“When you mess up, you’ve got to dress up and fess up,” Martin said, adding that the BPD’s motto for this year is “Change the Experience”.

California Highway Patrol Commander Ron Seldon described his department’s Public Trust Initiative, a series of assessments in which the CHP is graded on its public relations and community outreach by a third-party organization and given advice on how to improve. “Are we treating the public as we’d like to be treated?” Seldon asked.

FBI Special Agent Bennett O. Scott describes how the Kern County office collaborates with local law enforcement on February 20th at the Levan Center.

McFarland Police Department Chief describes how his department was able to transform McFarland from a community afflicted by fatal gang violence to the 60th safest city in America during the Transformational Policing event on February 20th in the Levan Center.

McFarland Police Chief Scott Kimble said that outreach efforts such as his “Ice Cream with the Chief” event have been crucial in changing the culture in McFarland, which sits at the border between California’s Norteno and Sureno street gangs, making it a potential hotbed for violent crime. Kimble credits the restoration of trust between law enforcement and the community for McFarland’s inclusion on the National Council for Homeland Security’s list of the 100 safest cities in California. McFarland, ranked at number 60, is the only city in Kern County on the list, with only 33 violent crimes committed in the area in 2016.

Kern County Assistant District Attorney Scott Spielman speaks on the importance of separating one’s emotional response to a traumatic case from the duties required to mete out justice during the Transformational Policing event at the Levan Center on February 20th.

Assistant District Attorney Scott Spielman reiterated the importance of maintaining the bond between law enforcement and the community. If people don’t feel comfortable with reporting a crime or serving as a witness for the prosecution, then it makes it more difficult on the District Attorney’s office to deliver justice. Regardless of whether law enforcement officials feel that the public’s mistrust is justified, agencies must strive to create a perception of fairness, and it’s important to understand the history of the relationship between the police and the community that lead up to where we’re at today in order to change that relationship.

FBI Special Agent Bennett O. Scott shared information about an anonymous tipline that people in the community can use to report crimes without fear of reprisal and described how the local FBI office collaborates with local authorities on counter-terrorism and gang violence prevention. With only 11 FBI agents for all of Kern County, it’s important for the federal office to be in constant communication with local police and county sheriffs.

Students and local media pack the Levan Center for the Transformation Policing Forum on February 20th.

I’d like to thank Dr. Tunson and Steve Watkin for helping to organize this important and educational event for our students as part of Black History Month. For more about the Transformational Policing forum, you can read Steven Mayer’s article published in the Bakersfield Californian on Wednesday.

HBCU Visits BC

Last week, representatives from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) set up tables in the Renegade Crossroads to offer scholarships and registration at schools across the country. HBCUs provide an opportunity for students to learn within their peer group, and we were honored to have the HBCU Caravan back for another year.

We also had representatives from historically black fraternities and sororities to provide information about how students can find support from their peers at the four-year institution of their choice, not just at HBCUs. I’d like to thank Lisa Kent from Student Success and Equity, as well as Steve Watkin from Outreach, for helping to put the HBCU event together. It’s an extremely valuable resource for our students, and I can’t wait to see how the opportunities provided by these HBCUs will help our students grow after they graduate BC.

Renegade Athletics

Tucker Eenigenburg

For the month of January, BC’s Tucker Eenigenburg averaged 23.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and two assists per game over the course of nine games. He shot 52.4 percent from the floor, 53.4 percent from three-point range and 91 percent from the free-throw line. Eenigenburg had a career high 51 points, in an 87-81 win, against College of the Canyons on Jan. 27. In that game, he was 13 of 21 (61.9 percent) from the floor, 8 of 12 (66.7 percent) from three-point range and 17 of 17 (100 percent) from the free-throw line. See the CCCAA website for more.

Military Ball

Bakersfield College was out in full force at the 8th Annual Military Order of the Purple Heart Military Ball, held at the Doubletree Hotel last Saturday night.

Paul Beckworth, Steve Watkins, Lisa Kent, Sandra Beckworth, Olivia Garcia, Sgt. Julio Garcia

Mayor Karen Goh and Zav Dababhoy

One of the organizers of this event had a busy week, Professor Tommy Tunson, retired Army. As last year’s recipient of the Ball’s Veteran Support Organization of the Year, BC was well represented by Dr. Zav Dadabhoy, who handed off this year’s award to Chevron, in honor of the company’s support of veterans in Kern County. And thank you Mayor Karen Goh for the great photos!

According the their website, “Chartered by Congress in 1958, The Military Order of the Purple Heart is composed of military men and women who received the Purple Heart Medal for wounds suffered in combat. Although our membership is restricted to the combat wounded, we support all veterans and their families with a myriad of nation-wide programs by Chapters and National Service Officers.” The Order’s mission is to foster an environment of goodwill and camaraderie among combat wounded veterans, promote patriotism, support necessary legislative initiatives, and most importantly, provide service to all veterans and their families.

While a good time was had by all, the night’s theme was a somber one; remembering America’s POWs and MIAs from the Vietnam War. The United States still has over 1,600 unaccounted-for personnel from the conflict that divided this nation. As a part of the ceremony to honor America’s missing, a POW/MIA table was set.

According to tradition, the POW/MIA table is smaller than the others, symbolizing the frailty of one prisoner alone against his or her oppressors. This table is separate from the others and can be set for one to four place settings to represent each service participating in the event.

The white tablecloth draped over the table represents the purity of their response to our country’s call to arms. The empty chair depicts an unknown face, representing no specific Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine, but all who are not here with us.The table itself is round to show that our concern for them is never ending. The Bible represents faith in a higher power and the pledge to our country, founded as one nation under God. The black napkin stands for the emptiness these warriors have left in the hearts of their families and friends. A Purple Heart medal can be pinned to the napkin. The single red rose reminds us of their families and loved ones. The red ribbon represents the love of our country, which inspired them to answer the nation’s call. The yellow candle and its yellow ribbon symbolize the everlasting hope for a joyous reunion with those yet accounted for. The slices of lemon on the bread plate remind us of their bitter fate. The salt upon the bread plate represent the tears of their families. The wine glass, turned upside down, reminds us that our distinguished comrades cannot be with us to drink a toast or join in the festivities of the evening.

The significance of the POW/MIA table is called to attention during the toast of the evening. This is an important part of many military banquets to remind us that the strength of those who fight for our country often times rests in the traditions that are upheld today. These men, these women are not forgotten.

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Creating Lasting Guided Pathways

The CCCCO is conducting a series of 7 workshops on Creating Lasting Guided Pathways. Bakersfield College is being highlighted at each of the 7 events around the state as one of the first colleges that has data in California showing benefits to students.

Julian West was part of a plenary panel on that data and followed up with a breakout on student voices and equity. He shared statistics from Spring 2018 such as:

783 African-American Students Total Enrolled
414 Students Have Completed Less Than 30 units
136 Students started Fall or Summer 2017
89 Students started Spring 2018

He shared how BC’s high tech, high touch level of support is truly making a difference for our students.

Grace Commiso and Maria Wright will be presenting at plenary panels and reporting on BC’s completion coaching teams and student voices. Janet Fulks is presenting Bakersfield’s Outcomes over the next two weeks and presenting Guided Pathways 101 breakouts. These early outcomes and distinctive work at Bakersfield will help other colleges plan strategies to successfully help their students complete programs of study.

So proud of the incredible work being done by the BC staff, faculty, and completion coaching teams.

Cheryl Scott

Kern Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Cheryl Scott wrote an op-ed in the Bakersfield Californian on February 12th urging business leaders in the community to build partnerships with teachers and students at all levels of school.

Darren Scott and Cheryl Scott

“Kern County’s future workforce is entrusted largely to our local educators,” Scott writes, outlining how important it is for business leaders to reach out to the schools and let educators know the exact skills they’re looking for. Many Kern County businesses have to look outside of the Valley for job applicants with the advanced skills that they need, and developing these partnerships at the primary, secondary, and post-secondary educational levels will create more home-grown applicants for those positions, which leads to upward mobility for individuals and their families in the process.

“Bringing business into the classroom can give students a leg up in their future careers and sets them up for success by equipping them with the skills and information employers need, “ Scott writes, highlighting the work done by the CSUB School of Business and Public Administration Student Professional Development Initiative, as well as Independence High School’s Energy and Utilities Academy as examples of programs that are creating effective mentorship opportunities for students looking to join the skilled labor force after graduation.

Chancellor Tom Burke Seen on Twitter

As one of the nation’s largest networks of higher education, California community colleges were well represented in Washington, DC at the 2018 National Legislative Summit hosted by the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) last week.

KCCD Chancellor Tom Burke represented the Kern Community College District at the annual summit, which raises awareness of the issues impacting community colleges across the country while allowing opportunities for community college leaders to meet with congressional representatives to advocate for policies that would benefit them, according to the FAQ page on the National Legislative Summit’s website. Burke, who can be seen in the tweet towards the back on the right, met with Congressman Kevin McCarthy at his office in Capitol Hill during the summit.

Jake Tapper, CNN’s Chief Washington Correspondent and the host of The Lead with Jake Tapper, was the keynote speaker for the opening event on February 12th. US Department of Labor Secretary R. Alexander Acosta also spoke about the importance of workforce education to close the skills gap in the nation’s labor market, and Carroll Doherty of the Pew Research Center gave statistics that provided context for the political divide in higher education and reasons behind misperceptions many members of the public have about the value of community colleges.

Thank you to our Chancellor, Tom Burke for representing our district at this year’s National Legislative Summit. You can find a list of legislative priorities from the summit on the ACCT’s website, which include reauthorization of the Higher Education Act and Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, investment in education and workforce development, and a path to citizenship for DREAMers. During the summit, California Community College Chancellor Eloy Oakley was also quoted in an article from the Washington Post regarding the president’s comments about vocational schools.

Congratulations to Professor Chris Ennis

Congratulations to Adjunct Architecture Professor Christopher Ennis, recipient of the American Institute of Architects California Council’s Emerging Educator of the Year.

The official article states, “The Educator Award recipient is also a member of the Golden Empire Chapter. Chris Ennis, AIA, is faculty at a community college and experiences difficulties and roadblocks different than his peers in the four-year university system. The jury applauded his efforts to ignite passion and interest in students who may not otherwise be exposed to possibilities in the field of architecture before they transfer.” Check it out here.

Spotted on Media

Say these two articles in the Bakersfield Life Magazine this morning.

Dr. Jeet Singh is on the Bakersfield College Foundation Board of Directors and is doing incredible work in service to this community.

And here is our very own Prof. Olivia Garcia

And finally let’s support our choir students

Get your tickets now for an incredible night of collaborative music between some of Bakersfield’s finest musicians. Local celebrities Monty Byrom and Lydia Ranger are coming together with the BC Chamber Singers to perform in a benefit concert at the Music Hall of Fame. Email me!

That’s all for now.

Until next time.

With much Renegade Pride and Collegiality.

sonya —
the luckiest and happiest college president ever

Renegades are EVERYWHERE!

Uncategorized March 18, 2017 Leave a comment

Good morning Bakersfield. It is Saturday, March 18th and just a terrific day to be a Renegade. I was travelling this morning back from my Accreditation Commission meeting and am moving quickly to get the blog published. If I don’t get it out today, I am sure I will get a text from one of my dear friends who will ask the question “Are you ok? Should I be worried? 🙂

koeth1-900x600 My week began with an email from David Koeth sharing that he and his wife spent Presidents Day in Los Angeles. He said:

As we checked in our hotel in Koreatown, the young man at the desk noticed my business affiliation. He said ‘I attended Bakersfield College. I was a business major, I got my gen ed’s done there.’ He’s working on a bachelor’s degree at Cal State Long Beach in hospitality management. Renegades are everywhere. — David

I love this! Renegades are everywhere in our community and beyond our community!

Industrial Automation Program Hosting Info Session Today!

Come to the campus on the hill later this morning for an information session about the Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Automation at BC. The program prepares students for careers in the design, operation, and management of industrial automation systems focusing on the local industries that utilize these technologies, such as petroleum production, food production, fabrication, and logistics. Significant emphasis is placed on project based learning facilitated by laboratory work.

The BS program is designed to prepare individuals for technical management careers in industries which utilize automation, including the petroleum, manufacturing, logistics and agriculture industry sectors, in order to improve the regional economy. Thank you as well to The Bakersfield Californian for highlighting this program in the latest Education Roundup! http://digital.olivesoftware.com/Olive/ODN/BakersfieldCalifornian/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TBC%2F2017%2F03%2F16&entity=Ar00501&sk=3D40C0C7

The information session is today, March 18th from 10AM to 11AM in the Science and Engineering Building, Room 53. All are welcome!

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Bakersfield College Receives a Planning Award for new Public Health Sciences Program

Exciting times at BC Bakersfield College where BC is creating new public health career pathways! This past Tuesday, BC was recognized at the League for Innovation in the Community College Riegelman Awards for Excellence in Public Health & Health Navigation Education. This national award was presented to four community colleges that demonstrated excellence in planning or enhancing associate degree or certificate programs in Public Health and Health Navigation education.

Antonio Alfaro CTE Advisor, Rozanne Hernandez, CTE Program Manager, Sarah Baron, Professor Public Health Sciences, and Dominica Rivera-Dominguez, CTE Advisor

BC is rolling out a new Public Health Sciences Associate Degree for Transfer in the upcoming academic year, followed by job certificate in health navigation. To learn more about the national award and the plan, go to https://www.league.org/awards/riegelman-awards-excellence-public-health-health-navigation-education-community-colleges

Under the leadership of Cindy Collier, Dean of Allied Health, Career Technology Education (CTE), and Strong Workforce, this is a team effort and an interdisciplinary approach. Pictured below are members of the team Antonio Alfaro CTE Advisor, Rozanne Hernandez, CTE Program Manager, Sarah Baron, Professor Public Health Sciences, and Dominica Rivera-Dominguez CTE Advisor. Sarah is our lead faculty for Public Health and is a rock star!

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Achieving the Dream

Bakersfield College earned Leader College distinction through Achieving the Dream in 2015 for our commitment to improving student success and closing achievement gaps. With this distinction, BC has access to two nationally-recognized coaches who visit campus twice a year to meet with campus leaders, discuss our student success data, and explore strategies to improve our policies and practices. During their visit this week, coaches Ronald Head and John Nixon met with nearly 50 campus leaders to explore the Institutional Capacity Assessment Tool (ICAT) in a series of round table activities where faculty, staff, and administrators worked together in cross-functional focus groups to discuss BC’s work across the seven Achieving the Dream capacities: 1) Leadership & Vision, 2) Data & Technology, 3) Equity, 4) Teaching & Learning, 5) Engagement & Communication, 6) Strategy & Planning, and 7) Policies & Practices. Participants not only tackled the areas for improvement, but began collectively developing action plans to build BC’s capacity to serve students. BC’s leadership and engagement across the board is simply unmatched!

ATD

Thank you to all who attended!

Lesley Bonds, Stephen Waller, Matthew Garrett, Jessica Wojtysiak, Maria Wright, Mindy Wilmot, Grace Commiso, Jonathan Schultz, Bill Moseley, Marisa Marquez, Isabel Castaneda, Matt Jones, Talita Pruett, Kimberly Bligh, Kathy Rosellini, Lisa Kent, Steve Watkin, Bernadette Towns, Janet Fulks, Steven Holmes, Tim Burke, Odella Johnson, Shanell Tyus, Nick Strobel, Jennifer Johnson, Krista Moreland, Di Hoffman, Kristin Rabe, Ashlea Ward, Abraham Castillo, Richard Marquez, Elisabeth Sundby, Kim Nickell, Sue Vaughn, Julian West, Pedro Ramirez, Craig Hayward, Michelle Pena, John Giertz, Manny Mourtzanos, Anna Laven, Vickie Spanos, Reese Weltman Joe Saldivar, and a special thank you to Chef Eric Sabella and his team for the wonderful chicken fajita dinner!

Keep Bakersfield Beautiful

Keep Bakersfield Beautiful (KBB) is a local non-profit with a mission “to engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community.” Bakersfield Mayor, Karen Goh, is in this picture with BC students from Steven Holmes’ and Charles Kim’s political science classes visiting a recent meeting led by Anna Smith, chair of KBB Board of Directors. It’s great to see Renegades out in the community, doing great things! Learn more about Keep Bakersfield Beautiful at http://www.bakersfieldcity.us/gov/depts/kbb/default.htm

Beautiful Bakersfield Karen Goh

C.H.A.P Hosts Guest Speaker, Salvador Garcia

On March 14, the Bakersfield College Delano Campus Cultural and Historical Awareness Program (C.H.A.P.) hosted its first speaker event for the spring semester. Ridgeview High School counselor Salvador García captivated audience members consisting of students, staff, and community members with an engaging talk, entitled “Exploring the Nahuatl and Mesoamerican Cultural Legacy, Past & Present.” As a child of migrant parents, Salvador has experienced two vastly different worlds: his life in México, and his life in the USA. He became captivated with pre-Columbian art and the symbology used by his ancestors, and in particular, what people refer to as the “Aztec calendar.” After studying the calendar system and the Nahuatl language (the indigenous language of the Aztec people) for over twenty years, Salvador has developed a deep knowledge and appreciation for Mesoamerican history and the indigenous heritage of the Mexican people. After an hour-long presentation, audience members asked questions about the legacy of the Nahuatl people today, their influence on Mexican culture, as well as parallels and similarities between Mesoamerican calendars and the Gregorian and Julian calendars in western tradition.

CHAP

Two more C.H.A.P. events are scheduled for the spring semester. The next event will occur Tuesday, March 28 from 6pm-8pm in RFK Lecture Hall. This event will be a screening of the film “Miss Representation,” followed by a panel discussion with several female faculty and staff on the Delano Campus moderated by Professor Susanne Langham (Phil. & Religious Studies). A third and final event will be moderated by Professor Charles Kim (Political Science) after the spring break and will feature local political staffers for a talk on civic engagement and local politics. Stay tuned!

Houchin Blood Bank Stats

Houchin sent an email this week recapping the numbers from the previous week’s blood drive at Bakersfield College. Stephanie Gibbons from Houchin said, “Drum roll please…..Wow!! what an amazing two day blood drive. Bakersfield College you nailed it. Day one, we registered 223 donors and collected a record number of 174 units, with 104 of them as first-time donors. Day two, we registered 150 donors with a collection of 105 units, with 80 of them as first-time donors. The grand total for this life saving event was 279 units collected. Surpassing last year donations by 80 units. Yeah!!!!”

Thank you again to all involved! Renegades are definitely doing great things!!

Student Health Highlight

Do you know what your blood sugar level is? Are you familiar with what the numbers even mean or why it’s important to know them? This semester we were fortunate to have two days where the Student Health Center invited all students to come out and get their glucose levels checked.

On Thursday March 16th, Mrs. Debbie, one of the nurses was there to do the screenings for all those who came in and checked their levels. Earlier this month there was another glucose screening where the LN’s from Bakersfield College’s Nursing Program practiced honing their new skills. It was beneficial to so many, both the nursing students and those student’s checking their glucose levels. At this screening, the nursing students were able to test levels, give out important health information, and also pass out healthy snacks. The Bakersfield College Student Health Center has a wealth of knowledge and practical help for all BC students.

Along with all of the day-to-day help they provide the BC students such as: first aid, TB testing, mental health counseling, and much more, they will be hosting their 17th annual health fair, “The Renegade Pulse Health Fair”, on April 19th from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Last year they had several Zumba instructors attend and were able to get the student body moving in the interest of better health! They offer several monthly events geared to the betterment of each student’s health. They have a marvelous e-magazine with an abundance of helpful information that anyone can subscribe to simply by texting BAKERSFIELDCOLLEGE to 40691. They have also started a campaign of #BCsmokefree and have been conducting a “Clean your Campus” event once a month.

The Student Health service main goal is to ensure that all of BC students live a long and healthy life and they are available to make sure you have all the tools possible to ensure that happens. One of the many amazing facilitators found in the Student health services building is Stella Ponce who had this to say about the various events that have been going on around campus lately. Mataalofa Hubbard, Vicente Lopez, Alexa Rivera and Yolanda Puente were on the scene sharing information on Tobacco Cessation, how and where to obtain assistance in quitting as well. Passing out Healthy snacks & water to help our students maintain and acquire optimal health and wellness. Also, Professor Sarah Baron’s Public Health classes were onsite too, collecting valuable data on Tobacco Use and E Cig. While providing additional literature on the effects of smoking provided by the American Lung Association. The final collaboration of the two groups resulted in a mini #CleanyourCampus event, while obtaining 2 gallon bags full of cigarettes butts. Imagine #BCTobaccoFree #1DayStand”

As students, it’s important to remember that good grades start with good health! Make sure you take full advantage of what your campus can do for you. Swing by the Student Health Services building and get more information on how you can be a better and HEALTHIER you!!!

Go Gades!

I loved how Allyson Cummings began her piece on BC’s Women’s tennis. She said, “The Bakersfield College women’s tennis team is making quite a racket!” Check out the video and the article about the team and coach Nick Loudermilk at http://www.turnto23.com/sports/local-sports/bakersfield-college-womens-tennis-dominating-the-cccaa

Allyson Cummings

Congratulations to Coach Carl Dean for being inducted into the West High School Hall of Fame. “Carl (class of 1992) was an outstanding quarterback at West, Bakersfield College and San Jose State who won the Burger King Scholar Athlete $10,000 academic scholarship in 1996.”

Carl Dean

Way to go, Carl!

STEM Speakers: David Gallo Visits BC

On Tuesday, MArch 14th, afternoon, the Fireside Room was filled with all ages, ranging from jr. high school aged youth to BC students and their professors. They were excitedly awaiting guest speaker, David Gallo, to begin his presentation on ocean exploration. David is an American oceanographer and the Director of Special Projects at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. For more than 30 years, Dr. Gallo has been participating in and being a witness to the development of new technologies and scientific discoveries that have shaped our understanding and view of the planet earth. He was a fabulous speaker for the STEM Speaker Series because he was one of the first scientists to use a combination of robots and submarines to explore the deep sea floor. Most recently, he co-led an expedition to create the first detailed and comprehensive map of the RMS Titanic and co-led the successful international effort to locate the remains of Air France flight 447 which crashed after suffering a loss of lift with debris was scattered in an area greater than six football fields.

DavidGallo

During the presentation, students learned that instead of taking the oceans for granted, we all need to recognize the oceans critical role in providing the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. Dr. Gallo shared that human activity has impacted the ocean on a global scale and with significant consequences. The oceans hold clues to our past and the key to our future yet they remain mostly unexplored and poorly understood. We live on a planet that’s covered by mostly water but, we don’t have nearly enough information about that part of the planet we call home.

BC student, Lovie Johnson, who attended the event said, “Gallo is a cool New Yorker and funny scientist. He knows how to lecture on the subject in a way you can understand. He is one of the most interesting … speakers I have come across.”

Gallo’s commitment conveying his passion and the importance of ocean exploration makes learning about this subject interesting and fun for everyone. Events like these, and speakers like this are important to our students, the BC community, and our world. Everyone walks away inspired and better informed regarding something that they’ve never seen before. Let’s learn more and do something that can positively affect humanity forever.

Thank you Dr. David Gallo and everyone involved with the STEM Speakers. #BCLearns

Changing inmates lives through education

The Inmate Education program manager Chelsea Esquibias continues to do and report amazing stories . Here is a note she sent me this week about another life changed through education:

“At 17 he was put in prison for gang violence for 12 years at Kern Valley where he earned a 3.0 in our classes.

He was recently released and is back with his 13-year-old son. Since then he’s obtained his license, proposed to his girlfriend, got a car, opened a bank account, said NO to his old gang, and we’re enrolling him in his local college.

He said, “College changed everything for me. I’m not the same anymore” and he says thank you all the time. Working in the prisons can be hard. Thank you for your belief in the program. I love working for an administration that believes so strongly in the students and staff. Happy Friday!!”

Now do you see why I consider myself the luckiest and happiest college president ever…..

In the picture you see Chelsea Esquibias and Bryan Hirayama. Thank you!

BC Innovations 2017 Conference

This past weekend Eileen Pierce, Supplemental Instruction Program Manager; Kim Arbolante, Writing Center Lead; and Eric Weis, AccuSQL Liaison, all attended the League for Innovation in the Community College Innovations 2017 conference at the Marriott Marquis San Francisco. This team of academic support services professionals delivered a presentation and workshop entitled “Be the BEACON of Student Success: Reimaging Academic Support Services with Close Collaboration in Mind.”

The presentation began with some brief introductory demographic and enrollment data about the college. Eileen Pierce explained the Guided Pathways context for this academic support service initiative and facilitated an interactive survey on silos and territorialism that allowed participants to anonymously express whether these issues are prevalent on their own campuses. Kim Arbolante described the work done thus far, the data collected for ENGL 53 and MATH 60 ETC, and all of the features of our new, integrated academic support services model. The presentation closed with Eric Weis calling on participants to redefine what they consider to be their service assets and deficits before leading the group in a game designed to get participants to try and think more collaboratively with other areas of their colleges. The presentation was well-attended, and the presenters received a great deal of praise from participants, a reporter covering the conference who attended this workshop, and an attendee who claimed she had been waiting all week to finally participate in an interactive workshop session.

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Fulfilling a need in an underserved population

Katie Price. Pic from TBC

There is a large underserved population in our community that usually goes unnoticed. We may not realize that our high schools are filled with kids who are either homeless or live in foster or group homes. Up until recently, teachers and counselors weren’t even able to know who these underserved kids were. Recent legislation has changed some of that to allow those students to be given the tools they need to continue a successful education not just throughout high school (where the dropout rate is nearly 50%), but transition successfully into a form of higher education.

Katie Price is a counselor at Bakersfield High School who helped to create a meeting group on the BHS campus where foster youth could discuss issues like budgeting, and college and career planning. This group has expanded to six different high schools and continuation schools.

Bakersfield College is proud to have been a sponsor and host of the “Breaking Barriers & Empowering Success” conference last month.

It’s wonderful to see the long tradition of Bakersfield High School and Bakersfield College continue (as many of you already know BC met on the BHS campus for several decades before moving to Panorama Drive!). Here is Katie Price’s for opinion piece in The Californian.

BC at the 17th Annual KEDC Economic Summit

The 17th Annual KEDC Economic Summit took place on Wednesday at the Doubletree. An enthusiastic crowd heard both local and national speakers comment on the Kern County economy and what to expect in the months ahead. Faculty at CSUB gave economic presentations related to the oil industry and healthcare. Representatives for China Lake, Edwards AFB and Rio Tinto gave an update on the economy in East Kern County. Oscar Wei of the California Association of Realtors spoke about the local housing market. Joel Kotkin, author, speaker and editor of Newgeography.com gave the keynote address. He’s an authority on global, economic, political and social trends. Bakersfield College helped sponsor the event and we’re so glad to partner with a great organization, like Kern Economic Development Corporation.

Photo by April & Co Photography

Here is a nice editorial from The Bakersfield Californian http://tinyurl.com/mwj46hb

Photos from the event are available on the event photographers facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/aprilcophoto/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1478301398846975

Bakersfield Transfer Day

The Bakersfield College Transfer Center, in collaboration with Fresno Pacific University, hosted a Fresno Pacific University Takeover Day on the BC main campus. On Wednesday, March 15^th, from 10AM-2PM, FPU Sunbirds representatives from Admissions were out in full force outside on the CSS lawn, meeting with prospective transfer students. Student transcripts were reviewed for admission, application submission assistance was given, and food and music was provided. The day was a great success, resulting in many Fall 2017 admits! FPU is committed to Renegade success and plans to host one “takeover” event each semester! Thank you Fresno Pacific University!

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Spotlight on Dr. Paula Parks

Dr. Paula Parks

BC’s very own Dr. Paula Parks was recently spotlighted by speaker, author, and leadership coach, Arleana Waller. Every Monday, Arleana shares a e-newsletter designed to “Powerup your Monday Motivation.”

“This week, the #ShePowerAmbassador Feature is Dr. Paula Parks, The Innovative Educator who impact lives daily and who boldly owns her #ShePower” What a great spotlight on Dr. Paula and the ASTEP program! Check it out at http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=301aa4a241bc2b8ff15a8fc92&id=31b3a52c42

The Lemucchi Family Story

100-stars-tim-lemucchi Not too far from campus is a little treasure in our community – you’ve been there. It’s Luigi’s and writing this I’m reminded of the times I’ve enjoyed great food and great company there. Last weekend, Timothy Lemucchi and the Lemucchi family held a book signing for their new book, “Luigi’s 100 Years Then and Now” which showcases the story of how the Lemucchi family came to Bakersfield and the early beginnings of the restaurant.

Did you know Tim is also an alumni of Bakersfield College? After BC, he went on to complete his BA and MA at Stanford, then to Georgetown University for his Juris Doctor. He’s also an active member of the Helmet Club and has continually given public support to Bakersfield College athletics. We proudly recognized Tim as one of BC’s 100 stars during our centennial celebration.

Alumni stories are an extension of Renegade history and I’m always fascinated to learn more. See the article at The Bakersfield Californian here: http://www.bakersfield.com/entertainment/an-immigrant-family-story-the-lemucchis-of-bakersfield/article_5845aa2a-f644-5e54-875d-9cdbb47a807a.html

The Legacy Continues

I was fascinated to read a recent RIP article about two current BC staff and faculty who are carrying on the legacy their fathers began at BC. Definitely check out the article featuring Dr. Oliver Rosales and BC Counselor, Jonathan Schultz by RIP Reporter, Megan Fenwick. http://www.therip.com/news/2017/03/16/the-sons-of-two-former-faculty-continue-their-legacy/

David Rosales, Oliver Rosales, Jonathan Schultz, and Steve Schultz. Photo by Megan Fenwick and The Renegade RIP

BC’s Performing Arts Improv

On March 10th, the Black Box Theater in the Bakersfield College Performing Art’s Center was re-envisioned into of a New York City comedy club. The dim light with low jazz music for ambiance made the audience feel like they were in the audience of Saturday Night Live anxiously waiting for the performances to begin. The performers took the stage and the comedy show began with the introductions. After a topic was chosen, a performer would give a brief story from their life revolving around said topic. Then other members would take the stage and make short improv skits focused on key elements of the story just told. They would take turns and there were a wide variety of improv skits throughout the night. With no props to use, they made the audience laugh with their strong sense of comedic imagery as if they actually had props on the stage. The night was full of laughter and joy. Bakersfield College is full of talented Renegades that exemplify how exceptional the student body is.

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Women’s History Month is Underway at BC

So many events are taking place around the BC campuses – check out the great article featuring many of our upcoming events for Women’s History Month at http://www.bakersfield.com/entertainment/selife-portrait-challenging-the-way-women-are-seen/article_c6905776-f4d9-5300-ab40-0229d8f302f6.html

It’s a great time to be at BC!

Since I was away at the Accreditation Commission meeting, I had to call in to the College Council meeting Friday morning, where our team of very passionate and dedicated individuals were engaged in sharing, discussing and debating the amazing and incredible institutional work. Among the great work, we are focused on upcoming accreditation, institution-set standards, BC’s educational master plan, strategic directions, and our mission statement. There so much was on the agenda and each topic was substantive. There was much laughter in the midst of serious deliberations. Listening in I was just happy that we have such talent, such dedication, such compassion, such camaraderie….. We are BC! and I’m the luckiest and happiest college president ever!

I texted Jennifer and asked her to get me some pictures for my blog. Please enjoy them. Smart people, doing serious work in community.

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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

So many reasons to celebrate! We are BC!

Uncategorized October 8, 2016 Comments: 2

Good morning Bakersfield. It is Saturday, October 8th ….another great day to be a Renegade.

This week was a week of travels for me. Denver early in the week for the AACC Pathways institute and then Orange County to present on Guided Pathways on Friday. Another big highlight of the week was the Measure J Open House on Tuesday evening.

But let me start my blog with Jim Norsworthy, class of 1965. I met Jim and his wife at a BC football game and captured a short video of him describing his time at BC:

Pathways Team at AACC Institute in Denver, CO

I traveled with the BC Pathways Team to Denver this week to attend the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Pathways Institute. Bakersfield College is one of 30 community colleges selected to participate in this 3-year initiative funded by the Gates foundation.

Janet Fulks, Maria Wright, Kimberly Bligh, Kate Pluta, Lesley Bonds, and Stephen Waller joined me on this trip.

Check out my previous blog, February 5, 2016, from San Antonio at the very first institute. In July, I recapped about a similar Pathways event held at LAX and here’s where I posted about Nick Strobel’s piece describing in only 500 words how the pathways initiative is like a GPS for students.

Traveling Adventures

Traveling home from Denver on Tuesday was quite the adventure as well. I arrived bright and early at the airport and went through security like normal. Denver is a beautiful city with a wonderful transportation system, even inside its airport. I took the “people mover” train to concourse B where I’d wait for my flight… and the system is so well designed. I learned from Wikipedia that its layout is based upon the train inside Atlanta’s airport and the systems are nearly identical. Anyway, upon settling in and getting my breakfast burrito, panic immediately set in. I realized I had left my ID back at security and had to go back to get it.

I had to wait, but the TSA agents were kind and helpful in the process. It’s often easy to dismiss the service these men and women provide as simply inconvenient during the rush of travel, but it’s truly helpful and an important public service. Safety is always a team effort and it was a common theme through multiple interactions during my trip home. Once I made it on the flight and before takeoff, the cabin crew on my United flight announced that all Samsung Galaxy phones needed to be switched off during flight unlike other phones which could be turned to airplane mode. If you’ve followed the news recently, there’s been a recall on these phones due to safety issues and you can check out the article about this notice on SmarterTravel.com.

I arrived in Bakersfield, safe and sound, inspired and ready for everything this week had in store and headed straight to the Measure J Open House.

Volunteers for Measure J!

Do you know how to “sign” Yes on J? Let’s watch and learn from Tom Moran.

BC is woven deeply into the fabric of this community. We have incredible students and relentless support from the people all over Kern County. It is wonderful to see so many people willing to spend time working for a better future for our community colleges. I am grateful for their hard work and support.

You can find out more about Measure J, and fill out an online endorsement form, at www.yesonj2016.com.

Measure J Open House:

There was also a fabulous open house for the Yes On J campaign on Tuesday night. There was great turnout, and the support and kind words about Bakersfield College were overwhelming. Thank you Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg and Andrea Thorson for leading a team to make this happen on short notice.

andrea-thorson-measure-j-open-house-oct-4-2016

Photos from the open house are posted on the Yes On J 2016 Facebook page.

I’d like to share some videos from the event from a few of our supporters. More videos will be on the Yes On J Facebook page soon, so check back!

Harvey Hall

Bill Thomas

Leticia Perez

Mike Turnipseed

Wayne Kress

Other Speakers and pictures:

tom-greenwood-measure-j-open-house-oct-4-2016

matthew-frazer-measure-j-open-house-oct-4-2016

chris-glaser-measure-j-open-house-oct-4-2016

Fred Prince

doug-starr-measure-j-open-house-oct-4-2016

David Torres

pastor-hayward-cox-measure-j-open-house-oct-2016

sikh-womens-association-measure-j-open-house-oct-4-2016

speakers-measure-j-open-house-oct-4-2016

Presentations and endorsements:

On October 5th, Bill Thomas, JP Lake, Nicole Parra and I attended the Kern County Farm Bureau Board of Directors meeting. It was wonderful seeing all our Ag faculty out there in full force to support the needs of the college and the Ag department.

ag-faculty-at-kern-county-farm-bureau-oct-5-2016

JP Lake, Bill Kelley, Sonya Christian, Bill Thomas, Heather Baltis, Chris McCraw, Lindsey Ono, Greg Cluff, Bill Barnes

breatris-espericueta-heather-baltis-sonya-christian-oct-5-2016

On October 6th, JP Lake presented to the Renegade Helmet Club. I am happy to say that the club unanimously endorsed Measure J.

Also this week, Cheryl Scott informed me that the Greater Tehachapi Economic Development Council endorsed Measure J.

Over 100o individuals have endorsed Measure J. To check out the list, visit

http://www.yesonj2016.com/endorsements.html

Last week at the Kern County Fair

Thank you to all the volunteers at the Measure J booth at the Kern County Fair. Thank you Trustee Kay Meek who staffed the booth Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately we did not get a picture of her hard at work.

Vounteers at work:

Thank you to all the volunteers who phone banked this last week. Here are just some names of the many who turned out at the Campaign Head Quarters to help.

Michelle Pena, Linda Cordoba, Josh Shackelford, Jackie Lau, Peggy Gonzales, Sergio Maldando, Sal Gomez.

Kathy Rosellini, Chelsea Esquibias, Shannell Tyes, Abel Guzman, Nielly Damamia, Isabel Casteneda, Lucero Cisneros, Iris Gonsalez, Sam Moreno, Sandra Beckworth, Paul Beckworth, Natesha Johnson, Katie Johnson

And they come young 🙂 Isabel Castaneda’s 5 year old. Just precious.

Delano promoting Measure J:

Delano was out during the Harvest Festival promoting Measure J

Kern Shakespeare Festival

This week the Shakespeare Festival at BC kicks off and will last for the upcoming two weeks.

Brian Sivesind, the new director for the Drama Department, is excited to be heading the 32nd annual festival.

In preparation for the play of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” 28 students and 2 faculty spent 7 weeks, 5 days a week making sure the performance would blow people away. Brian Sivesind commented that he “wants the audience to be amazed at the level of talent and commitment that BC students have put into Shakespeare.”

This modernized version of the comedy tells the story of two people who fall in love, elope into the desert and due to magical forces are caught in a love triangle that includes other people.

It also incorporates elements of Burning Man, a real event, in which thousands of people assemble in the desert each year to burn a huge wooden art structure. Then, return to civilization leaving no trace of being there. Have you been to Burning Man?

Students participating in the play also had a chance to comment.

Ryan Lee, playing the character of Lysander, said,” I want to have fun and act and focus on the building of the character and that’s what drives me.”

Juliana Benavides commented, “I was not real familiar with Shakespeare, but decided to give it a try. I love the feeling of being on stage and bringing myself into the world of the play.”

Tickets are available through Vallitix, and the show is held at the Outdoor Theatre. The festival began this weekend, and continues next week, with shows at 7:30 pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings.

Industrial Automation Student Gathering

The BC Industrial Automation students gathered on Tuesday evening to mingle and prepare for potential internships that may come up with quick deadlines.

Stephanie Baltazar, our Job Development Specialist, was on hand for a special resume workshop and to help students improve their resumes.

It’s been an exciting journey so far for this incredible group of students.The Renegade family is so proud of these trailblazing students and I can’t wait to see what they can accomplish as they reach for the stars!

Congratulations to Helen Calip!

Helen Calip, Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg, Sonya Christian, Jay Tamsi

BC is a campus without boundaries and our staff in Delano accomplish incredible things each day. I have to extend a warm congratulations to Helen Calip, our lead coordinator of Admissions and Records for the Delano Campus. Last month, she was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Delano Union School District by the Delano Union SD Hall of Fame Committee for Outstanding Service to the community.

This is not the first recognition for her service to the Delano community either. In 2012, she was voted Woman of the Year by the Filipino Community of Delano for excellent community service, and in 2010, she was awarded Woman of the Year by the Delano Chamber of Commerce.

Helen works diligently with heart, helping the Delano faculty and staff to meet academic and professional needs while actively engaging and serving the people of her community.

Thank you and congratulations Helen! Everyone at BC is so proud you are part of our family.

Emergency Responder Training

The week at BC was off to a safe start as the BC Public Safety Department held hour-long Emergency Responder Trainings on Monday and Tuesday. The training was open to all employees, especially our new faculty and staff, so that everyone knows what to do in case of an on campus emergency.

Chief Chris Counts, our Director of Public Safety recently said in the newest Annual Safety Report, “Do not hesitate to ask the Dept. of Public Safety staff any questions you may have about your personal safety. You will find that the staff members are interested and welcome the opportunity to assist with your concerns.”

Our campus community is very lucky to have such caring and dedicated public safety personnel. These are people who want nothing more than to serve and improve our campus! I cannot adequately express how grateful I am for our BC Public Safety team – Thank you for all that you do!

Homecoming & the Big Red Dinner!

The excitement is ramping up on campus for the annual Homecoming celebrations that take place later this month. This year will mark the 59^th Homecoming at 1801 Panorama Drive and the upcoming activities are themed around building the Renegade community for the future, focusing on the next 50 years to come. Over the past year as a BC Community, we have enjoyed reuniting with our past and looking back at our campus traditions while we plan for the future so this announcement is especially exciting.

The front page of the Renegade RIP in 1957, in large bold letters read “Campus Open House Features Spaghetti Feed” and there’s no better way to celebrate where we started and where we’ve come — so we’re doing it again!

Community members, leaders, alumni, families, friends of BC, and colleagues – this spaghetti dinner will be the tailgate of the year and with your attendance and support, we can make it the best one yet!

The celebration kicks off with a spaghetti feast with salad, roll with butter, and water or soda – plus the famous BC flying saucer cookie! With the purchase of dinner, you’ll get admission to the grand homecoming football game, entertainment by the BC Drumline and music department, cheerleaders, and more. Come back to the campus on the hill for Homecoming 2016.

Tickets are available on Vallitix.

For more information about Homecoming, check out https://www.bakersfieldcollege.edu/homecoming.

I can’t wait to see you there!!

Driven by Art: Public Art Project at BMOA

It’s a beautiful thing when creativity and community collide and that’s why we’re so lucky to have the Bakersfield Museum of Art in our neighborhood. In celebration of the BMOA’s 60^th anniversary, they invited the community to participate in “Driven by Art” where various groups and organizations painted and decorated 33 miniature fiberglass 1956 style pickup trucks.

Why 1956? An article about the event on BakersfieldMagazine.net tell me, “That was the year the Museum was founded, of course!” The article also states that 13 of trucks have been promised to the Bakersfield Foundation and will be permanently installed along the Westside Parkway.

Bakersfield College was well represented through art faculty, David Koeth and adjunct professors, Cameron Brian and Nano Rubio.

This is a uniquely Bakersfield take on successful community art projects like Chicago’s “Cows on Parade,” New York’s “Big Apples,” Vacaville’s We Know Jack, Riverside’s “Giant Oranges” and Cincinnati’s “Big Pig Gig.” 33 small-scale 1956 era fiberglass pickup trucks were painted, embellished, and festooned, and will be on display until January 2017 in downtown Bakersfield. In addition, 12 of the trucks will be donated to the City of Bakersfield and permanently installed on the Westside Parkway in 2017.

A map with the location of each truck can be found at: http://www.bmoa.org/map

Photos below: “RockArt” is by David Koeth and Nano Rubio, “Citrus” is by Cameron Brian.

We also had BC alumni who worked on the trucks including, Liz Sherwyn, José Lemus, and Lorraina Paz. Check out the video by KGET at http://www.kerngoldenempire.com/news/driven-by-art-public-art-project-debuts-at-the-bakersfield-museum-of-art and follow the Bakersfield Museum of Art on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BMOA1930.

Thank You Mr. Jensen

It was a celebration on Wednesday evening at William M. Thomas Terminal at Meadows Field Airport when the Honor Flight Kern County came back into town. A band played live music, miniature American flags were in every person’s hands, and the red, white, and blue spirit was at an all-time high.

HFKC says on their website that there are approximately 46,000 veterans in Kern County with over 8,000 of them World War II and Korean Vets. Their mission is to honor and send Kern County’s vets to Washington to see the memorials built in their honor, for their service and dedication to our country. The top priority on these flights is given to the most senior veterans and those who are terminally ill. Every veteran accepted by HFKC travels at no cost to him/her and these trips are memorable and life changing.

I was made aware of a special man, Mr. Mervin Jensen – a loyal supporter of BC for over 50 years – who would be traveling on the honor flight and I was honored to write him a letter of appreciation and be on hand to welcome him home upon his flights arrival in Bakersfield. Mervin and his friends regularly attend BC football games and their common love for BC and friendship has helped them through their elder years, loss of spouses, and chronic illness.

We are BC, and our sense of community and comraderie is an integral part of our Bakersfield identity. Thank you Mr. Jensen – your love and enthusiasm for the Renegades is unrivaled and BC thanks you for your steadfast support. Furthermore, thank you for your service, your courage, and for serving the United States of America. We are so incredibly grateful for what you’ve done.

Cristian Gutierres, Mervin Jensen, Sonya Christian, Karen Goh, Paul Beckworth

A special thank you to Karen Goh for inviting me to participate in this special opportunity. Karen is a big supporter of education and a consistent supporter of Bakersfield College. Thank you Paul Beckworth, BC’s Veterans Faculty Lead, and Cristian Gutierrez, 8 year Marine vet, STEM major, and BC’s Veterans Club Vice President who also joined me in the celebration for Mr. Jensen. To learn more about Honor Flight Kern County, visit http://www.honorflightkerncounty.org/

BC Faculty and Staff Featured:

Matthew Garrett

In late August, I announced on my blog that Dr. Matthew Garrett’s book, Making Lamanites: Mormons, Native Americans, and the Indian Student Placement Program, 1947-200 would be releasing the following month.

If you haven’t had a chance to pick one up, it is available on Amazon and it’s the winner of the Juanita Brooks Prize in Mormon Studies. From 1947 to 2000, some 50,000 Native American children left their homes on reservations to live with Mormon foster families. Making Lamanites traces this student experience within cultural and institutional landscapes to reveal how and why many of these Native youth adopted a new notion of Indianness.

Andrea Thorson:

Here is a great piece by our student reporter for the Renegade Rip, Joshua Fisher, featuring Professor Andrea Thorson. Here is an excerpt:

Thorson feels that she teaches as more than just a career, she says it is a lifestyle. Classes to her are like sub-family communities and everyone’s voice should matter. Embedded inside her is a morally high expectation of her students.

The picture was taken by James Macias for the Renegade Rip article.

Andrea represents the talent and commitment to students of BC faculty and staff. We are BC! For more, check out:

http://www.therip.com/campus/2016/10/05/professor-finds-her-true-calling-at-bc/

A note from Jack Hernandez:

On March 29^th, 2017, the second annual Levan Lecture will be given by Juan Felipe Herrera, the current Poet Laureate of the United States. He has written award-winning poetry and fiction. He has also written nonfiction and children’s books.

Please save this date.

Faculty on a CSU panel

From Facebook. Reggie Williams, Marcus Duarte-Smith and Dahna Rasmussen.

BC Athletics:

Coach Chudy and his staff led the Renegades into Murdock Stadium on the El Camino Campus in Torrence, CA. After giving up the lead with 39 seconds to play, the Renegades pulled out the victory with a 70-yard 5-play drive and scoring the go ahead touchdown with 3 seconds to spare! Check out http://www.gogades.com/landing/index to watch the highlights.

With a bye this week, Renegade Football opens National Northern Conference play on Oct. 15th at Moorpark College, 6pm kickoff.

Volleyball opened Western State Conference play with two impressive 3-game sweeps over Glendale on the road Wednesday night and Santa Monica at home on Friday night. Coach Carl Ferreira has prepared his team through a touch preseason schedule to make a run at the conference championship.

Women’s Golf Team led by Coach Brittney Goehring placed third as a team at Western State Conference Match #5 on the San Dimas Golf Course. The Renegades were led by Janette Chhuon Chan with a round of 77, while Brandi Borjon turned in an 86 to finish second on the team.

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Mackenzie Hernandez

Sophomore, volleyball, setter

Had a strong all-around match with 30 assists, 15 digs and four blocks last week to lead the Renegades to a 20-25, 25-14, 25-18, 23-25, 15-9 win over Moorpark, the same team that beat the Renegades 3-0 one week earlier. The Bakersfield High graduate leads BC in assists (332) and aces (24), and is second in digs

(125), third in blocks (18) and fourth in kills (83).

MALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Sophomore, football, wide receiver Derrick Vickers

Caught eight passes for 205 yards and a touchdown while adding two rushing touchdowns. His 53-yard reception with six seconds to play set up his own game-winning 1-yard TD run to beat El Camino 42-38. Vickers, named the National Northern League’s Player of the Week for special teams and all-purpose, has a state-leading 11 touchdowns to help BC to a 4-1 start.

Mark your calendars:

October 21, 2016: BC Choir’s Fall concert.

October 22, 2016: Join us for Homecoming. This year we are going big!

December 17, 2016: BC Choir along with the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra will perform a Holiday Concert at the Fox Theater.

March 29, 2017: Levan Lecture

That’s all for now.

Until next week.

With much Renegade Pride and Collegiality.

sonya — the luckiest and happiest college president ever

Sonya Christian's Blog

Tag Archives: David Koeth

March in Like a Renegade!

Kern Economic Summit

Fun Photos: Economic Summit VIP Dinner

Melissa Hurtado Swears In

Celebrating Pi Day

BC Screens ‘Served Like a Girl’

BC Puts on ‘A Piece of my Heart’

Fun Photos: Memorial Stadium

Industrial Automation Video

Dr. Anna Laven to Serve on Regional K-12 Strong Workforce Program Selection Committee

Culturally Responsive Teaching

Active Shooter Response and Tourniquet Training

Art, Architecture, and Archetypes

YES Conference Empowers and Supports Foster Youth Across Kern County

Fun Photos: OB Nursing Teaching Fair

Fun Photos: St. Patty’s Day

Bill Kelly: Agriculture Icon

‘Those Outspoken’ Speaks Out to Students

Kern County Science Fair

Family Math & Science Night

Local Renegade Puts the ‘Baker’ in Bakersfield College

ProSoft Technology Presents on Industrial Automation

BC’s College Council

Gadfly Cafe Talks Love

Fun Photos: Trees at BC

Former Renegade Football Coach Inducted into CCCFCA Hall of Fame

Renegades of the Week

Gabby Lugo, Women’s Track and Field

Ryan Dickerson, Baseball

Mayor Goh at BC Baseball & Softball

Ten Renegades Named to 2019 CCCBCA Academic All-State Team

Roundup of Athletics Events This Week

We are BC!

Good morning Bakersfield. It is Cinco de Mayo, 2018 and a great day to be a Renegade!

And loved seeing our hardworking Budget Analysts on a Saturday hard at work preparing BC’s budget that will go to the board this June. Thank you Zach Quiroz and Somaly Boles!

Less than a week to Commencement

Celebrating Nan – Artist, Teacher, Dean, Vice President, Friend, and more–

AB 705 Workshop

3rd Annual BC Law Day Conference

Dual Enrollment Celebration

Rural Archives Show Case “Digital Delano: Preserving an International Community’s History.”

Adventures with BC Geology Club

Black and Gold Scholarship Banquet

Honors Fiesta

BCSGA Transition Ceremony

Student Art on Display

Renegades Voices in the Community

Renegade Athletics

Celebrating Retirees

Celebrating Faculty and Staff

ASCCC Career and NonCredit Education Institute 2018

Physics Olympics

Guided Pathways Peer-to-Peer Work Plan

Bright Futures start with Good Teachers

Good morning Bakersfield.

Calling Future Teachers

Kern County Career Expo

CHAP at Allensworth

Bridging the Racial Divide

HBCU Visits BC

Renegade Athletics

Military Ball

Creating Lasting Guided Pathways

Cheryl Scott

Chancellor Tom Burke Seen on Twitter

Congratulations to Professor Chris Ennis

Spotted on Media

And finally let’s support our choir students

Renegades are EVERYWHERE!

Industrial Automation Program Hosting Info Session Today!

Bakersfield College Receives a Planning Award for new Public Health Sciences Program

Achieving the Dream

Keep Bakersfield Beautiful

C.H.A.P Hosts Guest Speaker, Salvador Garcia

Houchin Blood Bank Stats

Student Health Highlight

Go Gades!

STEM Speakers: David Gallo Visits BC