One of my favorite moments this week was listening to the “get out the vaccine” project testimonials about work funded from a grant that UCLA received. I was so pleased that they immediately reached out to BC-KCCD to be a sub grantee. Norma Rojas did the heavy lift of getting volunteers to make vaccinations available in every part of our county. Thank you Leticia Perez for brining in community groups to help with this effort. Special thank you to Halls Ambulance for being available as part of the mobile team going out to rural communities.

Secretary Yolanda Richardson visited BC because she had heard about this innovative “get it done” approach taken by BC staff and nursing faculty and students.

Trustee Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg did the welcome address for Secretary Richardson’s visit. Here are some photos that Dylan snapped.

And …. Happy Halloween!

I hope you are all enjoying some fun times with your loved ones this weekend as ghosts and goblins haunt our neighborhoods.

Let’s check out Jack’s recent poem (and thank you to Aricia Leighton for sharing this seasonal image!)

Pumpkins

Pumpkins give us
Candle lit smiles,
Ignite laughter
From children
Holding hands open
For ghostly candy,
Decorate our tables
Like orange medallions,
Fill our hunger
With eager thanksgiving
For such sweet Vibrant pies.

Good morning, friends…
It is October 23, 2021.
The sun shines bright over KCCD.

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

Porterville College

Campus Prepares for Vaccine or Testing Requirement with “Education Approach”

To preserve the health and safety of all students, employees, and the public, everyone on campus must wear a mask and show proof of COVID 19 Vaccination by 11/01/2021. Beginning Monday, November 1^st, ANY student who has not submitted their proof of vaccination or applied for an exemption before November 1^st, 2021 will no longer be allowed to attend on-campus classes or visit the campus for any reason. Those students’ ability to register for in-person classes may also be affected.

To ensure all students are ready for this transition, PC administrators and classified staff were at “education checkpoints” around campus.  These checkpoints were placed at entry points to the campus throughout the day so that staff could talk to students as they arrived to attend classes.  The vast majority of students were able to show us their “Green Pass”.  

“We figured the best approach was to do a trial run of checking the passes this week.  We were able to use this time as an educational opportunity for all visitors to campus.  This way we could speak one-on-one with students and community members about the requirements for next week, answer their questions and ensure they had everything they need for an easy transition,” said Roger Perez, Porterville College Director of Communication and Community Relations.  

PC Alum Honored to share his 100th birthday with Porterville Rotary

Last week, I shared a news article about Porterville Alum Jim Howell. This week, I’m excited to share more about his story.

The Rotary Club of Porterville celebrated its centennial birthday this past Saturday, October 23^rd. The club and Howell practically share the same birthday. Born on October 24,1921 at the Mt. Whitney Hospital on Main Street in Porterville, Mr. Howell was born just hours after the Rotary Club of Porterville was chartered.  His father, Everett Howell, was a charter member of the Club. Jim Howell has been with the club 64 years, served as the 1962-63 president, was the club’s secretary-treasurer for more than 35 years and instrumental in the start of the Breakfast Rotary Club. A Diamond Paul Harris Fellow and a Homer Wood Fellow recipient, he often jokes the annual celebration party is really a birthday party for him.

At 3 years old, he made headlines when he took the family car for a spin.  The headline in the Recorder read, “Three-year-old Barney Oldfield Shocks: Jimmy Howell Goes for Spin”.

“Mother was fixing dinner and asked my father to go to the store to get some butter or something,” Howell said. “When we got back, he jumped out and hurried inside. In those days it was common to leave the keys in the car.”

Howell said he had seen his father start the vehicle many times and figured it would be simple to take the car for a ride.

As Jim Howell entered his pre-teen, teen and young adult years the adventures grew ….. he saw, in-person, Amelia Earhart at a Fly-in airshow; Sea Biscuit; big-band leaders in New York; and Billie Holiday – who was just starting out at the time.

A 1939 Porterville High graduate, he was attending Porterville College when patriotic duty called. He entered the U.S. Navy in 1942 as a Sonarman 1st class on the U.S.S. Barker (DD-213). When he was 20 years old, he had his tonsils removed. His ship was about to leave but was told it would wait for him. It didn’t. He was left behind on Mere Island in French Guiana. But as a result, he saw a private show by Bing Crosby and Bob Hope.

After the war, he and his wife, Terra Bella native Irene Howekamp, returned to Porterville where Jim Howell continued working with his father in managing three theaters in downtown Porterville, and where Jim and Irene Howell started a family and raised three children.

Known as a great resource on local history, he has served on the Porterville Unified School District Reunion Committee for years. In 2008, he participated on the panel of Porterville College during a special program on the 1940s. And he was the inaugural recipient of the President’s Medal of Distinction at PC.

In 2009, Howell was recognized and presented with a plaque for “Recognition for a lifetime of community service” — for his contributions during his life in Porterville and with Rotary.

Jim Howell, like his father, worked in theater. His father managed three theaters in town, The Crystal, The Monache and The Molino, and later the Porter Theater in 1949. The younger Howell managed the Porter Theater for 30 years, overseeing the remodeling of the theater into three screens and sponsored free children’s matinees with Santa after the Children’s Christmas Parade, playing Santa himself for several years. He also started the Monache Mickey Mouse Club.

Through it all, he said, one of his happiest times was standing in the spotlight of the theater stage hearing all the children laughing and singing the Monache Mickey Mouse Club anthem — a thrilling sound that still reverberates within him and helps him to dance along each day.

Former student raises awareness of the importance of language on success

Here is a spotlight on former PC student and current PC Professional Expert for Title V programs, Mallory Brown. She was recently asked to answer 5 questions on how languages played a role in her success by Lead with Languages, a national nonprofit campaign aimed at making language proficiency a national priority.

Lead with Languages seeks to raise awareness across the U.S. and motivate people to take action around the rapidly rising importance of language skills to a wide array of careers, our nation’s economy, national security and international standing. They use the stories of standout students and educators to help highlight how important language can be to success.  You can read the complete interview with Mallory online.  Congratulations Mallory!

Cerro Coso Community College

Celebrate What’s Great at the DEF

It is fall and that means the days are shorter, the mornings are cooler, and the evening sunsets are breath-taking. It’s also the season for lemonade, laughter, and the Desert Empire Fair (DEF). In many ways, the DEF is a lot like Christmas. It comes only once a year and requires extensive advance preparation followed by lively bursts of fun and exhilaration.

An iconic piece of Americana with a rich history stretching back over centuries, people embrace local fairs as an opportunity to set the rest of life aside and enjoy the sights, sounds, and feelings that combine to create an unquestionably unique experience, while at the same time timeless and familiar. Three days, 25 employees and students, and more than 52 volunteer hours are what it took to staff the college’s booth at this year’s fair, October 22-24.

The DEF is an annual showcase of people’s creativity and artistry and provides the college with a unique opportunity to interact with the community in a dynamic and exciting environment, sharing the many valuable resources the college has to offer. Who knew LIFE could be this good…the Desert Empire Fair?

Meet new English Professor Debilyn Kinzler

Originally from the beautiful foothill community of Sonora, California, new English Professor Debilyn Kinzler is very excited about her new position at Cerro Coso working for the English and Foreign Language Department.  A self-confessed “college dropout” Debilyn says she got serious about college when her second daughter was 17 and applying for colleges, she asked Debilyn, “When you were little, what did you want to be?” 

Debilyn replied “a college professor.” “You know you still can, don’t you?” said her daughter.  Inspired by her daughter’s confidence in her, Debilyn enrolled in Los Angeles Pierce College, and then transferred to Cal State Northridge where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree. 

“I often say that it took me 25 years to graduate with a four-year degree but what I learned from doing it this way is that it’s never too late to continue learning.”   

Debilyn now holds an Associate of Arts in Business Administration from Los Angeles Pierce College, a Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing from Cal State Northridge, a Master’s Degree in English Literature from Cal State Northridge and currently a Doctoral student of English Literature with a concentration in American Studies from Claremont Graduate University. 

Debilyn has been married to husband Steven for 31 years and together the two have two daughters, two sons, four dogs, two turtles, and two snakes. She loves the outdoors, camping, hiking, dirt bike riding, though her off-road vehicle has four wheels, while the rest of her family’s have two.

Building Bridges: Systemic Solutions to Support Undocumented Students

The fifth annual Undocumented Student Action Week was held October 18-22, 2021. This year also marked the twentieth anniversary of Assembly Bill 540, the landmark legislation that opened the doors of higher education to thousands of undocumented students by removing the burden of out-of-state tuition. The week featured special conversation by Acting Chancellor Dr. Daisy Gonzales, Chancellor Dr. Joseph I. Castro, President Dr. Michael V. Drake, and President Kristen Soares that will highlight systemwide efforts to support AB 540 students and discuss shared commitments to continue addressing challenges that remain in order to support the success of all of our undocumented students. Cerro Coso shared resources available to undocumented students and invited them to share their immigration stories in the Student Center.

Bakersfield College

Industrial Automation Presents at Mojave Air and Space Port

The Industrial Automation program was invited to the Mojave Air and Space Port for a lunch and learn opportunity to meet with professionals from the aerospace industry. Some of the companies in attendance included Virgin Galactic, Stratolaunch, Masten, Interorbital Systems and more. The Bakersfield College Team; Carlos Medina, along with Anthony Cordova, Jason Dixon, Paul Murray, Lora Larkin, Blair Pruett and Tim Dekorte also had the opportunity to present to MASP’s tenants on opportunities for collaboration with the Industrial Automation program. The Industrial Automation team is hopeful this collaboration will result in opportunities and expansion of our own BC students advancing the workforce needs of the aerospace industry.

Really enjoyed this tweet about Richard Van Horn from BC’s first baccalaureate class. He has made BC so proud!

BC Recognizes Undocumented Students Week

Last week AB 540 & Undocumented Students Program, in collaboration with campus partners, hosted the fifth annual Undocumented Student Action Week. Throughout the week we heard from students, alumni, community/state partners, artists,  and more! BC’s Program Manager, Marcela Gamino, presented at the statewide AB 540 Conference on how Bakersfield College is addressing common challenges in awarding nonresident tuition exemption. 

We were honored to host Immigrants Rising’s Director of Higher Education Initiatives, Nancy Jodaitis, for Bakersfield College’s first UndocuALLY Training. Over 100 staff and faculty members from Bakersfield College were in attendance. The UndocuALLY training informed allies about the common issues that undocumented students face and how to provide support to our students. SOMOS BC!

BC Outreach Hosts the Annual High School Counselor Conference

BC’s Outreach hosted its annual High School Counselor Conference to empower over 155 local high school counselors to ease the transition for our incoming first-time students. The conference had multiple breakout sessions on topics such as: InsideBC, AB540, DSPS, and TRIO.

Distinguished Speaker Dr. Moogega Cooper at BC

A real life “Guardian of the Galaxy,” Dr. Moogega “Moo” Cooper holds the awesome responsibility of keeping the red planet safe from any of the Earth’s contaminants. Moo is the planetary protection lead of the famed NASA 2020 Mars mission—with its highly viewed landing on February 18, 2021. Her work with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is integral to the ongoing mission to discern whether Mars could be habitable for humans and that we don’t harm what’s already there—a job she has been working up to for most of her life.

Moo is passionate about empowering organizations and others to achieve their dreams and overcome obstacles that she articulately conveys through her life story and love of her work. A role model for women in science and technology, she is also passionate about introducing more people to the wonders of the STEAM world, including by talking about her work to boys and girls from underrepresented communities and appearing on shows like Because Space and Bill Nye Saves the World.

Learn more and RSVP for the webinar about the STEAM world at the Distinguished Speaker Series.

Title V Health Science Team hosts Health Science Pathway Fair

During the week of October 18th 2021,  the Title V Health Science team launched their first Health Science Pathway Fair at our high school sites. This gave our high school students an early exploration and information on our health science pathway and opportunities at Bakersfield College. Faculty, advisors, counselors and staff presented at Arvin, BHS, CTEC, Cesar Chavez, Delano, RFK, McFarland, Shafter and Wasco. We have reached 434 students as of this week and have received great feedback. As a couple students’ said, “I enjoyed the presentation and I might contemplate what I want to go after more” and “It encouraged me more to know which pathway to go on for my chosen career”. 

Thank you to our incredible health science team for making this successful and giving our high school students a chance to meet you and hear more about our programs.  

We Are BC | Health Science  

Quick Tips for Teaching SUccess

This week, our colleagues at Porterville College continued their Quick Tips for Teaching Success series with a session on Wednesday called “Project Quick Tips.”

Check out the video and more on the Quick Tips For Teaching Success website.

In the News

A poignant story of a Black kid who just wanted to be a good cop

I enjoyed Jose Gaspar‘s feature in The Bakersfield Californian about BC’s own Tommy Tunson.

Growing up in the 1970s and ’80s in a metropolitan city in California, Tunson points out the greatest causes of death for Black males in his neighborhood appeared to be drugs, gangs and the police. So I asked Tunson the same question he raised in his book.

“Because you want to have a positive significant change on society,” Tunson said. “Historically that has never existed.”

Community Voices: Our Renegade community is resilient

Check out BCSGA President Edith Mata‘s piece in the Bakersfield Californian!

As a BC student and the SGA president, I am grateful to have flexible options for my classes, while also having options to stay connected to the campus community. Being a full-time student and a mother requires constant adaptability and juggling of responsibilities. The fully online, hybrid and rural site options helped me develop an ideal schedule that works with my lifestyle. It’s wonderful to see the Renegade community protecting and looking out for one another by following the protocols set forth, using the KCCD campus pass app, and practicing social courtesies in the classroom and on campus.

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

Jo Ellen Barnes shared this photo of the BC Budget Committee, which meets every month. Next month, they will hold thie ropen budget forum.

PC President Claudia Habib shared from the opening and dedication of Larry Itliong Resource Center in Poplar. She’s joined by Dolores Huerta, Assemblymember Rudy Salas, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Assemblymember Mia Bonta, and others.

Diego Monterrubio shared this photo of Early College in Shafter.

Bakersfield College was present in full force at the Grimmway Edible Schoolyard dinner event

Bill Moseley shared this post about a collaboration we had:

Funny – This has been sitting on my desk unopened for a couple of months, and I hadn’t even opened it up. It’s always cool to see your name in print. Thanks to @sonyachristian for collaborating with me on this work.

Kylie Campbell from BC-KCCD and Kristin Hanle from Cerro Coso presented at the Dual Enrollment conference.

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

The future is bright at KCCD.

-sonya
a joyful and grateful Chancellor

#KCCDDaringMightyThings

The proper function of man is to live, not to exist.
I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them.
I shall use my time.
Last scene in the recent James Bond movie a Jack London quote read by M about Bond.

Did the rare Friday night movie yesterday. Totally enjoyed the recent Bond movie No Time to Die – Daniel Craig’s fifth and last. If you are a Bond movie fan, watch the firs four before you see this last one. Casino Royale (2006), Quantum of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015), No Time to Die (2021). I also have also been a fan of the Bond songs for as long as I can remember…. Sheena Easton’s For your Eyes Only, Adele’s Skyfall, Sam Smith’s Writings on the Wall… And No Time to Die by Billie Eilish beautiful and haunting. Here it is.

Good morning, friends…
It is October 23, 2021.
The sun shines bright over KCCD.

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

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This week, all three of our campuses celebrated Undocumented Student Action Week. It’s a statewide effort led by the California Community College Chancellor’s Office, Community College League of California, and the Foundation for California Community Colleges. 

This year’s theme, “Change in Action”, aimed to find ways to engage in local, state, and federal action to support undocumented students in their goal of earning a college education. 

Across KCCD, daily events helped support our students on a local level, while also encouraging participation in the statewide efforts. Undocumented students were able to get assistance on topics like financial aid, transfer, or immigration questions. Other events encouraged allyship and cultural education. 

Students at Cerro Coso Community College were encouraged to share their Immigration Story. Porterville College held a virtual sugar skull decorating event. Bakersfield College welcomed guest speaker Yehimi Cambrón to speak about Immigration, Art, and Activism. 

It’s such a joy to see the many ways our students, faculty, and staff are able to support one another and work together to create a better educational experience for all of our students. 

Porterville College

Women’s Volleyball returns triumphant for late FIRST home game of the season

The Porterville College Women’s Volleyball team has logged a lot of road miles this season. Just as they were about to play their first home game on September 15th, they were forced to hit the road instead.

Due to the wildfires raging in nearby Sequoia National Park, the PC Gym was being used as a shelter for local residents forced to flee their homes. From that day, all of their scheduled home games had to be played away, starting with that night’s game vs. Columbia College.

The rest of the season turned out to be more of the same, playing game after game on the road so that their gym could be used as a place of shelter for others. With the fires not letting up, the shelter stayed open for more than a month before the fires were finally under control enough to allow the shelter to close just this past week. 

The Pirates were finally able to make the return to their home turf on October 20th, and what a triumphant return it was! The team made the night memorable by sweeping the West Hills Lemoore Golden Eagles, 3-0. 

PC President Dr. Claudia Habib shared her excitement for the Pirates return on twitter, “Today’s highlight is to watch our first home game Women’s Volleyball team @PCollegePirates against West Hills-Lemoore @WHCLemoore PC takes the Set!  🏐 #SeaOfRed @cvc_sports @gopcpirates

Great Job Pirates!

Clint Smith Joins PC Writer & Poet Speaker Series on November 3rd

The Porterville College Writer & Poet Speaker Series welcomes the third speaker of the Fall Semester on Wednesday, November 3rd, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, via Zoom.

Clint Smith is a staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of the narrative nonfiction book, How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning With the History of Slavery Across America, which was a #1 New York Times Bestseller, and the poetry collection Counting Descent, which won the 2017 Literary Award for Best Poetry Book from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association.

Smith was a finalist for an NAACP Image Award. He has received fellowships from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, New America, the Emerson Collective, the Art For Justice Fund, Cave Canem, and the National Science Foundation.

His essays, poems, and scholarly writing have been published in The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, The New Republic, Poetry Magazine, The Paris Review, the Harvard Educational Review and elsewhere.  We are very excited for Mr. Smith to share his journey and his perspective with our students and community!

To join us for this event, please register via Zoom at https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/98328713664

Cerro Coso Community College

Cheers for Charity Donates $6,000 for Promise Scholarships

Shout out to Cheers to Charity for donating $6,000 of its proceeds to the Cerro Coso Community College Promise Program in support of 6 – $1,000 scholarships for Promise students in Tehachapi. They raised an amazing $55,000 in support of local charities during their Wine, Craft Beer, and Food event held in August. 

Cheers for Charity is committed to helping non-profits in the Tehachapi area.  A local organization that developed from a concept and gained momentum with enthusiastic member participation. By combining time and resources, the organization is able to make a significant contribution to local philanthropy. 

Established in 2014, their mission is to financially improve small, charitable organizations that make a visible difference in the greater Tehachapi area. 

Their first year they raised $12,000 and this year the organization raised more than $55,000 for local charities.  Launched by the Cerro Coso Community College Foundation in 2018, the Cerro Coso Promise provides unparalleled access to community college education by removing financial barriers and providing wraparound support. 

The Cerro Coso Promise provides qualified students at Cerro Coso with a $1,000 a semester, for up to 4 semesters, essentially providing a free community college education. Leveraging funds provided by the state of California and with the support of generous donors, the Cerro Coso promise ensures that no student is denied access to a high-quality education due to lack of resources. More than 227 students have received Promise scholarships since 2018.    

Cerro Coso participates in Great California ShakeOut

In 2019 Ridgecrest, home of Cerro Coso’s Main Campus, experienced the strongest earthquakes to strike Southern California in 20 years.  It all started on July 4, when a 6.4-magnitude foreshock struck northeast of Ridgecrest. Thirty six hours later, an even larger 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck near the same area, releasing 10 times as much energy as the foreshock of July 4. Thousands of aftershocks followed for weeks putting nerves on edge. 

Californians have long feared the “Big One.” Unfortunately, despite living in earthquake country, many people are not prepared for earthquakes. 

In the days following the first Ridgecrest earthquake, there was a lot of misinformation on how to best survive a big shaker.  In an earthquake, you may only have seconds to protect yourself before strong shaking knocks you down, or something falls on you. 

On Thursday, October 21, at 10:25 a.m. all Cerro Coso campuses participated in the Great California ShakeOut Drill, a chance to practice together how to protect ourselves, and for everyone to become prepared.  The goal is to save lives and prevent disasters from becoming catastrophes. At 10:25 a.m. a message was delivered through the internal Mitel Phone System, that also came across the Cerro Coso network computer screens that directed everyone to drop, cover and hold on.  The college also used this drill as an opportunity to practice safe evacuation. 

The 2021 ShakeOut drill is estimated to be the largest preparedness event in world history. 

Meet SGCC Vice President Dianne Espindola

I wanted to share this welcome from SGCC Vice President Dianne Espindola:

“My name is Dianne Espindola and I am the Vice President of Student Government for Cerro Coso (SGCC). Throughout this school year, I’d like to see students meet their goals and have a great time at Cerro Coso. As a Vice President, I would love to engage with many new students to help them along this college journey. I’m also the President of Latinos Unidos Club here at Cerro Coso and I like to bring students together to have a good time while attending Cerro Coso. My experience at Coso has been a great one and I just want other students to have a great experience at Coso.  The SGCC is the official student organization, with membership open to all students.  Through its governing body the Student Senate, the SGCC promotes the Student Activities Program at the college.  A system of self-government has been established by which the students, through democratic action, formulate and execute policies and programs and prepare the student body’s financial budget.  The mission of the SGCC, is to create an interactive atmosphere and immersive culture by providing student-oriented services, opportunities for involvement, and increased campus accessibility. “

Bakersfield College

KCCD Board Approves “Valley Strong Energy Institute” Renaming

This week, the Kern Community College District Board of Trustees voted to approve the naming of BC’s community education efforts linked to the college’s Energy Technology, Transfer and Workforce Development initiative. The new name comes after a $2 Million gift by Valley Strong Credit Union to The Bakersfield College Foundation meant to support the college’s work focused on energy technologies and job training for the vibrant and growing workforce in Kern County.

Bakersfield College’s community-wide education efforts kicked off last year in a series of webinars with industry leaders and partners, including the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) and the County of Kern. The webinars are free, open to the public, and widely promoted to students as a virtual forum where they can hear directly from subject matter experts on the cusp of new technologies like agrovoltaics.

Check out this video about the partnership.

And thank you John Cox for this great piece in the Bakersfield Californian!

BC’s Art Students in Action at Via Arte

Students from BC Art Professor Joseph Tipay‘s Drawing I and Drawing II classes spent the weekend turning the pavement into a work of art at the annual Via Arte Italian Street Painting Festival at The Marketplace.

The students voted to determine which piece of art to re-create, and the selected piece was “Spring” by French Artist Edouard Manet.

The end result was a beautiful example of our students’ talent! Many thanks to the BC Foundation who sponsored the event, securing a place for our students to display their work.

BC at the California Coalition of Early & Middle College

BC was represented at the California Coalition of Early and Middle College (CCEMC) 8th Annual Dual Enrollment Summit by our Director of Early College, Kylie Campbell. Kylie was the keynote speaker on Day 2 of the conference, hosting a panel discussion with students from dual enrollment programs across the state.

Kylie also presented on how BC is leading the way in dual enrollment and early college efforts in Kern County. The first session was presented in partnership with DualEnroll.com to share how BC is automating and streamlining the enrollment process for high school students to ensure access and participation for all students. The second presentation was in partnership with Kern High School District, sharing about the remarkable opportunity for students from throughout KHSD to earn associate degrees by the time they graduate from high school.

BC continues to increase opportunity and access for high school students to start their degree pathway as early as the 9th grade. Thank you to CCEMC for highlighting our work, and for the statewide collaboration that you facilitate among our California Community Colleges and our high school partners.

3rd Agriculture/Water/Energy (AWE) Education Series Webinar on Nov. 9

On Tuesday, November 9th, BC’s third webinar in the Agriculture/Water/Energy (AWE) Education Series will take place, featuring a panel of local stakeholders and national researchers. The guests will share different perspectives on carbon management opportunities that impact Kern County.

The webinar is focused on carbon capture and storage projects, which have increased more than 50 percent worldwide in the last 9 months. Within the last two weeks, the US Department of Energy announced grants of $20 million and $45 million, respectively, to support research and implementation of carbon capture and storage technologies.

Panelists will include Steve Bohlen, Ph.D., Emily Wimberger, and Chris D. Gould.

Register for the Webinar, which will take place from 3-4 pm on November 9.

Poetry Corner

Please enjoy this poem from Jack Hernandez:

Weightless

With all their money
they launched themselves
into space,
were admired
for their weightless
distance from those
starving on the earth.

KCCD Board of Trustees Meeting

Here are a few photos and updates from Tuesday’s KCCD Board of Trustees Meeting:

In accordance with County Board of Education action, certificates of recognition are given to school trustees for multiples of five years of service.  This year, John Corkins is being recognized for fifteen years of services to Kern Community College District. KCCD Board of Trustees President Romeo Agbalog presented the certificate.

The Board also adopted a resolution recognizing Porterville College President Claudia Habib and Porterville College staff for their invaluable service to the region, and Porterville College Director of Maintenance and Operations John Word for his leadership and dedication.

Check out this recognition of John Word.

Cerro Coso Progress Report

I appreciated this report from Corey Marvin about the student-centered funding formula and how Cerro Coso Community College is doing. As you can see, total degrees and certificates awarded reached a new high in the 2020-2021 academic year, with 931. Such great information – thank you!

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month – a designation it has held since 1989. It is a time to acknowledge survivors of domestic abuse, and help provide a voice for its victims.

At Bakersfield College, Campus Prevention Education Specialist Adrianna Oceguera Donahue will be providing a presentation on Interpersonal Violence. It will be via Zoom on Tuesday, October 26, starting at 12:00 pm. If you are interested, please register online!

In the News

PC Presidential Medal Winner turns 100

James Howell, who is a Rotarian with the Porterville Rotary Club, turns 100 this Sunday – one day after the Porterville Rotary Club celebrates its own centennial birthday. James graduated from Porterville High in 1939 and was attending Porterville College when patriotic duty called and he joined the U.S. Navy. In 2013, James became the first recipient of the President’s Medal of Distinction at Porterville College.

Character Counts! Honors Isabel Cervantes

I enjoyed this feature in the Visalia Times Delta about Strathmore High School senior – and Porterville College student – Isabel Cervantes. She’s extremely active in supporting her high school, and has managed to add on health classes at the college this year.

Fun Photos and Spotted on Social Media

Check out this 5-sec video of our Cerro Coso president Dr. Sean Hancock at the ACCT conference in San Diego

Here’s Jennifer Serratt and Dylan Wang at the press event announcing the renaming of the Valley Strong Energy Institute:

Students from Summit Collegiate High School in Porterville take part in the PC Orientation as they prepare for their next step! 

It’s always great to see new Pirates at the start of their PC journey!

#LoveThatPCSwag #NewPirates #PCStudentSuccessStartsEarly

Love this photo of the BC campus at night, taken by Diego:

Steven Watkin shared these photos from BC’s Homecoming Football Game. 7th graders from Sunset Middle School were in attendance.

And speaking of Homecoming, I love this picture that Fredi Saucedo Castrejon shared – including BC President Zav Dadabhoy, KCCD Trustee Yovani Jimenez, and KCCD Student Trustee Gian Gayatao:

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

The future is bright at KCCD.

-sonya
a joyful and grateful Chancellor

#KCCDDaringMightyThings

Last night, I watched the new Cinderella musical on Amazon Prime. And although Natalia Winkelman gave an excoriating review of the movie in the New York Times, I completely enjoyed the movie. It could be because I love musicals ….. Cinderella came across as a mash up between a high school production of Glee attempting a Lin Manuel-Miranda-ish production of In the Heights. It could also be that I like fun-loving stubborn women and the characters of Camila Cabello, Minnie Driver, Idina Menzel were just that.

Every musical ends with a grand finale and this movie had its own version of a grand finale with the song titled “Let’s Get Loud.” Here is my favorite verse with a call to live life big…. live life bold:

If you wanna live your life
Live it all the way and don’t you waste it
Every feelin’ every beat
Can be so very sweet you gotta taste it

Enjoy this 4-min video.

Good morning, friends…
It is September 18, 2021.
The sun shines bright over KCCD.

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

Porterville College

PC Timely Care Workshops help provide Suicide Prevention Awareness for students

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and Porterville College is partnering with TimelyCare to provide the mental and emotional support students need all year long. This month, PC is offering two virtual sessions to help students through difficult times.  The first is a discussion on how we can all save lives by learning more about suicide prevention and awareness, while the second is designed to help students optimize their emotional and mental well-being.  For more information on these sessions and more from PC Timely Care, visit www.timelycare.com/PC and click the “sessions” button at the top of the page.

Remember, If you know someone who you think might be struggling:

1. Recognize the risk factors and warning signs of suicidal ideation. (see the image above)
2. Ask them if they’re OK.
3. Be direct – ask them if they’ve experienced suicidal thoughts.
4. Listen and offer hope.
5. Provide resources to get professional help. 

TimelyCare is available for students anytime, anywhere, with no cost to visit. If you or a peer are experiencing suicidal thoughts, speak to one of our licensed counselors by downloading the PC TimelyCare app immediately.

As a reminder, TimelyCare licensed providers are available to offer mental health support via phone or secure video visits. Have questions? Visit timelycare.com/PC to chat with us for technical support or call 1-833-4-TIMELY.

Visit to PC includes exercises in unity

This week, I joined Bakersfield College President Zav Dadabhoy and Cerro Coso College President Sean Hancock as we paid a visit to Porterville College and President Claudia Habib.

During the visit, we spent time touring the PC campus, talking with faculty, staff, and students. We also met to discuss ways to collaboratively tackle issues facing the district and then spent time on a student-directed creativity exercise.  The activity had the participants using new technology (3-D Pens) to create representations of district unity. 

Each participant created versions of a logo representing the unity that is shared by all three KCCD colleges, but it was the inspiring guidance of the students, Carlos and Rebecca, that really seemed to strike a chord with everyone. 

Thank you Roger Perez for snapping these wonderful photos.

PC Continues The Effort to fight COVID / Get Students Vaccinated on campus

Over 1000 PC students have already submitted proof of vaccination and more are sending in proof each day via the KCCD App.  PC has once again partnered with Sierra View Hospital, Kaweah Health and Imperial Ambulance to bring more clinics to the College Cafeteria.   

The first of these added clinics on September 16th made both the first and second dose of the vaccine available to anyone who needed it, whether they be students, student’s family members or community members. 

A clinic scheduled for September 20^th will offer the second dose to those who need one. 

PC has brought COVID testing to campus with weekly visits from the Tulare County Testing bus.  The bus is parked in the Stadium parking lot Every Tuesday. Visit unitedhealthcenters.org for more information or to pre-register for testing.

Cerro Coso Community College

Founding President Dr. Richard Jones Tours Campus After 50 years

Founding President of Cerro Coso Community College, Dr. Richard Jones, returned to the Ridgecrest campus on Monday, September 13, 2021, to tour the facilities for the first time in almost 50 years.

In 1950, Bakersfield College began offering an A.A. degree in Ridgecrest in conjunction with an apprentice program on the Naval Ordnance Test Station (NOTS). In 1961 those college classes became the Desert Division of Bakersfield Junior College.  

Dr. Omar Scheidt was the first dean, and had the first full-time faculty of three that included now-retired longtime professors Don Rosenberg and Gary Matulef. 

In 1966 Dr. Schedit left and Dr. Jones was appointed Dean. He immediately began his work of establishing a new college here in the high desert.  

Before coming to Ridgecrest, Dr. Jones was an English and Journalism instructor and served for three years as a counselor at Bakersfield College. He was also the advisor to The RIP.

In 1968, the Desert Division became the Desert Campus. Still located at Burroughs High School. Only evening classes were held until 1967 when a third relocatable building was secured allowing for the first day classes to be offered.   

In December of 1969 the state approved a new college in the area and Dr. Jones became the founding President of that new college, yet unnamed, that would become Cerro Coso Community College. 

He returned to the Ridgecrest campus with his wife Mary Lou and met with Cerro Coso’s 8^th President Dr. Sean Hancock. 

He left in 1975 to become the President (Superintendent) of Clark College in Vancouver, WA and in 1981 became Chancellor of the San Bernardino Community College District. 

Cerro Coso participates in 9/11 20^th Anniversary Parade of 1000 Flags

More than 1000 community patriots took to the streets on Saturday, September 11, 2021, at 9 a.m., carrying flags in memory of those lost and first responders of the terrorist attacks of 9/11 in 2001. 

This signature event draws people from near and far and is noted to be one of the most patriotic events of 9/11 commemorated anywhere. 

Congressman Kevin McCarthy served as this year’s Grand Marshall, led by Bagpiper George MacGillivray. 

Many of the children in the parade were not yet born at the times of the attacks, but they need to know and understand the significance of one of the darkest days in America’s history. 

The annual parade helps etch that into their memories. The Parade of 1000 Flags began with a march down China Lake Boulevard to City Hall where the flags were posted in Freedom Park followed by a program at the gazebo. 

NAWS Commanding Officer, Captain Vaughn, served as the keynote speaker. 

Other speakers included: Captain Scott, the officer in charge of the earthquake reconstruction at China Lake, Ridgecrest Mayor Eric Bruen, Congressman Kevin McCarthy, State Senator Shannon Grove, Assemblyman Vince Fong, Stu Witt and a number of other local representatives. 

A signature event for Ridgecrest, the Parade of 1000 Flags is a strong symbol and image of what the community stands for: a patriotic community with a strong presence of the US Navy and the role it supports in the defense of our country. United we stood as 9/11 responders toiled and families searched in 2001.  We will never forget!

New Maintenance Building

The Maintenance and Operations staff at Cerro Coso are very excited about the progress of the construction of the new Maintenance Building. 

The team of men and women who provide valuable services required to maintain and operate all campus facilities are currently housed in a modular unit older than the campus itself. 

One of two buildings, relocatable prefabs, was originally located at the south end of Burroughs High School in 1966. The old building was moved to the campus in 1973 to be used as a Day Care facility. When the Child Development Center at the Ridgecrest campus was built and occupied in the summer of 1990, Maintenance and Operations moved into the prefab facility, now 55 years old. 

The Cerro Coso community takes pride in college buildings and facilities that are kept in excellent condition by a dedicated team of maintenance workers, custodians, and grounds workers. Long overdue, everyone is excited to see the crew that does so much to support the college’s mission move into their new facility.

Bakersfield College

Renegade Football Wins in Return to Memorial Stadium

From President Zav Dadabhoy’s email:

Thirty-seven years after playing his last game as a member of the Bakersfield Renegades football team, R. Todd Littlejohn led our Renegades into BC’s Memorial Stadium on Saturday evening, this time as our head coach, just the 11th in BC’s history. 

After the 2020 season was cancelled due to the pandemic, BC’s first home game in 665 days was a success, as the Renegades defeated El Camino College 24-13. Renegade, Zack Hawkins, Running Back, is shown above during the game.

Welding Students Construct Fence for CityServe

This past summer, BC’s welding students had the opportunity to participate in a work experience/internship project through free courses offered by BC. These students constructed a metal fence enclosing the back end of the CityServe facility entirely from scratch as the first phase of an outdoor welding lab housed at CityServe.

Check out the video from Bakersfield College Career Education:

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UN Day Of Peace To Feature Local Peacemakers:
Program To Kick Off Series Of Upcoming Peace-themed Events

The Bakersfield College Peace Initiative will host a virtual gathering at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, September 21 as part of the United Nations International Day of Peace.

The event will feature short speeches by local peacemakers, musical performances, and will be the first in a series of other activities in the coming months. The program will premiere on BC’s YouTube Channel as a livestream at www.youtube.com/user/BakersfieldCollege.

Speakers include Dr. Kathleen Murphy from Valley Children’s Healthcare and Hospital; Dr. Portia Choi, physician and poet; Karen Goh, Bakersfield mayor; Traco Matthews, community leader; and Neeraj Rama, from the Gandhi Committee for Truth and Nonviolence.

Check out these videos promoting the event:

Mindy Wilmot

Krista Moreland

Wylie And May Louise Jones Gallery Presents The 2021 Bakersfield College Art Faculty Exhibition

Starting Monday, September 13, the directors of the Wylie and May Louise Jones Gallery are presenting an exhibition of work from the Art Faculty of Bakersfield College. The work ranges from drawings, painting, sculpture, and textile to photography, video, and digital media. After the past year of quarantine, stress, change, and loss, the expressions rendered in these works, span a large range of the emotions we have all felt at one point or another in the past 17 months.  

Dates: September 13 – October 22, 2021

Location: Wylie and May Louise Jones Gallery inside the BC Library on the Panorama Campus, 1801 Panorama Drive, Bakersfield CA

BC Student Health & Wellness Center Receives $55,000 Grant to Fuel Vaccination Efforts

The Bakersfield College Student Health and Wellness Center recently received a $55,000 grant from CalVax to support efforts in targeted rural and under-vaccinated communities. Health Center Director, Dr. Charles Collom gives a special thanks to Stephen Waller and Bonita Steele for their invaluable assistance in securing the grant.

The SHWC has also been hard at work on the BC Campus and surrounding communities to drive vaccination efforts in Kern. The SHWC hosts daily COVID testing and vaccinations clinics on campus, in the fireside room, between the hours of 8am and 4pm; and has scheduled routine pop up clinics at locations including BC Arvin Hub, Delano Campus, Job Spot, and The Weill Institute.

In addition to the strong vaccination efforts, the BC SHWC continues to offer medical, health, and counseling services to all BC Students. Anyone wishing to volunteer at a BC SHWC sponsored COVID vaccination and testing clinic should call 661-395-4336 or email Dr. Charles Collom at charles.collom@bakersfieldcollege.edu .             

Poetry Corner

Please enjoy this poem from Jack Hernandez:

Rowing 

My aunt watched
me learn to row
that small boat
on our favorite lake
where fish jumped
beyond us,
from that young boy
I have rowed
through many years,
into narrow coves
out to the wide middle,
searching    searching
for the perfect spot,                                           
lily filled
rain washed,
through it all
I have come to know
the end
is to row    to row.

Faculty Quick Tips

Last week, I shared a great resource from Porterville College – their Quick Tips for Teaching Success series.

Today, I’d like to feature another Quick Tip: Quick Tips for Getting Hired.

You can check out the video at https://kccd.instructuremedia.com/embed/de046e3c-624c-4667-af81-49da6c8ca4f3.

Thank you to presenters Dustin Acres, Rebecca Baird, Joy Lawrence, Melissa Long, Ian Onizuka, Elisa Queenan, Robert Simpkins, and special guest star Thad Russell.

In the News

Community Voices: The sadness of suicide

Jack Hernandez wrote this piece for the Bakersfield Californian reflecting on his son’s suicide 30 years ago.

“Thirty years have passed, thirty years when my son could have traveled, loved, written. Thirty years when we could have shared our thoughts and stories, could have laughed as we played tennis. If only…“

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or call 911 immediately.

Bakersfield College Nursing program ranked #8 in state by Nursing Schools Almanac

KGET ran this story about BC’s Nursing programs being honored by the Nursing Schools Almanac.

The LVN program was ranked #8 in the state.

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

Lacey Navarro, Administrative Assistant to the Vice President of Instruction at Cerro Coso, welcomed Chyna Bear into her family:

Check out these photos from the Golden Valley High School College Fair on Wednesday. Thank you to Lupe Sanchez at Kern High School District for sharing these with the BC team. BC’s Outreach and Early College Counselor, Josie Guillen, is proudly representing Bakersfield College:

Kalina Hill shared this beautiful picture of a sunrise:

Jonathan Hernandez shared his own great start to the day:

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

The future is bright at KCCD.

-sonya
a joyful and grateful Chancellor

#KCCDDaringMightyThings