I hope you are enjoying some time making memories with your loved ones.
Christmas is always such a special time, full of bits of magic, both large and small. We always find ways to keep that magic alive and share it with one another – especially the little ones. One of the more fascinating pieces of real life magic, is the tradition that NORAD (the North American Aerospace Defense Commands) has on Christmas Eve.
In 1955 a young child, trying to reach Santa, dialed the misprinted phone number from a department store ad in the local newspaper. Instead of calling Santa, the child called the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Operations Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Air Force Col. Harry Shoup, the commander on duty that night who answered the child’s phone call, was quick to realize a mistake had been made and assured the child he was Santa. After more incoming calls, Shoup assigned a duty officer to continue answering calls and a tradition was born, that continued when NORAD was formed in 1958.
Each year since, NORAD has dutifully reported Santa’s location on Dec. 24 to millions of children and families across the world. Because of the support, services and resources generously provided by volunteers and our government and corporate contributors, NORAD Tracks Santa has persevered for more than 65 years.
In fact, what started because of a typo has flourished and is recognized as one of the Department of Defense’s largest community outreach programs.
Each year, the NORAD Tracks Santa Web Site receives several million unique visitors from more than 200 countries and territories around the world. Volunteers typically answer more than 130,000 calls to the NORAD Tracks Santa hotline from children across the globe.
“There is a tradition that says when you see a cardinal, it should serve as a reminder to embrace the new beginnings ahead, and believe those beginnings will comfort your soul.“
Started this week’s blog with Christmas music from the BSO-BC Home for the Holidays concert. Featured below is the fun version of Twelve Days of Christmas performed by our new Mens Choir. See if you can spot some of our faculty and staff and in the video. Going left to right: Nicky Damania, Chris Glaser, Nick Strobel.
Dr. Paula L. Parks, Umoja Community coordinator, received a Senate resolution at the Umoja Milestone Celebration. In addition to Dr. Parks’ recognition, three Umoja students were honored for graduating, program mentors were acknowledged, and Umoja faculty and community supporters were thanked.
Mr. Michael Bowers presented the resolution from Senator Andy Vidack’s office, and Dr. Parks was very appreciative and quite touched. Umoja student David Thomas had contacted Mr. Bowers asking that Dr. Parks, who started the program in 2015, be recognized for her dedication to and work with Umoja. This semester the program grew to include two sections of English/student development and a campus club.
Education is a gift that you can help give someone else or that you can give yourself. This holiday season, consider the gift of education. It is truly one of the great equalizers. Our students know that education opens the doors of all opportunity. BC’s faculty, staff, and administration are here to help you open those doors!
My 2015 blog took a look at the movie “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” (which became the theme for our Spring 2016 Opening Day at Bakersfield College!)
Renegades, the Force has always been with Bakersfield College, but even so I feel the stirrings of a new awakening. Watch out 2016! Or as Yoda once taught us, “Do. Or do not. There is no try.”
What wonderful memories!
Good morning, friends. It is December 24, 2022. The sun shines bright over Kern CCD.
Porterville College
Stay Safe This Holiday Season
The Porterville College Safety and Security Team compiled holiday safety tips into a Spark Presentation. Check it out at:
The City of Bakersfield is joining forces with BC to recycle Christmas trees beginning December 26th and going through January 10th, 2023. Trees can be delivered to the southwest parking area of the campus at the intersection of Haley Street and University Avenue.
Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media
Norma Rojas-Mora and Kern CCD Trustee Yovani Jimenez at the Building Healthy Communities Holiday dinner:
Linda Quiñones Vaughan, and Latina Leaders board members Leticia Velasquez and Paula De La Riva with Norma Rojas-Mora at Forty Acres in Delano:
PC President Claudia Habib went to the PC Swap Meet last weekend:
As we wrap up the semester – and the year – we have had some wonderful opportunities to gather with colleagues across the district.
On December 6th and 7th we had our Chancellor’s Winter Retreat which included Chancellor’s Cabinet and other administrators across the district. We heard presentations on Early College, Rising Scholars, Supplemental, Adult Learners, and several other projects. The session helped to focus the teams as we built our workplans for the spring semester.
Last week, the District Office employees returned to hosting our annual Holiday Event…a longstanding tradition that can only be interrupted by a global pandemic. This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the hard work, dedication, and accomplishments of our amazing District personnel that support our colleges. Here are some fun photos of the event.
And check out this video from our snowball fight:
During the Holiday Event, we had the opportunity of celebrating 95 years of faithful service from our four amazing retirees:
Zeny Tutop, Accounting Technician II (33 years, 10 months)
Carl Bowman, Database Administrator II (33 years, 9 months)
Dena Rhoades, Interim Vice Chancellor (15 years, 1 months)
Don Birdwell, Building Facility Manager (12 years, 7 months)
Zenaida “Zeny” Tutop is retiring from Kern CCD after more than 33 years of service. During her time here, she has worked in multiple departments across various campuses and the District Office. Her dedication to Kern CCD has made an everlasting impact on us all, and we wish her well in her retirement years!
For over 33 years, Carl Bowman has worked behind the scenes at Kern CCD to keep Banner and the related applications up and running. His dedication and many late nights and weekends doing Banner upgrades and system maintenance has ensured that Banner is up and ready for our faculty, staff and most importantly our students. His dedication has been beyond reproach and we have all benefited from his skill and devotion to our district. Carl is leaving Kern CCD to enjoy is well deserved retirement but he will always be part of the Kern CCD family.
Dena Rhoades started with Kern CCD in November of 2007 as an HR Specialist. She was later promoted to HR Manager, Assistant Director, Director, and ultimately the Interim Vice Chancellor of Human Resources. Over the years, she has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to the Human Resources department and the entire district. Her hard work and commitment have been invaluable in helping develop and implement strategies that have improved employee satisfaction and productivity. When asked, Dena has always been willing to step up and serve in roles that were vacated, filling the gap and keeping the work of Human Resources moving forward.
Don Birdwell came to Kern CCD in 2009 when Bakersfield College needed a plumber. He was promoted to BC Maintenance and Operations Manager in 2015, and became the Kern CCD Building Facilities Manager in 2017. One of his biggest projects was replacing every toilet on the Panorama campus – a huge effort that was estimated to save 38.5 million gallons of water annually.
Thank you Manny Mourtzanos, Todd Coston for organizing the event.
Good morning, friends. It is December 17, 2022. The sun shines bright over Kern CCD.
Porterville College
Drill Simulates Active Shooter on PC Campus
The Porterville Police Department started the day in the Porterville College parking last Friday, getting ready for a series of active shooter drills in which groups of first responders would hurry through the school chasing an “active” shooter.
The course began in the front parking lot where officers would arrive on scene, grab their practice rifle, and rush to PC’s Financial Aid Office. Officers would then pursue their target through dozens of student volunteers acting as innocent victims caught in the scene and into a classroom. Pushing through the classroom, officers would then take down their subject with non-lethal rounds at the rear entrance to PC’s Academic Center.
Roger Perez, Director of Communications and Community Relations for PC, explained the drills are important for both PPD and PC who both benefit from them in various ways.
“It gives local law enforcement an opportunity to interact with campus facilities in a real-world situation,” said Perez.
The goal of these drills is to allow local law enforcement to see how a real-world scenario might play out on the campus. It also allows students and staff to practice techniques light “run, hide, fight” and be more prepared in the case of an emergency. Each time we can practice, it increases the ability of PC staff to keep their students safe.
PPD wasn’t the only agency at PC getting in some practice. Personnel from Porterville Fire Department, CAL FIRE, and Emergency Medical Services were also taking the opportunity to get some of their own training done alongside the police department.
PC Partnership Provides Support for the community
Porterville College, along with the Porterville Parenting Network, spent this past Friday evening holding an event to support local families. “The Grinch Who Gave Back Christmas” is a community event held in the Jamison Stadium parking lot that offers photos with Santa, appearances by the Grinch, Whoville Games, holiday food basket giveaways, dance performances, resource booths and so much more – FREE to members of the Porterville Community.
The event, currently in its 6th year, is put on by a consortium of over 30 agencies in Tulare County for the benefit of local families. There are dozens of resources given to each family at no cost, all for registering to the event. Smiling faces both young and old filled the Jamison Stadium parking lot as volunteers from the Parenting Network’s partner agencies helped to spread early holiday cheer.
Student Project from PC’s New Multimedia Production program honored at Porterville Film Festival
A scene from Eating Something You Don’t Like
Several Students from Porterville College’s new Multimedia Production Certificate program brought home an award for their film, Eating Something You Don’t Like, this past week from the Porterville Film Festival.
The Festival, run by the Porterville Unified School District’s Multimedia & Technology Pathway program highlights videos created by students throughout the Central Valley. Showing both the fruit of, and the benefits of, multimedia programs and pathways.
Festival Director Bobby Styles explained the pathway, also known as MTA, is designed to give students the real-world experience of working in the industry of Arts, Media, & Entertainment.
Advisors and students from 13 schools from throughout the Valley, representing Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, and Tulare counties attended the festival, held at Porterville’s Galaxy Theater.
The Festival Jury Team consisted of 12 influential community members who are knowledgeable in multimedia production. They volunteered their time to watch and score the videos, and more importantly offer positive feedback and constructive criticism for each video.
After the festival the jury comments were shared with the filmmakers to help the students reflect on their work and improve their skills.
Students were given a prompt and just two weeks to complete their videos. The limited amount of time gives them the experience of real-world situations in the film industry. More than 150 teams submitted videos with the top-scoring ones being featured and shown on the big screen.
This year’s prompt required the students to film their entire video in one room using one light source at a time, and the story had to feature one character keeping a secret from another character.
The night also featured several films to highlight the new multimedia production program at PC. Instructor Diran Lyons and Communications and Community Relations Director, Roger Perez from Porterville College spoke about the new program and showed some of the work made by their students this year.
Lyons said the program is designed to help train and promote film making at PC, as well as teach commercial layout and design. Perez is a member of the advisory boards for both the MTA and the new PC program. He emphasized the programs intent to work with the MHS pathways program to promote practical skills and real work knowledge that can be applied across many sought-after careers.
Congratulations to PC students Abby Stephens, Christian Rivera, Andres Gonzalez, and Steven Galindo brought home the Audience Award for their film Eating Something You Don’t Like.
Cerro Coso Community College
‘Peace, Love, & Joy’ theme for Children’s Christmas Parade
A tradition that brings us a dose of nostalgia throughout the year, Cerro Coso once again participated in the annual Ridgecrest Elk’s Children’s Christmas Parade on Saturday, May 10th.
It was all hands on deck and creative minds at work on Friday morning as students and staff gathered to decorate the Cerro Coso float.
A celebration of community that ties us all together, each float holds special meaning. For Cerro Coso it is a way to share the coyote spirit that allows us to collaborate with others towards achieving common goals; show our pride for the college; and encourage and motivate others to choose CCCC as their college of first choice.
Nick Coy, a graduate of CCCC, and his wife Carol, founders of the Ridgecrest Veterans Advisory Council, served as grand marshalls for this year’s parade. Forever a Coyote Nick!
Whatever the reason or celebration, a good parade offers Cerro Coso the opportunity to gain recognition, while also offering watchers some plain, good old-fashioned fun.
SGCC Hosts Christmas Party for Students and Employees
Students Julianna and Wyatt Marvin, take a photo with President Hancock and another student.
Ho! Ho! Ho! The magic of Christmas never ends. And the greatest of gifts is hanging with friends.
The Student Government of Cerro Coso (SGCC) hosted a Christmas party for fellow students and employees on Thursday, December 8th in the Mezzanine at the Ridgecrest Campus.
CCCC students enjoying the festivities.
Student Julianna Gorduyn, event coordinator and communications officer for the SGCC, coordinated the festivities that included great food. Julianna said her “plan this year is to create a positive environment in which SGCC actively involves students, staff, and the community.” Her second event this year…great job Julianna.
Student Julianna Gorduyn and husband enjoy the festivities of the Holiday party she organized for the SGCC for staff and students.
Christmas is forever, not for just one day, for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away…like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf. The good you do for others is good you do yourself. – Norman Brooks
Employees Chandler Petrovich, Tyson Huffman, and Jessica Kowelmacher enjoy the photo booth.
Gaming Tournament: Ultimate Success
Super Smash Bros. has evolved into an enduring fan favorite—one that has managed the neat trick of appealing to both the casual and hardcore fans—and proved the perfect game for the Cerro Coso Community College Foundation’s second Gaming Tournament held on Saturday, December 10, 2022. This year, the Foundation teamed up with experts RIDG gaming to host the event. More than 62 players showed up to play in one or more of the individuals, under ten, or corporate competitions.
The competition was fierce, with players of all ages who play in regular tournaments with esports, professionals, and with friends daily. Competitive as everyone was, it was all in good sportsmanship, which is important. As the remaining players dwindled, everyone gathered around to watch those who would come out on top.
Today’s top Smash Bros. players can perform feats that would seem impossible to mere mortals. In the end, after an entire day of battles it would be Jude Siracki, Orlando Mielke, and Matthew Raley who would take first, second, and third place respectively in the individuals’ competition. Team Raw Media, Auron Wakely took first place for the 10 and under competition, and RAW Media team of Sam King and Jude Siracki won the prize trophy in the sponsorship competition.
Following the success of the first Gaming Tournament, the CCCC Foundation hopes to hold another tournament in the spring. Moving on to their next event mark your calendars for a Promise Color Fun Run in April at the Ridgecrest Campus.
Bakersfield College
Arvin Early College Celebration Event
Bakersfield College and Arvin High School welcomed 60 new 9th grade students into the Early College program this week, joining the other 10th – 12th grade students who are also working on earning an associate degree while in high school.
Students from all grade levels and their parents filed into the auditorium at Arvin High School to hear from representatives from the high school, Kern High School District, Bakersfield College, and Kern Community College District. A current Senior in the program, Citaly Alvarez, also braved the stage to share tips for success with her peers and to encourage them to stay motivated and manage their time well, because “it would be so worth it in the end.”
Kern CCD Trustee Yovani Jimenez also attended and shared with students and parents, “Through Early College, you will have an associates degree by the age of 18. This will set you up to earn a bachelors degree by age of 20, and then, if your choose to do so, you could get your masters degree by the age of 22. Some of you may even then enroll in doctorate programs. By the age of 25 years old you could be a ‘Dr.’!”
Another highlight of the program was Early College Director, Kylie Campbell, sharing a recent article from EdSource that has a picture of Arvin High’s Sophomore class in one of their communication courses. They had no idea they had become an image and an example of dual enrollment growth and equity across the state of California. Campbell shared with them, “BC has the largest dual enrollment program in the state, and it is because of schools like Arvin High. It is the relationship between Bakersfield College and Arvin High that allows us to keep growing this program and welcoming more students into the program each year.”
Over 30% of Arvin High students enrolled in at least one dual enrollment course last year through their Early College partnership with Bakersfield College. Over 150 of these students are also enrolled in an associate degree cohort, 10 of which we will see at our commencement ceremony next May. In a city with 2% degree attainment, Early College is truly moving the dial on educational and career trajectory for these students.
BC Holds Express Enrollment Event Before Winter Break – SID Open with Special Holiday Hours
On December 14th, Bakersfield College held an Express Enrollment event to help new and returning students get their desired class schedule before the winter break. Staff from Outreach, Financial Aid, Counseling, and more were on hand to help any students enroll and get their classes during this one-day event.
The BC team has also extended hours for the online Student Information Desk (SID) next week. BC’s SID is a fully staffed Zoom lobby which serves as a digital “face-to-face” portal for a variety of college-wide support needs. Questions involving enrollment, academics, financial aid, changing classes, and educational plans are just a few of the regular inquiries that the SID is ready to help students navigate in an online, yet still friendly environment. The Bakersfield College online Student Information Desk (SID) will be open December 19th through 22nd between 8:00AM and 2:00PM to help new or returning students.
BC Wrestling Finishes 6th at State
The Bakersfield College Wrestling Team took nine athletes to the 2022 CCCAA Wrestling Championships held over the weekend on December 9-10th. The team placed 6th overall and had five athletes place individually.
Athletics to Hold Spring Sports Media Day
The Bakersfield College Athletics program is extending an invitation for the Spring Sports Media Day on January 13th, 2023, from 11:00 am to 12:00pm at Bakersfield College. This event is open to the public.
BC teams in attendance will be baseball, beach volleyball, men’s golf, softball, swimming (men’s and women’s) tennis (men’s and women’s). All head coaches will be present for media questions and interviews as well as a few athletes from each team.
BC Foundation Announces Sterling Silver Award Honorees for 2023 Gala
The Bakersfield College Foundation will honor some of the most impactful supporters of education in Kern County on Saturday, March 25,at the BC Foundation’s 15th Annual Sterling Silver. Special recognitions will include:
Valley Strong Credit Union, Corporate Philanthropist Award
Marjorie and Bud Lindsey, Individual Philanthropist Award
“Bakersfield College relies on the generosity of our community to help support many of the programs and activities that make college affordable, exciting and worthwhile for the tens of thousands who attend,” BC Foundation Executive Director Cheryl Scott said. “We look forward to celebrating all our honorees this year as a way to thank them for their dedication to BC and their communities.”
Early college program in Arvin puts high school students on college fast-track
Student Sebastian Velasquez shared, “I got to use those skills in my English classes when I give reports, and it helped me so much. I am very happy,” said Velasquez. “I am very fortunate because I know a lot of schools don’t have this program. This program… they really look out for us. They really want us to succeed in life.”
Fun Photos and Spotted on Social Media
Here are a few photos from Nicole Parra’s Christmas party:
Jaime Lopez shared that he was selected as Manager of the Month by the Kern CCD Management Association:
PC President Claudia Habib caught a basketball game with former Porterville mayor Milt Stowe:
As we completed the Fall 2022 semester, I was thrilled for Kern CCD to host an Apprenticeship Forum.
Apprenticeship and the larger work-based learning is a priority for our colleges. It is so critical for our students to receive work-based learning experience. Whether it’s apprenticeship, internships, or cooperative education, it is a key factor to deepen our students’ learning and understanding, and development of skills. It’s also critical in creating a network of future job opportunities.
Our job as a community college district is to put community at the center; to be a resource for every member of our community to have the opportunity to be engaged with our colleges for upward economic mobility for their families.
Our commitment to creating this space for learning and earning is a transformational equity initiative, and I am excited about the work we are doing.
Thank you Tony Cordova for planning this event.
Thank you panelists who shared great information with our attendees:
Apprenticeship in Trade Sectors: David Teasdale (Moderator), Armanda Pena, Anthony Ausbie, Quintin Morales
Expansion Opportunities in Non-Traditional Sectors: Thad Russell (Moderator), Felicia Borges, Stephanie Morena, Daniel Wolcott
Role of Pre-Apprenticeship in Workforce Development: Randal Tillery (Moderator), Jerry Irvin, Wanda Rogers
California’s Apprenticeship Expansion and Investment Strategy: Sabrina Aguilar (Moderator), Adele Burnes, Sean McCobb,Douglas Howell, Teresa Hitchcock
Role of Regional Consortia in Apprenticeship Centralization: Anthony Cordova (Moderator), Kevin Fleming, Jessica Grimes, Nicole Parra, Norma Rojas-Mora
Thank you again to all who attended the forum, those who spoke at the forum, and everyone who made it possible.
Good morning, friends. It is December 10, 2022. The sun shines bright over Kern CCD.
Porterville College
Porterville Baseball’s Kaden Twyman signs letter of intent
Kaden Twyman with PC head coach J.L. Buchanan
Congratulations PC Baseball Athlete, Kaden Twyman on signing his letter of intent to play for a 4-Year institution after his time at Porterville College.
Twyman was honored on Thursday, December 1st with a signing ceremony, inside the PC gymnasium, in front of friends, teammates, and the campus community. At the ceremony, he signed his official letter of intent to play ball at Benedictine University, Mesa in the Fall.
The 2nd Baseman and right-hander graduated from Lake Havasu High School and came to PC as one of the first recruits under Baseball Coach JL Buchanan.
Located in Mesa, Arizona, Benedictine Mesa competes at the NAIA level and is a member of the California Pacific Conference. Last season, the Redhawks compiled a 33-27 overall record and finished third in the Cal Pac at 18-11. Twyman is set to compete for head coach Adam Smith this upcoming fall 2023 season. In signing with Benedictine, Twyman will return to his home state. He was a 2021 graduate of Lake Havasu High School in Lake Havasu City, Ariz. He plans to major in science, nutrition, and allied health at Benedictine with the end goal of becoming a physical therapist.
Kaden will serve as captain for the Pirates this Spring Season. Practices for 2023 get underway in January with the season-opener scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 31 at home against Barstow Community College.
The semester ends with activities, and tips for students
Finals week has now come and gone. In order to help students get through it with confidence and low stress, Porterville College provided both in-person and virtual ways for students to reduce stress and get through finals with confidence.
Large games, such as connect 4 and Giant Jenga, were available for students to play in several areas on campus (see photos below) and the library once again provided a curated list of fun and relaxing virtual learning experiences to help beat stress. On social media, we made articles and tips for surviving finals week available, and on our new student-run TikTok channel, students shared messages of support from PC faculty and staff.
Cerro Coso Community College
Tehachapi Campus Senior Day 2022 – A HUGE Success!
On Friday, December 2nd over 100 high school seniors from East Kern High Schools (i.e., Tehachapi, Mojave, California City, Boron, & Edwards AFB) came to the Tehachapi campus for half a day to see the campus, meet faculty, and learn about our CCCC programs during interactive breakout sessions.
It has been over two years since the Tehachapi campus has been able to offer this event in-person.
Tehachapi Campus Senior Day 2022 provided an opportunity for these high school seniors to envision themselves going to Cerro Coso Community College in the future.
Karee Hamilton, Counselor led the team in planning this annual event. With the help of the small but MIGHTY Tehachapi team including Lisa Stephens, Director of East Kern; Yvonne Pickerell, DA II; Kristin Hanle, Dual Enrollment Campus Manager; Kristie Nichols, Program Technician; Celena Tuitt, ISEP DA II; and Anthony Briseno, Educational Advisor; the high school students enjoyed a very fun and successful event.
Shout OUT to Tehachapi faculty – Melanie Jeffreys (English), Peter Fulks (Admin of Justice); Joshua Pierce (EMT), and Alec Griffin (Anthropology) for providing excellent and engaging breakout sessions that showcased CCCC programs and courses in their field of study.
Also, a HUGE thank you to Outreach for providing the funding for the food and student transportation.
Winter Wonderland Holiday Extravaganza
As cheerful as the holidays seem, they can often be a hard time for a lot of military families, especially children who are dealing with the changes of a recent move, or the deployment of a parent.
Every year the military base at China Lake hosts a Winter Wonderland Holiday Extravaganza on the base to help brighten their spirits. Cerro Coso was a proud sponsor of the event again this year, that invited active duty military, civilians, and their families to come and enjoy the ultimate party this festive season in true Winter Wonderland style.
The event provides a lot of joy and excitement for the more than 400 guests in attendance, many of whom said they’ve had nothing like this at any of their duty stations.
Cerro Coso Community College Named Among Best Community Colleges in California by Intelligent.com
Higher education resource guide releases the best community colleges for 2023
Inteligent.com a trusted resource for program rankings and higher education planning, has included Cerro Coso Community College to its list of the Best Community Colleges in California in 2023. The research identifies top schools in the state based on tuition costs, the number of credits required to graduate, and the online coursework delivery format.
Intelligent.com implemented a unique methodology that ranks each institution on a scale from 0 to 100 across six categories. The scoring system compares each school to tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, reputation, and the student resources provided for online students.
Studies show that obtaining a degree increases income substantially, with graduates earning 84% more than those with only high school diplomas or those without a completed GED. The percentage difference in earnings continues to grow with higher learning degrees such as master’s, doctoral or professional degrees, with the unemployment rate decreasing to as much as 1.6% for those with a doctorate. To access the complete ranking, please visit https://www.intelligent.com/best-community-colleges/california/#cerro_coso_community_college.
Cerro Coso Community College is one of three colleges in the Kern Community College District. The college is charged with the responsibility of providing educational opportunities for the widely separated desert, mountain, and valley communities within a sweeping 18,000-mile, four-county region of eastern California. Cerro Coso’s service area includes a population base of just over 85,000 individuals. The college officially opened in the fall of 1973, and within the year began expanding its service area to include the present region. Cerro Coso, as an institution, has a long history of valuing students as individuals with unique capabilities and needs and a teaching-learning process that motivates students towards excellence.
Bakersfield College
BC Employee Holiday Reception
BC had a wonderful turnout at the Employee Holiday Reception last week. The Fireside Room was absolutely packed with staff and faculty, and Chef Alex and the food service team provided a beautiful holiday spread. It is so great sharing in holiday festivities together. Check out these photos from the gathering and go visit the full gallery!
Renegade Spotlight on Joe Saldivar
Professor Joe Saldivar Ph.D. has been teaching Biology at Bakersfield College for 25 years and is currently serving as Department Chair for Biology at BC. He likes to be known as Dr. Joe or “just Joe.” Joe is an active member of the BC community, participating in on-campus events and commencements, and has been a regular presenter in Renegade Talks. Joe is passionate about his students and ensuring their success. In fact, he has a “Get out of BC Wall” in his classroom with pennant flags from various transfer universities.
Joe enjoys sports, photography, traveling, golf, and reading. His disposition and accomplishments are priceless assets for BC.
In the News
Community Voices: Check it out, the sequel
Robert Tafoya wrote this piece for The Bakersfield Californian about the Friends of the Shafter Library – and the important role libraries play in our society.
“As the current pandemic highlights, poor communities in America do not have equal access to computers and the internet, critical tools to access knowledge. Fareed Zacaria, in his book, “In Defense of a Liberal Education,” reminds us that reading books remains one of the most important paths to real knowledge. This has been true for centuries and it has not changed.“
Fun Photos and Spotted on Social Media
From Porterville College Athletic Director Joe Cascio’s Twitter Account (@coach_cash_AD):
The BC men’s and women’s Tennis teams prepared and served food at the Bakersfield Homeless Center on Saturday, December 5th. I am so proud of our athletics teams investing their time into their community!
Today is International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Honoring and Recognizing each and everyone with a disability, today and everyday.
Recently, music lovers have mourned the loss of two amazing female singers – Christine McVie and Irene Cara.
On Wednesday, Fleetwood Mac vocalist and keyboardist Christine McVie passed away at the age of 79.
She wrote “Songbird,” a sensitive ballad that for years served as Fleetwood Mac’s closing number in concerts.
Last week, on Nov. 26, Irene Cara passed away.
She brought her energy to two of the 1980s most iconic songs – “Fame” and “Flashdance…What A Feeling.”
In 1983, she released “Flashdance…What A Feeling,” from the movie “Flashdance.” Cara won the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
Life Is Not Measured By the Number of Breaths We Take, But By the Moments That Take Our Breath Away
Good morning, friends. It is December 3, 2022. The sun shines bright over Kern CCD.
Porterville College
PC Volleyball earns four All-Central Valley Conference postseason honors
Left-right: All-CVC honorees Victoria Dabney, Davina Lopez, Andrea Frausto, and Kailey Cha
Following the close of the 2022 Porterville College women’s volleyball season, four members of the Pirates were honored with All-Central Valley Conference postseason awards.
Heading the list is outside hitter Victoria Dabney as she was named first-team All-Central Valley Conference. The sophomore originally out of Porterville High School led the Pirates with 180 kills and a 2.54 kills per set average. Dabney also totaled 122 digs, 22 aces, and 17 blocks.
Second-team All-CVC honors went to middle blocker Davina Lopez. The freshman from Porterville High School had a team-high 73 blocks for the Pirates and totaled 133 kills.
Named honorable mention were sophomore defensive specialist Andrea Frausto (Bakersfield HS) and freshman defensive specialist Kailey Cha (Porterville HS). Frausto led PC with 220 digs while Cha contributed 123 digs.
Under fifth-season head coach Pete Rasmussen, the Pirates compiled a 10-16 overall record and finished sixth in the highly-competitive Central Valley Conference at 7-9.
Club honors mission for service with campus blood-drive
Porterville Rotary Clubs, in partnership with the Central California Blood Center (CCBC) and the PC Rotaract Club, held a blood drive on campus to benefit the central valley this past week.
Students who were interested in donating were able to do so in the comfort of the CCBC’s mobile blood van right in the center of campus. The blood drive turned out to be a great success with even PC President Dr. Claudia Habib stepping up to donate.
The PC Rotaract club is one of the newer clubs on campus and the first Rotaract club in Porterville. Rotaract clubs bring together people ages 18 and older to exchange ideas with leaders in the community, develop leadership and professional skills, and have fun through service. The goal of the PC club, according to club President Hector Hernandez, is to “bring people together to make a positive impact on the Porterville community”.
Rotaract originally began as a Rotary International youth program in 1968 at Charlotte North Rotary Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, and has grown into a major organization of 10,680 clubs spread around the world with over 203,000 members. The Porterville Rotaract club started on campus in 2021 and they have already done some wonderful things for our community.
Cerro Coso Community College
Access Program Help with Hectic Holidays
Take a heap of child-like wonder that opens up our eyes to the unexpected gifts of life; each day a sweet surprise. Mix a fond appreciation for the people we know; like festive holiday candles, each one has a special glow. Add some giggles and some laughter, a dash of holiday food (amazing how a sweet cookie improve our attitude). Stir it all up with human kindness; wrap it up in love and peace. Decorate with optimism, and our joy will never cease. If we use this healthy recipe, we know we will remember to be in the Holiday spirit, even when it’s not December by Joanna Fuchs.
This little poem sums Access Programs Annual Angel Tree party for students in the program and their families.
With compassionate hearts and selfless acts of kindness, Cerro Coso staff and friends donate gifts for every child in attendance, recognizing the sacrifices they make while their parents pursue an education.
Santa Claus handed out gifts as the children waited patiently and squealed in delight. Peer mentors and staff assisted the children in making crafts and playing games.
There is nothing like the smile of a child during the holidays!
Pickerell Making a Difference for Children
Yvonne Pickerell, East Kern (Tehachapi) Department Assistant II was selected as the 44th AnnualKern River Valley 2022 Christmas Parade Grand Marshal.
The parade occurred in the evening on Saturday, November 26, 2023 in downtown Lake Isabella.
Yvonne was recognized for this prestigious honor due to her ongoing dedication and efforts as the Toys for Tots Coordinator in the Kern River Valley for more than a decade. Her drive and passion to help children in need supported the distribution of 3,751 toys to 1,352 children in the Kern River Valley in 2022.
Her ongoing efforts and desire to help others truly make a positive difference in so many lives and the East Kern/KRV Team members are so very proud of her!
Library Offers Relief from Finals
Library Technician Davis Kunz greets students with refreshments.
Fuel up for finals offers free coffee, donuts, snacks, hot cocoa, and stress-free activities to help students nourish their minds and bodies during final exams.
The last few weeks of the semester are arguably the most stressful time for college students. As classes start to wind down, students find themselves buried under piles of essays, projects, and tests.
The friendly staff of the Cerro Coso Library at the Ridgecrest Campus are here to help and offers students refreshments and a safe space to hang out to de-stress during finals week.
The stress that comes with taking final exams is inevitable. However, there are many ways students can manage that stress and turn it into positive motivation. Stay hydrated, get plenty of rest, exercise, take regular breaks, make a list, and visit the CC Library are all great ways to make the most of this crazy time of year, so stay strong.
Overall, remember to relax and take things as they come.
Don’t stress. Do your Best.
Bakersfield College
William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition
The William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition is considered the leading university-level mathematics examination in the world, designed for undergrad students across the U.S. and Canada. This year BC will be one of many locations across the country proctoring the in-person competition this morning starting at 8:00am, and the competition is split up into two 3-hour sessions dedicated to solving 6 complex mathematical problems. Competition prizes are awarded to participants with the highest scores and include automatic admittance and a full-ride scholarship to any Harvard graduate program plus an extra $25,000.
BC Math Club invited students and staff to the first MATH Matters event on Friday, December 2nd. This was the first of a sequence of talks intended to inspire, entertain, and amaze with the hopes of introducing the greater BC Community to the wonder of research mathematics. Dr. Robert D. Bates, Ph.D. was the featured speaker, and he shared a novel algorithm he developed for machine learning.
1st Annual AIDS Awareness Symposium
The Office of Student Life’s LGBTQIA+ Initiatives hosted the 1st Annual AIDS Awareness Symposium on December 29th. Raising awareness on HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, support and dispelling myths about HIV/AIDs are all part of a larger goal to support our community. The inaugural symposium included two workshops, a keynote speaker, and rapid HIV testing.
BC Foundation Panorama Newsletter
The newest edition of the BC Foundation’s Panorama Newsletter is available.
The December issue highlights the 2023 Sterling Silver honorees:
Valley Strong Credit Union, Corporate Philanthropist Award
Marjorie and Bud Lindsey, Individual Philanthropist Award
Fran Florez, BC Foundation Service Medal
Jean Fuller, Leadership in Education Award
The 15th Annual Sterling Silver Dinner will be held on March 25, 2023, in the Renegade Ballroom.
Other highlights from the December Panorama include BC Alumni Association Activities, Career & Employment Connections for Students, and features on the new edible garden and second peace garden at BC – and more!
The Bakersfield College community recently lost two of our former employees:
I’m sad to announce that Allen Slate, a cherished colleague of mine from my time as a math professor, passed away over the Thanksgiving holiday. Allen served as a math faculty member and department chair during the early years of the Panorama Campus in the 1960s, and his wife JoAnn was active in the Faculty Wives and Women Association that existed during that time. He retired in 1993 and was the second recipient of the Shirley Trembley Distinguished Teaching Award (the first recipient of the Shirley Trembley Distinguished Teaching Award was Ray Ward in 1992).
Allen Slate was forward-thinking about the role of technology in helping students understand mathematics. In 1993, he wrote a needs assessment report with Liz Rozell on the importance of hands-on exploration and multimedia tools for teaching calculus and statistics.
Retired Bakersfield College chemistry professor Robert Allison was a close friend of Allen’s, and he expressed his condolences upon his passing.
“Allen was an outstanding mathematics teacher,” he wrote. “His gentle, dry wit and friendship of many years will be missed.”
Thank you to Jerry Ludeke for sharing this information.
I am also sad to share that former BC chef Brent Hicks recently passed away. Here is the message from Jerry Ludeke:
Brent Hicks was born on Christmas Eve in 1951 so he reached the age of seventy one. We remember when he was first hired to work in the cafeteria as a young man. He trained under the master, Pat Coyle, and worked his way up to supervise the catering service and banquets. Eventually we were delighted to see him be added to the teaching faculty as Director of the Renegade Room where he trained the students in all aspects of the restaurant business. As Lucy Clark said, “Brent was a Renegade Room star!” Not only was he a talented chef, he was a true teacher with the students, and he was very thoughtful and popular with patrons and staff. Brent was a happy, friendly, down-to-earth person.
In the News
Kern County In Depth: The transition from fossil fuels and carbon capture technology
KGET invited Nicole Parra for a segment on “Kern County In Depth with Jim Scott.” Nicole talked about the recent economic summit, and the work that CREL – the California Renewable Energy Laboratory – will be doing to combat climate change, especially with carbon capture and sequestration.
“In 2015, the Kern district began to roll out dual enrollment programs as a part of a larger push into rural communities. The goal of this effort, called Rural Initiatives, was to bring college directly into communities, such as Delano, Arvin, McFarland, Wasco and Shafter, where college-going rates are especially low and bachelor’s degrees are rare. One way to do that was to bring college onto high school campuses. Today dual enrollment has its largest presence on rural campuses where students opt for a range of courses from skills training to liberal arts.”
Thank you Trustee Romeo Agbalog, Retired Senator Dr. Jean Fuller, Steve Watkin, and Kylie Campbell for your leadership on Early College.
Learning and earning: Bakersfield College pushing hard to expand apprenticeship programs
Steven Mayer wrote this article for The Bakersfield Californian about how BC & Kern CCD are working to expand apprenticeship opportunities by offering programs with such industry partners as Bitwise Industries, OpenClassrooms, Adventist Health Bakersfield, Kern Medical and others.
“These collaborations will empower our students by providing flexible, relevant and high-quality education, which we know has the power to transform their lives and bring them to gainful employment in meaningful careers,” (BC Dean of Instruction Anthony) Cordova said.
Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media
PC Vice President Primavera Arvizu shared this post:
Porterville College’s High School Counselor and Principal Retreat is a great opportunity to collaborate, strategize, and address Student Success. We are all partners addressing education for the community. @PCollegePirates #studentsuccess
Check out the BC Padrinos and the student club Ritmo y Sabor Folklorico group at the Padrinos de BC Posadas student scholarship fundraiser:
And PC President Claudia Habib shared how it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Porterville College:
We are getting into the Holiday Spirit @PCollegePirates our Maintenance & Operations crew surprised me this morning with the installation of wreaths in our quad. It’s starting to look like Christmas.
Puerta Vallarta and soccer …. it does not get better than that.
The chant came from deep in one corner of the stadium, ringing out loud and clear for a few moments before fading back into the general cacophony of the night. “It’s called soc-cer!” the United States fans bellowed at their England counterparts. “It’s called soc-cer!” Andrew Keh, New York Times. Read more: https://tinyurl.com/yc8987f3
A week ago, I was fortunate enough to make my first visit to Puerto Vallarta.
Puerto Vallarta lies on Mexico’s western coast and is bordered by the jungle-clad Sierra Madre mountains. It is an absolutely stunning location, defined by the natural charms of its beaches and the splendor of the mountains. In many ways, it reminded me of home.
Puerto Vallarta is one of Mexico’s top tourist destinations – tourism accounts for roughly half of the town’s economic activity, and about half of the work force is employed in tourism. But beyond the numerous resorts, there is a beautiful countryside dotted with banana farms, mango farms, and avocado farms. Livestock and fishing also provide important contributions to Puerto Vallarta’s economy.
During my visit, I also had the opportunity to check out Las Caletas, a lovely beach hideaway in the middle of the jungle, accessible only by boat.
John Huston, father of Oscar-winning actress Anjelica Huston, was among the first foreigners to notice and enjoy this place. He was seeking isolation and time away from the business of daily life, and he leased the land in the 1970s – living there for almost 2 decades before his health forced him back to the United States.
Las Caletas is a gorgeous, 1000-yards-long beach, broken up into 4 smaller beaches.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
Happy Thanksgiving 20222. I have much to be thankful for.
Good morning, friends. It is November 26, 2022. The sun shines bright over Kern CCD.
Porterville College
Porterville Scholarship Program
You’re not too late! It’s still scholarship application season! Porterville College is holding scholarship workshops this week to help you with the application process!
The Porterville Adult School is hosting two events this week to provide enrollment assistance to anyone who wants to become a Porterville College student.
On Tuesday, join us for in-person application and orientation from 10 am to 3 pm.
On Wednesday, check out the resource fair, which will have information about health careers, job development, financial aid, Extended Opportunity Program & Services, Next Up and more!
Don’t Miss Kirtley King Exhibition!
The public is invited to see the exhibition, Kirtley King: “Incomprehensibilities of Gallimaufry”, at the Porterville College Art Gallery.
Kirtley King describes his artworks in this way: “Visually this gallimaufry is exemplary of the emotive experiences of my object reality.” And then goes on to say, “This work is a project attempting to visually bridge the gap between the corporeal experience (sensual) and the psycho-emotive experience (emotional). These images begin to build structures that pull at the collective unconscious in interesting ways… through pattern, reflection, and surrealistic styled dreaminess. The source material for the images are flowers, landscapes, and cityscapes and they all end up feeling very different visually and that intrigues me. The flowers (both alive and dead) take on strong iconographic quality and tend to be the more sense relating pieces, the landscapes seem to breed the strongest dream quality, and the cityscapes have a very graphic quality where angles become monolithic… I hope you get close to these works to see the way image is constructed in your mind through the pattern, reflection, and dreaminess.”
Kirtley King is both an artist and an educator. Photography is usually his medium of choice.
There will be a video interview with the artist, available for viewing in the gallery during the times of the show (in lieu of an artist reception).
The show will run through December 1, 2022.
Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday from 12 to 2 pm and 4 to 6 pm. Parking is free.
Please contact Jim Entz at 791-2257 with any questions.
Cerro Coso Community College
Happy Thanksgiving from Cerro Coso Community College
I wanted to share the Thanksgiving message that Cerro Coso Community College President Sean Hancock sent:
Greetings,
Thanksgiving week is upon us. For many of us, this is a time to embrace the wonderful people in our lives whom we cherish, and to reflect on our many blessings. It also means that we are moving quickly towards the final academic push – projects, papers, exams, and end-of-the-year tasks.
For many this is a time for simple pleasures like connecting with family, sharing a great meal, and enjoying some football rivalry. For others it can be stressful, overwhelming, and lonely. Please take this time to rest, reconnect, reach out, and engage in those activities that promote both mental and physical wellbeing.
The last two years have been challenging. Yet, I saw this college come together for one another and for our communities in more ways than anyone could have imagined. You transformed the institution to give our students the best educational experience possible, despite all obstacles.
I am incredibly grateful to each of you for your courage, dedication, and support for our students and each other. The passion, tenacity, and resiliency that so uniquely defines the Cerro Coso community warrants joyful acknowledgement. To the students, thank you for choosing Cerro Coso, you give us purpose. To our community members who have invested in Cerro Coso, thank you for your friendship, and your unwavering support of our programs and services.
The start of 2023 isn’t far away and it brings with it great promise! I look forward to working alongside you as we continue our mission to improve the life of every student we serve.
Wishing you all a happy, healthy Thanksgiving.
Coyote Spirit in Action
Thanksgiving is a time to express our gratitude for the good things in life, be it close friends and family, opportunities, good health, or even a healthy harvest. It’s also a time when people like to give back.
For Cerro Coso students it was a chance to help those in need have a nice holiday.
Through the generosity of donors, the Coyote Cupboard held a food distribution on Friday afternoon at the Desert Dog Pet Store for the community.
One thing that every college campus wants is an environment of happy, engaged students. Being involved in worthwhile community service projects, like the Coyote Cupboard, alongside earning a degree can help make that happen.
In today’s society, it is easy to get wrapped up in the material aspects of the season. What is truly important this Thanksgiving is not only to be thankful for all the things we have – but to give back to those who many not be as fortunate.
Serving Up Thanksgiving
Amid the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, the Coyote Cupboard at the Ridgecrest campus offered up a heartwarming reminder of what this season of giving is all about.
Every Thanksgiving, student volunteers gather at the Coyote Cupboard to serve a community Thanksgiving dinner, all free of charge for students and employees.
Student volunteers helped serve up the feast complete with turkey and all the fixings.
“We appreciate how hard our students work, and the staff that work hard to support them. This is a small gesture in light of all that, but it comes with our heartfelt gratitude,” said Outreach Director Katie Bachman.
Men of Worth Entertain Local Audience
In 1986 Scotsman Donnie Macdonald and Irishman James Keigher came together to perform Scottish and Irish Folk music, combining traditional and contemporary styles.
The two have been performing at Cerro Coso Community College for 16 years. It was a real pleasure for the CCCC Foundation to reengage with the residents of the Indian Wells Valley on Friday, November 18th, at the first concert to return to the college since the pandemic.
Men of Worth did not disappoint. It’s clear that after 30 years these two are still enjoying what they do. They’re funny guys – not only expert musicians but extremely engaging performers; spiking their traditional tunes with wonderfully told tales about their homelands and plenty of unscripted comic interplay.
Donnie Macdonald comes from the Isle of Lewis off the west coast of Scotland. Writing tunes and original songs in both his first language Gaelic and in English, Donnie presents the music from his native Scotland with passion and humor. Donnie performs on vocals, octave mandolin, tenor banjo, concertina, and bodhran. James Keigher comes from County Mayo in the west of Ireland. He is a singer, writer and collector of traditional and contemporary folk music. James was raised in Charlestown, a small rural community, steeped in traditional music and stories. He performs on vocals, guitar, mando-cello, and bodhran.
The name “Men of Worth” was chosen from the title of a Scottish Folk song written by the legendary Scots singer/songwriter Archie Fisher.
Performing concerts and festivals, with 12 albums to their credit, Men of Worth continue the very tradition from which they’ve evolved. Men of Worth are an international act and have earned much respect and success in over 30 years of touring together.
Bakersfield College
National Communication Association Conference
Last weekend, Dr. Chris Cruz-Boone (aka Dr. CCB) and Professor Chris Holland presented papers at the National Communication Association (NCA) Conference in New Orleans. Dr. CCB’s paper about our department’s shared stories of hope during the first two months of the COVID-19 crisis was awarded “top paper in the community college division”! Chris Holland presented her analysis about queer, specifically asexual, representation in video games. Both also volunteered for the Kendall Hunt Publishing’s Day of Service at NCA and assembled boxes of classroom supplies with notes of encouragement and decor as well as giant size Scrabble boards for teachers.
The Scars You Can’t See: Breaking the Stigma
On November 5th, BC’s Health Science and Public Safety Training Pathway collaborated on a successful event, “The Scars You Can’t See; Breaking the Stigma”.
This seminar was a great show of commitment to forging a path toward mental stability and mental health education for our first responders and frontline workers. Speakers representing law enforcement, firefighters, and nurses spoke about their internal struggles and the tools they used to overcome them.
Attendees heard from Brian Smith (Retired Assistant Chief, California Highway Patrol), Jason Sautel (Retired Lieutenant, Oakland Fire Department), Ben Vernon (San Diego Fire-Rescue Engineer), and two of BC’s very own – Jennifer Arrington (Nursing Clinical Instructor) and Derek Robinson (Program Director, Public Safety Training Programs).
In early November, Industrial Automation hosted the Kern VEX Robotics League Competition – a worldwide robotics competition held year-round that gives high school students the opportunity to compete at the regional, state, and national levels.
Over 200 local high school students competed in this match hosted by BC as their teams tried to advance to the league finals.
Students and their families had the opportunity to explore the new Industrial Automation Robotics Lab and learn more about the Bachelor of Science degree program.
Young Women Empowered for Leadership Fall Forum
On November 4th, Dr. Paula L Parks collaborated with KHSD educational partners and served as a panelist for the third annual Young Women Empowered for Leadership (YWEL) Fall Forum.
YWEL is a gathering of young ladies throughout the Kern High School District focusing on education, support, and encouragement. This year’s theme “It’s in Our DNA: Women in Education” was presented to over 140 KHSD students.
The collegiate panel also included CSUB’s Dr. Tracey Salisbury and BC adjunct faculty Ms. Kalisha McCabe.
In the News
Porterville College Band shows versatility in concert
“I’m excited and thrilled to get the opportunity to direct the ensemble at PC,” said [adjunct band director David] Green. “It’s a challenge to rebuild the band program coming out of the pandemic, but I couldn’t be prouder of the work and efforts of the ensemble members.”
Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media
Here’s PC President Claudia Habib, Cerro Coso President Sean Hancock, and Kern CCD Trustee Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg at the Community College League of California Annual Convention:
Norma Rojas-Mora hosted the Latina Leaders academy:
Nora Dominguez presented at the Latina Leaders Academy:
The Workforce & Economic Mobility Blog blog shares approaches to workforce and economic development, with a goal of supporting economic mobility for our community while staying committed to the health of our people and the health of our environment.
In the Bhambi & Christian blog, Dr. Brijesh Bhambi join together joined together with the goal of facilitating healing and conversation in our community.
