Tag Archives: Romeo Agbalog

Kern – Creating our Future

Uncategorized October 29, 2022 Leave a comment

Let me introduce you to one of my bosses – The President of the Kern Community Collee District Board of Trustees Romeo Agbalog through this 2-min video segment where he was one of the panelist for the One Book event hosted by Prof. Chris Dison. He talks about the perspective with which we approach life. This is a must watch video.

What a week! Bakersfield was on display as host for the California Economic Summit on Thursday and Friday, hosted by California Forward. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Kern CCD held a Pre-Summit Institute, “Community Economic Mobility: A Focus On Energy and Climate Resilience.”

The events provided a gathering of statewide leaders working for regional approaches to economic prosperity, giving all Californians access to their California dream.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory Director Martin Keller and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Director Kim Budil were on hand:

Check out some of the photos ….

We are in the process of segmenting the days’ videos into individual panels. Full videos of both days, as well as the videos that have been completed, are available at https://www.kccd.edu/CommunityEconomicMobility.

On Thursday, I was honored to speak at the California Economic Summit during the Voices of Kern… Creating our Future segment. I joined speakers Traco Matthews, Emily Duran, Raji Brar, Michelle Corson, Aaron Resendez, Karen Goh, Rick Jhaj, Teresa Hitchcock, and Imelda Ceja in sharing our Kern County story.

On stage, I was joined by fabulous schoolchildren – Zachariah, Emilia, Liyu, and Noor.

Bakersfield College’s own Josh Ottum and Kris Tiner provided some entertainment:

Thank you to Emily Duran, Rosa Lopez, Connie Perez, Dee Slade, Raji Brar, Imelda Ceja, Michelle Corson, Theresa Hitchcock, Max Becerra, Sonia Kaur, Christian Clegg, Lauren Skidmore, Karen Zuber, Rick Jhaj, Traco Mathews, Dr. John Mendiburu, Jay Tamsi, David Franz, Dr. Dean McGee, Daniel Rodela, Aaron Resendez, Amanda Frank, Jonathan Dethloff, Timothy Reid, Mayor Goh, and Reyna Olaguez for your work in this important area.

Kern Community College District also had a presence on Day 2 of the summit, thanks to Norma Rojas-Mora:

Good morning, friends.
It is October 29, 2022.
The sun shines bright over Kern CCD.

Porterville College

PC Hosts Leadership Porterville on Campus

This past week, the membership of Leadership Porterville spent an afternoon on campus learning about PC.

PC President Dr. Claudia Habib led a group of administrators, including Vice President of Administrative Services Maria Battisti, Vice President of Student Services Primavera Arvizu, and Dean of Instruction Michelle Miller-Galaz, to discuss our various programs and campus operations with the group.

The day started off with lunch and networking for the Leadership Porterville members, which include Director of Enrollment Services, Jonathan Miranda.  The group then heard from the panel about our programs and services and how we provide pathways for the community to learn and grow. 

PC welcomes the new Administrative Assistant to the President

Please join us in welcoming Maribel Hernandez as the new Interim Administrative Assistant to the President!

Ms. Hernandez was born and raised in the Central Valley. She joins us with five years of service in support of Administration at the Kern Community College District.

Over her 15-year career in education, she has held a wide range of positions, including Behavior Management Specialist for Lindsay Unified School District, Case Management for Tulare County Office of Education, Head Start, Department Assistant for the Inmate Scholar Program at Bakersfield College, Executive Secretary for the Office of Instruction for Porterville College and, most recently, Administrative Assistant for the Porterville College Foundation. She has developed her leadership and managerial experience by coordinating the weekly Porterville College Foundation Swap Meet.

PC Choral Wows Full House

The PC Choral group performed their opening concert this past Tuesday on the PC Campus.  After long hours of rehearsal and hard work, the group, led by Music Instructor Ben Makino, held their first open recital of the semester. 

Dual Enrollment Students Visit Campus

PC Student Ambassadors introduced our campus to a group of HS Dual enrollment students this week, giving them a tour of campus and discussing possibilities for their educational futures. They heard about student life from Student Life and Leadership Program Manager Jasmin Quinones and were accompanied by their instructor (and PC History Professor) Rebecca Baird.

The group came from PUSD’s Granite Hills High School. On their tour of campus, the group ran into PC President Dr. Habib, who took some time to visit with the group and, of course, take a few selfies!

Cerro Coso Community College

Matt Wanta, Tyrone Ledford, Vonetta Mixson, Peter Fulks, and Nicole Griffin.

CTE Team attends CCCAOE Fall 2022 Conference

Cerro Coso’s CTE team attended the annual California Community College Association for Occupational Education (CCCAOE) Fall 2022 Conference in beautiful Rancho Mirage, Palm Springs in October.

The CCCAOE is an umbrella organization representing career technical education (CTE) and economic development professionals.  Many educational disciplines have their own professional organization, but CCCAOE is the only voice that speaks for all career technical education in the California community colleges.   

Attending this year’s event were Vonetta Mixson, Jarrod Bowen, Melissa Bowen, Peter Fulks, Richard Garrett, Tyrone Ledford, Matt Wanta, and Nicole Griffin.

Celebrate What Is 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 experience that is unquestionably unique, while at the same time timeless and familiar.

For three days, 25 hours, Cerro Coso students and employees volunteered to staff the college’s booth at this year’s fair, October 21-23.

Flight Line Tap Room owner Ross Shingledecker,
CCCC student Julianna Gorduyn, and Cerro Coso Public Relations Director Natalie Dorrell.

Flight Line Tap Room and Cerro Coso College team up to fight food insecurity 

Julianna Gorduyn a student at Cerro Coso works at Flight Line Tap Room and saw an opportunity to help her fellow students. 

With the approval of owner Ross Shingledecker, Julianna has coordinated a Fall Food Drive to take place on Saturday, November 5, 2022.  Beer lovers can bring a non-perishable food donation for the college food pantry into the Flight Line Tap Room located at 259 North Balsam Street and receive a reduced flight price between 3 and 6 p.m.

“Cerro Coso understands that it is very hard to focus on being a successful student if you are worried about your next meal, unsure where you are going to sleep, or struggling with a lack of health care,” stated Outreach Director Katie Bachman. 

The Coyote Cupboard, a food pantry for college students, was established in 2017 to address the basic food needs of students. 

The Cerro Coso Coyote Cupboard accepts all food and monetary donations.  For more information on how you can help, contact the Outreach Office at 760-384-6353. 

Bakersfield College

BC Professor Kris Tiner Inducted into CSUB Alumni Hall of Fame

One of BC’s very best is receiving an amazing recognition from his alma mater. Performing Arts Department Chair and BC Jazz Studies Director Kris Tiner has been announced as one of four members of the 2023 class of inductees to the CSUB Alumni Hall of Fame. Professor Tiner is an internationally recognized trumpet player, educator, and composer with more than 80 original recordings including contributions to film, tv, and radio.

During his tenure as a Renegade, Professor Tiner has led the BC Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combos to great success, being recognized with national awards by DownBeat Magazine, the leading Jazz Music publication in the world.

We are so proud to call Kris Tiner one of our own, and congratulate him on this wonderful accomplishment.

Delano Hosts One Book Project Discussion Panel

The Delano campus hosted a discussion panel, “Walking the Path: Overcoming Barriers to Education in the Central Valley” in partnership with the Kern County One Book Project. Students and community members heard the Mayor of Delano, Bryan Osorio, and Kern Community College District Trustee President Romeo Agbalog share their experiences as first-generation college students, the sacrifices made by themselves and their families, and the perseverance and determination it took to accomplish their goals of higher education.

BC Theater Dazzles Audience at 38th Annual Shakespeare Festival

From October 5th through October 15th the BC Theater department presented the 38th annual Kern Shakespeare Festival, a cherished Bakersfield College tradition founded in 1985. For two weeks student actors, faculty, and community members brought these stories to life in the Edward Simonsen Outdoor Theater. Love’s Labour’s Lost, directed by BC Theater Professor Cody Ganger, had audiences captivated by the peculiar antics and over-the-top comedy. 

BC Theater Professor Brian Sivesind, Artistic Director of the festival, styled his Romeo & Juliet with a 1980s twist, featuring a soundtrack of the biggest hits and costumes with the best and boldest styles of the decade. A hearty congratulations is due to both casts. The Kern Shakespeare Festival is a wonderful tradition that we cherish here at Bakersfield College and in our larger community.

BC Homecoming

Bakersfield College celebrated the “Renegade Fever” themed Homecoming week. The festivities started with events like Disco Dye and Groovy Glasses, giving students a break in studies to decorate outrageous accessories. The week ended with our parade of the Renegades and the Homecoming game on Saturday night. BC football took the victory over the Ventura Pirates and our Homecoming Royalty (Malcolm Jacobs, Anjel Flores, and Natalie Macias) took their crowns. 

BC Athletics Hall of Fame Dinner

The second annual Bakersfield College Athletics Hall of Fame dinner was held last week on Thursday, October 22nd at Luigi’s Restaurant. Seven Renegade alumni were inducted into the second class: Stan Greene, Brandon Kurtz, Jeremy Staat, Sandi Taylor, Octavio Martinez, Duane Damron, and Dr. Romain Clerou. All were in attendance with friends, family and colleagues supporting them while Dr. Clerou had his son there to represent him.

The Bakersfield College Athletics Hall of Fame was established with the goal to annually recognize Renegade Athletics success across all sports. Inductees consist of standout former student athletes, coaches, administrators, and other community members who have rendered extraordinary service to the department.

Since its founding in 1922 the Bakersfield College Athletics Department has been synonymous with athletic success in the Bakersfield community. Rich with history and tradition the department has won a grand total of 186 conference team championships, 15 state team championships and 10 national team championships in its century of existence.

To celebrate Sandi Taylor’s induction into the BC Athletics Hall of Fame, let’s watch again the video from two years ago.

In Memoriam

It has been a difficult few weeks of losing members of the BC family and extended family.

Link to the video on twitter: https://twitter.com/BCIAutomation/status/1583531079553597440

Endee Grijalva‘s mother, Rebecca Endee Hurst, also recently passed away.

In the News

Community Voices: Revitalized campus brings welcome change

BC Journalism Professor and Renegade Rip adviser Erin Auerbach penned this piece for The Bakersfield Californian.

“After a prolonged period of deep uncertainty, a revitalized campus brings welcome change and emphasizes the sense of community that was suspended in the fray of a pandemic.”

10 Minutes With Tipton: Porterville College’s Roger Perez

Porterville College’s Roger Perez, Director of Communications and Community Relations, was featured in the latest edition of 10 Minutes With Tipton in The Porterville Recorder.

“I love that I get to do things that I’ve always loved to do. I think in a lot of professions, you’re sort of stuck to one thing. You train to do something and only do that your entire career. I get to do a little bit of everything in the creative world — video, social media, design, writing. I get to talk to big groups of people, I talk to small groups of people, and I get to represent a FANTASTIC school. There isn’t a lot I don’t like about my career and job.”

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

A huge CONGRATULATIONS to BC art students Kaylee DeBerti, Gianna Villafuerte, Haylie Murrie, and Emma Elenes, for this beautiful version of “The Abduction of Psyche,” at last weekend’s Via Arte.  The students were awarded the “Best Rendition of a Master Work” award and the unofficial “Best Squad” award for their teamwork.  The BC Foundation was a proud sponsor of the event again this year, and we are extra proud of our students and their obvious hard work!

PC President Dr. Claudia Habib shared this post about Financial Aid Night:

College and Financial Aid Night taking place right now. Students from every high school came to learn about our programs and resources. I love meeting future students and their parents, some of them also PC graduates! #PirateFamily #StartHereGoAnywhereDoAnything @Foundation_PC

Check out BC Rural Initiatives at the Delano Trunk or Treat event:

California Community Colleges Interim Chancellor Daisy Gonzales shared this photo from the ACCT conference, where I presented on Guided Pathways with Todd Coston and Kern CCD Trustees Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg and Yovani Jimenez:

And here’s Kern CCD Trustees Yovani Jimenez and Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg with BC President Zav Dadabhoy at last weekend’s Renegade Football Homecoming Game:

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

The future is bright at KernCCD.

-sonya
a joyful and grateful Chancellor

#KernCCDDaringMightyThing

Being vigilant about not hurting each other

Uncategorized October 1, 2022 Leave a comment

Coolio passed away at age 59. His biggest hit, one of my favorite songs, Gangsta’s Paradise, was released in 1995.

“Tell me why are we, so blind to see
That the ones we hurt, are you and me?”

The song was featured in the film “Dangerous Minds,” a movie based on retired U.S. Marine LouAnne Johnson’s autobiography “My Posse Don’t Do Homework.” In 1989, she took a teaching position at Carlmont High School in Belmont, California, teaching a class of mostly African-American and Latino students from racially segregated and economically disadvantaged East Palo Alto. Her students are disengaged and involved in drugs and gangs, and she utilizes unconventional teaching methods to reach and inspire them.

The song, which was released just days before the film, relies heavily on biblical themes – starting with the opening lyrics “As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,” a reference to Psalm 23:4. Choral background vocals add to this religious imagery. It is perhaps a surprising juxtaposition – a Grammy-winning Rap song that starts by quoting a Bible verse.

And while the rest of the song diverges sharply from the Psalm’s tone and message, it does come to a universal message –

Tell me why are we, so blind to see
That the ones we hurt, are you and me?

On Wednesday night, the Kern Community College District held the first annual Jack Hernandez Phronesis Award & Jack Hernandez Lecture Dinner. Award recipient and Bakersfield College professor Nick Strobel gave the lecture, titled “The virtue of humility in science, religion and freedom of speech.”

In his section on humility in religion, he discusses the importance of humility in our interactions with each other, and the importance of loving one’s neighbor. He quotes Paul’s letter to the Romans:

“Consider everyone as equal, and don’t think that you’re better than anyone else. Instead, associate with people who have no status. Don’t think that you’re so smart.”

And from Paul’s letter to the Phillippians:

“Don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves. Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others.”

You can view his entire lecture here:

What do we lose when instead of humility and love for one another, we focus only on our own selves with no regard for our neighbors?

“Tell me why are we, so blind to see
That the ones we hurt, are you and me?”

***

Good morning, friends.
It is October 1, 2022.
The sun shines bright over Kern CCD.

Porterville College

Janice Ledgerwood: “Campus Cuties: Trophy Wives Prep Program” Exhibition Comes to the PC Gallery on October 3rd

The public is invited to see our latest exhibition at the PC Art Gallery, Janice Ledgerwood: “Campus Cuties: Trophy Wives Prep Program”.

  • DATES OF SHOW: October 3 – 27, 2022
  • GALLERY HOURS: Monday – Thursday from 12 – 2 pm and 4 – 6 pm

Janice Ledgerwood’s work as an artist embraces both established and emergent technologies while examining the places where feminist philosophy and theory, political ideologies and theories, popular cultural production, personal experience, and narratives (both fictional and real) intersect.

The Campus Cuties, as named and produced by Marx Toys in the mid-twentieth century, are two series of six-inch figurines of women in contemporary clothing of that time. Since Ledgerwood’s discovery of this toy series, it has been a focus of her work.

For this exhibition, the artwork explores the confluence of contemporary political discourse with history, pop culture, and women’s roles, status, and participation within Western society. The sculptures in this exhibition are 3D-printed mid-century figurines that are hand-painted and displayed on pedestals designed in Photoshop and produced with a laser cutter.

Ledgerwood has exhibited in both group and solo exhibits throughout the United States as well as in France and the Netherlands.

Ledgerwood earned her BFA at Mount St. Mary’s University in Los Angeles, CA, and her MFA at California State University, Fullerton. Prior to her tenure at the State Center Community College District, Ledgerwood lived and worked in southern California as an adjunct professor at USC and various community colleges, as an art museum director, and as a community art gallery director where she organized and curated a variety of exhibitions. Ledgerwood is currently a tenured art and multi-media professor at Clovis Community College.

PC VP of Student Services Delivers Keynote for CSUB Scholarship Ceremony

Porterville College Vice President of Student Services Primavera Arvizu delivered the keynote address at the 39th Annual Hispanic Excellence Scholarship Fund (HESF) Awards Program at CSU Bakersfield on Friday, September 23.

The fund recognizes academically excellent students with awards and scholarships. Since 1984, HESF has supported over 1,800 outstanding students from our community.  It seeks to increase access to a college education for academically excellent financially deserving underrepresented students who demonstrate leadership potential. 

Arvizu, who is a former recipient of an HESF award, delivered the keynote address to a room of over 20 scholarship recipients, including three recipients from the Kern Community College District. Frank Ramirez, PC’s Director of Student Services, was also in attendance at the event.  He had the following to say about Arvizu’s Address, “Primavera inspired the recipients of the California State University, Bakersfield Hispanic Excellence Scholarship. The biggest moment [for me] was when she dropped the African Proverb about a Gazelle. Read it and let it sink in on how it relates to the journey that all first-generation college students and first-generation professionals face every day.”

The proverb used in her address follows: 

Every morning in Africa a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn't matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle. When the sun comes up, you better start running.

Next CHAP Event Explores the Claim, “We Are All Romans”

Jay Hargis (Pictured at a prior CHAP event)

The Porterville College Historical Awareness Program (CHAP) continues its celebration of 20 years and this semester’s theme of The Anthropocene with our next presentation, “We Are All Romans”.

The event, presented by PC Professor Emeritus Jay Hargis, will explore our understanding of our historical roots.

Join us on Thursday, October 6th from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm in the PC Theater for this discussion on heritage, history, and where we all come from.

Professor Jay Hargis has offered classes in history at Porterville College since 1991 – first as an adjunct and then as a full-time history professor. He retired from PC earlier this year.  Areas of historical interest that he has explored in 23 previous CHAP and other topical presentations over the years have included Mexican and Mexican American history, the Cold War, US politics of the ‘60s and ‘70s, our Islamic heritage, medieval history, 19th-century European conflicts, the legacies of World War I, the US in the Middle East since the 1940s, fictional history in the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, and other topics. 

For more information on the CHAP program, you can visit https://www.portervillecollege.edu/chap.

Cerro Coso Community College

Star Party and Barbecue Draw Big Crowd to Cerro Coso

Cerro Coso understands the public’s fascination with the night sky and goes the extra mile to welcome and accommodate guests that are keen to stargazing at their annual Star Party and Barbecue.

For the first time in two years the annual Star Party and Barbecue was held on Friday, September 23, 2022 in the fountain area of the Ridgecrest campus. 

After an evening a good food, great music, and raffles, participants stayed to enjoy the spectacular night sky at the Dr. Alex Shlanta Astronomical Observatory.

Special thanks go out to this year’s event Sponsors: Desert Valley’s FCU, Henzel Phelps Construction Company, Ridgecrest Regional Hospital, Toyota of Ridgecrest, 760 Fitness, The Swap Sheet, T.J. Frisbee, and Sylvia Sotomayor. 

The China Lake Astronomical Society joined Astronomy Professor Dr. Scott Cameron in educating party goers on the impressive objects in the sky.

The event drew kids of all ages to the college for a variety of fun activities, games, and viewing of the beauty and wonder of the night skies. 

Thanks to the Maintenance and Operations team for their hard work in setting up and bringing new and creative ideas to this year’s event, and to the many volunteers that contribute to the success of this year’s event.

The Cerro Coso Community College Foundation held this fundraising event in support of Cerro Coso programs, students, and staff. It is estimated between 350 and 400 people were in attendance.

Hands on with science and astronomy – educational and fun for the whole family!

Cerro Coso to participate in Relay for Life

Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society’s signature fundraiser, bringing communities together to honor and remember loved ones and take action for lifesaving change in the fight against cancer.  Cerro Coso will be participating and invites all to be a part of their team.   

The event will be held on Saturday, October 8, 2022, at the Leroy Jackson Sports Complex from 9 AM to midnight.

The goal of participating in this event as a whole college is to recognize and honor those individuals and support the cause to raise funds to fight against cancer.  The more people who participate in Relay for Life, the more money can be raised to support breakthrough research, 24/7 support for cancer patients, access to lifesaving screenings, and much more.

Will you join us to help raise money for the American Cancer Society? To walk, simply Click here to view the TEAM page for Cerro Coso Community College

Purchase a Luminaria: https://secure.acsevents.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=relay_luminaria&PROXY_TYPE=21&PROXY_ID=102622&fr_id=102622&search=event  Click that link and find the team name Cerro Coso Community College you can donate and purchase a luminaria in honor of someone you love.

Banned Books Week

The Cerro Coso Library celebrated the freedom to read during Banned Books Week, September 18th-24th, with displays encouraging students to #resistthepurge on social media or by reading books that have been banned from libraries across the country – titles that include To Kill a Mockingbird, The Diary of Anne Frank, and the Harry Potter series.”

Banned Books Week has been an annual nationwide campaign led by the American Library Association since 1982. It draws attention to the problems of censorship and highlights the value of open access to information.

For more information, check out https://bannedbooksweek.org/

Bakersfield College

Delano 50th Anniversary

On Monday, September 26th, I joined the Bakersfield College community, Kern CCD Trustees Romeo Agbalog and Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg, and Assembly Member Rudy Salas to commemorate 50 years of Bakersfield College supporting Renegades in Delano.

It all began when the Kern Community College District voted to build a second campus for Bakersfield College in downtown Bakersfield in the mid-1970s, Delano’s leaders clamored for their own dedicated campus in Delano. That led in the fall of 1977 to the construction of a new facility on Randolph Street where 50 courses were offered to 850 students. Now, BC continues to grow and looks forward to the opening of the newest Learning Resource Center facility on the BC Delano campus. Special guests in attendance at Monday’s event included Julio Segura, Trustees Romeo Agbalog, Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg, and Assemblymember Rudy Salas.

6th Annual Panorama Creative Music Summit

The Panorama Music Summit kicked off this week at Bakersfield College for the 6th time. During week one, students were invited to participate in special workshops throughout the day and concerts were held for students and the community in the evening. 

Luke Temple gave an Improvisation talk on Wednesday, and spoke about his own sources of inspiration. As a child he enjoyed listening to punk rock and later found an interest in jazz, though now his favorites also include The Beatles and Elliott Smith. His songwriting career began with folk music. One student asked Mr. Temple, “What distinguishes pop music from the other genres?” Temple responded, “Well, pop stands for popular, so the primary thing that distinguishes pop music from the others are simply the numbers.” Temple later went on to say that songwriting is meaningful to him because he sees it as a form of self-discovery and expression. 

For information on next week’s activities, visit bcjazz.org.

Bakersfield College RN – Mercy Hospital Recruitment

Another of our many partners, Mercy Hospital, hosted our upcoming graduating class of Registered Nursing students at the beautiful Stockdale Country Club this week. Future RNs had the opportunity to meet with department managers and ask questions about each department and their individual culture. Fifty-six of our soon-to-be graduates took advantage of learning detailed information from Mercy’s various departments to determine if they are a good fit for that team. Thank you, Mercy Hospital.

2022-23 Basketball Media Day

The Bakersfield College Athletics Department would like to invite the campus to attend the 2022-23 Basketball Media Day. The 2022-23 Basketball season is upon us and BC Athletics is extending a warm welcome to join the Renegades in kicking off the season with the 2022 BC Basketball Media Day on Thursday, October 6th at 11:00AM at the Gil Bishop Sports Center. The event will take place on the top floor of the main front entrance. A full list of speakers can be found below and more to come.

The event is free to the public. Attendees are encouraged to park in lot P7, off of Mt. Vernon.  

Fun Photos & other news spotted on social media

Subscribe to Kern CCD TALE blog today – https://kernccdtaleblog.org/

The Teaching-and-Learning Experiences (TALE) blog provides a virtual space for faculty, instructional support staff, former faculty, and others within KCCD to contribute original blog posts that describe their insights and ideas rooted in their experiences in the classroom or working with our students, their implications for ensuring that learning occurs with intentional outcomes, and their relationship to faculty engagement and innovation, and student success. 

BC Industrial Automation shared this post:

“Thank you AeraEnergyLLC for your internship presentation and for creating an Automation Internship opportunity for our students locally.”

The Cerro Coso Learning Assistance Center created this video to help students access their Math & Writing Lab:

And check out this great video by Jonathan Hernandez at Porterville College:

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

The future is bright at KernCCD.

-sonya
a joyful and grateful Chancellor

#KernCCDDaringMightyThings

Kern CCD’s top notch educators – it is not just what they do, but also how they do it.

Uncategorized June 11, 2022 Leave a comment

It has been a beautiful and busy week celebrating educators in our community.

Last Saturday, I had the opportunity to speak at the Delta Kappa Gamma and the AAUW (American Association of University Women) about Title IX. Dr. Micheller Mille-Galaz is the incoming President of DKG and Dean of Instruction at Porterville College.

Michelle Miller-Galaz, Sonya Christian, Sue Guenette
Sonya Christian, Janet Tarjan, Andrea Thorson, Chris Cruz Boone
Michelle Miller-Galaz, Reagan Dozier, Sonya Christian

Later in the week, on Thursday, the Kern Community College District honored John Means at the Board of Trustees meeting.

Here is an excerpt from my remarks at the Board meeting.

Colleagues are impressed not only by what John does, but also by how he does his work, which is rooted in who he is. John’s character, integrity and humility garners the trust and respect of others, resulting in strengthened partnerships and life-changing outcomes for our students and for the communities in which they live.

Throughout his career, John was tough-minded in doing what is right, yet tender-hearted in his interactions with colleagues, regardless of their rank, title or position.

I will share video from the presentations in a later blog, but for now please enjoy these photos.

Jack Connell, Yovani Jimenez, Kyle Carter, Sonya Christian, John Means, John Corkins, Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg, Romeo Agbalog, Kay Meel
Chad Houck, Lisa Couch, Heather Ostash, John Means, Billie Jo Rice, Prima Arvizu, Cory Marvin, Manny Mourtzanos
John Means, Trustee Romeo Agbalog
Kern CCD Board of Trustees
John Means, Manny Mourtzanos
Bob Simpkins, John Means

Good morning, friends.
It is June 11, 2022.
The sun shines bright over KernCCD.

Porterville College

Student Veterans Help the Porterville Homeless Community

Partnering with the Homeless Outreach Project (HOP), our Student Veterans Organization (SVO), ventured out into the local homeless community to handout solar lanterns, which were purchased by the SVO, as well as dog food, hygiene kits, and water.

The PC SVO meets every two weeks to build camaraderie and discuss ways in which they can help fellow Veterans and the surrounding community.  The SVO has raised thousands of dollars through fundraising events to help provide resources such as these to those in our community who need them.

If you would like to contribute to PC’s SVO, and their efforts, please consider purchasing a SVO Fundraising T-shirt, available inside the PC VRC, or by contacting us at 559-791-2222.

PC Student Veterans Organization members meet in the Veteran’s Resource Center.

PC Hosts Campus Tour for Native American High School Students

The Porterville College Native American Club recently hosted a group of Native American high school students for a campus tour, lunch, and admissions presentation.

The PC Native American Club helps to build an on-campus sense of community for those students who identify as Native American. 

The high school students in attendance for the tour came from various local high schools, including Monache, Porterville, Butterfield, and Harmony High Schools. The Native American Club did an amazing job at exposing these students to what college life looks like at Porterville College. 

Also of note:  This year, Porterville College had 18 Native American student graduates!

Cerro Coso Community College

CC Hosts Eastern Sierra Entrepreneur Regional Summit for Climate Innovation and Business Opportunities

The Eastern Sierra Small Business Resource Center (BRC) and Cerro Coso Community College hosted the Eastern Sierra Entrepreneur Regional Summit for Climate Innovation and Business Opportunities on May 31, 2022.

The event brought together over 75 small business owners, entrepreneurially-minded professionals, and stakeholders from the climate innovations sector together to learn from each other, network, and generate business opportunities for the surrounding area. It was designed for founders and owners of companies, as well as entry and executive-level employees who were looking to grow their network or find new opportunities in the climate opportunities and innovations sector.

Professor Peter Fulks spoke at the event and shared Cerro Coso’s upcoming forestry, land management, and sustainable recreation pathways that are in development. Katie Bachman, Jennifer Marshall, and Nicole Harper attended the event to promote Cerro Coso’s programs and networked with employers for potential internships.

Mid-Night Madness Co-Ed Grass Doubles Volleyball Fundraiser

Grass doubles are a great way to build volleyball skills while having fun outdoors. 

Cerro Coso Volleyball is hosting a Mid-Night Madness Co-Ed Grass Doubles Fundraiser on the college soccer field on Saturday, July 9, 2022 at 6 p.m.

Cost to participate is $60 per a team of two and includes a t-shirt and prizes. 

All those interested in participating are encouraged to reach out to Coach Andy at Andrew.cole@cerrocoso.edu.   Rules and more information provided after sign-up. 

Employees Receive CPR, First Aid, AED Training

It’s an investment you hope you’ll never need to use, but it’s one that everyone should make. CPR, First Aid, AED training for employees is an important step for emergency preparedness and safety in the workplace. Approximately 400,0000 people die each year from sudden cardiac arrest.    

The training provided by High Desert Training Services provided correct knowledge and skills for handling emergency situations that helps respond appropriately to an emergency situation.  Employees received training on workplace chemical injuries, cuts, sprains, fractures, eye burns, abrasions and various other injuries.  This training also helps employees become more aware of safety hazards and spot potential hazards before they occur. 

CCCC Proud Sponsor of Eastern Sierra Pride Festival

Eastern Sierra Pride spearheaded an inaugural Pride Festival on June 4th and 5th at the Tri-County Fairgrounds, and other venues, in Bishop. The first-of-its-kind Pride Festival to celebrate local and visiting LGBTQIA2SP+ community. 

The festival included a drag show, dancing, a Tupperware party, bingo, musical performances, stand-up comedy, and more. 

In addition to scheduled Pride Festival events, there were many local businesses and organizations hosting vendor and information booths on the 5th.

“The inaugural Pride event was very special to so many people,” said a post on the group’s Facebook page.  “It was even more special, with the presence of the local agencies that we all know so well, in our every day lives.  The Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service, and the National Park Service collaborated to have a presence at Pride, and they brought their special friend!” Smokey the bear.  “This meant a lot to so many people.”

Cerro Coso Community College was there too and was a proud sponsor of the event. 

In addition to organizing the Pride Festival, Eastern Sierra Pride will continue to host local community meetups in Bishop on the 1st Monday of each month at Mountain Rambler Brewer from 6 to 9 pm, and in Mammoth Lakes at the Mammoth Brewing Company.   

True belonging doesn’t require us to change who we are; it requires us to be who we are. – Brené Brown

Bakersfield College

BC Foundation Hall of Fame Tickets Still Available

The Bakersfield College Foundation Hall of Fame dinner and recognition of the honorees will take place July 7th at Seven Oaks Country Club. Tickets are available ($150) and can be purchased online using this link: BC Alumni Hall of Fame Sponsorships & Tickets

The event will begin at 6:00 PM and sponsorship packages are still available as well. Tax-deductible sponsorship packages include Presenting Sponsor ($10,000), Legend Sponsor ($5,000), Knight Sponsor ($2,500), and Red & White Sponsor ($1,000).

The Bakersfield College Foundation nominates alumni who have made a significant impact through their profession, public and community service, or by making a positive influence in the lives of others. This year the honorees include Congressman Kevin McCarthy; NaTesha Johnson, the founder and owner of Upside Productions Management; Lou Barbich, a certified public accountant with 40 years of leadership in the community; and Shirley Haney, who has fostered more than 109 children in her home.

Steven Watkin Recognized as Career Technical Education Administrator of the Year

The Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) has announced Steven Watkin as the recipient of the Career Technical Education Administrator of the Year recognition. The ACSA is the largest umbrella organization for school leaders in the United States, serving more than 17,000 California educators.

Watkin, Bakersfield College’s Executive Director of Outreach and Early College and Interim Associate Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Services at KCCD, will be recognized with the award on Thursday, June 9th at Coconut Joe’s Banquet Hall.

With over 30 years of experience in the area of recruitment and retention, Steven Watkin has represented four higher educational institutions including Fresno Pacific University, Fresno State, CSU Bakersfield, and Bakersfield College.

For Bakersfield College, Watkin developed, implemented, and evaluated a college-wide outreach plan that included pre-collegiate student success programs, strengthened the college-going culture throughout Kern County, and built up and developed dual enrollment and BC’s Early College program.

Under his leadership, Bakersfield College saw growth in the areas of enrollment and in first-time students attempting increased unit loads in their first term. His goal was that students felt supported and knew their pathway towards a degree with clarity from the very start of their college journey and developed support such as the Comprehensive Student Education Plan to accomplish this hands-on support.

BC’s Lindsay Ono Presents at Bakersfield Home Show

This past weekend, the Bakersfield Edible Education Garden took center stage at the Bakersfield Home Show thanks to professor Lindsay Ono. Various presentations were given each day on things to enhance home gardening for those interested. It was a great opportunity to get new students into BC’s upcoming Edible Education Garden Noncredit courses. 

Learn More about Edible Gardening – Enroll in BC’s Non Credit

Learn about what plants need to grow and flourish in the garden. Explore the origins of the fruits and vegetables we eat today. 

Learn how to choose the right gardening method for your lifestyle and how to harvest produce year-round from your backyard.   Hands-on activities to make it fun!   

Enroll in ORNHB70NC to save your seat in class!

Veterans Resource Center Missing Man Table

BC’s Veteran Resource Center staff honored the over 81,600 military service members and DoD personnel missing in action in a Missing Man Table ceremony. The VRC saw incredible support from our Board of Trustees, senior administration, staff and faculty. Thank you to our community partners and veteran brothers from the Kern County Veteran Service Office, Wounded Heroes Fund, and Congressman McCarthy’s office and to our own BC History department for assisting in the ceremony. 

Veterans Resource Center to be Recognized with CMAA Architectural Innovation Award

The Southern California Chapter of the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) will honor BC with a Project Achievement Award for the excellent work completed on the college’s VRC. The  Award will be presented at the CMAA SoCal 29th Gala on June 30, 2022.

Oliver Rosales Receives Grant from Whiting Foundation

The Whiting Foundation has announced the grant recipients for 11 public humanities projects with one recipient for $50,000 being Bakersfield College History Professor Dr. Oliver Rosales. 

Dr. Rosales will utilize the grant funding to work with cultural heritage organizations and historic landmark sites in the San Joaquin Valley, on classroom resources, and a series of virtual and in-person events to teach teachers about history in rural California and train them to lead digital story mapping projects with their students.

Remembering Archie Sherman

I’d like to share this email I received from the BC Archives about the passing of Archible (Archie) Sherman:

Jackie Fisher let the Archives know that ARCHIBLE (ARCHIE) SHERMAN has died.  Archie was a gentle giant on campus for many years.  He was quiet spoken, but his very presence invited respect and attention.  He always had a warm smile and was known for the efficiency with which he carried out any assignment, and he had quite a variety in his years on campus.  Raised in Bakersfield, Archie had been a student at BC and received his AA before going on to a BS and MBA from California State University at Long Beach.  He became a teacher at BC in 1974, while teaching, Archie went on to receive his EdD from Nova University.  His quiet, efficient manner led him to be the Chair of the Public Service Department for many years.  When he retired in 1996, he was the Director of Admissions and Records.  Archie was an unusual person.  In whatever assignment he had, Archie was totally immersed in quietly helping others, whether students or faculty. He was a calm force for peaceful, non-violent resolutions of challenges and problems. Archie had a wisdom about him that was sought out by others.  He was a willing and natural mentor to many.  Archie Sherman will be missed both by Bakersfield College and the Bakersfield community.

Jerry Ludeke for the BC Archives

In the News

BC’s Broadway concert at Stars to raise funds for European tour

Chris Glaser wrote this piece for The Bakersfield Californian about the upcoming “Something’s Coming: An Evening with the BC Chamber Singers and Friends” concert.

“BC Chamber Singers will take a meaningful message to Central Europe: Our unwaveringly rigorous programs strive to bring joy and purpose to the lives of our students and audience members alike.”

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

Nick Strobel shared these pictures of the blooms & buds on his saguaro cactus:

Cerro Coso Community College shared a snap from their recent movie night:

Jessica Wojtysiak introduced her new puppy Stanford:

Dr. Claudia Habib shared this from “First Friday Coffee”:

Great to see many friends, fellow Rotarians, agencies and business partners this morning at the Porterville Chamber of Commerce “First Friday Coffee”, sponsored by Eagle Mountain Casino.

KHSD tweeted about their incoming cohort of Early College students:

Daisy Gonzales shared a post from this week’s rally for an equitable CalGrant system:

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

The future is bright at KernCCD.

-sonya
a joyful and grateful Chancellor

#KCCDDaringMightyThings

Kern CCD – Transforming Lives

Uncategorized June 4, 2022 Leave a comment

I am regularly awestruck by our youngsters — their brilliant minds, their creativity, their humanity and their commitment to making this world a better place. This week in particular I have marveled at their abilities.

On Thursday night, the Scripps National Spelling Bee crowned a new champion after a historic spell-off. Harini Logan, 14, won the first-ever spell-off, going head-to-head with Vikram Raju, 12. The contestants were challenged to spell as many words correctly as possible within 90 seconds. Harini spelled 21 of 26 correctly, while Vikram got 15 out of 19.

Photo by Alex Brandon/AP/Shutterstock

The spell-off was absolutely incredible – both of these youngsters should be very proud.

Check it out below:

This morning, Katya Echazarreta, 26, is the first Mexcan-born woman and the youngest American woman in space after the Blue Origins NS-21 rocket launched this morning from Van Horn, Texas. Katya is a product of the California Community Colleges system – she is an alumna of San Diego City College.

CA Community Colleges #TransformingLives.

Good morning, friends.
It is June 4, 2022.
The sun shines bright over KernCCD.

Porterville College

PC Celebrates PsychTech Graduates

A touching ceremony was held on Friday, May 27th, inside the Porterville College Gym to honor the Psychiatric Technology program’s class of 2022.  After entering the gym in a processional, the students took part in the Psychiatric Technician Pledge. 

The celebration continued with opening remarks from Kim Behrens, the Associate Dean of Health Careers for PC and a welcome from PC President Dr. Claudia Habib.  The evening’s keynote speaker was Kenneth Osborn, a registered nurse from the Porterville Developmental Center.

The crowded gym then heard from class representatives Joshua Roach and Yadira Arellano before the presentation of several awards and the pinning of each student by their families.

Congratulations to the Psych Tech Class of 2022!

PC Graduates Record Number of Transfer Students

For PC students, transfer can often be a more difficult step than degree/certificate completion – particularly given the distance we are from our nearest transfer institutions. The closest CSUs are 49 and 67 miles away and the nearest UC campuses over 120.

Each year, the KCCD Institutional Research & Reporting department updates transfer data for each school. This year shows an exciting increase in our numbers for transfer, indicating a record high of 398 students who transferred to 4-year institutions after graduation from PC. 

Below are a few tidbits from the most recent data, provided by PC Director of Institutional Research Michael Carly:

  • Total number of transfers was over 300 for the third consecutive year and 2020-21 is the highest ever with 398.
  • Our two biggest transfer institutions continue to be CSU-Fresno and CSU-Bakersfield.   We used to send more students to Fresno, then, as that university got more impacted, we were often sending more to Bakersfield.  But last year, Fresno was once again higher, 148 to 108.
  • 2020-21 was tied for the highest year ever for transfers to the UC system with 18.  Interestingly, this seems to be the first year we sent at least one student to each of the ten UC campuses, with Merced getting the most (4).

The transfer velocity report is one we don’t talk about often, but it’s one that is the closest we have to a statewide transfer rate, which is pulled from the State Chancellor’s Office Data Mart.  This uses the accepted definition of a transfer rate within six years, so ours is 34.7%.  We could go out even longer as some of our students, particularly those who work, take longer to transfer. Extending to eight years, the rate would be 41.5%, an additional 30 transfers.

PC Women’s Soccer Program will make its 2022 home debut
playing Cerro Coso

The PC Women’s Soccer Team at the Academic and Athletic Achievement Awards
on May 2, 2022

Women’s soccer comes to Porterville College as new head coach Amber Hernandez and the Pirates are getting set to compete in their first season in fall 2022. The PC Athletic Department recently released the new program’s full schedule for 2022.

Fall practice will begin in August and the Pirates will begin their season with a scrimmage at Santa Monica College on Tuesday, August 23. A little over two weeks later, Porterville officially kicks off the 17-game season schedule on Friday, September 9 with its opening contest at Sacramento City College.

Porterville will play its first two games on the road before the Pirates make their home debut on Friday, Sept. 16 against Cerro Coso College at 6 p.m.

Following that match, PC begins its 14-game Central Valley Conference schedule at Merced College on Sept. 27. That is followed by a CVC game at Reedley College before the Pirates play their first home conference contest, in an Oct. 4 match up against visiting Fresno City College at 4 p.m.

The regular-season finale is set for Nov. 11 at 3 p.m. against Taft College in Porterville.

Click here to view the complete schedule.

Porterville College #TransformingLives

Cerro Coso Community College

Lead with Love: Celebrate Pride Month with Cerro Coso Community College

Photo by Markus Spiske: The rainbow is the most widely recognized LGBTQ+ symbol in the world. The first LGBT rainbow flag was designed by Gilbert Baker in 1978.  It immediately became and has continued to be the symbol of Pride

June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month, and Cerro Coso Community College is honored to celebrate it with our diverse students, staff, faculty, and community member.  Come out and join us in celebration!

Join the college in celebration by wearing any and all things rainbow on Wednesday, June 8th,or stop by the counseling desk at the Ridgecrest Campus to pick up a rainbow bracelet!

Friday, June 10th and 24th from 1-3 pm is Campus Pride Safe Space Training, a nationally recognized program that provides training and signage for institutions committed to support LGBTQ students.  A Safe Space Program is one of the measures of a supportive campus on the Campus Pride Index (CampusPrideIndex.org).  The college is offering a two-hour online version of the Safe Space Training. 

On Monday, June 20 from 1-3 pm is Stop the Hate training.  Stop the Hate is an educational initiative of Campus Pride and supports colleges and universities in preventing and combating hate on campus as well as fostering the development of community.  The national program serves as the premiere source of anti-hate education resources for higher education institutions and campus communities. 

Both training sessions are open to the community.  If you are interested in registering for either of these trainings please contact Tanner Barnett at tanner.barnett@cerrocoso.edu or call 760-384-6249. 

The College will also be hosting two Movie Nights in the Sculpture Garden.  Bring your blankets and/or chairs and enjoy the movies Rent on Thursday, June 9 at 8 pm and 3 Generations will be shown on Thursday, June 23 at 8 pm.  Admission and popcorn are FREE. 

Weekend Police Academy Courses at Cerro Coso

Cerro Coso Community College is offering Police Academy courses in Tehachapi this fall, helping to fill a shortage of police and law enforcement officers statewide.

Post Reserve Officer Level III and II is a progressive series of part time academy courses.  These courses are taken in sequence, module 3, 2, 1.  Must be 18 or older to start. The modular academy provides the same certifications as a full-time academy, through extended part-time courses.  The schedule is more flexible and each module provide different job opportunities or career advancement.  People may exit and return into the program after meeting the modular certificate requirements, whereas a full-time intensive academy requires a six month full-time commitment.  The different options serve different people.    

Cerro Coso Community College’s part-time modular format Police Academy is state certified by POST and meets the requirements for hire at agencies statewide. 

With a Module III, Arrest and firearms certifications (PC 832) recruits are allowed to serve as level III reserve officers, prisoner transport, park ranger, code enforcement, animal control officer, arson investigator, or federal law enforcement working within the state of California.

Module II, Reserve officer level II certification allows recruits to work as a paid or unpaid reserve officer with police powers on duty (under PC 830.6), parole agent, probation officer, some investigators, transit, harbor, or port officer, and Native American tribal police.

Module l, recruits are eligible to become a full-time sworn police officer or deputy within the state of California.     

Fall classes begin August 22, 2022.  To enroll students must become a Cerro Coso student, register for all three courses (ADMJ C140, C142, & C143), and will receive an application packet in an email.

For more information on the weekend Police Academy at Cerro Coso contact Academy Director Peter Fulks at peter.fulks@cerrocoso.edu. 

Sports Camps a Big Hit for Local Youth

The Cerro Coso Athletic Boosters and Student Athletic Clubs will be offering  a variety of sports camps and clinics this summer beginning with a Basketball Summer Skills Camp June 13-17 in the Cerro Coso gymnasium.  The camp will be held Monday – Thursdays from 9 am to 3:30 pm and on Friday from 9 am to 12 noon.  The camp is open to both boys and girls ages 7 – 14 years old and costs $175.00 per child (includes a t-shirt).  Contact Coach Dugan for more information on the camp at Christopher.dugan@cerrocoso.edu or phone at 805-354-9911.

Be on the look out for more campus offerings over the summer to advance your campers’ athletic skills. 

These camps provide local youths an opportunity to have fun while building sportsmanship, athletic skills, and confidence under the enthusiastic guidance of experienced and dedicated Cerro Coso athletes and coaches.

The money raised by these camps generates enough to cover expenses and any profits are used to advance athletics at the college.

Cerro Coso Athletics welcomes new Coyotes

Coyote baseball would like to introduce three of our latest signees. Left to right: Cameron Breeze, Kaden Millar, and Noah Medina from Paloma Valley High School.

Cerro Coso #TransformingLives

Bakersfield College

Revolution in the Fields Student Art Contest

In 2022, the Bakersfield College Social Justice Institute initiated a student art contest inspired by the Smithsonian traveling exhibit, Dolores Huerta: Revolution in the Fields. With support from the Arts Council of Kern BIPOC grant, the Bakersfield College Social Justice Institute was able to create a call for student art submissions in conjunction with the 4th annual Jess Nieto Memorial Conference. 

Below you may view the student winning submission and two honorable mentions.

BC Chamber Singers Present a Fundraising Event

On June 10 and 11 the Bakersfield College Chamber Singers will present 2 unforgettable evenings at the Stars Theatre in downtown Bakersfield. ‘’Something’s Coming: An Evening with the BC Chamber Singers & Friends” will feature current and past BC Chamber Singers along with incredible community members. Musical selections will include Les Miserables, Guys & Dolls, Jersey Boys, Phantom of the Opera, The Color Purple, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Little Women, Hadestown, West Side Story, and more. There will also be a live band throughout the evening. June 10 will include the full show and dessert. June 11 will include the full show with dinner, dessert, raffle, and live and silent auctions. Hurry and get your tickets! The proceeds of both nights will help make it possible for the BC Chamber Singers to represent BC and our community in Vienna, Prague, and Berlin in June of 2023. They cannot do it without your support. Consider buying one of the sponsor tables available on June 11! Tickets can be purchased from the BC Foundation’s Registration Page.  This will be an incredible night you don’t want to miss!

Umoja Community’s End-of-the-year Celebration 

Umoja Community held a celebration to acknowledge student persistence as well as those who graduated. Students shared their favorite Umoja activities and events as well as how Umoja faculty and fellow students helped them keep going. More than five Umoja students graduated from BC plus another from the Nursing program. Several are transferring to CSUB. Faculty and staff who attended had words of support for the students and praise for the program.

BC Agriculture Department Is Growing

Check out this story from the BC Foundation’s Panorama newsletter:

Bakersfield College is ramping up its Agriculture Department, and the reason for it is simple. Kern County is the No. 2 agriculture producing county in the state, and the Central Valley produces 25% of the nation’s food!  BC is committed to training the future (and current!) ag workforce in order to meet the needs of local employers – and a hungry nation.

Transformations are taking place to best serve BC students, so they can then go on to serve our ag employers. The Edible Education Garden is almost complete, and to go alongside it, there will be new Edible Education Garden non-credit courses offered this Fall. The Delano Campus is about to break ground on a Regenerative Farm which will be used to teach students about paper plot planting systems, commercial and home hydroponics, and traditional row crop seasonal crops. The Ag Department was recently awarded a grant for commercial and home hydroponic systems as well. Topping it all off, the BC Agriculture building and Horticulture laboratory will be demolished and replaced with brand new construction beginning this summer. Construction is planned to be complete in the fall of 2024.

Bakersfield College #TransformingLives

In the News

OPINION: Why community colleges are the perfect partner for green jobs — and good jobs

I wanted to share an opinion piece I wrote for The Hechinger Report.

“Kern County, in California’s Central Valley, is creating a prosperous future with environmentally supportive practices; and the Kern Community College District (Kern CCD) has become a perfect partner for businesses, industries and county government in creating an abundance of green jobs that are also good jobs, an important step toward establishing a strong, local economy.”

It’s the ‘Right’ time for residents to compete

I thought this article from Stefani Dias in The Bakersfield Californian was so fun – several Bakersfield residents have recently been involved in The Price is Right. BC Professor Heather Silvis won her showcase on an episode that aired March 25. BC Student Jacquelin Bugarin and Bakersfield Hospice nurse Sheila Fryer have also recently vied for spots on the show.

Heather Silvis

Local student graduates Bakersfield College, Ridgeview High at 17

KGET ran this piece about Kirsten Jiminez-Gray, who grated from Ridgeview High and Bakersfield College this spring at the age of 17. She started taking dual enrollment classes in middle school!

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

On Tuesday, Congressman Kevin McCarthy visited Bakersfield College. Kern CCD Trustees Romeo Agbalog and Kay Meek, BC Foundation Executive Director Cheryl Scott, and others from Bakersfield College were on hand to meet with him:

PC President Dr. Claudia Habib shared this post from last weekend’s PC Foundation Swap Meet:

Love visiting our @Foundation_PC Swap Meet. Our staff and student workers are the engine that makes it all happen every Saturday. Es lindo ver las familias disfrutando su día aquí #FamilyActivity and I always find a good deal! #SabadosDeRemate#ScholarshipsFunds @PCollegePirates

Isabel Castaneda shared this snap from her son’s graduation:

Today another chapter closes, from a @students_FHS#trojan to @BAKcollege#Renegade, beyond proud to see my 2nd born join the BC Family and be part of @bc_bridge this summer #WeAreBC#WeAreTrojans

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

The future is bright at KernCCD.

-sonya
a joyful and grateful Chancellor

#KCCDDaringMightyThings

Sterling Silver 2022

Uncategorized March 26, 2022 Leave a comment

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

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

Thank you to the top Sterling sponsors

Joel and Connie Perez-Andreesen–Reception Sponsor

Ordiz Melby Architects–Sterling Level Sponsor

Chevron–Sterling Level Sponsor

Corporate Philanthropist Award: Bank of America

Individual Philanthropist Award: The Contreras Family

BC Foundation Service Medal: Assemblymember Rudy Salas

Lifetime Achievement Award: Congressman William “Bill” Thomas

Check out this 2-minute photo roll of Bill Thomas

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

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

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

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

Here are a some photos:

More photos

Fabulous culinary students

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

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

Porterville College

PC Writer & Poet Speaker Series Returns with Helena María Viramontes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What are your hobbies and interests outside of school?

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

What are your plans after you finish at PC?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cerro Coso Community College

Coyotes Participate in Little League Opener

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

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

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

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

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

What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?

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

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

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

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

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

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

CCCC 48th Annual Commencement

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bakersfield College

BC and CityServe Celebrate 13 Graduates of the Project HireUp Program

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

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

BC Professor Dr. Paula Parks Receives Prestigious Award

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

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

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

Valley Strong Energy Institute Hosting Energy Education Webinar

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

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

Renegade Athletics Update

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

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

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

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

Women’s History Month

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

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

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

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

In the News

Research continues on Artemis moon missions

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

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

Nick Strobel

Green Side Up to kick off Castle Fire Restoration project

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

Celebration of life set for Bakersfield College professor Jack Hernandez

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

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

Sonya and Jack Hernandez.

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

Cerro Coso College posted about their Coyote Cupboard:

BC Rural Initiatives shared this post:

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

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

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

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

The future is bright at KernCCD.

-sonya
a joyful and grateful Chancellor

#KCCDDaringMightyThings

Sonya Christian's Blog