eGrossmont

Volume 13, February 2013 - Previous Editions

Governing Board Meeting Highlights

At the February 19 meeting of the GCCCD Governing Board:

• Several trustees reported about attending two conferences combined with advocacy efforts (CCLC in Sacramento and ACCT in D.C.)
• Trustee Bill Garrett attended the scholarship breakfast held on campus February 9th where 48 scholarships were awarded to 41 students.
• Trustee Garrett commented that he had attended the "Inside the Actor's Process" focused on drama. He commented that many of our local actors in San Diego theatre were graduates or former students of our Grossmont College Theatre Arts Department. Recently he attended a play at the Ion theatre and reported that one of the actors was trained at Grossmont.

Other Governing Board highlights will appear in the Courier which is distributed electronically from the District Office.

Accreditation Forums

Our accreditation site visit will be here before you know it. Accreditation Forums will be held on campus to provide an opportunity for faculty and staff to learn about our self-evaluation results and the upcoming visit on October 14-17, 2013. The forums are scheduled on March 11th @ 3-4; March 15th @ 2-3: and March 22nd @ 10-11, in Griffin Gate.

Education Conference In India

I was honored to speak in New Delhi, India, at a conference hosted by the U.S. State Department and the Government of India. I traveled with a delegation of U.S. community college presidents to assist the Indian Government in its effort to open some 200 community colleges in the country. Currently, India is only able to educate the top 10 percent of the high school graduating class and the community college movement is an important part of expanding higher education access to a more substantial part of the population. This was follow-up work to a 2011 trip in which I focused on workforce education programs offered in U.S. community colleges. This year, my focus was on healthcare programs, how they are established, structured and maintained, and I talked to conference participants about our own wonderful course offerings that lead to highly skilled professions in high demand areas.

Recent Honors

Congratulations to Joe Orate, who was named Chef of the Year by the Chefs de Cuisine Association of San Diego. Joe's name has been added to the perpetual trophy, with honorees dating back to 1976. He also received a plaque and a gold medallion. The Association awarded students Cynthia Meyers with the Student Culinarian of the Year Award, David Litke with the Presidential Award and a $500 scholarship, and both Salina Quan and Jessica Church with a Volunteer Appreciation Award. The Chefs de Cuisine Association of San Diego, founded in 1961, offers educational programs, competitions, and events for professional chefs and culinary students, and works with the American Culinary Federation to offer professional certification exams.

Tim Flood received the President's Leadership Award during the Spring 2013 Convocation. He has served this college well by meshing two full-time positions -Director of Facilities and Vice President of Administrative Services. He is the go-to guy on campus and always willing to serve faculty, staff, students, and his fellow administrators. Tim is a stellar professional who leads by example and hard work.

Seven students from the Speech and Debate team competed at the Point Loma University and Southwestern College swing tournament, Feb. 1-3, against teams from 38 colleges and universities, including UCLA and University of Notre Dame. At Southwestern, Mayte Guiterrez won second place in Open Program Oral Interpretation and was a finalist in Open Poetry. At Point Loma, Cole Steffensen won the second-place speaker award in Junior Parliamentary Debate. Cole competed for the first time and missed first place by one point against 96 other debaters. He and Samuel Thomas defeated more than half the teams entered in Junior Parliamentary Debate and advanced to the final round of competition. Cameron Martin was a finalist in Open Communication Analysis, and Ali Majed Aldhalimi was a finalist in Open Program Oral Interpretation.

Gary Jacobson and Pat Murray were selected as recipients of the 2012 John & Suanne Roueche Excellence Awards, which recognize the outstanding contributions and leaders of community college faculty and staff. The awards will be presented at the League for Innovations in Community College's conference March 10-13 in Dallas, Texas.

Grossmont is a finalist for a Paragon award in the Radio Advertisement/PSA category to be presented at the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations conference March 10-13 in Chicago. The honor is for our successful radio campaign for the Guinness World Record for the most signatures on a birthday card (1,871) at our 50th anniversary open house celebration last April.

Recent Campus Events

The Financial Aid Department hosted the Spring 2013 Scholarship Awards Breakfast on Saturday, Feb. 9, in Griffin Gate. Forty-one students, some of them multiple winners received $27,100 in scholarship funds to help defray the cost of textbooks, equipment, lab fees and other items. Twenty-eight campus-based and 20 Osher scholarships were awarded. The scholarships are competitive and based on a selection process established by the Grossmont College Scholarship Advisory Committee and any additional criteria established by the scholarship sponsor. These events take a great deal of coordination and effort so congratulations to Michael Copenhaver, Selam Gebrekristos, the Foundation for Grossmont and Cuyamaca Colleges, the Grossmont College Scholarship Advisory Committee, and the Financial Aid/Scholarship Department.

The Office Professional Training (OPT) program recently held a graduation ceremony for 30 students for its Fall 2012 class; 11 are already employed. A snowstorm in Wyoming delayed the keynote speaker, El Cajon PIO Monica Zech, so Tim Flood stepped in with very little notice. Tim attends every OPT graduation so he was the perfect choice and knew exactly what to say to the graduates. Intake Specialist/Administrative Assistant Re-al Lewis was honored with the "Ultimate OPT" award, given to the person who has done the most during the semester to support and promote the program.

The Inter-Club Council and Student Affairs Office held the "Sweetheart Fair" on Valentine's Day in the Main Quad. Information from many of the 40 student clubs was available.

KUSI's Mike Castellucci reported from the Griffin Center on the first day of classes. Tim Flood, Augustin Albarran and ASGC President Peg Marcus were among those who were interviewed.

Upcoming Campus Events

• February is Black History Month and it was first celebrated on a college campus (Kent State in Ohio) in 1970. The Black History Month Planning Committee has organized a series of free events, including "A Day of Giants," featuring the Queen of Kansas City Blues Jeannie Cheatham and legendary jazz musician John Handy, who will discuss their lives and careers from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 21, at Griffin Gate. The event is open to the public. Other events include performances by the Jazz Studies Program and the film, "The Great Debaters."
• Mark Zacovic and I will be appearing on "San Diego Living," on February 27th to promote "Give the Dream," the fundraising effort to support the Dreamkeepers program, which provides grants of up to $500 to students who encounter unforeseen financial challenges. Sponsored by Scholarship America with financial support from the Walmart Foundation, the goal of Dreamkeepers is to keep students in school. On Thursday, March 14, the Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges will host a noon rally outside of the Griffin Center to raise money for the program. Community events will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, at Grossmont Center, Parkway Plaza and the Santee Trolley stop.
• Our student leaders will join Cuyamaca students for the MLK Day of Service for a beach cleanup from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 22. The MLK Day of Service is part of United We Serve, the President's National Call to Service Initiative.
• The Grossmont Symphony Orchestra and Master Chorale will perform Mendelssohn's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" with guest artists, Communications/Speech Professor Joel Castellaw and student actors, at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 28 in the Cuyamaca College Music Hall. General admission is $10. A second performance with be at 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 3, at Paradise Valley Seventh-day Adventist Church at 2701 East 8th St. in National City. Admission is free, although donations are accepted.
• The Grossmont College Music Department will offer Cello and Guitar Masterpieces, with Gaiana Mndoian on cello and Robert Wetzel on classical guitar at 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 22, in Building 26, Room 221. General admission is $10 and tickets can be purchased in advance in Room 26-223, or at the door. The Lakeside Tri-Level Band Night, a joint concert with El Capitan High School, Lakeside Middle School and Tierra del Sol Middle School, will be performed at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at El Capitan High School, 10410 Ashwood St. in Lakeside. Admission is free.
• As part of the Spring 2013 Master Class Series, the Dance Department will offer two classes with master class instructors on Saturday, Feb. 23, at the college's main dance studio. Trina Lyons will teach a beginner's class on Hip Hop and Kevin Nguyen will teach a beginners/low-intermediate class on Hip Hop. On Saturday, March 16, Donna Scro will teach modern dance and Jane Blount will present a Self-Massage/Body Roller Workshop.
• Seven students the Hyde Art Gallery's sculpture exhibit, "Double Visions: Contemporary Collaborative Artists," runs through Feb. 21. A ceramics exhibit, with works by Berning, Burkett and Wilson, will be held March 11 through April 12. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The gallery is closed on Fridays, weekends and legal holidays, and during spring break. An opening event for the ceramics exhibit will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 14. Admission is free.
• The Grossmont College Theatre Arts Department will present "The Odyssey: a play" by Mary Zimmerman and directed by Beth Duggan. This modern adaptation of the timeless tale will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on March 14, 15, 16, 21, 22 and 23, and at 2 p.m. on March 16 and 23.
• Gourmet meals prepared by award-winning chefs and served in the Griffin Center will be offered on Thursday evenings beginning Feb. 28 through May 9 this spring for $20 per guest. The meals are prepared by students in our Culinary Arts/Fine Dining program under the guidance of Chef Joe Orate. The meals will be served in the Culinary Dining Room at Griffin Center that overlooks a scenic view of East County. Call Alexis at 619-644-7267 to order your tickets. Tickets also can be purchased in person at the Stagehouse Theatre box office in Building 22 - 200 A-1. Play and dinner packages are available for March 14 and 21 for only $32 per guest.
• The Career Center's Adult Reentry program will offer "Advance Your Career Story … Into a New Episode" a seminar presented by Nancy Davis, coordinator of Adult Reentry, Career & Student Employment, from 3 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 21.The college's Adult Reentry program serves adults who are interested in returning to school to reenter the workforce, learn a new career, earn a college diploma or upgrade their skills for a job promotion.

Sports Report

• All proceeds from the Women's Basketball game on Wednesday, Feb. 20, against Southwestern will benefit Coaches vs. Cancer Classic. Proceeds from the Men's Basketball on Friday, Feb. 15, against Southwestern, also were donated to Coaches vs. Cancer Classic. The organization was founded by the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
• Women's Basketball - The Lady Griffins are currently 5-3 in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference (PCAC) and are in a three way tie for first with Palomar and Southwestern.
• Men's Basketball - At 7-2 in PCAC play, the Griffin Men are also in a three-way tie for first with Palomar and Mira Costa.
• Softball - The Lady Griffins Softball Team is just getting underway and is 4-3 in non-conference play.
• Baseball - Baseball, with a record of 5-1, is out to a quick start in their non-conference schedule.
• Men's Volleyball - The Men's Volleyball Team is just getting underway with their 2013 campaign and is currently 1-1 on the season.