CAMPUS NEWS

Alejo Vasquez Wins CSEA Golden Mouse Award

Alejo Vasquez, instructional aide in the Learning Center and alternative media specialist with Disabled Students Programs and Services, was honored by the California School Employees Association Public Relations Committee on Aug. 10 with a Golden Mouse Award for his efforts building CSEA Chapter 33 Web site.

The CSEA Chapter 33 Web site was judged to be the best community college site in the state. Awards were also given to sites built for K-12, regions and county offices of education. More than 23 entries were submitted.

Alejo and other CSEA Chapter 33 representatives attended a special breakfast ceremony in Sacramento to receive the award.

"Honestly, it's been a group effort," Alejo said. "Charles Jones, Ulysses Guadamuz, Martyns Kanu, Steven DeGracia and other people were involved in building and updating the site."

Alejo designed the original Web site as a template fully intending to build a second site to enter the statewide competition. "I didn't think the site was good enough to enter the competition," he said. Alejo said he got busy with work and didn't update the site for about six months. When he took a week's vacation this summer, Chapter 33 officers submitted the site in the contest and it won.

"I was really surprised," Alejo said. "It's an honor to receive this award."

Visit the site at http://www.smccd.net/accounts/csea/.

Nine Middle College Students Honored for Making Dean's List

Nine Middle College students were honored at a special ceremony on Aug. 22 for making the Dean's List for Spring 2006. They included Kyle Bernard, Mike Chase, Elisha Glickman, Rachel Gryn, Hannah Thomson, Paula Van Creveld, Earl Villorente, and Jeremy Williams. Each completed at least 12 units and earned a grade point average of 3.3 or above.

The Dean's List honor will be noted on their college transcripts and they will have the opportunity to join the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society.

 

First All-College Meeting Scheduled for Sept. 19

The first all-college meeting of the year is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 19 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in Building 3, Room 142.

Amelito Enriquez, professor of engineering, will discuss his use of wireless tablet Hewlett Pakcard computers to assist students in the classroom. President Tom Mohr will also outline the process for developing a strategic plan for the college.

Tyler MacNiven, Winner of CBS Television Show "The Amazing Race," Speaks to Middle College Students

Tyler MacNiven, winner of the CBS Television Show "The Amazing Race," spoke with Middle College students Friday, Aug. 18 about his experience on the television show and how he walked across Japan in 2004.

Middle College students viewed MacNiven's film, "Kintaro Walks Japan", before listening to him speak. MacNiven is a graduate of Woodside High School.

 

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FACES OF CAÑADA

Lucas/Berry Awards Presented at Opening Day

Dave Patterson, reference librarian, and Soraya Sohrabi, program supervisor for Student Outreach, were both honored with Lucas/Berry Awards at opening day ceremonies in August.

Phyllis Lucas-Woods, vice president of Student Services, established the awards to honor exemplary staff and faculty. As a student in Skyline College's first graduating class, Phyllis has worked at every level of employment in the District. She began as an instructional aide, later became a part-time English instructor, then a full-time instructor and later a tenured English professor.

"Fred Berry, a co-worker at Skyline, thought of my journey as a heroic one and chose to honor it in this way," Phyllis said. "I see the Lucas/Berry Exemplary Awards as a way for me to always remember where I came from and for me to honor, recognize, and encourage both an exemplary classified and an exemplary faculty member who are doing outstanding work in our college. I only wish I could give more of these awards because there are so very many deserving people."

Dave Patterson, Lucas/Berry Exemplary Faculty Award

Dave Patterson joined Cañada College in December, 2003. In his short time at the school, Dave has been instrumental in transforming the Library from a hidden, little-known, rarely used corner of campus to an integral service that, together with the Learning Center, forms the heart of campus. He has worked enthusiastically with Rita Sabbadini to integrate the Library and Learning Center and has gone beyond his "duties as assigned" to help design the third floor of the new building.

"It feels great to get this award," Dave said. "The health of this Library depends on so many people - our student workers, staff, adjunct librarians, our dean, Jeanne Gross, our colleagues in the Learning Center, faculty, and our friends throughout the Peninsula Library System. With this award, Vice President Lucas-Woods, Mr. James Woods and Mr. Fred Berry have given us a model for interacting with students - an example of generosity and of sending positive messages."

Dave is a world-class librarian, whose passion for sharing knowledge and learning inspires our campus. He works tirelessly with classroom faculty on new instructional assignments and projects and brings the Library and research "alive" for our students.

Dave is always positive with people and welcomes all members of our community into the Library and enthusiastically supports our First Amendment rights to pursue knowledge and information without censorship. He is always trying to find new ways to make the Library responsive to the community, and by doing so, contributes so very much to Cañada College.

Dave has recently been accepted into the doctoral program at UC Berkeley.

Soraya Sohrabi, Lucas/Berry Exemplary Classified Award

Soraya Sohrabi began her work in education in Tehran, Iran. She came to Cañada College more than 20 years ago as a student and earned her associate's degree in Business Administration. She began working for Cañada as a student assistant and for the past 20 years has worked in various positions in Admissions and Records, International Students, transfer and counseling. Soraya continued with her education where she earned a bachelor's of science degree in International Business Management from San Francisco State University and a master's degree in Education Counseling from San Jose State.

Soraya has recently been hired as the Program Supervisor for Student Outreach, Retention and Transfer and continues to counsel part-time as well as teach career courses. This past year, Soraya began taking on the responsibility of her new role as well as continuing to complete the work she did in admissions and records.

"I am speechless with the generosity of the Lucas/Berry Foundation," Soraya said. "It is a great honor to be acknowledged by colleagues who are extraordinary individuals themselves. I believe we all have a rewarding job working with students. A 'thank you' from students and watching them to grow and to find their path is rewarding, but receiving the Lucas/Berry Exemplary Employee Award is beyond me."

Soraya truly goes above and beyond in her every day duties. Her door is always open to help students, faculty and staff. She volunteers for every college-wide and student services events and takes on tasks with a smile and enthusiasm even when given to her with little or no preparation time. She has trained counselors in the use of Banner and SARS, conducted numerous presentations at the high school Counselors workshops and taken on last minute teaching assignments. Her enthusiasm to learn, teach and participate in a wide variety of activities makes her an exemplary person and an exemplary classified employee.

Editor's Note: If you have ideas for the Faces of Cañada section of the online newsletter, please contact Robert Hood at ext. 3340 or by e-mail at hoodr@smccd.edu.

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SPOTLIGHT ON STUDENTS

Kevin Coughlin: Not Your Typical College Student

Upon first glance it's clear that 58-year-old Kevin Coughlin is not your typical college student. The father of two adult children and grandfather of five is a Vietnam War veteran who came back to school to pursue a degree in psychology following more than 35 years of working in Silicon Valley's high-tech industry.

Kevin is attending Cañada College to fulfill his requirements to transfer to the University of Santa Clara for a degree in psychology specializing in gerontology. At the same time, he's pursuing a master's degree at the Fuller Theological Seminary in Menlo Park. Not your traditional academic path.

And unlike many of his fellow students who hope to earn their degree and begin new careers, Kevin will use his education to become a chaplain and work with the Veteran's Administration to help others. For the past four years he served both as a volunteer and by taking a residency in Clinical Pastoral Education at the VA hospital in Palo Alto/Menlo Park, but quickly learned that he could not meet his goal of becoming a chaplain without furthering his education.

"In addition to normal hospital chaplaincy, it was very gratifying working with the minority of veterans who have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, drug addiction, alcoholism, or are homeless," Kevin said. "As a former Marine Corps veteran I felt obliged to help them by sharing the abundance which I have been so freely given. We Marines have a motto - we don't leave our wounded on the battlefield. There is an incredible sense of fulfillment to be able to combine what I learn academically in psychology, theology, spirituality, and philosophy - with that I have learned practically in my last 19 years of recovery in the local 12-step community - to help people better their own lives."

While Kevin is not a traditional college student, he is similar to his fellow students in one important way.

"In one respect I'm like all college students," Kevin said. "I haven't had a steady paycheck in nearly four years."

That's why receiving the Richard Harames Memorial Scholarship in Psychology/Human Services from the San Mateo County Community College District Foundation was so important to him.

"I'm literally a starving student so this scholarship is important to me," he said. "I'm taking a very full academic load on each campus. Having this scholarship provides me a little more financial freedom and allows me to make different choices with my time."

Kevin is also a recipient of the Coca-Cola Scholarship awarded nationally to community college students.

The financial freedom offered by the scholarships also allows Kevin to focus his efforts on Phi Theta Kappa, the national honor's society for community college students. "PTK provides opportunities to serve the community," Kevin said. "In that service there is a wonderful payback as you broaden your contacts and experience base. You can see how your education can benefit others."

Kevin encourages other students to actively seek out and apply for scholarships. "Don't get discouraged that you might not qualify," he said. "You have to apply to be considered."

Pre-Med Conference for Community College Students

The Fourth Annual Community College Pre-Med Conference "Your Passion in Action: Discover Your Path to Medicine" will be held Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 23-24 at American River College in Sacramento.

The conference is organized by pre-med students at American Medical Student Association at American River College and in conjunction with the Stanford Center of Excellence. Early registration is $16.50 and registration at the door is $28. It includes breakfast and lunch on both days, a t-shirt, and resource manual. Registration information is available at www.conference.amsaarc.org.

Program highlights include a community service fair, medical school fair, and counselor/advisor round table. Workshops include a mock interview, paying for medical school, MCAT game plan, how to be successful in organic chemistry and physics, summer programs, and more.

There will also be a former community college and current medical students panel.

Deans of admission from Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Duke, UCSF, UCLA, UC Davis, Cornell, the University of Chicago, Michigan and other top schools will be available to answer questions.

Editor's Note: If you have an idea for a student feature, contact Robert Hood at ext. 3340.

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Please see the EVENTS CALENDAR on inside Cañada for the latest event listings.

Editor's Note: If you would like to submit an event to the Cañada Calendar of Events please contact Debbie Joy at ext. 3318, or use the link at the bottom of the Calendar.

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