CAMPUS NEWS

$Forty for Forty Fundraising Campaign Announced

As part of the college's 40th anniversary celebration, money is being raised to support student field trips.

A new fundraising campaign has been initiated to help support academic field trips for students. The "$Forty for Forty" campaign is part of the college's 40th anniversary celebration. "We are providing faculty, staff, retirees, advisory board members and others with the opportunity to support students by making a donation to this fund," said President Tom Mohr. People can contribute $40 or multiples of $40 or consider contributing on an ongoing basis through a payroll deduction. Faculty will be able to apply for money from this fund to help support students who may not be able to afford to participate in academic field trips. "It's important to recognize the importance these types of events play in a student's learning process," Mohr said.

A separate account has been established with the San Mateo County Community Colleges Foundation. Detail of giving to the account have been provided in an e-mail sent to everyone on campus.

Dr. Mohammad Qayoumi, President of Cal-State East Bay, to Speak at Commencement

Qayoumi is the first Afghan-born president of a major U.S. university.

Mohammad H. Qayoumi is an engineer and professor who has served since 2006 as the fourth president of California State University, East Bay. He has worked in university administration for more than 30 years and has a background in both engineering and business. President Qayoumi was born in Afghanistan and is the first person of Afghan descent to head a major U.S. University.

President Qayoumi earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from American University in Beirut in 1975. He holds four degrees from the University of Cincinnati: a Master of Science in nuclear engineering (1979), a Master of Science in electrical and computer engineering (1980), an MBA (1984), and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering (1983). He is a licensed professional engineer and a certified management accountant. He is also a tenured professor of engineering at Cal State East Bay.

Become coming to the United States, President Qayoumi worked as an engineer in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. He has held positions at the University of Cincinnati, San Jose State University, the University of Missouri-Rolla, and Cal-State Northridge.

Upon taking office at CSUEB in 2006, Qayoumi identified his top priorities as enrollment growth; improved financial stability and transparency; increasing tenure track faculty; and enhancing facilities and campus physical maintenance. He has overseen development of a new physical master plan for CSUEB’s Hayward campus.

Under his leadership, the university adopted new long-range academic and strategic plans in 2008 with a focus on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education and on modeling and teaching sustainability. And in 2009, he announced the university’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign to help underwrite this change in institutional emphasis while maintaining and increasing student access, particularly among underserved populations.

Senator Joe Simitian to Receive Award for Leadership on Education

Simitian has long been an advocate for public education in California.

Joe Simitian was elected to the California State Senate in November 2004 to represent the 11th State Senate District, which includes portions of San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties. His public service over the years include stints as a State Assemblymember, member of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, Mayor of Palo Alto and President of the Palo Alto School Board. He has also served as an election observer/supervisor in El Salvador and Bosnia and participated in refugee relief and resettlement efforts in Albania and Kosovo.

This morning, Senator Simitian will be recognized with the first Courage in Educational Leadership Award. This award recognizes a public figure that has gone above and beyond to provide educational services to California’s students.

Since serving in the Legislature, Senator Simitian has been widely recognized for his commitment to service and the passion he brings to his job. He has received Legislator of the Year awards from a wide range of organizations, including the California School Boards Association and the California Library Association.

His legislative accomplishments related to education include introducing legislation to change the minimum age for children entering kindergarten. The proposal, supported by policy experts and education advocates, would boost kindergarten readiness and save an estimated $700 million annually. He authored a bill that was recently signed into legislation that expands and improves public access to California’s student performance data. The bill helps California qualify and compete for up to $700 million in federal “Race to the Top” funding. Senator Simitian has led California’s efforts to compete for “Race to the Top” funding, traveling to Washington, D.C. to meet with U.S. Department of Education officials.

Luncheon Introduces Cañada Programs to High School Counselors

More than 20 counselors from area high schools attended the meeting.

Lat month, Cañada College hosted a luncheon for local high school counselors and others whose clients and students attend Cañada. There were 44 in attendance, 22 High School counselors that included Summit (1), Sequoia (5), Woodside (6), Menlo Atherton (6), Carlmont (3), Phoenix Academy (1), Dept of Rehab (1), HAS (1), and 20 Cañada personnel.

Highlights included a presentation by Vice President of Instruction, Dr. Sarah Perkins, which showcased recent trends and accomplishments by Cañada students; presentations by Student Services programs; and explanations of new Academic Initiatives and Pathways, such as the Honor’s Program, the new Chemical Technician Program, and ESL streamlining.

A panel composed of students with varied experiences talked about why they chose Cañada and their academic goals. The counselors were excited to see “their” students present in the audience and on the student panel, and was the “hit” of the luncheon.

Interior Design Students Transform Library Stairwell

Andy Warhol inspired torn paper mosaics greet library patrons using the stairs.

Ken Fehrman's students are at it again. They are making campus a beautiful place to work. This time they set their sights on the stairwell in the library. It has been transformed into the "Sky Gallery" complete with a crocheted wall hanging as well as Andy Warhol inspired torn paper mosaics. The two classes involved with the project were the INTD 148 Color & Design and INTD 350 Commercial Design students. The Color & Design class have also been installing live floral arrangements in the Bookstore every two weeks this semester. The arrangements were used at the annual Transfer & Scholarship Reception held in the gymnasium earlier this month.

Sequoia Adult School Campus Tour Draws Rave Reviews

Approximately 60 students learn about college options at Cañada

More than 60 Sequoia Adult School students were welcomed to campus earlier this month by the Cañada Outreach Team, faculty, and staff as part of a long-standing collaboration between the adult school and the college to help students transition from the adult school to college. About 30 students attended the morning tour and another 30 attended the evening tour. Most had never been to campus. "It was quite phenomenal to see the students' excitement, verging on awe, as they toured the campus," said Elizabeth Weal of the Sequoia Adult School. "The faculty and staff we met were welcoming, and friendly, which students clearly picked up on. The tour guides did a great job of answering students' questions and making them feel at home."

The recently formed Sequoia District Adult School Education Fund, whose mission is to assist students in the transition to a community college, has begun fund-raising efforts and will provide scholarships for students to enroll in college. This will provide incentive for students, particularly those who work and have family obligations are limited in the number of college units they can take.

Cañada Classified Senate Designated "Model Senate"

The Classified Senate will be formally recognized in June.

The California Community Colleges Classified Senate has designated the Cañada College Classified Senate as a "Model Senate" in the state. The Cañada Classified Senate will be formally recognized at the 2010 Classified Leadership Institute, which will be held June 10-12 in Tahoe City.

According to the CCCCS, "model Classified Senates are organizations that exercise their role in shared governance with autonomy and professionalism. They exemplify the highest standards of classified participation within the learning environment, encourage classified leaders to become stronger, and offer their support and encouragement for novice and established senates seeking organizational revitalization." The designation of Model Senate is the highest honor conferred by the organization.

top

FACES OF CAÑADA

Robin Richards Appointed VPSS

Richards Has Been VPSS at College of the Siskiyous and will Start at Cañada in July.

Robin Richards, the current Vice President of Student Services at College of the Siskiyous has been hired to take the same position at Cañada College beginning in July.

Richards has been the chief student service officer at COS since 1995. Prior to joining COS, she worked at the district level for Yosemite Community College District as the Director of Research and Analysis for eight years. Richards has a Master's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences and a PhD in Pharmacy from the University of Pacific. She has a rich scientific background. She was employed as a pharmacist and a health planner/community relations officer for several San Joaquin County agencies before moving to Yosemite as North San Joaquin Health Education Director in 1981.

Richards has served as president of the California Community College Chief Student Service Administrators Associations. She is also active in the California Community College Research Planning Group and was the president in 1995 and vice president in 1994-'95. She was also a member of two Chancellor Office Committees, Matriculation Advisory Committee and Basic Skill Advisory Committee.

In this issue, we feature our faculty emeritus that will be honored at commencement. Congratulations to this year's retiring faculty members.

Barbara McCarthy

Barbara has devoted 30 years to the Adaptive PE Program.

Barbara McCarthy has taught Adaptive Physical Education at Cañada College since 1981. "The program initially got its start in the 1970s when legislation was passed to allow equal access to education for persons with disabilities,” McCarthy said.

“I became a Registered Kinesiotherapist in 1975, which is the study of medically-oriented physical education.” Adaptive Physical Education is designed to improve and maintain the health and well-being of students who cannot safely or successfully participate in traditional physical education classes. Due to regular participation in a fitness program, students develop greater mobility and independence around the campus, at home, and in their communities.

Since 1989, Adaptive P.E. classes have been held at the Community Wellness Center which is affiliated with the Veterans Memorial Senior Center and the Redwood City Parks and Recreation Department. The central location of the Community Wellness Center has made it more accessible for students.

While Cañada College has chosen to discontinue the Adaptive Physical Education program, McCarthy will continue to teach classes at the Community Wellness Center. “Because of Redwood City’s continuing support, the Sequoia Healthcare District has generously provided grant funding to continue this program of wellness education to adults in the community,” she said. “They recognize that by keeping people mobile and not in need of excess medical attention, that reductions in healthcare spending will occur.”

McCarthy said she has a lot of fond memories of the college. “I enjoyed the camaraderie and personal interactions every day, whether with students or staff,” she said. “I also enjoyed the feeling of pride that the college has at its Commencement ceremonies. One of the things I’m most proud of was being honored by the students with a scholarship in my name. It has also been a pleasure to teach those students who intend to pursue a career in this field.”

Nonan Villanueva

For many students, Nonan was the face of EOPS

After starting at Cañada College as a part-time teacher in the English as a Second Language Program more than 20 years ago, Nonan Villanueva moved into the Extended Opportunity Programs and Services as a counselor and became the friendly face of the program.

“At Cañada, it has always been about the people and the noble intent of teaching and learning,” he said. “There have been some great educators at this college.”

He said working with EOPS students was a blessing. “The population is special in that they are low-income and most are the first in their family to attempt college,” he said. “Some have had limited success in prior education. When I say they are special this also relates to their desire. EOPS students want to succeed.”

Nonan said he’s proud of the fact that, throughout 20 years, he continued to care about the students and his colleagues. “The environment has changed as the state has cut budgets for community colleges and that caring has diminished,” he said. “I’ll miss the students and my colleagues but it is a good time to retire.”

Jean Mecorney

After helping others create art, Jean will now return to creating art herself.

Ask Jean Mecorney, professor of Multimedia, what she likes best about working at Cañada College and she’s quick to tell you it’s the people. “The people are the best I have worked with in my life,” she said. “I worked 25 years in design, film, television and education before coming to Cañada and when I landed this job I felt like I finally got my job in the candy store. I truly believe that everyone at the college – faculty, staff, and the current administration – is committed to serving our students and I am proud every day that I teach at Cañada.”

Of course, she might be a little biased about the people, as she did meet her husband Jack, a former professor of astronomy and mathematics, at the college. “In 1999, we were both asked to serve on an Accreditation Committee. We met, fell in love, and got married. It was the best committee assignment I had.”

Jean was instrumental in moving the Multimedia Department from Humanities & Social Sciences to the Business & Workforce Division. She was also the driving force behind the creation of the school’s successful 3D Animation and Video Game Art Program. “Dean Linda Hayes and the entire Business & Workforce Division have been very supportive throughout our growth,” Jean said. “We have also stayed close with the Art Department and now have a great Campus Art Gallery in partnership.”

Jack and Jean will be hit the road in retirement, driving their RV across country with their dog, visiting friends and family. “Jack and I have plans to travel to Vancouver Island and Alaska,” she said “We are also going to visit his sister and our friends on the East Coast.”

Of course, Jean will have her camera on every trip. “I just love road trips and taking photographs,” she said. “In my career I have created and then taught others to create, now I want to get back to creating art myself.”

Sharon Finn

Sharon coordinated Tourism & Travel Careers before moving to CBOT.

For more than 10 years, Sharon Finn taught Tourism & Travel Careers at Cañada College. Now that she is retiring, she is going to spend more time traveling.

Sharon came to Cañada College from the travel industry in 1989 to teach in the Tourism & Travel Careers Department. One month later she was coordinating the department. She quickly established a partnership with United Airlines to provide onsite training for students with the Apollo System, a computer reservation system. Sharon was also the faculty advisor for the Tourism Club for nine years and helped plan two educational trips, one to Greece in 1990 and one to Egypt in 1993.

When the Tourism & Travel Careers Department was eliminated in 2000, Sharon began teaching Microsoft Office application and eventually became the Computer Business Office Technology coordinator.

“I love the people that work at Cañada and I believe we have the best classified staff at this college,” she said. “They go the extra mile to help students and faculty, and our faculty are some of the best in their field.”

Sharon will return to the college in the fall to teach one course on Excel as an adjunct faculty member but this summer she will be busy traveling. “We’re going to Ireland and England to visit two dear friends that we met more than 30 years ago on a Thomas Cook tour to Spain and Portugal. I am also going to spend more time with my mom and two good friends that go way back to my days at Thomas Cook Travel and Pan American Airlines.”

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.

top

SPOTLIGHT ON STUDENTS

Aldo Garcia Named 2010 Valedictorian

The computer science and electrical engineering major has been active on campus.

Three years ago, at the age of 17, Aldo Garcia left Mexico alone. He was following a girlfriend whose family had moved to Redwood City. “I knew I could take care of myself,” Garcia said. “I could cook and do my laundry.”

Garcia’s girlfriend, Violeta Crow, had moved to California with her family. They both graduated from Woodside High School and transferred to Cañada College where they immediately became involved in student activities. They joined the Mathematics, Engineering, Science, Achievement Program (MESA), co-founded the school’s successful robotics club, and became officers in the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.

Aldo was elected student body president and Violeta was elected secretary. They both were accomplished Honors students, math tutors, and were chosen to present original research at the Bay Area Honors Research Symposium at U.C. Berkeley.

To top it off, they both received the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship which provides up to $30,000 per year for up to three years to approximately 50 community college students across the nation. It is the largest private scholarship for two-year and community college transfer students in the country.

Aldo and Violeta have been accepted to Cornell, UCLA, UC Irvine, UC Santa Cruz, Santa Clara University, UC Berkeley and Brown. They have agreed they will finish their degrees in computer science and electrical engineering together at the same university.

Violeta Crow to Receive the President's Leadership Award

She has been a leader in promoting opportunities for women in engineering.

As a young child growing up in Mexico, Violeta Crow told her father that she wanted to go to a university in the United States to study. Three years ago, her family moved to Redwood City and Violeta graduated from Woodside High School. Today, because of her hard work, Violeta has been accepted to Brown, Cornell, UCLA, and is on the waiting list at Stanford. She plans to study electrical engineering.

Violeta is this year’s recipient of the President’s Student Leadership Award. Not only is she being recognized for her excellent skills in the classroom – she has a perfect 4.0 grade point average – but because of her leadership skills.

Two years ago, when she entered Cañada, Violeta immediately joined the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program. She was the co-founder of the school’s robotics club. She became an officer in the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. She was the founding co-president of the new Women in Science & Engineering club affiliated with the Society of Women Engineers. She was a Smart Cookie Scholarship recipient, a Jack Kent Cook Scholarship recipient, and she has helped other students by tutoring in the math lab.

Aldo and Violeta Featured on ABC7 News

Reporter Lyanne Melendez talked to the pair about their journey.

While many of us on campus are familiar with the incredible journey Aldo and Violeta have taken to further their education, this ABC7 News story does an excellent job of capturing the inspirational tale.

Cañada Student Prepares to Study Medicine in Cuba

The Cuban government will pay for Abraham Vela's education in exchange for a promise to serve underrepresented populations in the U.S.

Most Americans can’t imagine visiting Cuba. Abraham Vela has not only visited Cuba, but he’s preparing to enter medical school in the country.

Vela, 22, a graduate of Aragon High School and a San Mateo resident, has had his application to the Latin American School of Medicine approved and is now preparing to travel to New York this summer to go through the interview process. “Based on my application, they believe I have a good chance to be accepted,” Vela said.

The Latin American School of Medicine was founded in 1998, as Cuba’s response to the devastation of Hurricanes Mitch and Georges. According to the school’s website, Cuba understood that, if the poorest regions in the hemisphere were able to develop adequate healthcare infrastructures, they could save as many lives every year as had been lost in the hurricanes. The Cubans offered full scholarships to enroll at LASM to young people from the nations affected by the hurricanes – on the sole condition that, once they graduated, they would return to their home countries and offer low-cost health service in their own underserved communities.

The Latin American School of Medicine is a six-year program of study, which includes two years of basic sciences, three years of classwork and clinical rotations at accredited teaching hospitals, and a rotatory clinical internship in the sixth year. All classes are taught in Spanish; but a semester-long Spanish language intensive is offered to students who need it (prior to first year), along with a pre-med semester in which students can review pre-med sciences and improve their fluency in Spanish. All students study at the LASM campus for the first two years, and then go to another of Cuba's 21 medical schools, which are located throughout the island, to complete their studies.

Cuba is now offering students in the United States full-scholarship medical education at a world-class facility and Vela wants to take them up on the offer. “Cuba recognizes that millions of people in the U.S. have little or no access to affordable health care, and that many young people can’t afford to study medicine because of the costs.”

Applications to the school are administered by the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization/Pastors for Peace. “They work with the school and to apply you go through them,” Vela said.

Vela toured Cuban hospitals, clinics and psychological hospitals with other prospective students two years ago and this winter returned to Cuba on his own to get a better feel for the country. “Cuba is giving me an opportunity I can’t get in this country,” he said. “I’m excited to come back to the United States and serve underrepresented communities.”

He said his family was initially skeptical. “Now that I’ve traveled to Cuba twice and I’ve taken classes to learn more about the country, they are becoming more accepting,” he said.

Vela, who started his education at San Francisco State University but transferred to Cañada a year ago because he couldn’t get the classes he needed at SFSU, wants to become a primary care physician.

“There’s nowhere in the United States that I can go to medical school for free in exchange for helping my community,” he said. “If Cuba is willing to give me that opportunity, I’m willing to go.”

Student Panel Discusses Transfer Options with ESL Students

A student group, the Latino Empowerment Alliance, organizes the panel.

Earlier this month a group of Cañada students organized a special panel discussion to help ESL students understand the importance of transferring to a four-year university. Titled "Wisdom From The Other Side; Transferring To A 4-year University," the panel discussion featured current Cañada students who are transferring or have transferred to four-year universities. 

"Nothing we could have said in class would have made the impact on our ESL students compared to what they heard from that student panel," said Jennifer Castello, dean of Social Sciences and Humanities. "It was absolutely inspiring and completely organized by our students."

TRIO Programs at Canada - One family's recipe for success!

Family takes advantage of Cañada's educational offerings.

Juana Toribio is determined to complete her education, as well as, ensure her children have a better future. She is an Early Childhood Education student at Cañada. Juana isn’t the only Toribio in college.

Her eldest daughter Elizabeth Toribio is a first year student with the TRiO SSS and looks forward to transferring to San Jose State to major in engineering. Elizabeth took advantage of the summer support classes that Cañada offers. She was able to place at college level math after participating in Math Jam, a two week intensive course offered by the Math and Science Division. Elizabeth was also better prepared for the reading and writing necessary in college after taking part in the Summer LEAP program offered last August.

Elizabeth’s two younger siblings, Francisco and Nicole, are also Cañada TRiO students in the Upward Bound program. Both Nicole and Francisco attend Menlo Atherton High and take part in Upward Bound tutorial and academic counseling to prepare for college.

Recently, Francisco took part in the PEP activity day on April 24th and was able to enroll, take his placement exam, and turn in his application for the TRiO SSS program for next year. His mother, Juana, spoke as part of the parent panel. Her advice to parents and students alike helped connect PEP participants to programs and services on campus.

Did You Miss this Year's Fashion Show? Not to Worry

A fantastic set of photos are available for viewing.

The designs were amazing. The models were beautiful. And the crowd of 350 was adoring. It must have been the Drop Dead Gorgeous Fashion Show. "We had 30 student designers who worked very hard to produce absolutely gorgeous pieces for this show," said Ken Fehrman, a professor of Interior Design and Fashion Design at the college. The show opened with a group of eight dancers followed by 17 male and female models, all local, strutting on the catwalk in the original designs produced by Cañada students,

If you missed the show, here is a slide show Fashion show photos.

What a Reaction!

Chemistry Department Students and Staff Make an Impact

TRiO Upward Bound students are used to getting up early on a Saturday morning to take part in their Saturday College workshops. On April 17th Professor Jeanette Medina and four of her Chemistry students also made that early morning trek. They came to motivate the Upward Bound students to continue in their education and go to college.

Xochitl Rios, Melissa Ibarra, Abraham Vela, and Juan Del Rio are all students with a passion for science. They shared with the Upward Bound students their stories, their educational experience, as well as how to pick a major. For many of these younger students, hearing about overcoming personal struggles makes college seem much more accessible. Getting to ask questions of the panel was good, but the most exciting part of the day happened when the Upward Bound students were lead by the Cañada students through min-labs. The labs were intended to promote science majors and careers.

“This was the best Saturday College!” said Kristina Razon-Gomez, a sophomore at Sequoia High. She really liked the mini lab run by Vela on pH. She and her friends got to write out hidden messages on paper using Q-tips dipped in a base fluid. Once sprayed with water the hidden message is revealed in magenta letters. “Science is fun!” claimed one of the hidden messages created by Upward Bound students.

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

top

Please see the EVENTS CALENDAR for the latest event listings.

Editor's Note: If you would like to submit an event to the Cañada Calendar of Events please contact Robert Hood at hoodr@smccd.edu.

top