Re: Fresh

Are you graduating from college soon?Here are some tips from the career centers at Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges on how to get a job.

The Great Recession is over. Unemployment is falling to lows that haven’t been seen in recent memory. But finding a job can be more complex than ever. Here are 10 tips that can help you land the position you want.

1) Know where to look. Plenty of opportunities are out there. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says well more than 5 million job openings were available nationally in the first quarter of 2017. But you must know where to look. Internet sites such as Indeed, Monster, and CareerBuilder are especially helpful. Employment links on local, state and federal office websites offer seemingly endless possibilities, along with trade magazines and local chambers of commerce. But don’t forget the obvious: Talk to your professors. Ask your friends. Let people know you are looking.

2) Don’t be afraid to seek help. College career centers are a good start, as they typically develop and maintain close working relationships with employers. The Cuyamaca College Career Centerand the Grossmont College Career Center offer myriad resources, such as career counseling, help with preparing résumés and cover letters, tutorials on sharpening interviewing skills. Career expos and apprenticeship fairs held by chambers of commerce, labor groups and colleges also are an excellent resource.

3)Invest the time.“It can be a full-time job looking for a full-time job,” said Erica Olmos, employment development specialist at the Grossmont Union High School District and Cuyamaca College. Résumés should be tailored to the potential employer, and that means carefully reviewing a job description and utilizing key words and phrases in that description when crafting the resume and cover letter. Provide in-depth, meaningful answers when completing an online job application.

4) Be prepared. Have your portfolio updated and in order before seeking a job. And because many employers require applicants to provide college transcripts, have those transcripts in hand and on your computer hard drive. Securing college transcripts from an out-of-state or out-of-town institution can be time-consuming, and frustrating if you’re in a hurry.

5) Network.Create a Linkedin profile, which can connect you to employment opportunities that fit your skills and can be critical in having employers connect with you. Learn about the industry you’re interested in. Join professional organizations. Attend mixers. Find a mentor. Job shadow.

6) Internships.Among the mistakes many college students make is waiting until their senior year before they land an internship. Internships provide job skills, experience and connections that can be invaluable during a job hunt once you’ve earned your degree. All the straight-A’s in the world won’t replace job experience.

7) Don’t exaggerate. If you lie, you will get caught. If you can only type 30 words per minute, don’t note on an application that you can type 60. If you don’t know how to use a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, don’t say you do.

8) Stay positive. Everyone gets a rejection letter. Rare is the person who is hired after applying for just a single job. What’s more, it is not unusual for an employer who turned you down for a position to call back weeks, or months, later with an offer for a similar job. Which brings us to our next tip…

9) Follow up.Have you just found out you were turned down for a job after being called for an interview? Thank the employer for taking the time to consider you and let them know you’d be interested should another opportunity arise. Letters and emails go a long way in leaving a lasting, positive impression. And they can often lead to other opportunities.

10) Learn from the journey. Every step in looking for a job can be used as a learning experience. Examine ways in which you could have improved your résumé, improved your interview, or improved your cover letter.


San Diego County Sheriff's Department photo

The inmate journals tell the story best about renewed hope and aspirations that a new program offering Grossmont College classes at Las Colinas jail have brought to the women, the first ever to enroll in college at the facility.

Haydee described the epiphany of lessons learned in a counseling course on College and Career Success, one of three classes offered to inmates at the Las Colinas Detention and Re-entry Facility in Santee. Pathways to Success Academy is a joint pilot program of the college and the jail that provides nine college credits, tutoring and financial aid information to inmates who succeed in the five-month regimen of instruction, homework and tests.

“My (lack of) self-esteem was a crucial part in my life that didn’t let me see anything other than feeling sorry for myself,” wrote Haydee, one of 21 inmates who signed up for the classes.

In addition to a counseling class that offers instruction in study skills, time management, and note-taking, the students also take a communication class to learn public speaking and communication skills, and a college reading class to improve their vocabulary, comprehension and reading speed.

“I have learned many positive strategies…the main one is, I am responsible for my own choices,” Haydee wrote. “Goals and dreams will be accomplished making the right choices. I am no longer a victim.”

A classroom building at the Las Colinas jail.

The Pathways to Success Academy is Las Colinas’ first foray into higher education, although several adult education courses are offered, including ones to earn a high school equivalency certificate and others training inmates for careers in areas such as culinary arts, landscaping and commercial sewing. Those courses are provided by East Region Adult Education, a partnership between the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District and the Grossmont Union High School District.

The academy, which concludes in June for the semester, reflects a new philosophy at the 1,200-inmate jail, revamped in 2014. With the improved facilities came a greater emphasis on re-entry services that included academic and pre-employment classes.

“Inmates leave better prepared for reintegration to the community, lowering the chance of reoffending,” said Christine Brown-Taylor, the Re-entry Services manager for the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. A 2013 study by the RAND Corporation found that inmates who participated in correctional education programs were 43 percent less likely to become repeat offenders than inmates who didn’t.

The program is funded by the sheriff’s department, which provides the books, supplies and laptops used by the instructors. Grossmont College provided three instructors: Linda Thomas, who taught college reading and provided tutoring; Denise Schulmeyer, who taught interpersonal communication; and Pearl Lopez, who led the counseling course. The students were screened to ensure they are low-risk inmates who had finished high school and to verify their sentences were long enough to complete the classes.

Nearly all the students are on track to pass the program, with Thomas’ class increasing their reading ability by an average of two grades. Once they complete the last of the courses, the students will receive certificates of participation.

“Our collaborative Pathways to Success Academy is an extension of our mission of changing lives through education,” said Katrina VanderWoude, vice president of Academic Affairs at Grossmont College. “This has been our first semester at Las Colinas and our faculty and staff have thoroughly enjoyed engaging with these students who are so very eager to learn.”

Thomas couldn’t agree more, saying that despite challenges like the range of reading skills of her students and the limitations of working in a jail, she would return to teach another class “in a heartbeat.”

“At Las Colinas, I now have a roomful of women who understand that the success they have in their lives once they leave the jail depends on them continuing their education,” she said.

Thomas recounted that after she dismissed the class on the first day, several students lingered and were thumbing through a large dictionary at her desk. “I told them again that they were free to go, but one of the women responded, ‘yes, teacher, but we want to learn,’” she said.

On the last day of Thomas’ class, which ended earlier than the others, the students presented her with a homemade card. “It means the world to me to be able to go to college, and I will see you at Grossmont,” one wrote.

Grossmont College instructor Denise Schulmeyer.

Looking inward
Lopez said her 13 years at Grossmont College counseling and teaching at-risk students in programs geared to helping the economically and educationally disadvantaged prepared her well for her new crop of students. Lopez said the class requires inmates to reflect on their lives and the decisions they have made.

One inmate, Krissy, wrote about her 37 years dealing with the scars of physical and sexual abuse. She was filled with hate and living a life of drugs and crime. By the time she started her current stint at Las Colinas, she was worn down and overcome by the grim realities of her future.

“It was my last chance to start over in my life,” she said. “All the encouragement and love my teachers showed have helped my hardened heart soften and grow. I am no longer fighting a losing war… I’m going to use my past to help someone else -- abused children in need of guidance, love and help.”

Lopez said the growing self-esteem and confidence of students are matched only by their enthusiasm.

“They are extremely motivated and eager to take more classes,” Lopez said. “They did not believe me that they were officially enrolled as Grossmont College students, so during the second week of the semester, I brought them all a copy of their transcript. They were blown away.”

Asked about plans to continue college, one student was emphatic.

“Yes, very much so -- the biggest benefit for me is learning and doing something positive for myself,” said the inmate, convicted for transporting and selling drugs. “I never thought I was college material. I was surprised to find out I am getting an A in my classes. I didn’t know how much I love to learn.”

Graduates of Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges have done it again. The two East County colleges will award 4,833 degrees and certificates this year, a 13 percent increase from last year and another record high for the college district.

Much pride and celebration are in store as all eyes turn to commencement ceremonies for 1,581 graduates at Grossmont College June 7 and 656 the following evening at Cuyamaca College. With many students receiving multiple credentials, thousands of graduates will take part in the time-honored processionals.

Both commencements begin at 5:30 p.m. President Nabil Abu-Ghazaleh will lead the 56th annual ceremony in the Main Quad of Grossmont College, at 8800 Grossmont College Drive in El Cajon. Cuyamaca College, at 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway in Rancho San Diego, will hold its 39th annual ceremony led by President Julianna Barnes in front of B building, the Communication Arts Center.

A busy academic year highlighted by new programs and major grants to expand learning opportunities at the colleges will end as graduates celebrate their day in the sun. The increased number of degrees and certificates to be awarded reflect the progress of several academic initiatives, such as changing placement processes to get more students taking transfer-level courses or providing additional services to students who need extra help to earn their degree.

Cindy L. Miles, chancellor of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District, said the innovative efforts to promote student success at Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges have paid off with the higher number of degrees and certificates being awarded to graduates this year.

“Our colleges are committed to providing exceptional learning opportunities for all of our students so they can reach their educational goals,” she said. “We’re confident that our graduates will use their education to become vital members of the community here in East County and beyond.”

Grossmont College speakers

The student speaker selected to give Grossmont College’s commencement address is Danielle P. Santana, an honors graduate earning an associate degree in Child Development. She plans to transfer to Point Loma Nazarene University to pursue a bachelor’s in Integrated Studies with an emphasis in education.

The East County native – the first in her family to earn a college degree – has her sights set on teaching young children, a passion she discovered at Grossmont College. Her interest in teaching children was piqued by Child Development courses, and cemented by her experience as a student worker at the Child Development Center.

“Whether you are 5 or 105, the love for learning is the most valuable lesson that one could ever learn or teach,” Santana said. “I hope to teach the next generation how to love to learn.”

The keynote speech will be given by Grossmont Healthcare District Board member Virginia

Virginia Hall

Hall, a retired registered nurse who earned her associate degree in nursing at Grossmont College in 1978. She credits the college for teaching her persistence after she was initially denied admittance into the nursing program.

Hall started her healthcare career in 1973 as a certified nursing assistant, then became a registered nurse after completing her degree. She worked until 2004 at local hospitals, emergency rooms, clinics and research facilities, including the Shiley Center for Orthopaedic Research and Education (SCORE) at Scripps Clinic.

In November 2016, Hall was elected to the board of the Grossmont Healthcare District, a public agency that supports health-related-community programs in East County and oversees a lease for Sharp Grossmont Hospital on behalf of taxpayers.

Since 2003, Hall has worked in real estate and has been active in the community of Santee, including serving as 2016 president of the Santee Chamber of Commerce. Her husband, Ronn, serves on the Santee City Council.

Cuyamaca College commencement
The keynote commencement speaker at Cuyamaca College will be alumna Janet Leak-Garcia, a U.S. Forest Service policy analyst and a leader in the agency’s Tribal Relations and Wilderness program.

Janet Leak-Garcia

Leak-Garcia was in her mid-30s when she graduated from Cuyamaca College in 2000 with a 4.0 grade point average. She succeeded in her education undaunted by challenges that included single parenthood, a lifetime of poverty, a vision disorder and, unknown to her at the time, Asperger’s, a syndrome on the autism spectrum.

She went on to earn a bachelor’s in biology from San Diego State University, and a doctorate in Evolutionary and Population Genetics from the University of California, Riverside.

A prestigious fellowship at the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Washington, D.C. followed, where she worked on international trade and food safety policy for the Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service. She also worked in connection with the World Trade Organization, at one point preparing position papers for bilateral trade talks with South Korea. She also helped develop food safety training policies for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, a forum for 21 nations that promotes free trade in the Pacific Rim. Her work on international trade issues took her around the world, but an interest in natural resource management led to her landing a fellowship with the U.S. Forest Service in 2012 and a permanent position a year later.

The student commencement speech will be given by honors graduate Jovonda Reina, a former foster youth who is earning her associate degree in psychology and will be transferring to San Diego State University.

“I hope to one day become a mental health counselor for teens and bring more awareness to and help eradicate the stigma of mental health issues in the black community,” Reina said. “I cannot thank this place enough for helping me realize my potential and molding me into a better student, a better thinker and a better person.”

Reina has been active in EOPS (Extended Opportunity Programs and Services) a program for the economically and educationally underserved student population, the campus Psychology Club, and is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

Before coming to Cuyamaca College, Reina attended the U.S. Naval Academy. She left after 18 months, finding herself still dealing with emotional issues from her youth. At Cuyamaca College, Reina said she found her home and the support she needed to succeed at Cuyamaca College.

Governing Board President Bill Garrett said he is always reminded this time of year of the life-altering impact of community colleges. “Our graduates received a stellar education and the doors are opened wide to them for future success,” he said.

More than 2,100 graduates will be getting their degrees and certificates from Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges in June. Here is the story of one graduate.

Sandra Navarro

Sandra Navarro had long had an interest in sewing, so when the Grossmont College student came across a course on costume construction while perusing through an online class catalog, it didn’t take long for her to sign up.

She got more than she bargained for. Enrolling in the course set in motion a series of events leading to an associate degree from the Grossmont College Theatre Arts Technical Training Program, a costume shop fellowship with the San Diego Repertory Theatre, and acceptance to San Diego State University’s Theatre Arts program for a bachelor’s degree in Design & Technology for Theatre. Navarro’s longer-term vision calls for a master’s degree in the field from UCLA and a career as a costume designer in the movie and theatre industry.

“That one course changed my life,” said Navarro.

Grossmont College can do that.

“The opportunities I received through Grossmont College were amazing,” Navarro said. “I worked as an assistant costume designer on Stagehouse Theatre productions of Romeo and Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew, These Shining Lives and more, and the faculty here have been very supportive.”

Faculty and staff in the Theatre Arts Department are impressed with her ability.

“Sandra is the rare student that all instructors crave,” said Craig Everett, the department’s technical director. “She is curious, creative and generous. She is an asset to the Theatre program at Grossmont. I believe there are great things ahead for her.”

Born in Southern California and raised for much of her childhood in Tecate, Mexico, Navarro enrolled at Grossmont College after graduating from El Cajon Valley High School in 2009. Initial plans called for her to earn a bachelor’s degree in linguistic anthropology, and Navarro laid the groundwork to secure an associate degree in German from Grossmont before her interests turned toward the theater.

“It just sort of happened,” she said. “I wanted to learn how to sew, I saw the costume design class, and I thought, ‘Oh, this sounds interesting.’”

The costume design course led to other classes in lighting and sound design, make up, and acting. Even after earning her associate degree in German, Navarro remained at Grossmont to pursue her associate degree in theatre arts. Along the way, she took part in the annual Summer Theatre Arts Conservatory program, which brings college and high school actors and stage technicians together to produce a play. She also found work as an overhire at the La Jolla Playhouse.

“I love everything about the theater,” Navarro said. “I love working the shows, being a light board operator, a dresser, a costume designer. Being part of creating a production is a team effort, and I like being part of that team.”

Said Everett: “Sandra has learned and applied all facets of her education on numerous productions. Her enthusiastic involvement here has given her a true understanding of the complexity of theatre and how she fits into a production.”

Jovonda Reina

More than 2,100 graduates will be receiving their degress and certificates from Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges in June. Here is the story of one graduate.

Jovonda Reina found her home at Cuyamaca College.

She found her home at Cuyamaca College after being shuffled around so often as a foster child that she attended three different elementary schools in the second grade alone. She found her home at Cuyamaca College after serving for six years as a petroleum supply specialist in the Army National Guard. She found her home at Cuyamaca College after an epiphany led her on a path toward a career working with teens beset by mental health challenges.

“I love the campus and I love the teachers here,” Reina said. “You really get to know your professors and they really get to know you. Everyone goes out of their way to make sure every student, no matter your background, feels at home and feels they are a part of the campus community. I can’t say enough about what Cuyamaca College has meant to me.”

Now she’s taking her associate of arts degree and the lessons learned at Cuyamaca College to San Diego State University, where Reina is aiming to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in counseling.

Reina’s professionalism and achievements in the face of adversity landed her the honor of Student Speaker for this year’s Cuyamaca College Commencement June 8 at the Rancho San Diego campus.

Those who know her say no one is more deserving of the honor.

“Jovonda is a vivid and excellent representation of our students at Cuyamaca College,” said Claudia Cuz-Florex, a counselor at the college. “She demonstrates great maturity, self-determination, and great resiliency to overcome life adversities. She has not allowed statistics and hardships become obstacles, but instead utilized them as stepping stones to reach higher grounds. Those challenges have also converted into the motivation and drive to become a psychologist to help children and youth in foster care.

“Jovonda has a bright future and I am certain that she will excel and succeed in all of her professional goals and any other endeavor that she may seek to pursue.”

It has been a long and often trying, journey. After living with her grandmother as an infant, Jovonda was placed in the foster care system in her hometown of Norfolk, Va., bouncing around from home to home until her father took custody of her shortly after she turned 9.

“You’re constantly moving, constantly adapting, constantly readjusting,” Reina said. “It’s a difficult position to be in, especially when you’re so young and vulnerable.”

Shortly after graduating high school, she enrolled at the Naval Academy. Eighteen months later, she left.

“I was dealing with emotional issues from my youth, and it just wasn’t the right place for me at the time,” Reina said. Instead, she signed on with the Army National Guard, serving first in Virginia and then Texas. When her husband was assigned to San Diego, the couple moved out West. That’s when Jovonda discovered Cuyamaca College. She enrolled in the fall of 2016 and was able to graduate less than a year later in part because of an abundance of concurrent enrollment courses she completed while in high school.

“I’m just really grateful to have been a part of this campus,” said Reina, who has been active with the Cuyamaca College Psychology Club, attends every campus event she can and is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. “I can definitely say that I found my home here. I feel like I’m totally prepared to go to San Diego State.”

Cheryl Mahone

Of the more than 1,500 graduates being celebrated at Grossmont College’s June 7 commencement, few have overcome the kind of challenges faced by 50-year-old Cheryl Mahone.

Unable to walk and barely able to stand as her body yielded to the effects of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, Mahone kept pressing forward even after enduring two bouts of pneumonia and an encounter with the swine flu. Just getting to the El Cajon campus from her home in La Mesa meant a three-hour round trip aboard a special Metropolitan Transit System Access bus.

No matter. Mahone graduates with a 3.98 grade point average, an associate degree in social and behavioral sciences and a ticket to San Diego State University, where she will enroll this fall as she moves closer to realizing her dream of earning a bachelor’s degree in food and nutrition and launching a career as a registered dietician working with the disabled.

“My attitude is, God gave me this body, so I’m going to do the best I can to keep moving forward,” said Mahone, who added she will forever be grateful for the help she received along the way.

“I couldn’t have done it without the people at Grossmont College,” Mahone said. “I was overwhelmed by the love and support I received as soon as I enrolled. They give you all that you need, everything from workshops for adult learners who are going back to school to a wonderful EOPS program to a tutoring center, a writing center, counselors. You name it.”

EOPS – an acronym for Extended Opportunity Programs and Services – is a state-funded effort that supports nearly 800 Grossmont College students with financial, educational and physical challenges, and Mahone embodies its success. “Hers is a remarkable story,” said Maria de la Cruz, an EOPS program specialist at Grossmont College. “Despite her physical limitations, she was not only able to earn her associate degree, but she was able to earn her associate degree with a nearly perfect grade point average. Cheryl defines what it means to be resilient and she defines what it means to be persistent.”

Her persistence and resilience led Mahone to be honored as a Grossmont College Student of Note during a May 19 awards ceremony, a program celebrating students who have overcome significant obstacles to achieve a degree or certificate.

Mahone’s ability to overcome adversity has left an impression on virtually everyone she knows.

“I never imagined as a counselor establishing a relationship with a student where I felt like I was being taught something,” said Michael Perez Jr., an EOPS counselor. “Over the past eight years, Cheryl demonstrated characteristics that inspired me to be a better person. After eight years of being her EOPS counselor, I am very excited for her next chapter to begin. I am certain she will continue to touch people’s lives at SDSU as she has here at Grossmont College.”

Born and raised in Cleveland, Mahone relocated to San Diego County after visiting a sister here more than a decade ago. “The winters in Cleveland were kind of harsh,” she said. “And when I saw how everything here was so accessible, I fell in love with the place.”

That was in 2005. A few years later, she was perusing through a San Diego State University class schedule when she came across the food and nutrition program. “I’ve always had a love affair with food, I’ve always loved cooking and preparing meals,” Mahone said. “When I saw ‘Food and Nutrition,’ all these bells went off in my head. So I gave them a call. They said my best bet would be to enroll at a community college and transfer, and they suggested Grossmont.”

She reached out to Grossmont College almost immediately, took an assessment test, spoke with the EOPS office, and met with the folks in Disabled Student Programs & Services (DSPS). In 2009, she was a full-time Grossmont College student who could be seen navigating the El Cajon campus daily along her power scooter, BiPAP machine in tow.

Eventually, though, Mahone had to pull back. That’s what happens when you’re living with a disease that eats away at your muscles in your hips and shoulders. That’s what happens when an especially debilitating bout of pneumonia leaves you relying on a continuous flow of up to five liters of oxygen per day just to survive. The challenges were so many that counselors worked with Mahone to revise her educational plan more than a dozen times.

Mahone, though, never complained.

“I’m really excited,” Mahone added. “It’s been a long road but I was determined to get there. With the help of my family, my neighbors and the good people at Grossmont College, here I am.”

Fadya Basha

More than 2,100 students are graduating from Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges in June. Here is the story of one of them.

You’re never too old to learn. Just ask Fadya Basha, an Iraqi immigrant who, at age 74, will be the oldest graduate walking across the stage at Cuyamaca College’s June 8 Commencement.

“If you are learning, you are growing,” said Basha, who has learned her way to an associate degree in Arabic Studies and Communication and Language Arts – with honors. “You have to always grow. You should always be learning.”

Said her youngest son, Firas Najeeb, a dentist living in Las Vegas: “I’m really proud of her. She is a true inspiration for everybody in our family.”

Basha said she was just looking to improve her English when she enrolled in a Cuyamaca College ESL class about seven years ago. Before too long, though, the ESL course led to other classes, including public speaking, speech and debate, and composition. Then came courses in Arabic and mathematics, art and exercise. She began her journey in 2011, and would have graduated sooner, but she took time off on several occasions for the birth of a new grandchild.

Basha moved to El Cajon in July of 2009 following the death of her longtime husband, who had a successful career in the banking industry. “It’s not too safe for a woman to stay alone in Iraq,” said Fadya, who added she had urged her husband to move with her to the United States long before 2009.

“It was very bad, it was very dangerous in Iraq,” she said. “For everyone. Sometimes you walk in the street and, boom! A bomb explodes. But my husband was a bank manager. He had a good job.”

But adjusting to life in a new country presented more than its share of challenges. Language being foremost among them.

“I knew English very little. When I go to the doctor, I took my cousin to help me. When I go to the Social Security office, I have to take my son or a friend. I want to be independent. So I came to Cuyamaca to learn English.”

Staying in school after her English improved was a no-brainer. “I like to learn,” Basha said. “When I come to Cuyamaca, I feel 10 years younger.”

Before too long, she was a full-time student, often studying past midnight. “I take class seriously,” Basha said. “I am the oldest one in the class and I don’t want the teacher to ask me a question and not know the answer. I don’t want people to say, ‘she doesn’t know because she’s too old.’”

Despite such concerns, her years at Cuyamaca College have been filled with nothing but respect. “The students treat me like anybody else. All the teachers here are very good. We get along very well.”

“I will be sad when I graduate. I love it here too much,” Basha said.

Students looking to become an elementary school teacher can earn a bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Cuyamaca College through a new partnership launching this fall with one of the Midwest’s top regional public universities.

Under the agreement, Valley City State University (VCSU) in Valley City, N.D., will provide instruction both online and at Cuyamaca College to students who have earned an associate degree at the Rancho San Diego campus. A VCSU counselor will also be stationed at Cuyamaca College to work with students in setting up an educational plan.

The new program at Cuyamaca College comes at an opportune time, as the number of elementary school teachers in California, excluding those focusing on special education, is projected to grow by nearly 10 percent in the decade between 2014 and 2024. Elementary school teachers in California earn an annual average salary of $74,270, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, and $72,130 in San Diego County.

“Cuyamaca College is among the leaders in our region when it comes to workforce development, and partnering with VCSU will enable us to help fill a void in preparing students for careers as elementary school teachers,” said Cuyamaca College President Julianna Barnes. “We’re excited for the opportunity to work with a university that has a long history and stellar reputation in educating elementary school teachers across the country.”

VCSU was rated the top school among regional public colleges in the Midwest by U.S News & World Report in its 2017 rankings. Its School of Education and Graduate Studies is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, the Higher Learning Commission and the North Dakota Educational Standards and Practices Board.

VCSU has been training teachers since 1890 when it opened its doors as a teacher’s college, and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education has recognized the university for exemplary practice since 1954.

“We at Valley City State University are excited to partner with Cuyamaca College to offer our bachelor’s degree program in elementary education,” said VCSU President Tisa Mason. “I commend President Julianna Barnes for seeking out baccalaureate opportunities for Cuyamaca students, and I know we can provide an outstanding opportunity for those who wish to teach in elementary schools.”

Registration is open now for the fall semester. The program to open to anyone with an associate degree, although Cuyamaca College graduates with a degree in elementary education or an associate degree for transfer in elementary education will have a seamless path to admission. Other students will need to have their college transcripts evaluated to determine if they have any gaps in their coursework.

Students will pay the same in-state tuition and fee rates charged to North Dakota residents, which is approximately $16,300 for the entire two-year program.

Valley City State provides laptops to qualified distance learners as part of the university’s technology fees. Because VCSU is a nationally accredited institution, graduates will be able to teach in California after obtaining a North Dakota teaching license and securing a California teaching credential.

The bachelor of science degree in elementary education is the latest baccalaureate program offered at Cuyamaca College. In fall 2016, Cuyamaca College and Point Loma Nazarene University teamed up to offer bachelor degrees in both Child Development and Organizational Management.

Students interested in the elementary education program should contact advisor and assistant professor Daisy Figueroa at (562) 822-7606 or daisy.figueroa@vcsu.edu

Grossmont College commencement

The impact on lives that Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges have is never more apparent than on commencement day, when speakers talk about their first steps taken in their academic journeys and the encouragement they’ve received along the way.

And so it was at last week’s commencements, where two alums and two new graduates told audiences their personal stories, giving compelling accounts of their college experiences.

Cuyamaca College commencement

In addition to heartfelt speeches, commencement at both colleges was a day for the record books. Beating a record set just a year ago, Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges awarded 4,833 degrees and certificates to the class of 2017, a 13 percent increase over 2016.

With many students receiving multiple credentials, 1,581 graduates earned 3,744 degrees and certificates June 7 at Grossmont College. At Cuyamaca College, which held its commencement the following day, about 650 were awarded 1,089 degrees and certificates.

Graduation balloons bobbed in the air and personalized mortarboards could be spotted amid a sea of graduates who cheered and applauded at every opportunity.

After congratulatory whoops to graduates at both colleges, Chancellor Cindy Miles quizzed the students on the etymology of the word “graduate.”

“It’s from the Latin, ‘gradus,’ a step climbed,” she said. “You are taking a big step this evening and you have other big steps before you. Go do the wonderful things we know you will.”

Governing Board President Bill Garrett also congratulated graduates on a job well done and encouraged them to act with integrity in their future endeavors.

“Go forward with integrity and make this country and this world a better place,” he said.

Grossmont College commencement

Danielle Santana

An emotional speech at Grossmont College’s 56th annual ceremony was given by student speaker Danielle P. Santana, an honors graduate who earned an associate degree in Child Development and plans to transfer to Point Loma Nazarene University to pursue a bachelor’s in Integrated Studies with an emphasis in education.

The East County native – the first in her family to earn a college degree – has her sights set on teaching young children, a passion she discovered during her first semester at Grossmont College. Her interest in teaching children was piqued by Child Development courses, and cemented by her experience as a student worker at the Child Development Center.

Santana spoke about hardships her parents endured and how they struggled to provide a better life for their children. Her father emigrated from Mexico; her mother escaped an abusive home, and both came from poverty-stricken backgrounds.

“To every child of parents who fought against boundaries and borders to obtain the promise that you would be standing here today, I say to you now publicly in honor of them – congratulations, today you make them proud,” she said, ending her speech with tearful thanks to a big brother she called her hero and to her parents.

Virginia Hall

The keynote commencement speech was delivered by Grossmont Healthcare District Board member and retired registered nurse Virginia Hall, who earned her associate degree in nursing at Grossmont College in 1978. Hall started her healthcare career in 1973 and worked until 2004 at local hospitals, emergency rooms, clinics and research facilities. In November 2016, Hall was elected to the board of the Grossmont Healthcare District, the public agency that oversees a lease for Sharp Grossmont Hospital on behalf of taxpayers.

Borrowing from self-help author Napoleon Hill’s “Think and Grow Rich,” Hall advised graduates to remember the three P’s: patience, persistence and perspiration, and relayed her personal story as lessons learned.

“While you may be sick of school right now, my earnest prayer for you is that you will continue to love learning, either through continued formal or do-it-yourself education,” said Hall, who has worked in real estate since 2003 and served in 2016 as president of the Santee Chamber of Commerce. “Get involved in your community. It can open many doors for you.”

Cuyamaca College commencement

The keynote commencement speaker at Cuyamaca College’s 39th Annual Commencement was Janet Leak-Garcia, once a minimum-wage earner who graduated from Cuyamaca

Janet Leak-Garcia

College in 2000, then went on to earn a doctorate in genetics. She is now a policy analyst working to protect millions of acres under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service.

As a single parent in her mid-30s, Leak-Garcia overcame economic and physical challenges to earn her associate degree from Cuyamaca College with a 4.0 GPA, then went on for a bachelor’s in biology from San Diego State University and a doctorate from the Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics program at the University of California, Riverside.

“If I was to succeed in completing a degree, I needed a launching pad where I could start college and be mentored at the same time,” said Leak-Garcia, who credited Disabled Students Program and Services (DSPS) for helping her overcome hurdles that included a vision disorder and, unknown to her at the time, Asperger’s, a syndrome on the autism spectrum. “I lived closer to other schools, but I chose Cuyamaca because of the care they showed me as I inquired about programs. Best decision ever.”

She also thanked her science professors, who recognized her promise early on in spite of her own self-doubt.

“I didn’t see it at the time, but my biology and chemistry professors, Kathryn Nette and Laurie LeBlanc, sure did, and they let me know that,” said Leak-Garcia, encouraging graduates to stay true to their dreams. “And sensing that I was having a hard time believing them, they told me again… and again. I love them both for that.”

Jovonda Reina

The student commencement speech was given by honors graduate Jovonda Reina, a former foster youth who earned her associate degree from Cuyamaca College’s psychology program and will be transferring to San Diego State University to earn a bachelor’s and a master’s in counseling. Accepted out of high school in the Naval Academy, Reina left after 18 months, finding herself still dealing with emotional issues from her youth. At Cuyamaca College, Reina said she found the support she needed.

“Here at Cuyamaca, I felt at home and welcomed the moment I stepped on campus and that I was finally in the right place at the right time,” said Reina, who started at Cuyamaca in fall 2016, and aspires to becoming a mental health counselor for teens and to help eradicate the stigma of mental health issues in the black community.

“I cannot thank this place enough for helping me realize my potential and molding me into a better student, a better thinker and a better person,” she said.

Grossmont College today announced it is one of 11 schools chosen to participate in the 2017 - 2018 OpenStax Institutional Partnership Program to encourage use of free, peer-reviewed textbooks on campus.

Grossmont College was chosen to participate in this strategic partnership with OpenStax after a rigorous application process that included demonstrating willingness to drive adoption of open educational resources (OER). Institutional partners will receive individualized consulting from OpenStax and join a cohort of schools advocating widespread use of OER at their schools. Last year’s institutional partner schools have seen a 55 percent increase in the amount of students using OER, saving an additional $1.7 million in the coming academic year.

“The use of open educational resources is good for the institution because it is good for our students,” said Nabil Abu-Ghazaleh, Ed.D., president of Grossmont College. “OER significantly reduces textbook costs for students and relieving that financial burden can make the difference between students successfully completing a course or dropping out.”

The high cost of traditional textbooks—an average of somewhere between $600 and $1,400 per student each year, according to studies by NACS and the College Board—not only impacts students’ ability to attend college but also their ability to continue and complete coursework. Open educational resources, including the free, peer-reviewed textbooks offered by OpenStax, eliminate cost barriers for students and allow unrestricted, immediate access to learning materials, increasing the likelihood for students to complete their courses successfully.

Grossmont College is committed to student success by reducing high textbook costs for students while still presenting high quality content and protecting academic freedom. Grossmont College appreciates that OpenStax books meet standard scope and sequence requirements, are peer-reviewed by educators, and are easy to implement. They are comparable to textbooks that cost $200 or more and are available for free online and in PDF, and are available at very low cost in print.

For more information on Grossmont College’s open educational resource initiative, visit Grossmont.edu/oer.

About Grossmont College
Grossmont College is “Changing Lives Through Education” and has served the diverse educational needs of San Diego’s East County since 1962. With a wide variety of certificate and associate’s degree programs, Grossmont College provides workforce training, career development and transferable college-level coursework to its more than 18,000 students. For more information, visit Grossmont.edu

About OpenStax
OpenStax is committed to improving access to quality learning materials. An initiative of Rice University and supported by philanthropic foundations, OpenStax provides free textbooks that are developed and peer-reviewed by educators to ensure readability, accuracy and adherence to scope and sequence requirements of most introductory college courses. For more information, visit openstax.org
.

Planning and orientation workshops for hallmark programs at Grossmont College in Office Professional Training and the health professions will be offered to the public starting this month.

Office Professional Training

Job-seekers, including laid-off and dislocated workers, welfare recipients, single parents, and the long-term unemployed, should attend an informational meeting from 1-3:30 p.m. Monday, June 26 or from 9-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 25, for Grossmont College’s Office Professional Training program, which has trained thousands for office professional positions since the program’s inception in 1985. Seventy-five percent of graduates obtain full-time jobs at an average entry-level hourly wage of more than $12.

In addition to the informational meetings, a mandatory orientation is set for 8-11 a.m. Thursday, July 27.

To sign up for the workshops, and for parking and location information, call (619) 644-7247.

OPT offers free computer training.

OPT is a one-semester program that gets workers quickly trained with up to 20 degree-applicable credits in accounting, banking/financial services, insurance, or office/administrative support. The program provides free job training to all students from a variety of age groups and backgrounds. In addition to skills training, students receive personal/crisis counseling and job placement and retention services. Free to California residents, OPT students receive tuition, fees, and textbooks for the college semester.

Following a two-week pre-training session before the start of the fall semester Aug. 21, courses will be held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Allied health professions

New and continuing Grossmont College students interested in enrolling in the college’s health professions programs – nursing, orthopedic technology, respiratory therapy, occupational therapy assistant, cardiovascular technology and EKG/telemetry – should take the following steps:

A cardiovascular technology class.

Attend a Pre-Allied Health and Nursing Academic Planning Workshop offered by the counseling department from 1-3 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays in June, July and August in Bldg. 26, Room 220. The workshops focus on the academic preparation, transcripts, and previous coursework, and assist students in determining what classes they should register for first. Students can expect to leave the workshops with a one-semester plan. To sign up for the workshops, call (619) 644-7208 or stop by the general counseling office in Bldg. 10.

After the planning workshop, attend a summer 2017 health professions information session from 10-11:30 a.m. July 10 or July 24 in Bldg. 34, Room 201. The session will provide an overview of the various health professions, with information on prerequisites and general application requirements, as well as responsibilities, job outlooks, salary and more on each profession. RSVP to Nursing Student Success Advisor Judy Medina at (619) 644-7061 or judy.medina@gcccd.edu

Students who complete steps 1 and 2 receive a counseling Fast Pass for an expedited appointment with the counseling department to develop a full educational plan.

Grossmont College is at 8800 Grossmont College Drive. For more information, go to www.grossmont.edu

Kyrie Macogay

Brandon Vivero

Two San Diego County natives, both honors graduates of local high schools with plans to transfer to San Diego universities from community college, were officially seated Tuesday as new student trustees on the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Governing Board.

The student trustees, who are elected by their peers as non-voting board members, are Grossmont College student Brandon Vivero, and Cuyamaca College student Kyrie Macogay. The pair took their oaths of office for the one-year term at Tuesday night’s board meeting at Grossmont College.

“We value our student trustees for their very important role as the student voice on the board,” Governing Board President Bill Garrett said. “The board appreciates the input the student representatives provide as we consider new policies and initiatives to guide the direction of the college district.”

Addressing students’ struggles

Vivero, a sociology major at Grossmont College, came to the campus in fall 2013 after graduating with honors the same year from Mar Vista High School in Imperial Beach. His future plans are to obtain a master’s from San Diego State University, become a college counselor and ultimately to obtain a doctorate.

When first arriving at Grossmont College, the National City native had plans to pursue an education in engineering. But after connecting with Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS), a state-funded student support services program for educationally and economically disadvantaged students, Vivero discovered a passion for helping fellow students overcome barriers to higher education.

His own experience going through the EOPS Summer Institute Program to successfully make the transition from high school to college opened his eyes to the value of getting a head start to prepare for the rigors of higher education. Since then, his involvement in several campus clubs, including the EOPS Club, the Latino Alliance, Dreamers Movement, HOLA Club, and Associated Students of Grossmont College, Inc., as well as his efforts as a community ambassador for Grossmont College, convinced him that helping students was his true calling.

As a child of divorced parents, Vivero said his childhood years were difficult, marked by poverty and upheaval. He lived primarily with his mother as a youngster, crossing the border on weekends to stay with his father, who lives in Tijuana.

His early years were spent moving with his mother from place to place in typically crime-ridden neighborhoods, but he said her nurturing and the values of hard work and education instilled in him by his father kept him on the straight and narrow.

“I remember moving so many times from house to house when I was small, approximately 15 different places,” he said.

Moving to Tijuana to live with his father once he started middle school provided a modicum of stability, but he faced another obstacle in getting to and from school, a 2 ½-hour ordeal each way, walking and riding the bus.

Vivero said his own hardships have given him insight into challenges faced by many students from underserved communities and he wants to do what he can as a student trustee to provide support and mentoring.

“I have seen so many students struggle to achieve their goals and being an EOPS student, I know the hardships of overcoming obstacles,” he said. “My goal as a trustee is to ensure that students who are struggling because of extenuating circumstances get support.”

Bridging the gap

Kyrie Macogay (“KY-ree MAC-o-guy”), a biology major at Cuyamaca College since 2015, hopes to transfer to UC San Diego to continue her studies in biology. Her professional goals are to work in the veterinary field and possibly focus on animal research. Her interest in student government led to her becoming a senator with the Associated Student Government of Cuyamaca College in 2016, and this year, she decided to expand her involvement as a student trustee.

“I also feel that communication between the student body and the administrative body can be improved, so I hope to bridge the gap between them,” she said.

The 2015 honors graduate from Monte Vista High School also said that as a student trustee, she would like to address parking lot security and with the help of ASGCC, establish a food pantry for needy students.

“ASGCC has had opportunity drawings for things like backpacks and other school supplies and there has been mention of textbook vouchers to help with the expense of books,” Macogay said. “I would like to pursue these types of projects.”

She hopes students feel welcome to drop by her office in the student center to share their thoughts and concerns.

“I hope that students come to see it as a safe space,” she said. “I’m all in for students to speak their minds on what goes on around the campus.”

The San Diego native lives in Spring Valley with her parents and two sisters, including a twin who also attends Cuyamaca College. Acquiring higher education is family tradition, with both her parents having attended college in their native Philippines and her oldest sister graduating from San Diego State University.

Wanting to escape the grinding poverty of their homeland, her parents immigrated to the United States, where her father joined the Navy. Both English and Tagalog is spoken at home and Filipino cuisine is a family favorite.

A menagerie of pets that Macogay describes as part of the family also share the home – a Saint Bernard, a lab mix, a cat, goldfish and tropical fish.

Like the solace she finds at home, Macogay values the close-knit atmosphere at Cuyamaca College.

“What I like about Cuyamaca is that there are so many people you can be friends with,” she said. “Friends help you get through the tribulations of colleges because they can always cheer you up.”

Grossmont College’s 4^th Annual Summer Theatre Arts Conservatory features a musical adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's “Treasure Island,” a classic swashbuckling tale of pirates, hidden riches, swordfights and daring escapes modernized with hip-hop music and dance.

Opening 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 27, 2017, at the Stagehouse Theatre in Bldg. 21, and closing with a 2 p.m. performance Saturday, Aug. 5, the production features local high school and college actors and other students who worked as costume technicians and stagehands under the direction of the Grossmont College Theatre Arts Department. The two weeks of family-friendly performances cap an eight-week class in which students earn college credit and get a taste of working in theater while they learn from professional directors, choreographers and technicians.

An open casting call was held for those interested in performing while other students who wanted to work behind the scenes spent the summer making costumes, building sets, working on the lighting or crafting props.

This year’s production is an adaptation written by Grossmont College Theatre Arts instructor Jeannette Thomas and is being directed by Theatre Arts instructors Brian Rickel and Mitzi Smith, with musical direction by Grossmont College Music Department instructor John Reynolds.

Tickets can be purchased by phone (619) 644-7234, online or at the box office, building 22A/Room 200A-1, near parking lot No. 1, next to the Aztec mural. The box office opens two weeks prior to the production 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Thursday and one hour prior to all performances.

Performances start at 7:30 p.m. July 27-29 and Aug. 3-4, with matinee performances at 2 p.m. July 28 and 29 and Aug. 3-5. Grossmont College is at 8800 Grossmont College Drive.

Tickets are $10 for GCCCD students with ID, $12 for faculty, staff, seniors and military and $15 for general admission. Free parking passes and group discounts are available by calling Alexis at (619) 644-7267.

The Chet DeVore trophy is surrounded by others from 2016-17.

The Grossmont College Griffins have added more hardware to their golden year of athletics.

A state community college championship in baseball has vaulted the college to the top to win the coveted Chet DeVore Trophy for the second straight year as the most successful men’s and women’s intercollegiate athletic program in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference.

In addition to the becoming the first community college in San Diego County to capture a state baseball title, Grossmont netted conference or division titles in six sports to
garner its third DeVore trophy in the award’s eight year history. It also earned PCAC’s top athletic honor in 2013-14 to claim the trophy named after the late Chester S. “Chet” DeVore, the founding commissioner of the 12-college conference.

“We are so proud of our students and athletic staff for their commitment to athletic and academic excellence,” said Thomas Armstrong, associate dean of athletics. “Our Griffins have just completed one of the most magical and dominant sport seasons in the history of the college and the conference.”

Armstrong said the teams’ accomplishments in the classrooms have been no less stellar, with athletes like the women’s badminton team having an overall GPA of nearly 3.8, and the women’s volleyball team with its proven track record of scholarships to leading universities.

The Griffins swept the field with both the highest total points of 230 and the highest adjusted score of 13.529 in the challenge for the DeVore trophy. The adjusted number determines the winner and is established by dividing each college’s total points by its number of intercollegiate sports. Grossmont College’s 17-sport program dominated the competition, with MiraCosta College coming in second with an adjusted score of 10. Cuyamaca College’s adjusted score of 8.182 earned it a fourth-place finish.

Teams in the conference, which include the eight community colleges in San Diego County, plus four colleges in Riverside, Imperial and San Bernardino counties, are awarded points for placements in conference and state competitions.

The Griffins celebrate their state championship win.

In addition to the baseball team, women’s badminton garnered Grossmont College’s first state individual title, thanks to Yukari Naono, an international student from Ehime, Japan, who also teamed up with Rebekah Leslie to win the college’s first state title in doubles play. That competition was an all-Griffins final, with the four athletes all playing for Grossmont College.

Women’s volleyball coach Jamie Ivers won the conference’s Female Coach of the Year honors by guiding both her indoor and beach volleyball teams into the state championships finals and third-place finishes.

Conference titles in 2016-17 went to the Griffin women in indoor volleyball, basketball, badminton, and tennis; and to the men in indoor volleyball and baseball. Advancing to post-season team playoffs were men’s water polo and women’s softball, and to individual playoffs in men’s tennis and women’s swimming and diving.

Some 400 student-athletes participate in the college’s 10 women’s and seven men’s teams. About a quarter continue their athletic careers at the four-year level. Recognizing the demands and challenges associated with being a student athlete, Grossmont’s Griffin Academic Assistance Program provides support to help students succeed in their studies and maintain athletic eligibility.

Grossmont College’s OPT program

With the start of fall semester Aug. 21, open registration begins next weekfor almost 30,000 students working toward university transfer, gaining workforce skills or broadening their knowledge at Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges.

The cost of the courses is $46 per unit, with most classes offering three units of college credit. Online registration for regular semester classes opens July 17 for all students and ends Aug. 18.

The two colleges are offering more than 2,560 class sections this fall, up more than 5 percent from a year ago, and the most for a fall semester since 2008. Both campuses offer a variety of traditional, short-term, online and hybrid classes.

Grossmont College is also offering Saturday-only classes, including two semester-length courses, Home Cooking Essentials (CA 299A), which meets 10 a.m.-2:15 p.m., and Jazz and Popular Piano 1 (MUS 134), which meets 10 a.m.-12:05 p.m. Other Saturday classes are short-term courses meeting Oct. 16-Dec. 9, including a Child Development class, Teaching in a Diverse Society (CD 153).

The chemistry of crime is the focus of an introductory course in Forensic Chemistry (CHEM 113) in which students gain experience with gas and liquid chromatography and spectroscopy. A fitness specialist certificate program offers courses for students interested in becoming personal trainers or group exercise leaders. The Office Professional Training (OPT) Program offers a one-semester training program for office professional positions, and will host an intake session from 9 – 11 a.m., Tuesday, July 25, for prospective students. For questions about the OPT Program or to RSVP for the intake session, contact Debra Allen at 619-644-7247.

New, experimental courses at Grossmont College include one-unit courses, Indoor Cycling (ES 299A) for beginners, and Stress Reduction Through Movement and Mindfulness (ES 299A), which teaches introductory stress-reduction practice and improves mind-body awareness.

At Cuyamaca College, Edibles in Urban Landscapes (OH 105) is an Ornamental Horticulture class that covers the basics of cultivating edible plants in small-scale urban settings, including annual and perennial vegetables as well as shrubs and trees that produce edible fruit.

Cuyamaca College is also offering courses for a certificate in a Viticulture Technician Apprenticeship program in Ornamental Horticulture. They include Edibles in Urban Landscapes for Apprentices (OH 105A); Landscape Construction for Apprentices (OH 221A); Landscape Irrigation for Apprentices (OH 235A); Plant Pest Control for Apprentices (OH 130A); and Fundamentals of Ornamental Horticulture for Apprentices (OH 120A).

Apprentices completing the program will be prepared for employment in all aspects of the viticulture and winery industries.

Another career-technical education program at Cuyamaca College is the Cisco Networking Academy, preparing students for entry-level and high-skill information technology jobs. After one semester, students will be ready for Cisco CCENT certification needed for an entry-level job as a network support professional. Combine that with another semester for the CCNA certification and be eligible for even higher levels of IT employment. An orientation open to the public is set for 9 a.m. Aug. 19, 2017 in room E-205 for those new to the Cisco Academy, which blends in-class with online study.

Both colleges also offer programs to seamlessly progress toward baccalaureate degrees, thanks to agreements Grossmont and Cuyamaca have signed with Point Loma Nazarene University and one Cuyamaca College has inked for elementary education with Valley City State University in Valley City, N.D. The four baccalaureates offered through PLNU’s Adult Degree Completion program are designed to fit the needs of working adults, with courses taught by PLNU professors offered either entirely online or as hybrid classes combining once-weekly night classes at the colleges with online instruction.

The PLNU bachelor’s degree programs offered at Grossmont College are in Nursing and Computer Information Technology. At Cuyamaca College, the baccalaureate programs are in Child Development and Organizational Management. With all comparable programs impacted at San Diego State University, the PLNU baccalaureates provide much-needed options for students striving for bachelor’s degrees.

Information on admissions and registering for classes is available online at www.gcccd.edu/now/

Grossmont College is located at 8800 Grossmont College Drive in El Cajon. Cuyamaca College is at 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway in the community of Rancho San Diego.

For more information, go to www.grossmont.eduor www.cuyamaca.edu

Graduates of Cuyamaca College's Ford ASSET program

Last week’s commencement of the first Ford ASSET graduates at Cuyamaca College since 2013 was a double cause for celebration. The 16 students were the first to graduate since the program was brought back from a two-year hiatus and a new class is set to begin in the fall with online innovations designed to draw students from beyond San Diego County.
Cuyamaca College’s automotive technology program, which enrolls an average of 300 students each semester, is highly regarded because of its industry-recognized certifications. In addition to strong support from Ford Motor Co. for the ASSET (Automotive Student Service Education Training) program, which provides vehicles, tools and a partnership with Cuyamaca College dating back to 1986, the automotive technology program also enjoys industry backing from General Motors for the GM ASEP (Automotive Service Educational Program).

Unlike most training programs, ASSET and ASEP students are employed in the industry at sponsoring Ford, Lincoln and GM auto dealerships while they’re learning the skills.
According to Ford Motor Co., 99 percent of ASSET graduates get hired at their sponsoring dealerships. By the time graduation rolls around, nearly all the trainees are already employed full-time.

ASSET instructor Brad McCombs

When the fall semester starts Aug. 21, students in the traditional Ford ASSET program will continue a two-year regimen of alternating classroom instruction with on-the-job dealership training. However, thanks to a $55,000 investment in AV equipment for web conferencing, live-streamed and recorded lectures and curriculum changes to protect the program’s integrity, distance learning will also be offered, said instructor and coordinator Brad McCombs.
“This is really exciting for Cuyamaca College to be Ford ASSET’s first pilot program in distance learning in the country,” McCombs said.
The online students will spend their two years full-time at Ford dealerships in their area with daily training classes on the Web. The online training covers areas including electronics, climate-control systems, brakes, steering and suspension, and hybrid vehicle components and operation.
All students must complete a record book showing completion of the training modules and proving their ability to perform specific tasks. The books, which also serve as resume portfolios, are audited and signed by dealership personnel and the college instructor.
All ASSET students are also required to complete general education courses, making the program one of the college’s most demanding, second only to engineering in the total number of units needed for an associate degree. The GE classes are also offered online and distance leaners will get their degrees from Cuyamaca College. Campus visits are needed for mid-term and final exams.
The college’s Ford ASSET program, the only one in the county and one of only three statewide, is recognized as one of the best training programs in the world, McCombs said.
Its two-year timetable is intensive with no summers off. But the payoff is immeasurable: an associate of science degree transferable to California state universities, Ford Motor Co. certifications, and a near-guaranteed job upon graduation.
All but one of the 16 students in this year’s graduating class have full-time jobs as entry-level dealership technicians making between $21 and $35 an hour, McCombs said. The odd student out has a job waiting once a driver’s license hold is cleared by the DMV, he added.
Ford representatives at the commencement ceremony said that with the increasing complexity of today’s vehicles, the students can bet their education is far from over.
“‘Learning for the Future’ is your college’s motto and it is perfectly100 percent aligned with the Ford ASSET program,” said keynote speaker Roger Henry, the parts and service director for Ford’s Southern California region. “New technologies are emerging constantly with the hybrids and the development of autonomous vehicles. The world is changing rapidly. Your education is not complete. Your education and learning is just starting.”
Classes such as the Ford ASSET and GM ASEP programs are critical to the industry as the primary source of trained technicians, industry representatives say. Because of the technology of new vehicles, a growing number of employers require workers to have postsecondary training, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, which describes the job outlook as “very good” for automotive technicians.
The graduates took their turns addressing the nearly capacity audience inside the college’s Performing Arts Theater, speaking confidently of their abilities nurtured with patience and caring by their instructor.
Ignacio Castaneda-Garcia, class vice president, spoke glowingly of the close-knit relationship students have developed over the years and McComb’s devotion to students.
“There are a lot of good teachers here, but Brad doesn’t just care if you show up to class, he cares that you learn,” he said. “He is someone who is willing to take the time to help us grow.”
For an application and more information about enrolling in the Ford ASSET program, go to www.cuyamaca.edu/people/brad-mccombs/

Registration is underway for classes at Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges for the fall semester beginning Aug. 21. Information on admissions and registering for classes is available at www.gcccd.edu/now

A trio of Cuyamaca College career education programs are being honored by the California Community Colleges system for providing students with the skills needed in new higher-paying jobs.

Cuyamaca College Environmental Health & Safety class

Cuyamaca’s Water & Wastewater Technology and Environmental Health & Safety programs were commended because virtually every student taking part in those career readiness efforts have found a job in their field of study and are boosting their earnings by 77 percent, according to data collected by the California Community Colleges. Cuyamaca’s Ornamental Horticulture program was commended because 76 percent of participating students working in the profession are earning the regional living wage.

“Cuyamaca College provides among the largest and most effective workforce development programs in East County, and we’re honored to be recognized by the California Community Colleges system for our efforts in providing students with the skills they need to find good jobs in a rapidly changing economy,” said Cuyamaca College President Julianna Barnes.

All three career education programs have earned a spot among the ranks of Strong Workforce Stars for helping students increase their earning power and social mobility. Strong Workforce Stars is a new annual commendation for career education programs within the 114-campus community colleges system.

Cuyamaca College’s Water & Wastewater Technology and Environmental Health & Safety programs were lauded for working hand in hand with industry in developing curriculum that focuses on providing the skills needed to get students jobs. Students in the Water & Wastewater Technology program have found work as water treatment operators, wastewater collections operators, backflow program managers and reclaimed water specialists, among other jobs. Students in the Environmental Health & Safety Management program are working as hazardous materials technicians, environmental health and safety specialists and other related careers.

Ornamental Horticulture student

Cuyamaca’s Ornamental Horticulture program was lauded for its strong relationships with people employed in the field and an effective word-of-mouth network, especially with immigrant communities in the area. It also has immense support from local industry. Graduates of the program are working in positions ranging from grounds maintenance supervisors to landscape designers and irrigation consultants.

Career education programs can earn Strong Workforce Stars designation when meeting one or more of the following designations.

Increasing student earnings by 50 percent or more, which is determined by comparing earnings one year before and one year after exiting the California Community Colleges system. Data is based on wages filed with the state.
Reaching a threshold of 90 percent of students reporting that their current job is close or very close to their field of study. This is based on responses to the system’s CTE Outcomes Survey, which is sent to community colleges students after they stop taking courses.
Reaching a threshold of 70 percent where students are earning a regional living wage. Data is based on wages filed with the state.

“Strong Workforce Stars, with its focus on proving student success through data, is another demonstration of how the California Community Colleges is carefully and intentionally building a strong workforce for California and improving social and economic mobility,” said California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley.

Talk about starting off with a bang.

Lab tech Niall-Conor Garcia poses as a victim as
Professor Laurie LeBlanc points to evidence

A STEM Summer Boot Camp introducing a group of Cuyamaca College students to the dedication required in studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics got under way July 24 with a classic whodunit – the discovery of a “victim” felled by a bullet and a directive to work as a team in collecting blood samples, analyzing DNA and engaging in an abundance of research over the following three weeks to solve the faux crime.

Call it CSI Cuyamaca College. Seventeen students are taking part in the boot camp, which runs through Aug. 11 and involves extensive lab work combined with a crash course in technical reading and writing.

The boot camp is the first chapter of a five-year, federally-funded effort aimed at boosting the number of Cuyamaca College science, technology, engineering and mathematics graduates who transfer to a California State University or University of California campus. “The goal is simple,” Chemistry Professor Laurie LeBlanc said of the three-week exercise. “We want to give these students the tools that will help ensure they transfer as soon as possible and as successfully as possible. We want them to go on to become superstars in the STEM field.”

Cuyamaca College is receiving nearly $1.2 million annually through the U.S. Department of Education’s Hispanic-Serving Institutions STEM and Articulation Program, a program assisting Hispanic Serving Institutions. Hispanic Serving Institutions are colleges or universities where Latinos comprise at least 25 percent of the school’s full-time equivalent students and that have adopted strategies to help low-income and Hispanic students. Nearly one in three students at Cuyamaca College is Latino, almost half of whom are low income and first-generation college students.

Consuelo Torres is among them. The El Cajon Valley High graduate is an incoming freshman at Cuyamaca College, where she will major in biology and take the first steps toward her dream of becoming a pediatrician. “I’m enjoying this,” she said. “I like working with the other students. But it’s not just a boot camp. We’re also interacting with the instructors and the counselors and getting a lot of guidance on what classes to take and how to stay on track.”

The boot camp began on a quiet Monday morning with Cuyamaca College Biology Professor Kathryn Nette providing an overview of the curriculum and discussing techniques for success in rigorous STEM coursework. Just minutes into the introductions, a lab assistant burst through a door in a panic, urging Nette to follow her into a nearby storage room. Nette, students in tow, walked followed the lab assistant to find the body of a man suffering what appeared to be a fatal gunshot wound. A bullet casing lay on the concrete floor. Blood was spattered on the wall.

Students acknowledged they knew immediately that the crime was a cover up for an engaging lesson plan. They soon found that over the following three weeks, they will take the lessons they learn to engage in DNA, fingerprint and blood spatter analysis in an attempt at detailing how the victim met his fate. The boot camp will conclude with poster-style presentations displaying scientific-based reasoning and conclusions.

“It’s a different way of engaging our students,” said LeBlanc.

Besides the boot camp, the Hispanic Serving Institutions grant will fund a student coaching program to help ensure the STEM majors succeed in their studies; create a partnership with the California State University system and UC San Diego to develop several associate degrees for transfer in STEM subjects; and provide faculty training to adopt effective teaching practices that address low academic performance.

The STEM award was one of two significant Hispanic Serving Institutions grants Cuyamaca College secured within the past year. Cuyamaca College last August was awarded a nearly $2.6-million, five-year grantto expand educational opportunities and improve academic achievement among all Hispanic and low-income students. That grant will fund a new program dubbed The Pathway Academy aimed at minimizing the times students spend in remedial classes, expanding student support services, and providing additional professional development for faculty and staff.

Niall-Conor Garcia

You won’t find too many students aiming to go straight from a community college to medical school. But not too many community college students are like Niall-Conor Garcia.

The Cuyamaca College scholar already has a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Southern California and recently secured a master’s degree in professional composition and orchestration through an online program offered by the University of Chichester in Sussex, England. He’s even tried his hand at musical theater and wrote the soundtrack for a few independent films.

These days, though, Garcia is wrapping up the last of several science courses needed to enroll in medical school and embark on a new career as an emergency room physician.

“He’s a Renaissance man,” said Cuyamaca College Chemistry Professor Laurie LeBlanc.

“It’s been a somewhat serpentine journey,” said Garcia, 30.

The journey began in Lemon Grove, where Garcia grew up, then led to Walnut Hill High School for the Arts, a private, arts-focused boarding school in Natick, Mass., which he attended to hone his music composition skills before enrolling at USC in the hopes of a career scoring films. But after earning a bachelor’s degree, Garcia began to sour on the industry. Employment was intermittent. Jobs were temporary.

“It’s very difficult to get steady work in this field,” he said. “I was working too hard to not be doing something better with myself.”

So Garcia went with Plan B.

“Medical school was always something in the back of my mind,” Garcia said. “I had always thought, if not music, then medicine.”

Garcia returned to the East County and in 2014 began taking classes at Cuyamaca and Grossmont colleges to complete the prerequisite science courses needed to reach his new goal of becoming an emergency room physician. (He will earn an associate degree in science from Cuyamaca this fall.)

Although he continued to complete the master’s program from the University of Chichester’s music school, Garcia’s mind remained set on medicine. He did well on his Medical College Admission Test and is hoping to enroll in the fall of 2018 at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences’ Medical School, which is run by the federal government and whose primary mission is to prepare graduates to as military doctors. In exchange for the government covering his medical school tuition, Garcia will commit to serving several years as an Army or Navy physician.

Garcia said Cuyamaca and Grossmont colleges have been vital in his journey.

“I can’t speak about biology programs at large universities, but I hear a lot about students struggling to have an audience with their professors,” said Garcia, who works part time as a Cuyamaca College chemistry lab technician. “Here, that is not an issue. They’re engaged with their students. You ask a professor a question, and they answer you. They want to help you. They want you to succeed. But beside all that, it is a very rigorous program. It is not easy, but the faculty here will do everything to make sure you reach your goal.”

Violeta Casillas, Garcia’s lab tech supervisor at Cuyamaca College, is among his biggest fans.

“He’s going to school here while finishing up his master’s degree, he’s working as a lab tech, and now he’s applying to medical school,” Casillas said. “He’s doing it all. What more can you say?”

The expansion of chiller plant at Grossmont College

For the third year in a row, the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District has received outstanding marks for providing open information about its Proposition V construction bond program.

The district received 24 out of 25 points possible from the San Diego Taxpayers Educational Foundation for the transparency of GCCCD’s Prop. V program. The taxpayers foundation released its annual transparency scorecard July 25 for the 23 school and college districts in San Diego County with active facilities bond programs.

Proposition V, the $398 million construction bond approved by East County voters in fall 2012, paved the way for the district to continue the work started with Prop. R – the $207 million facilities bond passed in 2002 that resulted in the construction or renovation of 13 major facilities at the colleges.

The resurfacing of the Cuyamaca College running track

The college district’s strong showing in the taxpayer group’s transparency report follows the mold of spotless independent financial and performance audits the district continues to receive year after year for its construction bond programs. The district’s string of spotless audits remains unbroken, with the Governing Board in January receiving unblemished audit reports for the 13th year.

“The transparency report and our spotless audits over the years confirm the district’s commitment to provide responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Our Governing Board is keeping their promise to East County voters to spend construction bond funds exactly as we stated in election ballots,” said Sue Rearic, vice chancellor of business services and the district’s chief financial officer.

The transparency scorecard rates the East County college district as one of 15 school districts to receive a score of 85 percent or better for meeting the criteria for bond transparency. The district received a grade of 96 percent from the taxpayer organization.
In the report, the taxpayers education foundation scores all the county school districts on their website information for their bond oversight committees, the committees’ 2016 annual reports, and independent financial and performance audits.

“This report is intended to provide tools for San Diego County school districts to use in the ongoing process of improving transparency -- the accessibility of information that makes it possible for taxpayers to assess the performance of school facility bond programs,” according to the San Diego Taxpayers Educational Foundation.

Founded in 1987, the SDTEF is the research arm of the San Diego County Taxpayers Association. According to the taxpayers association, it releases the research “to bring attention to the issues that impact taxpayers and often informs the Taxpayers Association’s advocacy efforts.”

The district reached a Prop. V milestone in the spring with the completion of an $8 million expansion of the Grossmont College central chiller plant that serves the cooling needs of the entire campus and is credited for a nearly 70 percent reduction in energy usage for the campus. Numerous other projects have been completed at the district colleges, including renovations at the Cuyamaca College Exercise Science Building and track, and upgrades to the electrical system at Grossmont College.

At Grossmont College, the expansion and upgrade of the central chiller plant was the first major Prop. V building to be completed because it is critical infrastructure for other Grossmont College facilities, including the Teaching and Performance Theater and a Science, Math and Career Tech Complex.

At Cuyamaca College, major projects include the renovation and expansion of the Ornamental Horticulture Complex and a new Student Services Building, which will house offices for admission and records, financial aid, and counseling, in addition to an expanded veterans center. Construction of the Student Services facility is expected to begin in fall 2019. The OH construction is expected to begin in April 2019.

The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District serves about 30,000 students each semester, about 20,000 at Grossmont College and almost 10,000 at Cuyamaca College. For more information about the colleges, go to www.gcccd.edu

10 tips to help you land a new job

Grossmont College classes unlock minds at Las Colinas jail

Grossmont, Cuyamaca graduates to receive record number of degrees, certificates

Grossmont College grad Sandra Navarro: One course changed her life

Jovonda Reina: finding a home at Cuyamaca College

Charyl Mahone: Overcoming physical limitations to earn an associate degree at Grossmont College

Cuyamaca College grad Fadya Basha proves age is just a number

Bachelor's degree in elementary education being offered at Cuyamaca College

Graduates receive more than 4,830 degrees, certificates

Grossmont College partners with OpenStax to promote free textbooks

Informational workshops for Grossmont College's OPT, allied health programs

New student trustees seated on college district Governing Board

'Treasure Island' goes hip-hop at Grossmont College

Coveted trophy caps a golden year for Grossmont College athletics

Register now for fall classes at Cuyamaca, Grossmont colleges

Ford ASSET graduates to navigate new roads

Cuyamaca College career education programs honored for boosting careers and earnings

Boot camp for students studying STEM being held at Cuyamaca College

Cuyamaca College student on track for medical school

District builds its tradition of high marks for Prop. V construction program