Literary works celebrated at Grossmont College Fall Reading Series

September 7, 2018, 10:05 am

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A celebration of banned books, readings from former rock groupie Pamela Des Barres and a collection of poetry crafted by Grossmont College Professor Joe Medina are among the highlights in this year’s annual Fall Reading Series at Grossmont College that continues Sept. 12 with an Open Reading at the college library.

The annual Fall Reading Series showcases literature, award-winning authors and others with an inspiration to write. Events are sponsored by the English Department and Creative Writing Program of Grossmont College, as well as a variety of other campus agencies and programs.

“We believe it’s important to celebrate authors and poets of various genres and styles – and to engage the aspiring writers within our community, too,” said English Professor Daniela Sow. “There is an undeniable power in reading and listening to diverse voices and experiences.”

The series began Aug. 24 when contributors to the latest issue of the Acorn Review, Grossmont College’s student-produced literary journal, read from their works. Upcoming events include:

Chest-O-Drawers Press: An Open Reading on Wednesday, Sept.12, at 7 p.m. in the Grossmont College Library. Participants are invited to spend up to five minutes reading original writing from any creative genre, such as spoken-word poetry and flash fiction.
Banned Books/Banned Lives Reading takes place Sept. 27, at 7 p.m. at Grossmont College’s Griffin Gate. This year’s event celebrating Banned Books Week from Sept. 23-29 honors the courage of literary voices with a reading by faculty, students and members of the San Diego Poetry Slam team showcasing original works on banned themes as well as banned writing of personal significance. Sponsored by the American Library Association and Amnesty International, Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries. The top 10 challenged books in the United States include ‘The Kite Runner,’ ‘George’ and ‘To Kill A Mockingbird.’
The 10^th annual Lester Bangs Memorial Reading, featuring musician, author and former groupie Pamela Des Barres, takes place Oct. 9, at 7 p.m. at Grossmont College’s Griffin Gate. Des Barres is the author of several memoirs, including ‘Take Another Little Piece of My Heart,’ ‘Let’s Spend the Night Together: Backstage Secrets of Rock Muses and Supergroupies’ and ‘I’m With the Band: Confessions of a Groupie.’ Leslie Conway “Lester” Bangs attended Grossmont College from 1966 to 1968 and was known by many as “America’s Greatest Rock Critic.” He wrote for Rolling Stone, The Village Voice and Creem, and he was portrayed by actor Philip Seymour Hoffman in the 2000 Movie “Almost Famous.”
Joe Medina Reading and Book Launch is set for Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. in Griffin Gate with Medina reading from his new poetry collection, ‘The Scorpion’s Mineral Eye.’ Medina, a professor of English, joined the Grossmont College faculty in 1987 and spearheaded the campus’s first Puente Project and launched the school’s first Celebration of Banned Books readings. This event is part of a regional reading tour to promote his new book.
New Voices: A Student Reading concludes the Fall Reading Series on Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. in Griffin Gate with students from the Grossmont College Creative Writing Program performing their original works of poetry, fiction and other genres. Touted as the largest community college creative writing program in Southern California, the Creative Writing Program at Grossmont College seeks to cultivate a diverse literary community through efforts that include the Fall Reading Series, the Literary Arts Festival and the New Voices Student Reading. Grossmont College is at 8800 Grossmont College Drive in El Cajon. For further information about the series, contact Daniela Sow at Daniela.sow@gcccd.edu.

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Grossmont, Cuyamaca colleges mark Latinx Heritage Month

September 10, 2018, 10:48 am

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Food, music and dance at Cuyamaca College and a visit at Grossmont College by nationally acclaimed poet Yosimar Reyes will highlight a series of special events honoring Latinx Heritage Month at the two East County colleges from mid-September to Nov. 1.

All events are free and open to the public.

Folklorico dancers at Cuyamaca College

Karla Gutiérrez, chair of Cuyamaca College’s World Languages department, will be the keynote speaker at a College Hour celebration outside of the B Buildingfrom 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 13, which will also feature ballet folklorico dancers and music by DJ Rambo.

“Being Latina is knowing that the road is tough, but also knowing that I can overcome any obstacle,” said Gutiérrez, born and raised in Mexicali and a graduate of Imperial Valley College and San Diego State University.

At Grossmont College, “UndocuJoy: Shifting the Perspective in Undocumented Representation” is the subject of Reyes’ chat set for 9:30-10:45 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 11 in Griffin Gate. A native of Guerrero, Mexico, Reyes will present an insightful look at ways undocumented artists are resisting narratives of fear and creating works that give people hope.

Latinx Heritage Month, or Hispanic Heritage month, begins each Sept. 15 and marks the independence days of five Latin American countries. Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and 18. The term “Latinx” refers to U.S.-residing descendants of Latin Americans and its gender-neutral use is meant to reflect inclusivity of all people.

Other events planned at Grossmont College include:

· Latinx Delineation: Media Portrayals of la Familia and the Effects on la Cultura

A lecture by Raymundo Quezada, Cross-Cultural Studies instructor

September 18, 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Griffin Gate, Bldg. 60

· Latinx Heritage Month Student/Faculty/Staff Mixer

September 20, 1-3 p.m. Griffin Center, Room 60-206

· Gloria Muriel—Respira

Art Exhibit: October 1-26, Hyde Art Gallery.

Artist Lecture: October 16, 2:30-3:30 p.m., Room 24-274

Reception: Tuesday, Oct 16, 4-7 p.m., Hyde Gallery

· Family Outdoors Movie Night: Coco

The 2017 Academy Award-winning animated film inspired by the Day of the Dead holiday

Thursday, October 4, 7 p.m. Location: East Lawn of the LRC

Other Cuyamaca College events include:

· Dolores- Documentary & Discussion

Screening and discussion of this documentary on Dolores Huerta, an equal partner in founding the first farm workers union with César Chavez.

September 18, 9:30-11 a.m., Student Center, I-207 & I-208

· The Border Corrido: Music of Resistance

A workshop on the development of the border corrido focuses on author Américo Paredes telling the story of Gregorio Cortez, the man and the legend, in vivid, fascinating detail in "With His Pistol in His Hand."

Wednesday, September 26, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Student Center, I-207

· Tile of our People

Students will be painting a tile mural with the theme, “What does Latinx mean?”

Thursday, October 4, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Student Quad Area

· Raza Unida Meet and Greet

Tuesday, Oct, 9, 2-3 p.m., Cross Cultural Center, I-128

· Dia de los Muertos Altar and Presentation

A short presentation on the holiday and altar, followed by food, music, and discussion.

Thursday, Nov. 1, 11 a.m.-noon, Student Center, Rom I-104

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

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Grossmont College to mark 40th anniversary of PSA Flight 182 crash

September 13, 2018, 4:39 pm

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The 40th anniversary of the PSA Flight 182 crash in San Diego that killed 144 people and scattered wreckage and carnage across North Park will be remembered at an event Sept. 25 at Grossmont College.

Family members of those who perished, as well as first responders and PSA workers, will share their memories following a free, public screening of the documentary film, “Return to Dwight and Nile,” at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25, at Grossmont College’s Griffin Gate, Building 60.

The event is being organized by Grossmont College History Professor Marty Ennis, who noted that what was at the time the deadliest air crash in the country was a uniquely San Diego story. The airline, Pacific Southwest Airlines, was based in San Diego and many aboard the doomed flight were PSA employees.

A 2016 anniversary event at Grossmont drew a capacity crowd.

When Ennis organized a similar anniversary event two years ago at Grossmont College, it drew an overflow crowd and the emotions of the speakers and the audience were deep and still close to the surface.

“All these years later, people in San Diego vividly remember this event and many still suffer the loss of family and friends,” Ennis said. “Members of the San Diego police and fire departments who were first responders experienced the most difficult moment of their career on that day. Many people in San Diego had friends and relatives who worked for the airline. There is a group dedicated to the creation of a memorial to the victims of this crash and feel very strongly that the event must be remembered.”

A question-and-answer period will follow the documentary’s screening and family members and others personally affected by what remains California’s worst airline disaster will be invited to share their stories.

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Outstanding faculty lauded by peers at Grossmont, Cuyamaca colleges

September 17, 2018, 1:50 pm

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Three instructors at Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges have been selected by their peers as among the academic year’s best faculty members. The honorees were announced at fall convocations in recognition of their exemplary service to the two East County campuses.

Donald Jones, a part-time Water and Wastewater Technology instructor, was honored with the Outstanding Faculty Award for being a driving force behind the new Center for Water Studies at Cuyamaca College. At Grossmont College, English Department chair Oralee Holder was lauded with the full-time Distinguished Faculty Award and sociology instructor Richard Unis was named winner of the adjunct Distinguished Faculty Award.

Chancellor Cindy Miles said it is the caring and commitment of faculty that have made Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges such stellar institutions.

“These outstanding educational leaders have done so much for our colleges and have worked hard to make transformational changes in how students learn,” Miles said. “We are fortunate to have such dedicated faculty who are strongly committed to the success of students.”

Donald Jones
Jones began attending San Diego State University in the mid-1960s with aspirations to become a high school geography teacher and coach. But a summer job with the City of San Diego Water Department’s Lakes Recreation Program took him in another direction after finding that working the boat docks and maintaining the lakes better suited his love of the outdoors.

He spent the next 42 years in the water industry, eventually running the San Diego Water Department’s safety and training program and becoming the safety and risk manager for the Vista Irrigation District in the mid-1990s until retiring in 2007. Over the years, he also continued his education, earning an associate degree from Grossmont College; a bachelor’s degree and graduate courses in Public Administration from SDSU, and a master’s degree in Human Resources and Organization from the University of San Francisco.

Jones was also active on the education front, developing the Water and Wastewater Technology program at Mesa College during the late ‘70s. He has worked with the program at Cuyamaca College since 2003, where, he helped secure more than $2 million dollars in grant funding and partnered with local agencies to make the Cuyamaca program a key to training the next generation of water industry professionals.

Jones has spent the past five years leading the program’s transformation into the Center for Water Studies, replete with a new state-of-the-art training facility and an outdoor field operations skills yard for students to develop hands-on skills. It is a fully functional water and wastewater system built above ground for easy access to the pipes, valves and tanks that students become adept at handling.

“With these unparalleled facilities, comprehensive curricula and experienced faculty, we feel that our Center for Water Studies is a flagship program, not only in the California Community College system, but in the western states,” Jones said.

Brad Monroe, professor emeritus with the college’s Ornamental Horticulture program, had high praise for the veteran instructor and past program coordinator.

“As a 37-year department chair, I hired and evaluated more than 100 faculty members over the years and I have never known any faculty member – full-time or adjunct -- as dedicated, innovative, and consistently providing leadership at all levels than Don Jones," he said in a letter of support.

Oralee Holder

Holder is well known for her long history of campus leadership since she became a part-time instructor at Grossmont College in 1985. She joined the ranks of full-time faculty in 1990 and has served as Academic Senate president, and, for the last 12 years, as chair of the English Department. Holder is also a founding board member of the college’s Latinx Alliance and serves on numerous campus committees.

Holder was also lauded for her efforts since 2013 to improve assessment and placement of thousands of students in English classes. Her work with the East County Education Alliance -- a partnership between the college and the Grossmont Union High School District -- have helped clarify pathways for students from high school to college.

Holder’s experience as a university professor in the Midwest before her move to Grossmont College makes her a bit of an anomaly. After graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in English from California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, the San Diego native earned her master’s degree in English from Southern Illinois University and her doctorate, also in English, from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.

She was hired in 1979 at Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo., where she taught literature and composition until 1985, when a death in her family brought her back to San Diego for what she thought was a temporary leave of absence. Family obligations made the move permanent, and although her university colleagues were somewhat skeptical that she would find teaching community college students a satisfying career shift, Holder said they could not have been more wrong.

“It was readily apparent that I could make a difference in the lives of our students at Grossmont College, many of whom had never imagined college in their futures and who would be facing innumerable obstacles to their success,” she said. “There was no college-going tradition in my family. Because I had doubted my own worthiness to be a student, let alone to flourish and succeed, I knew the fear and anxiety many of my students faced.”

Holder said Grossmont College’s focus in recent years on equity in education and removing barriers to student success are the right approach. “The work the college is doing right now in support of students is very heartening and exceptional – and I am proud to continue to be part of these efforts,” she said.

Richard Unis
A professional photographer, as well as an adjunct sociology instructor at Grossmont College for 12 years, Richard Unis understands the power of visual images to convey political or social messages.

In 2008, he had students create a public art installation of 30,000 chopsticks inserted into lawns around the campus to represent the number of children who lose their lives each day to poverty-related diseases. Last year, he launched the Stand with Students Project, a social media campaign for educators and others to post photos of themselves standing next to a white or blackboard with a handwritten message of inclusion for immigrant, refugee and DACA students.

Bernadette Johnston photo//Richard Unis

The New Jersey native, the oldest of four brothers and the first to go to college, earned his bachelor’s degree from Ithaca College and a master’s in sociology from the London School of Economics and Political Science. The sociology department had a human rights component to it that led Unis to Geneva, where he and others in his class served as student representatives at the United Nations in 2005. That experience exposed him to global issues that he and his wife, a fellow sociologist, have documented as photographers. A collection of photos they took for a local non-profit promoting the need for adequate healthcare was displayed inside the Capitol Building just prior to the 2010 passage of the Affordable Care Act.

“What I like best about Grossmont is the students,” he said. “Our students are dedicated, well-intentioned and often bring perspective and experience into the classroom, which makes teaching sociology interesting and rewarding.”

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Grossmont College 40th Annual Career Expo a big draw

September 20, 2018, 11:07 am

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One of the oldest and largest community college job fairs in the county continues its successful run with the 40th Annual Career Expo at Grossmont College set for Wednesday, Oct. 10. It is free and open to the public.

More than 100 employers and exhibitors are expected for the 10 a.m.-2 p.m. event in the Main Quad.

Several college programs will also be represented to make the event both a job fair and an opportunity to explore careers.

“This long tradition has continued because of Grossmont College’s commitment to providing our students and the community with ever-expanding opportunities to explore the widest range of career options,” said President Nabil Abu-Ghazaleh.

Some employers will interview on the spot, so applicants are encouraged to dress professionally and to bring copies of their resumes.

Sycuan Casino announced this week that it is hiring for more than 700 new positions for its hotel and resort expansion, with a variety of jobs in the food and beverage, hotel and casino divisions. The Grossmont College Career Expo is one of the job fairs where Sycuan’s hiring managers will interview and hire on site. The college will partner with Sycuan in future hiring events as the casino ramps up recruiting efforts.

Viejas Casino and Resort will also be at the expo.

Public school districts such as Cajon Valley Union, Grossmont Union High School and Lemon Grove School District, as well as private institutions like Altus Schools and the Higher Learning Academy, will be represented. The San Diego Job Corps Center, which provides academic and career skills training for young adults, is also looking for teachers, counselors and admissions staff. Not-for-profit organizations like the Arc of San Diego, Easterseals and the Home of Guiding Hands that provide programs and services for people with disabilities will also be at the expo.

Law enforcement is also well represented with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, and police departments for the cities of Chula Vista, El Cajon, San Diego, National City and Oceanside to attend, as well as private security companies, Allied Universal and United Security Services. U.S. Customs and Border Protection will also attend.

Financial management services, preschools and healthcare providers have signed up, and representing the military will be the U.S. Army and the California Air National Guard.

To help job-seekers make the most of the career expo, the career center located in Building 60, Room 140, will offer several workshops on soft skills during the week of Oct. 8. Call (619) 644-7615 for details. Tips are also available online to benefit most from the job fair experience.

“We want students to be better prepared and confident while navigating the expo,” said Renee Nasori, Student Development Services supervisor and the college’s Career Center coordinator. “The single most important piece of advice I would give job-seekers is to work on their elevator pitch. When there are many candidates interested in the same position, it’s important to make a quick and lasting impression.”

Nasori said the event’s primary goal is to link students and community members to job and career opportunities, but it is also a networking opportunity for college administrators and faculty to stay current on workforce needs, as well as internship and community service learning opportunities for students.

Thanks to the event’s many sponsors -- Grossmont College, Career and Technical Education division; Public Consulting Group (PCG); Viejas Casino and Resort; Sharp Healthcare; WHPacific; LAZ Parking; Point Loma Credit Union, and Childcare Careers – event organizers increased marketing and added student giveaways, including a Parrot Mambo Minidrone, as a drawing prize.

Employers interested in participating can register online. Registration fees are being waived and a free lunch and giveaways will be provided as a way to thank employers and sponsors. Employers are encouraged to post positions they are seeking to fill on the College Central Network job portal

Grossmont College is at 8800 Grossmont College Drive in El Cajon.

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'Swing Under the Stars' to raise music scholarship funds

October 1, 2018, 8:37 am

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The Grossmont College Music Department will host its first-ever Swing Under the Stars concert and student scholarship fundraiser on Thursday, Oct. 11, in the Main Quad of the East County community college.

“Swing Under the Stars will raise much-needed funds for student scholarships,” said Derek Cannon, Music Department faculty and chair. “We hope our former students, local jazz fans and the East County community will come out to support our department.”

Swing Under the Stars will feature free swing dance lessons from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., courtesy of Grossmont College Dance Adjunct Associate Professor Nancy Boskin-Mullen and Dance Department students. The JazzKatz Orchestra, a 14-piece big band ensemble lead by Grossmont College music alumnus Chaz Cabrera and lead vocalist Whitney Shay, will start at 7:30 p.m.

In addition to dance lessons and JazzKatz Orchestra, the Grossmont College Student Veterans Organization will sell hamburgers and cheeseburgers.

All ticket proceeds will benefit music student scholarships at Grossmont College. General admission is $20 and $10 for students with ID. Free parking will be available in Lot 5.

For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit www.grossmont.edu/music. Grossmont College is located at 8800 Grossmont College Drive, El Cajon, Calif. 92020.

Grossmont College is “Changing Lives Through Education” and has served the diverse educational needs of San Diego’s East County since 1961. With more than 150 certificate and associate degree programs, Grossmont College provides workforce training, career development and transferable college-level coursework to its nearly 19,000 students. For more information, visit Grossmont.edu.

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Music reverberates with start of ECHO concert series

October 2, 2018, 11:22 am

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An assemblage of internationally-acclaimed musicians who have performed at symphony halls around the globe are lined up for the second season of the Cuyamaca College ECHO Chamber Music Series, which kicks off Oct. 11 with a 7:30 p.m. concert featuring a selection of Mozart violin sonatas.

Performances are being underwritten by Sam Ersan, a vice chairman of the San Diego Symphony Board of Directors who has helped transform the chamber music landscape in San Diego County through his support of numerous classical musical organizations. Ersan is a major funder of the Mainly Mozart Festival, the force behind the Sam B. Ersan Chamber Music Fund at UC San Diego and the founder of the Camera Lucida piano quartet and the Myriad Trio. ECHO is an acronym for the East County Harmonics Organization.

“Cuyamaca College is fast establishing itself as the premier destination for chamber music in San Diego’s East County through the ECHO Chamber Music Series, and we are honored to host this quality of concerts scheduled for the coming year,” said Taylor Smith, chair of the Cuyamaca College Performing Arts Department. “Never before has this kind of talent been lined up for a full season at the local community college level.”

Cindy Wu on violin and Orion Weiss on piano open the 2018-19 ECHO Chamber Music Series Oct. 11 at Cuyamaca College’s Samuel M. Ciccati Theatre with a selection of Mozart violin sonatas. Wu has enjoyed a versatile international career as a soloist, chamber musician and educator. She has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra of Taiwan and the Taipei Symphony Orchestra, as well as with the Odessa Philharmonic Orchestra and the Russian State Symphony Orchestra, among others. Her many honors include the Gold Medal at the Stulberg International String Competition and third prize in the Odessa International David Oistrakh Violin Competition. Wu is a graduate of both the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California.

Named the Classical Recording Foundation’s Young Artist of the Year in 2010, Weiss has performed with the Chicago Symphony, Boston Symphony, Toronto Symphony and New York Philharmonic, among others. A native of Lyndhurst, Ohio, Weiss attended the Cleveland Institute of Music and graduated from the Juilliard School in 2004. Weiss made his Cleveland Orchestra debut in February 1999 performing Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1. The following month, with less than 24 hours’ notice, he stepped in to replace Andre Watts for a performance of Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. He was immediately invited to return to the orchestra for an October performance of the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto.

The second performance in the ECHO Chamber Music Series takes place Nov. 9 with a piano/woodwind performance featuring Jessie Chang and principals from the San Diego Symphony. Music by Beethoven, Stravinsky and other classical masters is on tap.

Six concerts are tentatively on tap for the spring, including: Quicksilver Baroque (Jan. 6); a piano/viola recital with Reiko Uchida and Brian Chen (Jan. 29); the Myriad Trio (Feb. 19); the Smetana Piano Trio (Feb. 22); the Fauré Piano Quartet (March 18); and Augustin Hadelich and Orion Weiss (April 19). Hadelich is playing with the San Diego Symphony in February, but is returning to the region for the April 19 concert at Cuyamaca College.

The 2018-19 ECHO Chamber Music Series concludes May 22 when Wu and Weiss return for another a selection of Mozart violin sonatas.

All concerts will be performed at the Samuel M. Ciccati Theatre. General admission tickets are $15, $10 presale and $5 for students. Visit EchoChamberMusic.org for more information, or call (619) 660-4288.

Cuyamaca College is at 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway in Rancho San Diego, 92109.

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College district has much to cheer about with new vice chancellor

October 2, 2018, 1:52 pm

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Crediting community college for setting him on a quest for learning, Sean Hancock went on to attain two advanced degrees and top posts as a college administrator, and is now the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District’s first Vice Chancellor of Student and Institutional Success.

Hancock is responsible for coordinating districtwide educational services to promote student success and overseeing the District Services departments of Research, Planning and Institutional Effectiveness; Information Technology Services; and Community and Workforce Development.

“My new post is about building and maintaining relationships, both internally and externally, and working to facilitate programs and services that will benefit student success districtwide,” Hancock said.

Before coming to the college district, Hancock was vice president of instruction and student services at Palo Verde College. When he arrived at the college, it was at risk of losing its accreditation status, and he led efforts that increased student enrollment and outcomes, stabilized the budget, built new programs and community partnerships, and launched new technology systems, regaining full accreditation status in the process. Hancock also led teams in developing programs for diverse populations, including inmates, tribal communities, high school districts, students of color and farmworkers.

It is the same spirit of inclusiveness at Grossmont-Cuyamaca that Hancock finds most appealing.

“I am inspired by the District’s commitment to championing equity-mindedness, inclusivity, civility, and social justice,” Hancock said. “Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District is known for innovation, and I’m excited about the opportunity to be a part of reinventing the way we deliver programs and services to today’s learners.”

Describing Hancock as hard-working and a team-builder, Chancellor Cindy Miles said he is a custom fit for his new position.

“He is a hands-on type of leader. He recognizes the profound impact that education has had in his own life, and is committed to advancing our vision of transforming lives through learning,” Miles said.

Noting that he was one of 40 chosen as a 2018-2019 Aspen Presidential Fellow for Community College Excellence - a national leadership program aimed at preparing the next generation of community college presidents - she said the district is fortunate to have a leader of his caliber.

The Visalia native, the first in his family to graduate from college, understands well the transformative miracle of community college and speaks fondly of College of the Sequoias, where he earned his Associate of Arts degree in business in 1989.

“It was at College of the Sequoias that I explored all that was available to me – drama, band, choir, serving on the Student Senate,” Hancock said. “It was there that I developed my initial thirst for learning.”

Hancock said some of his happiest memories from his time as a student at College of the Sequoias are of his experience as a yell leader. He recalled how he appeared with the squad as an extra in the ‘80s B movie, “Cheerleader Camp,” and displays a photo from that time in his office.

After community college, Hancock left Visalia for San Francisco, where he explored his entrepreneurial side, going to cosmetology school and operating his own salon.

His academic interests drew him back to the classroom and central California. He began his community college career in 1999 as the assistant to the Vice President of Administration at the main campus of San Joaquin Valley College while beginning his quest for a bachelor’s degree at Fresno Pacific University. From there, he went on to earn his MBA at TUI University in Cypress, and in 2013, his doctorate in educational administration from the University of the Pacific in Stockton.

Hancock served for 10 years as director/CEO of San Joaquin Valley College’s Modesto campus, which he helped start up in 2004.

It was during that time that Hancock went through what he describes as a reinvention of himself, even down to his sartorial choices. Ditching the conventional, he took to wearing bowties and by his estimation, has about 70 in his collection.

“It’s getting harder and harder to find bowties these days, but what can I do – I’ve gotten to be known as the guy with the bowties,” Hancock said.

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Grossmont College's Drone Technology Program launching free piloting classes

October 9, 2018, 4:50 pm

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Grossmont College’s much-anticipated Drone Technology Program launches Oct. 30, with grant-funded classes offering free, comprehensive instruction designed to train novices to become FAA-certified commercial drone pilots with skills to pursue jobs or to become self-employed.

President Nabil Abu-Ghazaleh said the college is excited to offer the new program at no cost to students, noting that private drone schools typically charge thousands of dollars for the training. Despite the cost, the training is growing in demand with many drone pilots working as freelance contractors, flying drones for small businesses and major companies, alike. Grossmont College’s classes train pilots for two commercial tracks – Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) cinematography and UAS surveying and mapping.

“Clearly, the interest and demand are there and with the funding to support developing education and training in this burgeoning career field, we were very keen to start this program,” Abu-Ghazaleh said, adding that as the new curriculum is expanded, classes will be offered next spring in the programming and technology that make autonomous aircraft function.

Grossmont College is unique in the state in offering the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) classes for free, thanks to a $6 million U.S. Department of Labor Promise grant that was shared by Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges to create education and industry partnerships to educate and train underserved students for high-skilled, in-demand jobs. The grant – the only one of its kind in California – was among the largest awarded to 23 colleges, universities and workforce partnerships across the country. Partnering with Grossmont College in the local program are the San Diego Maritime Alliance and the East County Economic Development Council.

Javier Ayala, the college’s dean of Career Technical Education and Workforce Development, said it was the large turnout of drone enthusiasts to a Grossmont College workshop two years ago that convinced him a drone technology program would be in demand as a new career training option. Job projections for drone operators is on a vertical ascent as the commercial use of the unmanned aircraft becomes ubiquitous.

From their military origins, drones are now must-have tools in industries such as real estate, filmmaking, photography and even agriculture. Analysts at the consulting group PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP predicted in 2016 that the global market for commercial applications of drone technology could reach $127 billion by 2020.

Grossmont's program is providing UAS Ground School and FAA 107 certification classes to become licensed commercial drone pilots. Students who complete the ground school module and possess a drone pilot license can then go on to take classes specializing in either UAS cinematography or UAS surveying and mapping.

The cinematography track meets 4-8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays Oct. 30-Feb. 12, 2019 in Bldg. 36, Room 354. Taught by an Emmy-nominated cinematographer who works with Fox Sports Net, HBO and other media companies, this track teaches students how to use drones for weddings, movies, real estate videography, commercials and more. The course covers both basic and advanced cinematography techniques with an emphasis on developing creativity.

The surveying and mapping track meets 4-8 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays Nov. 7-Feb.1, 2019 in Bldg. 36, Room 340. Students in this track train for surveying and mapping large masses of land and waters for such job fields as construction, farming, military and security. Pilots receive extensive flight time and by the end of the program, students will know how to do precision mapping missions and data collection for multiple industries and operations.

The grant funding the Drone Technology Program requires students to be United States citizens and is targeted to groups including veterans, Native Americans, military spouses, ex-offenders, women, high school students and the unemployed and underemployed. Drones are provided to students.

To register, go to https://tinyurl.com/APdronetechnologytraining
Deadlines are Oct. 23 for the cinematography track and Oct. 31 for the surveying and mapping track.

For more information, email Kathie.Nino@gcccd.edu or call (619) 644-7549.

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Marsha Fralick: 40 Years of Memories at Cuyamaca College

October 10, 2018, 2:30 pm

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It wasn’t the best first impression.

Marsha Fralick had just accepted a job as a founding faculty member at Cuyamaca College in summer 1978 when she and her husband decided to have a look at the new campus in what was then a desolate stretch of El Cajon. “I was pretty shocked,” Fralick said. “There was only one building and a bunch of dirt. There were no roads, no sidewalks, just a lot of construction going on. My husband turned to me and said, ‘You may have made a mistake.’”

Forty years later, as Cuyamaca celebrates its ruby anniversary, there is no question Fralick made the right choice. “Every time I come to campus I feel a great deal of pride,” said Fralick, who officially retired in 2007 but still teaches an online Counseling 120 course. “It’s a beautiful college with beautiful, modern buildings and amazing students. This is what we all dreamed of, and it’s great to see it become a reality.”

Fralick is among several founding faculty members who still teach at the college, and she is among the scores of guests who plan to attend the Cuyamaca’s 40^thAnniversary House Party on October 18 to celebrate the school’s history.

Raised just north of Santa Fe in the New Mexico hamlet of Espanola, Fralick moved to San Diego in 1974 to work as a counselor at Grossmont High School before transferring to nearby Santana. In spring 1978, founding President Dr. Wallace Cohen and the Dean of Student Services, Dr. Phyllis Weidman, attended a Santana High School counselors’ meeting to recruit staff for a new college dubbed Cuyamaca. “That was the first I heard about it,” Fralick said.

The first day of classes on August 28 was memorable for more than a few reasons. A half hour into a 3-hour evening class, Fralick’s room went dark when power to the college suddenly stopped. “The entire campus went dark,” she said. “There were no lights anywhere. There were no shopping centers nearby. There were not streetlights. Campus security was escorting people to their cars in the dark.”

Just getting the college ready for the first day of classes was far from a sure thing. Classroom chairs didn’t arrive until the day before school opened. “Dr. Cohen was ripping up these boxes and putting chairs in the classroom,” Fralick said. “When you see your president ripping up boxes and putting chairs in the classroom, you were inspired to do the same thing. Nobody said, ‘Well, that’s not in my job description.’ We all did what was needed to be done.”

Cohen, Fralick said, was an inspiration. He encouraged her and others at the campus to secure advanced degrees. Fralick, who earned an Ed.D., is also the author of several books on counseling, including one, College and Career Success, that is used across the country. “Dr. Wallace Cohen never put himself above anyone else. He was one of the family. Whatever you needed, you could just walk into his office and he was always there to help.”

Such as when federal officials had failed to file the proper paperwork for students to secure their financial aid. “I was calling Washington, D.C. and they didn’t know who we were. I’d say, ‘Cuyamaca College. Jamacha Road. El Cajon,’ and they would say, ‘Is that in the U.S.?’”

With red tape keeping students from securing needed financial aid, Cohen approached the local Lions Club, which donated enough funds for student scholarships during the first semester.

Among Fralick’s most rewarding Cuyamaca College moments came when her children earned their associate degrees. A son, 38, would transfer to UC San Diego for a bachelor’s degree in engineering and then San Diego State University for a master’s degree in the subject. Today, he is a chief design engineer for Google. Her daughter, 34, transferred to SDSU for a bachelor’s degree in business finance before earning her MBA at the University of Redlands. Today she works in the finance department for NBC San Diego.

Fralick, meanwhile, still lives in the same Tierrasanta home she bought after accepting her counseling position at Cuyamaca.

“I love Cuyamaca College,” she said. “It has meant so much to me and my family.”

This is one in a series of stories celebrating Cuyamaca College’s 40th anniversary

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Graphic design student a portrait of perseverance

October 23, 2018, 3:11 pm

≫ Next: Baroque, Beethoven and Beyond

≪ Previous: Marsha Fralick: 40 Years of Memories at Cuyamaca College

Grossmont College student Jake McDermott

Jake McDermott isn’t letting the challenges of his past keep him from realizing the promise of his future. The former foster youth who has overcome learning disabilities and ADHD is thriving at Grossmont College, where he is a member of the campus Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, volunteers extensively, is on track to transfer to San Diego State University and is looking forward to a career as a graphic designer and photo editor.

“There are a lot of support services at Grossmont, and the counselors and staff at the college are really supportive, helpful, and caring, which is why I am doing so well,” McDermott said. “It’s just a good place to get a good education.”

McDermott’s efforts have been rewarded with several Osher scholarships from the Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges, and he also helps support himself through a work-study program that has him using his skills as a graphic artist at The Common Ground, the Grossmont College student engagement, cross-cultural space.

“Jake's perseverance has been amazing,” said Brian Woolsey, a counselor and coordinator with EOPS/NextUp Foster Youth Services. “Every time we meet, he's focused on classes and grades and overcoming challenges. Because he approaches college like that, he's successful.”

Born and raised in San Diego, McDermott was taken from his mother and placed in foster care while in middle school, and he remained in foster care until his father gained custody of him two years later. Meanwhile, he struggled with ADHD and other learning disabilities. When he was in high school, his father, who took custody of McDermott just two years earlier, passed away.

“It was a very stressful time in my life, but I focused on moving forward, focused on school, and focused on my studies.”

McDermott, now 21, graduated from El Capitan High School with honors in the spring of 2016 and enrolled at Grossmont College. He lives with his grandmother just down the street from campus.

“Grossmont was a few blocks away and it was easy to get to,” McDermott said. “I took a tour of the college and going here just made sense.”

McDermott is one of the more than 23,000 former foster youth enrolled in the California Community Colleges system, according to a 2017 report that highlights the unique challenges these students face and cites the need for additional support. At Grossmont, much of that additional support comes from EOPS, an acronym for Extended Opportunity Programs and Services, and Guardian Scholars & Foster Youth Services. The latter provides personal counseling, connection with academic advisors to help define a major and educational objective, potential on-campus employment and more.

Meanwhile, McDermott has kept himself busy with Beta Theta Chi, the Grossmont chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, and the Networking and Leadership Club. He also volunteers at Gizmo’s Kitchen, the food pantry for students dealing with hunger and not knowing where their next meal might come from.

“There are so many services and opportunities here,” McDermott said. “I would recommend Grossmont College to anyone.”

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Baroque, Beethoven and Beyond

November 6, 2018, 11:27 am

≫ Next: Brooklyn Lopez: Setting an Example for Others

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Winds from the San Diego Symphony will join pianist Jessie Chang in a unique chamber music concert set for Friday, Nov. 9, at Cuyamaca College’s Samuel M. Ciccati Theatre.

Jessie Chang & Selected Winds from the San Diego Symphony: Baroque, Beethoven and Beyondwill feature an all-star cast of classical musicians in the latest ECHO Chamber Music Series that is being underwritten by Sam Ersan, vice chairman of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra’s Board of Directors. Among the works being performed are Jan Dismas Zelenka’s Trio Sonata No. 3, Igor Stravinsky’s Pastoraleand Ludwig van Beethoven’s Quintet for Piano and Winds Op. 16.

Such an all-star cast of classical musicians have rarely performed at a community college in the region. Chang has been featured at Carnegie Hall’s Isaac Stern Auditorium, has collaborated with major orchestras across the globe, has earned top honors in more than 30 distinguished national and international piano competitions, and plays regularly with members of the San Diego Symphony. Others being featured on Friday include Sarah Skuster, the San Diego Symphony’s principal oboist; Andrea Overturf, the Symphony’s English horn; the Symphony bassoonist Leyla Zamora, who for more than a decade served as principal bassoonist at the Memphis Symphony; Symphony Second Bassoon Ryan Simmons; harpsichord player Takae Ohnishi; the San Diego Symphony’s Principal Clarinetist, Sheryl Renk; Symphony Principal Bassoonist Valentin Martchev; Symphony violinist Julia Pautz; and Darby Hinshaw, a former principal horn player with the Marin Symphony who joined the San Diego Symphony in 2011.

General admission tickets are $15, or $10 if bought in advance. Student tickets are $5 each. Tickets can be purchased and further information can be found at EchoChamberMusic.org. Cuyamaca College is at 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway in El Cajon, 92019.

The ECHO Chamber Music Series – ECHO is an acronym for the East County Harmonics Organization – debuted this past spring and is aimed at bringing some of the world’s top young musicians to Cuyamaca College’s Samuel M. Ciccati Theatre. Six concerts are tentatively on tap for the coming spring, including: Quicksilver Baroque (Jan. 6); a piano/viola recital with Reiko Uchida and Brian Chen (Jan. 29); the Myriad Trio (Feb. 19); the Smetana Piano Trio (Feb. 22); the Fauré Piano Quartet (March 18); and Augustin Hadelich and Orion Weiss (April 19). Hadelich is playing with the San Diego Symphony in February but is returning to the region for the April 19 concert at Cuyamaca College.

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Brooklyn Lopez: Setting an Example for Others

November 9, 2018, 3:10 pm

≫ Next: Theater under construction at Grossmont College reaches new heights

≪ Previous: Baroque, Beethoven and Beyond

Brooklyn Lopez

Brooklyn Lopez could write a book on overcoming adversity. Growing up without a father, raised by a mother struggling with alcohol and substance abuse, Lopez said she often found herself home alone and had to learn how to cook, clean and take care of her younger siblings by the age of 5.

Today, however, the former foster youth is a Cuyamaca College honor student who is on track to earn an associate degree in accounting in the spring of 2019. She has her sights set on transferring to San Diego State University and she is aiming for a career in finance or as an accountant.

Lopez’s achievements were recently rewarded with a Retiree Network Scholarship. The scholarship is given to a select few who – at the very least – have completed at least 24 units at the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District, have a minimum grade point average of 3.0, are enrolled in a minimum of nine credits, and have plans to transfer to a four-year university or complete an associate degree or certificate.

“What motivates me is that I can prove to other students no matter what life throws at them, they can always choose the better option and the better path. There is no excuse to fall in the negative one,” she wrote in her scholarship essay.

Her determination has earned Lopez the respect of many.

“Brooklyn is a very intelligent, sweet, giving young woman,” said Financial Aid Advisor and Foster Youth Liaison Pam Fleming. “She also possesses that intangible, most-rare and required quality to reach her goals; she has grit. By that I mean when the unexpected occurs, she goes back and changes the plan, but she continues on toward her objectives. Nothing is going to stop her from achieving her educational and personal goals.”

Hers has been quite the journey. Born in San Diego and raised mostly in Santee, Lopez said she and her younger siblings were twice placed in foster homes while growing up. At one point, Lopez was placed under the care of an aunt in the Texas hamlet of Kaufman, some 20 miles or so east of Dallas.

“There was just so much going on in our lives,” said Lopez, now 20. “My mom would wake us in the middle of the night and take us with to go get her drugs. It just wasn’t a good environment.”

School wasn’t a priority. At least not until her freshman year in high school.

“I realized a good education was the only way out of that kind of life,” Lopez said. “Education was the only way to be successful.”

But despite graduating from West Hills High School with honors, going straight to a university was out of the question.

“Cuyamaca College was the best option,” said Lopez, who is engaged and has a 2-year-old son. “I didn’t have any money, there wasn’t going to be any kind of financial contributions from my family, and it is close to where I live. I haven’t been disappointed at all. It’s a great school and I’m glad I went there.”

The support services have been plentiful. Among them, the Cuyamaca College Up! Program (an acronym for Unlimited Potential!), a joint collaboration of the EOPS and Financial Aid program designed for former foster youth, homeless youth, or youth raised in guardianship who want to attend college. Services include academic, personal and career counseling; life skills seminars; priority registration; and mentoring. Lopez is one of the more than 23,000 former foster youth enrolled in the California Community Colleges system, according to a 2017 report that highlights the unique challenges these students face and cites the need for additional support such as Up!

Lopez also works in the Cuyamaca College Financial Aid office, which has brought her into contact with others who determined to overcome challenging conditions.

“The people at Cuyamaca are there for one reason and that’s to help you out,” she said. “I’m glad I can be a part of this community and culture.”

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Theater under construction at Grossmont College reaches new heights

November 14, 2018, 10:01 am

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Steelworkers put up the last structural beam at a topping off.

A construction milestone of the Grossmont College Performing and Visual Arts Center was celebrated Thursday by educators and officials autographing the last structural beam going up on what promises to be a landmark structure.

The customary “topping off” ceremony also marks the nearly halfway point for the $42 million project being funded by Proposition V construction dollars approved by East County voters in 2012. The nearly 39,000-square-foot facility, which broke ground in 2017 and is targeted for completion in fall 2019, will serve as an instructional and performance venue for the theater, dance and music programs. In addition to a 390-seat, multipurpose theater replete with one of the largest stages in the county, an orchestra pit and balcony, the center will also house the Hyde Art Gallery.

President Nabil Abu-Ghazaleh signs a construction beam.

Standing 53 feet tall, the structure designed by LPA Inc. is the tallest instructional facility on the campus. In addition to a performance venue, it will serve as a learning laboratory for student performers, technicians and designers in the Theatre Arts program. Dressing rooms, a green room, a costume area and a makeup classroom are part of the center. The theater entrance will feature a dramatically transparent lobby, a box office and concession area.

President Nabil Abu-Ghazaleh said the new facility will change the face of Grossmont College because of its size and location at the front of the campus.

“This building will be the front door to our college,” he said. “With this facility, we are sending the message to the community that in addition to being a fantastic place of learning, we are a house for the arts in East County.”

Beth Duggan, Theatre Arts Department chair, said the shared use of the new building encourages collaboration between departments and the size of the stage is perfect for elaborate productions like those put on by the Summer Arts Conservatory program.

“Having a state-of-the-art facility where our high school and college performers and technicians can hone their craft is a very exciting prospect,” she said.

Music Department chair Derek Cannon can barely contain his excitement over the addition of a long-awaited performance venue. Cannon said the new theater with the orchestra pit opens up the possibility of the music and dance departments putting on joint productions. The new venue will also allow the music department to sponsor music festivals and expand outreach efforts with local high schools and the community overall.

“I foresee the music department putting on workshops and master classes, events we haven’t been able to pursue because of a lack of adequate space,” Cannon said. “Our buildings have been around since the ‘60s and we have pretty much run out of space for the 1,600-1,800 students enrolling in music classes each year.”

After the performance center is completed, the construction of a new 7,000-square-foot music building is set to begin in 2021 for more classroom and lab space. Also included will be a new recital hall with improved acoustics – good news for the many ensemble groups limited by the colleges aging music facilities.

“Grossmont College is highly regarded for its outstanding music faculty, but we haven’t had the facility to match the excellence of our instructors,” Cannon said.

For the Hyde Art Gallery, moving into the new Performing and Visual Arts Center means a higher profile for art exhibits, as well as a designated room for framing, exhibition preparation and constructing display sets, said gallery technician and curator Alex DeCosta.

“This will also allow me to offer workshops for students on art handling, installation and framing, which isn’t possible in our current gallery,” DeCosta said.

Better environmental controls will also expand opportunities to exhibit art loaned to Grossmont College by local art institutions and museums. DeCosta added that a modernized look to the gallery will attract more established artists and its more prominent location will draw more visitors.

Building on Proposition V

Proposition V is the funding source for completed projects including an air-conditioning plant that has reduced Grossmont College’s energy costs by nearly 70 percent and at Cuyamaca College, the refurbishing of the college’s track and a building remodel to establish a new Center for Water Studies.

Future Grossmont College projects include a building renovation to house the Science, Math and Career Tech complex. At Cuyamaca College, the renovation of the Ornamental Horticulture Complex and construction of a new Student Services and Administration Building are in the planning stages. Both colleges are also building and renovating facilities to better serve student veterans.

Grossmont College is at 8800 Grossmont College Drive. Cuyamaca College is at 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway in the community of Rancho San Diego. For more information about the colleges, go to www.gcccd.edu.

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Rice Family Foundation receives Garrett civic leadership award

November 15, 2018, 12:29 pm

≫ Next: Kurdish refugee now breathes easier as respiratory therapy student

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Lisa and Jessica Wilson

A foundation that has provided more than $1 million in donations to Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges has been honored with the second annual Bill and Judy Garrett Civic Leadership Award.

The award was presented Thursday night to the Rice Family Foundation at a dinner honoring donors to the Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges.

“The Rice Family Foundation’s support of our colleges embodies the spirit of the Bill and Judy Garrett Civic Leadership Award, which recognizes an individual or group that leads with integrity and supports student success,” said Sally Cox, chief executive officer of the district foundation.

The award was accepted by Lisa Wilson, niece of the Rice Family Foundation’s creator, Morgan Rice, and her daughter Jessica, also a foundation board member. Wilson said her uncle, who died in 2004, believed in the transforming power of education.

“We love both of these colleges,” Wilson said. “They are the basis of our community. We’re proud of everything that Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges have done.”

The Rice Family Foundation was created in 1993 by Morgan Rice, an El Centro native who made his fortune by investing in San Diego real estate, particularly on Mount Miguel near Spring Valley. The emphasis of funding and grants from the foundation is on education, particularly programs that benefit the economically disadvantaged in San Diego County. Some beneficiaries of the foundation’s largesse include Balboa Park museums, the San Diego Zoo, K-12 educational programs, literacy programs, and programs related to music and the arts.

Rice developed a relationship with Cuyamaca College, located near Mount Miguel, when he offered the college a shipping container he didn’t need. Rice contacted Brad Monroe, then head of the college’s Ornamental Horticulture department. Monroe accepted the shipping container – which is still used by the college today – and a lifelong friendship was born.

Rice, who loved the outdoors and had a keen interested in horticulture and geology, became highly involved with Cuyamaca College’s Ornamental Horticulture program. In 1995, the Morgan Rice Internship Program was established through a grant by the Rice Family Foundation. The grant provides students with learning opportunities in nursery production and sales, integrating classroom training with practical work experience. The Rice Family Foundation continues to fund the program, along with scholarships to students in the Ornamental Horticulture program.

Since the early 2000s, the Grossmont College Theatre Arts Department has also been a beneficiary of the Rice Family Foundation. A foundation board member learned of the college’s touring program that presents performing arts based on children’s literature to East County elementary school children. The Rice Family Foundation provided funding to expand the touring show and include more shows at more schools. It now reaches about 16 East County schools, benefitting more than 8,000 children.

For more information about the Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges, go to https://foundation.gcccd.edu/.

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Kurdish refugee now breathes easier as respiratory therapy student

November 21, 2018, 12:31 pm

≫ Next: Gary Jennings: Remembering Cuyamaca College’s First Year

≪ Previous: Rice Family Foundation receives Garrett civic leadership award

Havin Sindi has overcome more than her share of life’s challenges. A refugee from Kurdistan whose family was forced to flee after her father was threatened for cooperating with American troops, the Grossmont College scholar was often targeted with racist taunts and cries of “terrorist!” while growing up in El Cajon. Meanwhile, balancing two cultures, Sindi found herself struggling with English at school and being encouraged to speak only Kurdish at home.

“Over time, I have learned these obstacles have molded me into a respectful, educated, open-minded and bilingual speaker,” she said.

Her perseverance has paid off. Sindi is thriving at Grossmont College, where she has earned one degree in general studies with an emphasis in science and quantitative reasoning and is on track to earn a second associate degree in June 2019 in respiratory therapy. Her determination, volunteer work, and grades led the Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges to award her a pair of scholarships this fall.
“Havin is in her second year of the two-year Respiratory Therapy program, and from the very first day of class she has demonstrated dedication and enthusiasm for her studies and her new profession,” said Professor Peggy Wells. “She works well with her peers, her instructors and the patients she comes in contact with. She is never absent, never late to class, and does her best to complete all assigned tasks. She volunteers above and beyond the classroom, and her dedication to becoming the very best respiratory care practitioner can be seen every single day.”

The road to Grossmont wasn’t easy. American authorities helped the Sindi family flee from Kurdistan shortly after she was born. Moving to Texas before settling in San Diego’s East County in 1998, Sindi graduated from El Cajon Valley High School in 2014 and had her sights set on Cal State L.A. but was unable to afford the move.

Coming to Grossmont College turned out to be a blessing.

“I love it here,” she said. “I’ve gotten all the help and support I need from the counselors and professors. Overall, it’s been pretty smooth.”

Sindi plans to start working as a respiratory therapist after graduating in the spring before returning to school for her bachelor’s degree.

She says she couldn’t have received better training than what she found at Grossmont.

“I love the program. It’s specialized and focuses on various specific diseases related to respiratory conditions. The instructors are awesome, they work in the field, and they are really helpful. Overall, it’s been a good experience.”

Indeed, virtually all Grossmont College graduates of the Respiratory Therapy program pass the National Board for Respiratory Care examination for certified respiratory therapists and for registered respiratory therapists, and the vast majority of graduates find work within one year.

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Gary Jennings: Remembering Cuyamaca College’s First Year

November 27, 2018, 10:04 am

≫ Next: A homecoming for Heritage of the Americas Museum's new executive director

≪ Previous: Kurdish refugee now breathes easier as respiratory therapy student

Cuyamaca College held its first Commencement on May 30, 1979, with a graduating class of 38 students. Gary Jennings was among the original 38.

“We were a small group,” said Jennings, now a 63-year-old resident of Crest. “There were only a few folding chairs that day, and they could probably fit into your garage.”

With Cuyamaca College celebrating its 40^thanniversary, Jennings has joined dozens of others in recalling how life at the Rancho San Diego campus has changed over the years.

Jennings’ path to Cuyamaca College was a bit circuitous. Born in Pomona, raised in Temple City, he spent one semester at Southern Colorado State College in Pueblo, Colo., before moving back to Southern California, where his father worked as the U.S. Postal Service’s Southern Section manager overseeing San Diego and Imperial counties. Jennings enrolled at Grossmont College’s graphic design program in 1977, but when courses were moved to Cuyamaca a year later, he became among the first 1,947 students at the brand new campus.

It was a much different place.

“Where the library is now was just a big dirt parking lot,” Jennings said. “I can’t believe what it looks like these days. I get lost whenever I go there.”

Jennings earned his associate of science degree in technical illustration the following spring. He had a successful career in the printing and publishing business over the next few decades using the skills he learned from Cuyamaca College.

His career took a turn after the deadly 2003 Cedar Fire destroyed the home of his and his wife, Heather. With some on-the-job training while his house was being rebuilt, Jennings and a brother later went into a home remodeling business together.

Time has not diminished Jennings’ ties to Cuyamaca. His younger brother, Brian, enrolled a few years after Gary Jennings did, and his sister-in-law, Nancy Jennings, is a Cuyamaca College communication professor and department chair.

“The way he told it to me, Brian was taking a class that Nancy was teaching, and he decided to ask her out. She said she wouldn’t date one of her students, so the next day he shows up with an apple and a drop slip and said, ‘I dropped your class; I’m not your student anymore. Will you go out with me now?’”

The two later married, and Brian would go on to become a political science instructor at both Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges. Brian Jennings lost his life this past April when he was struck by a minivan while riding a mountain bike on a bicycle path alongside Olde Highway 80 near Flinn Springs County Park.

“Our whole family has been attached to those two colleges for the past 40 years,” Jennings said.

What does he remember most about Cuyamaca College’s first year?

“Everything was new. Plus, we were the first students at the school. We were pioneers.”

Despite the changes over the years, one thing has remained constant.

“The faculty was amazing,” Jennings said. “Totally dedicated. Gave me all the confidence in the world.”

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A homecoming for Heritage of the Americas Museum's new executive director

November 28, 2018, 1:17 pm

≫ Next: Grossmont College, Osher scholarship open the world to student

≪ Previous: Gary Jennings: Remembering Cuyamaca College’s First Year

Brittany Gardner

Brittany Gardner was a student at Avocado Elementary School when she fell in love with the Heritage of the Americas Museum during a third-grade field trip. Less than 20 years after that excursion, Gardner was recently named the museum’s new executive director.

“I remember it as being this big, grand place with all these artifacts, an exhibit with rocks that glowed, I was just amazed and in awe,” Gardner said. “I never dreamed at the time that I would one day become the museum director.”

Located on the Cuyamaca College campus, the Heritage of the Americas Museum is a cultural and educational jewel packed with a vast collection highlighting the history and prehistory of the Americas – from Maya painted bowls and wedding vases to jade burial suits, ancient Peruvian art, saber tooth tiger skulls, and an abundance of fossils and arrowheads.

For Gardner, the third-grade field trip planted the seeds of discovery that led to dual associate degrees from Cuyamaca College and a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from San Diego State University. Now pursuing an MBA and a certificate in nonprofit management from the University of San Diego, Gardner, 27, was a natural fit to head the museum after the retirement of longtime director Kathleen Oatsvall.

Gardner, who worked as an English tutor at Cuyamaca while attending SDSU, began volunteering at the museum after earning her bachelor’s degree in anthropology in 2014. Administrators were so impressed with her passion as a docent and marketing guru that the board of directors created a new paid position for Gardner within weeks after she began volunteering.

“She brought technology to the museum, she introduced us to social media, and she built a new website,” said administrative assistant Lynn Rosen. “Attendance shot up and people were coming in from all over the place.”

As executive director, Gardner directs and oversees all aspects of running the museum, including managing a small paid staff and more than 40 volunteers.

That a third-grade field trip to lead a student on a path to become director of the museum would bring a smile to Heritage of the Americas late founder, Bernard “Bud” Lueck.

Lueck’s passion for ancient artifacts began while he was growing up on the family farm in Oshkosh, Wis., and collecting arrowheads as he followed his father’s plow. By the time he was a teen, he was accompanying the local museum on archaeological digs. His collection grew substantially over the years and, working with former Cuyamaca College President Samuel M. Ciccati, Lueck opened the Heritage of the Americas in January 1993.

Lueck determined the museum’s focus would include catering to grade-school field trips because his interest in antiquities began as a child. Over the years, the museum’s collection has expanded significantly with donated artifacts.

Gardner said education will remain a focus but noted that field trips no longer solely target area elementary schools. She recently collaborated with the Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park for an overnight outing that attracted more than 40 middle school girls, she is expanding the museum’s outreach through online advertising and social media, and she has her sights set on digitizing the museum’s extensive collection and marketing the resource to Cuyamaca College professors and their classes.

“Brittany is absolutely amazing – very tech savvy, excellent with web design and marketing, wonderful at organizing tours for the school system, skilled at grant writing, as well as an adept team player and leader,” said Cuyamaca College English Professor and longtime mentor Marvelyn Bucky.

Gardner couldn’t be happier.

“This museum is a community,” she said. “Everybody who works here and volunteers here has a passion for the Heritage of the Americas. We are a family, a very close-knit family, that wants to see this museum flourish. It’s my job to help see that happen.”

For more information about the Heritage of the Americas Museum, go to https://www.heritageoftheamericasmuseum.com/.

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Grossmont College, Osher scholarship open the world to student

November 30, 2018, 9:59 am

≫ Next: Journey takes former Cuyamaca College student to Ph.D. program

≪ Previous: A homecoming for Heritage of the Americas Museum's new executive director

Describing Grossmont College scholar Violette Challe as passionate about social justice would be more than a little bit of an understatement. Challe, who speaks several languages, wants to help change the world.

But first she’s set on transferring to UC San Diego and its Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Master of International Affairs.

Her passion – and her academic excellence – are among the reasons Challe, 22, recently earned an Osher scholarship from the Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges. The money is helping to cover the cost of attending Grossmont College this year, and it comes in addition to a scholarship she earned last summer that allowed her to study in Germany and serve an internship with the Abgeordnetenhaus, or parliament.

Challe with German instructor Astrid Ronke

Challe, 22, grew up San Francisco Bay Area, including San Francisco, Pacifica, Petaluma, and Santa Rosa. When she turned 18, Challe ventured abroad to work as an au pair in Italy, a move that changed her life. Living in Europe during the refugee crisis, she saw the suffering of so many as so much of Europe turned its back to the problem. Immersing herself in books such as "The Other Hand,""The Kite Runner" and "A Thousand Splendid Suns" furthered her resolve.

“The injustices of the world have always weighed on my heart and mind, specifically the fact that the West has caused so much of this unnecessary suffering in its pursuits of capitalism, colonialism and global imperialism,” Challe said. “The current refugee crisis is a prime example of this unfairness. Over the years the West has continuously exploited the Middle East for their oil and poppy fields, leaving millions of refugees displaced from their homes. And now Western powers want to vote to close their borders but refuse to vote on a subject as taboo as refrain from selling tanks, guns and other militant weapons to the Middle East.”

Challe returned to the United States a changed woman. She moved to San Diego (more affordable than the Bay Area) and enrolled at Grossmont College.

“Grossmont College is special to me because here I was given the opportunity to achieve a degree,” Challe said. “I understand that being able to get a higher education is a huge privilege. If you’re not someone lucky enough to live with or be supported by your parents, school is almost next to impossible. Trying to balance a full-time job, classes and finding the time for homework, not to mention finding room in your budget for tuition, fees and books. If it wasn’t for the financial aid I receive through Grossmont as well as the scholarships I’ve accepted from the Osher Foundation, I would not have the privilege to pursue my degree. This is why I’m so grateful for Grossmont as well as the California community college system in general and I’ve made it one of my career goals to try to extend the same opportunities that Grossmont has provided me to others who don’t have the privilege to be able to pursue a degree.”

Challe tutors German, Italian and French for Grade Potential, and she serves as president of the Grossmont College German Club. She’s also fluent in Spanish.

“Violette has clearly proven herself to be a serious student and very passionate about learning the French language and culture,” said French Professor Linda Krause, who noted that Challe served as a teaching assistant last spring. “She always has a positive and caring attitude and is well liked by the other students. She is always driven to work at the best of her ability, and I am convinced that she will accomplish the goals that she already has set for herself.”

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Journey takes former Cuyamaca College student to Ph.D. program

December 2, 2018, 8:00 am

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Ritchie Hernandez

Ritchie Hernandez moved to the East County from high school with no car and little money. But he had plenty of ambition. Now, thanks to Cuyamaca College, he’s now thriving at UC San Diego’s Ph.D. program in organic chemistry.

“My training in general chemistry at Cuyamaca College put me head and shoulders above many of my classmates in my undergraduate chemistry courses at UCSD,” Hernandez said. “I would not be where I am without Cuyamaca College. It was just a great environment for me and perfect for what I was looking for.”

Hernandez embodies how Cuyamaca College, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, has transformed tens of thousands of lives for the better since its founding in 1978. His journey, though, was unlike almost any other.

Born to deaf parents, Hernandez became conversant in American Sign Language as a toddler. He didn’t speak until he was 3, and his first spoken language was Spanish, which was learned from his paternal grandparents who helped raise him.

His challenges were only beginning. Because his parents were deaf, he and an older brother were pretty much left on their own in navigating their way through school. “Children born to deaf parents have no choice but to mature quickly,” he said. “My brother and I were our own representatives throughout school.”

That maturity was invaluable during his parents’ divorce while he was in middle school. Neither had a well-paying job. “There were times when money was very hard to come by,” said Hernandez, who helped pay the bills as a teen when he landed a paid internship at Escondido’s San Pasqual High School that had Hernandez working with the school’s physical therapy program, coordinating first aid and rehabilitative exercises for athletes who found themselves recovering from injury. That led to an interest in a medical career.

Going to a university was unaffordable. Staying in Escondido was out of the question.

“I resolved that I didn’t want to be stuck where I was,” Hernandez said. “I needed a change of venue. I needed to move away.”

Diploma in hand, he researched community colleges in the region, rented a room in La Mesa, secured a job in the local retail industry and enrolled at Cuyamaca College in the spring of 2013.

It turned out to be the best move of his life. His defining moment came during his second semester at Cuyamaca.

“It wasn’t until the chemistry courses that I actually found something that I enjoyed,” he said. No longer did he want to become a medical doctor. His future would be connected to chemistry and research.

Hernandez also became an even better student. “When I applied myself at community college, I found that getting a 4.0 was not difficult. But the first exam I had in Laurie LeBlanc’s class, I got a ‘D.’ I studied, but I clearly did not study to the rigor that Laurie demands. I got ‘A’s’ on all my tests after that, but that first test brought me down and I still ended up with a ‘B’ in the class. I remember promising her I would never get a ‘B’ in her class again.”

He didn’t.

“Ritchie is one of the most naturally gifted students I have ever had in a chemistry class,” LeBlanc said. “He is a natural researcher. I'm so proud of his accomplishments and expect him to do great things.”

He is well on his way. In the spring of 2015, he was invited to the National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates program at UCSD. Investigating the geophysics and chemistry involved with the molecular transfer from ocean surfaces to aerosols – or the interface of the ocean with the atmosphere – marked Hernandez’s first opportunity to engage in serious laboratory research.

He enrolled at UCSD that fall. Two years later he secured his bachelor’s degree in physical chemistry. Hernandez began his doctoral studies this fall with a $40,000 fellowship from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Graduate Scholarship Programs, which is aimed at diversifying the Ph.D. degree-holding population in the sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics – also known as STEM.

While Hernandez remains interested in a career focused on research, he’s also keeping his options open.

“With the mentorship I received through Laurie LeBlanc and Cuyamaca College, I can see teaching being a big part of my career.”

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