PRESIDENT’S NEWSBURST

JUNE 2012

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

The highlight of the year is the College Commencement which was held Wednesday May 31, 2012.  I wanted to share a few photos and highlights from that event because my reflections sum up an important theme. Our student speaker, Danny McKay, gave a moving account of his path to Grossmont College and his plans for the future based upon how Grossmont had changed his life. Danny’s story will seem familiar to you because every one of you has been a part of a story similar to Danny’s.  The story involves you etching your own name and memory on the heart of one of our students that has literally changed the life trajectory of that student.  Whether you are a faculty member sharing your knowledge, passion and concern, a staff member assisting a student inside or outside of class, an administrator who helps a student find a resource or solve a problem, you have made a significant contribution and one that may long be remembered.

Danny shared that he was nearly homeless, addicted to drugs and alcohol and estranged from his family, had lost his hope of a promising career opportunity and suffered from severe depression.  He came to Grossmont College to turn his life around and to begin his college education in spring 2010.  He became an Honors Student, became active in student clubs and followed his passion in psychology.  He specifically mentioned people like Nancy Davis (Career Center), John Oakes (Honors Coordinator), Mary Rider (Transfer Center), Peg Marcus (student leader) and Teresa Jacob (Psychology Professor).  His story is one of the many success stories that you help make possible.  Not only did Danny complete his educational journey with us, he has now been sober for 3 years and attributes his growth, maturity and leadership to his experiences at the college.  He will enter Stanford University this fall to continue his studies in Psychology.   Click here for Danny’s entire speech. http://santee.patch.com/articles/photos-grossmont-college-2012-graduation-ceremony#video-10138083

Danny’s legacy to Grossmont College is an effort aimed at helping future Grossmont students through a student to student peer counseling club which he helped to establish with Professor Jacob.  Many thanks to Danny for enriching our lives by his presence and contributions.  And my deepest gratitude to each of you for the significant impact you make on the hearts and minds of our students!

ADDITIONAL GRADUATIONS

My congratulations are extended to other graduations:

·         The pinning ceremony held May 29 for our School of Nursing Class of 2012 honored 35 graduates who earned a two-year associate degree in nursing. The pinning ceremony is a tradition for graduations of new nurses. Also honored at the ceremony were faculty who are leaving, including Linda London, Joy Zozuk and Laurel Vanlandingham. 

·         The Grossmont College Police Academy celebrated on May 11 the graduation of 12 cadets who comprised the 32nd Academy Graduating Class. The 415 hours of training lasted about eight months, from September 10 to May 11. Individual award winners included: Academic, Daniel Welte; Esprit de Corps, Tony Sanchez; Top Gun, Robert Hays; PT Overall, Tony Sanchez;  PT Most improved, Andrea Yeager; Honor Recruit, Andrime "Joe" Quero.

·         The Grossmont College Corrections Academy held its graduation on Friday, May 18. Sixty-eight cadets were certified. The graduation marked the 10th year for the Corrections Academy and the 20th graduating class. Academy classes this year were held from Feb. 7 to May 18. Individual award winners included: Defensive Tactics award, Manuel Real; Most Inspirational Cadet, Roxana Zapien-Salgado; Servant Leader award, Quentin Jennings; Honor Graduate, Maeshia Dixon, a single mom with three young children. A recent audit revealed that nearly 800 graduates from our first 19 corrections academies are currently working within the County of San Diego at the local, state and federal corrections levels.  Over 85 percent of our cadets find employment in San Diego. In terms of employment, our Grossmont College Corrections Academy is recognized as one of the nation’s leaders in getting people employed.

·         Our Office Professional Training (OPT) program will be held today (Friday, June 1), with 23 graduates in the Class of Spring 2012. The graduates will be awarded more than $2,000 in scholarships, which they can use for further education and/or job search expenses. Two students, Patricia Gallagher and Vivian Horn, received national Insurance Vocational Education Student Training (InVEST) scholarships for $500 each. The OPT program has been training students at Grossmont College for 27 years since 1985. With the newest class of 23 graduates, we now have graduated 2,224 students from the program. Graduates have up-to-date skills for working in professional office settings in the insurance, accounting, and financial services fields.

·         Grossmont Middle College High School will graduate 40 seniors on Monday, June 11, at 5:30 p.m. in the Main Quad. The high school is a collaborative effort between the Grossmont Union High School District and Grossmont College. High school students concurrently take classes for both high school credit and college credits for admission to a four-year degree. By the time they graduate from high school, most students have approximately 30 units of college credit. This year’s graduating class has earned approximately $295,000 in scholarships.

VOTE FOR GC AS SAN DIEGO’S BEST

Every member of the Grossmont College family is encouraged and requested to vote online for Grossmont College as the Best Local College in this year’s 16th annual San Diego’s Best Readers’ Poll from the San Diego Union-Tribune. Let’s not miss this opportunity. The competition is always stiff. Voting takes place this year from June 17 to July 3. You will need to be logged in to vote for GC. You can register to vote at www.utsandiego.com/bestof. If you try to vote and you are not logged in, you will be automatically sent to a login/registration page to login or create a new account. After you are logged in, you will be able to vote once per day per category. User registration is defined as one account per person. If it is determined that a user has created multiple accounts for the purpose of gaining votes, all of that user’s votes from all areas of Best of San Diego will be disqualified. Look for Grossmont College under the “San Diego Life” category. Grossmont was selected as “San Diego’s Best” in 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2010. Winners will be announced on Sept. 2.

RECENT HONORS

·         Dr. Evan C. Wirig of the Media Communications Department has joined the College Media Association (CMA). The College Media Association represents the people who advise the nation’s collegiate media newspapers, yearbooks, magazines, radio/TV stations and other electronic media. The association serves thousands of students and advisers across the U.S. and Canada. Endorsed by state, regional professional, college media associations and departments of mass communication, CMA communicates and works with professional media organizations and education associations on the local, state, and national levels. CMA members maintain strong lines of communication through electronic media. CMA also publishes College Media Review, the leading academic journal on advising collegiate media, available both in print and electronic. The CMA discussion list on the Internet also gives members the opportunity to gain quick advice from colleagues.

·         Don’t miss reading a terrific profile of Fred Benedetti, Music Department co-chair, in the May 2012 issue of San Diego Troubadour. The article is titled “Turning Points in the Odyssey of a Working Musician.” The article includes a 1973 photo of Fred. Here is a link: http://sandiegotroubadour.com/2012/05/2673/.

·         Congratulations to the newly elected members of the 2012-2013 Associated Students of Grossmont College, Inc. They include: Peg Marcus, President; Blake Davidson, Vice President; Andrew Schauf-Anderson, Comptroller; Laila Hamzai, Executive Secretary of Student Legislation; William C. Higuera-Burgos, Director of Publicity; Kimberly M. Paul, Director of Campus Activities; Board of Directors include Alexander M. Neofitidis, Andrew Schauf-Anderson, Christopher Foskett, Danielle Ramirez, Jimmy Smith, Michelle Jones, Sicarra Devers, Troy Goss and William C. Higuera-Burgos; Samantha Elliot, Student Trustee.

·         The American Chemical Society (ACS) has selected Grossmont College’s Chemistry Department as one of eight two-year community colleges in the U.S. to implement a self-evaluation study tool. More than 200 schools applied to the ACS for the opportunity to participate in the pilot program. The information gleaned from the self-evaluation process is expected to assist in program review and help identify a program’s strong and weak points.

UPCOMING CAMPUS EVENTS

·         To follow up on the extraordinary success of the 2011-2012 Henrietta Lacks Project, Grossmont College will participate in a parallel effort for 2012-2013 which will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the publication of Rachel Carson's landmark book, Silent Spring. Published 50 years ago this year, Silent Spring by biologist Rachel Carson is often credited with starting the environmental awareness we now take for granted. Many of her messages continue to resonate today. Similar to the Lacks project, the Silent Spring project will involve an unprecedented regional alliance among Grossmont College, five regional universities, the Ethics Center, the Reuben H. Fleet Center, and CONNECT.  It will address themes relevant to diverse academic disciplines, including but not limited to arts and humanities, social sciences, writing and journalism, economics, law, gender studies, ethnic and minority studies, urban studies and planning, environmental and biological sciences, public health and medicine, chemistry and biochemistry.  In addition to the variety of projects on our campus, Grossmont College will also be participating in a regional essay contest and a monthly series, “Exploring Ethics,” hosted at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center and open to the public

·         Denise Schulmeyer, Professional Development Coordinator, wants to remind everyone about two sessions on “Stay Fit While You Sit.” The sessions will be held on Monday, June 4, and Thursday, June 14. Both sessions will be held from noon to 1 p.m. in Room #220. Speaking will be Dr. Mario A. Mancini, a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, Qualified Medical Evaluator, and Board Certified Nutrition Specialist. You will learn how to avoid repetitive motion injuries, sit properly to avoid problems, improve your posture, reduce twisting and slouching, and break the pain and stress cycle. If you would like to have more energy throughout the day, be more productive and efficient and get more enjoyment out of work, then please join us. No RSVP is necessary.

Also, “Non-Defensive Communication for Front Line Staff,” a Professional Development workshop, will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 7 in Building #21, Room #235. If you ever had a student or co-worker who seemed to overreact to what you just said, or who is difficult to speak to or have a conversation with, then consider attending this workshop. This workshop is ideal for anyone who works directly with students. Contact Denise at extension 7769 or via email at denise.schulmeyer@gcccd.edu if you need additional information.

NEWS AROUND CAMPUS

·         Be sure to read “CRITICAL Changes Affecting all Grossmont College Students” on the college website, www.grossmont.edu.

·         For upcoming campus activities, events and performances, visit the Campus Events page at www.grossmont.edu/events/.

·         For recent print news clips collected by the Office of College & Community Relations, visit www.grossmont.edu/newsclips/.

PRESIDENT’S NEWSBURST

MAY 2012

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

This is the busiest and most joyful time of the academic year!  We have a number of events highlighting our student’s talents and accomplishments.  We feature exhibits, performances, guest lecturers and much more.  There are a number of student celebrations that highlight academic excellence, achievement, and perseverance.  We also recognize and celebrate the exceptional work and accomplishment of our employees.  I call it the “march to commencement” and others say the “season of sheet cakes and smiles.”  Whatever you call it, I hope you will make some time to participate and enjoy it!

The culminating event is on Thursday, May 31. We especially need our faculty members to participate in the recessional “Line of Honor.” That’s where our graduates walk past a line of faculty who have contributed to their educational experiences with us. The pathway will take our graduates, along with faculty, family and friends, to the Health and Sciences Complex grassy area for photo opportunities and additional refreshments. If you want to volunteer, please contact Agustin Albarran at ext. 7601. Our volunteers will make a difference in helping us provide a fun, safe and meaningful celebration! Our keynote speaker will be Diana Pico, a GC nursing graduate. Diana is married to Anthony Pico, the elected chairman of the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians. Our student speaker will be Danny McKay, who is graduating with honors and with an Associate Degree in Math and Science and a Certificate of Achievement in University Studies. For more information, visit the commencement website, www.grossmont.edu/commencement/.

Other graduation ceremonies include:

·         Police Academy Graduation, Friday, May 11, 6 p.m., Main Quad.

·         Corrections Academy Graduation, Friday, May 18, 6 p.m., Main Quad.

·         Nursing Pinning Ceremony, Tuesday, May 29, 5:30 p.m., Main Quad.

·         Office Professional Training Graduation, Friday, June 1, 6:30 p.m., Main Quad.

·         Middle College High School Graduation, Monday, June 11, 5:30 p.m., Main Quad.

COLLEGE RECOGNITION AWARDS

Please don't miss the opportunity to give your colleagues some well-deserved recognition at the College Recognition Awards ceremony at 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 10 in Griffin Gate.  This is one of the important ways that our college applauds and celebrates the good work of our peers. Recognition will include Academic Rank, Faculty Tenure, New Degree Recipients and Recent Publications and Exhibits, as well as Teaching Excellence Awards. Staff awards will include Vice Presidents’ Support Staff Recognition and Chancellor/Classified Senate Award recipients. We also recognize Faculty and Staff Retirees and Club Advisors. The Foundation for Grossmont and Cuyamaca Colleges will recognize Faculty/Staff Giving donors and present a “Commitment to Service” award. Also, we will honor Janice Johnson, Articulation Officer/Counselor, as our 2011-2012 Distinguished Faculty Award Honoree, and announce recipients of the President’s Leadership Award and Innovator of the Year Award.  Come slightly early to enjoy the refreshments, fellowship and great seating.

INSTITUTIONAL SURVEY

The Institutional Excellence Council recently deployed a survey asking for your feedback. These survey questions will provide important information on the college’s programs, services, processes, and opportunities.  Your honest feedback will help us to identify what is working well and where we might want to make adjustments. The college plans to administer an institutional survey each year as part of our continuous improvement cycle of PIE (planning, implementation, and evaluation), and we hope that you will continue to provide us your feedback each cycle. The survey will be available until May 25th. Please check your email for the log-in information.

NEWS AROUND CAMPUS

Ø  At the recent College Planning Forum, the word “local” was added to the college’s Mission Statement, which now reads: Grossmont College is committed to providing an exceptional learning environment that enables diverse individuals to pursue their hopes, dreams, and full potential and to developing enlightened leaders and thoughtful citizens for the local and global community.”   

Ø  As part of our 50^th anniversary celebration, adjunct History instructors Kristin Hargrove and Ann Marie Bryan have been videotaping faculty and staff who have been answering the question: “What’s great about being a part of Grossmont College?” Watch the YouTube video: http://youtu.be/yDl5_svxUXc. 

Ø  This summer will mark the third year of Grossmont College’s participation in the Life Science Summer Institute in collaboration with the Southern California Biotechnology Center, San Diego Workforce Partnership, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla Institute of Allergy and Immunology (LJIAI), and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. High school juniors and seniors will be at Grossmont from Monday, June 18 to Thursday, June 21, for a grant-funded Biotechnology Skills "Bootcamp" to be taught by Grossmont Biology faculty in preparation for 7-week internships at Scripps, Salk or LJIAI. The success of this program at Grossmont has led to statewide and national interest in further expansion. 

RECENT HONORS

Ø  One of Grossmont College’s finest, Pat Murray, Health Science Lab Technician, has been awarded with a 2012 Community College Classified Employee of the Year award. Pat recently received her award this week at a Board of Governors meeting in Sacramento. The statewide award honors community college classified employees who demonstrate the highest level of commitment to professionalism and community colleges. Pat was one of five classified employees to receive this year’s award among some 100 nominations. There are 24,000 classified employees in the California community college system. Pat was nominated by her colleagues and endorsed by the GCCCD Governing Board. Congratulations, Pat!

Ø  ASGC held its 50th annual Academic/Service Awards on April 25 in Griffin Gate. Outstanding student leaders were recognized for their academic, service, and student life achievements during the 2011-2012 academic year. Among the Division Honor Awards winners: Katherine Rainey, Arts, Languages and Communication; Bobby Morris, Career Technical Education/Workforce Development; Daniel McKay, English & Social/Behavioral Sciences; Carlos Paz, Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Exercise Science/Wellness. In addition, Guadalupe Sandoval-Garcia and Tyler Ormsby were named Athletes of the Year, Akashi Panchal was named International Student of the Year, and Carlos Paz and Arianna Nevins were named Woman and Man of Distinction, respectively. The Action Club was honored as Most Outstanding Club of the Year, and Jim Tolbert, Action Club advisor, was named Club Advisor of the Year. Irene Bauza was honored for the Most Significant Contribution to Student Government.

Ø  Adjunct instructor of English, Joseph LePetri has been chosen as one of three San Diego Unified School District 2012 Teachers of the Year. Here is a link to a newspaper article: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/may/04/sd-unifieds-teachers-of-the-year/

Ø  Ron Adams, General Maintenance Worker, reports that his son, a former Grossmont student, is now playing with David Cook’s band and is opening for Jon Bon Jovi. Ron’s son recently played in Las Vegas.

Ø  Isaac Arguelles, one of our own GCCCD interpreters, was recently honored by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama who presented Isaac with the khatag, a traditional Tibetan ceremonial scarf. Isaac was one of the ASL interpreters for the Dalai Lama’s speech at Viejas Arena on SDSU’s campus. The Dalai Lama talked on the topic of upholding universal ethics and compassion in challenging times.

Ø  The Office Professional Training (OPT) program was recently mentioned in the Women Give San Diego blog, http://womengivesd.blogspot.com. Women Give San Diego has granted $15,500 the past two years in support of the OPT program, specifically to underwrite the salary of the program’s counselor, Laurel Klotz, a licensed marriage and family counselor who has served as  OPT program counselor for more than 12 years.

Ø  William Sneed, Media Communications, has been invited and accepted into the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) a professional organization of video engineers. William also belongs to the Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE) the Southwest Chapter of the National Association of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) the National Association of Broadcasters/ Broadcast Educators Association (NAB/BEA) and the BiNational Communications Organization (BINACOM).

UPCOMING CAMPUS EVENTS

Ø  The Theatre Arts Department will continue this week its performances of “Lost in Yonkers,” a play by Neil Simon and directed by Jeannette Thomas. Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. on May 9, 10, 11 and 12, and at 2 p.m. on May 12. When brothers Artie and Jay are sent to live with their Grandmother, they find out that their father’s family puts the “fun” in dysfunctional. Set in 1942, Neil Simon’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning play is a heart-warming, honest and funny look at how we define “family.”

Ø  The Career Center’s Adult Reentry Program will host “Now That You’ve Been Laid Off,” a free seminar featuring tips on getting hired again, from 2 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, May 9, in Griffin Center, Building #60, Room #140. Admission is free. The speaker will be Tony Desylvester, a management trainer.

Ø  The Grossmont College Hyde Art Gallery is proud to present “Grossmont College Art Student Exhibition 2012.” You are cordially invited to view this exhibition that opened on May 7 and will close on May 17. This 256-piece exhibition is a cross-section of art produced by art students resulting from their studies within the department. The student award presentation event honoring these emerging artists will be held on Tuesday, May 15th, from 7 to 9 p.m.

Ø  The Grossmont College Guitar Guild will present “Blurring the Edges,” a benefit concert for the Grossmont Guitar Guild Scholarship Fund featuring performance by Grossmont College guitar instructor Fred Benedetti and cousins Peter Sprague on guitar and Tripp Sprague on saxophone, at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 11, in Building #26, Room #220. The public is invited to attend. Cost to attend is $10 per person general admission. Tickets are available at the door.

Ø  The Grossmont College Dance Department will present its final Spring 2011 Master Dance Class on Friday, May 11 in the Dance Studio, 24-271. Guest instructor Michael Kielbasa will teach West Coast Swing from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Guest instructor Suanne Forbes-Vierling will teach African Dance from 12:45 to 2:15 p.m. Cost is $10 per class, or $18 for both classes.

Ø  The Grossmont College Symphony Orchestra and Master Chorale will present two performances of “Resonantes Musica,” featuring the music of Morten Lauridsen, at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 11, at All Saints Episcopal Church, 625 Pennsylvania Ave., San Diego, and at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 12, at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, 7710 El Cajon Blvd., La Mesa. Admission is free, however a freewill offering will be held.

Ø  The Communication Department will present members of the Intercollegiate Speech and Debate Team in a showcase of debaters and speakers starting at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 12, in Building #26, Room #220. Cost to attend is $8 per person for general admission and $5 per person for faculty and staff. The event is a fundraiser for team travel expenses. Adult language will be used. For more information, contact Roxanne Tuscany.

Ø  The Music Dept. will host a fundraiser for its Scholarship Fund starting at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, May 14, at Humphrey’s By the Bay on Shelter Island. Cost to attend is $18 general admission and $10 for students.

Ø  The Department of Philosophy and Religion, with support from the World Arts and Culture Committee, will host a free presentation by B. N. Shen, author of The Uncrushable Rose, from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15 in Building #26, Room #220.  For more information, contact Zoe Close.

Ø  The Grossmont College Concert Band will perform its Spring Concert with the Madison High School Band at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 17, at Cuyamaca College Fine Arts Theatre. Cost to attend is $8 per person for adults and $5 per person for students, seniors and children.

Ø  As part of the Grossmont College Wellness Initiative, the Grossmont College Triathlon Club, along with TREK LA MESA superstore, will host “Bike to College Day” on Friday May 18. The Grossmont Pit Stop location will be in Parking Lot #1 from 6 to 9 a.m., and a “Bicycle Parade” is scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon in the Main Quad. Prizes, refreshments and activities are planned. If you would like to sponsor a rider, please contact Agustin Albarran at ext. 7600 or Pat Murray at ext. 7316. For more event info, visit www.grossmont.edu/wellness. Also visit the website for the volunteer-led Activity Group calendar and Fitness Courses schedule for May, along with the GC Biggest Loser Blog.

Ø  The Grossmont Symphony Orchestra will present “Americana,” featuring flautist Suzanne Kennedy, for two performances at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 18, at St. John of the Cross Catholic Church, 8086 Broadway, Lemon Grove, and at 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 20, at Paradise Valley Seventh Day Adventist Church, 2701 East 8th St., National City. Admission is free, however a freewill offering will be held.

Ø  The Music Dept. Jazz Studies Program will present “Jazz Night,” featuring Grossmont College jazz studies students under the direction of Derek Cannon, at 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 20, in Building #26, Room #220. Cost to attend is $8 per person for adults and $5 per person for students, seniors and children.

Ø  The Theatre Arts Department will present its Spring 2012 Theatre Arts Showcase at 7 p.m. on May 23 and 24 at the Stagehouse Theatre, Building #21, Room #247. Theatre students will perform musical theatre on Wednesday, May 23, and mime on Thursday, May 24. Seats will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Admission is free, however freewill offerings will be accepted.

Ø  The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program’s fourth annual Recruitment Fair will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 24, in the lobby of the Health Professional Building (Building 34). At the event, the OTA class of 2012 will be formally introduced to companies that have job openings for OTAs. The invitation list totals more than 60 companies.

Ø  For details on upcoming student club activities, visit www.grossmont.edu/student_activities/gc_clubs.asp.

Ø  For campus activities, events and performances, visit the Campus Events page on the college website, www.grossmont.edu/events/.

Ø  For recent print news clips collected by the Office of College & Community Relations, visit www.grossmont.edu/newsclips/.

PRESIDENT’S NEWSBURST

APRIL 2012

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

The college’s Planning Forum was held Friday, March 23^rd.  Approximately 50 faculty, staff, students and administrators participated in the day-long planning workshop.  As you know, this is the time when we examine what has been, what is, where we are, where we are going and what could be.  Through presentations, group and individual work, the participants engaged in reviewing data about the state of the college, educational master plan, progress on our strategic plan, student achievement, and student learning outcomes.  Through an integrated planning process, we reviewed our college’s vision and mission and made a minor modification.  We also collaboratively prioritized the goals for the next planning cycle.  These goals are listed below and should help units, departments and the college focus on priorities.  It is crucial during the extremely challenging economic times that we focus our limited resources behind our college priorities.  Times are tough but at Grossmont College the tough keep going!

Goals for 2013/14:

Provide an exceptional learning environment to promote student success

Respond to changing community needs

Promote institutional effectiveness

Enhance workforce preparedness

VOLUNTEERING AT COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE

I am writing to say thanks in advance to all faculty, staff and administrators. Your support and participation for the upcoming 50th Anniversary Community Open House on April 13 and 14 will make this event unprecedented in the 50-year history of the college. Thank you again for giving of your time and talents to help us showcase the academic excellence of Grossmont College.

As we inch closer to the event in less than two weeks, let me express my appreciation for helping us spread the news and in encouraging your friends and neighbors to attend. This fun-filled, family-oriented festival will showcase the college’s outstanding programs, faculty, staff and students.  Interactive learning exhibits, activities and performances will showcase the latest innovations in educational programs and technology hosted by the various departments and disciplines, including theatre arts, music, health professions, culinary, math and English, and Exercise Science and Wellness. We especially need every available body to help Grossmont College set a world’s record in the Main Quad at noon on Saturday, April 14.

We need your help! Community members, staff, faculty, students and family (over 18) are welcome and encouraged to volunteer for the event! Please take a minute and fill out the online volunteer form. Sign-ups and more details are available on our college’s 50th Anniversary Celebration website, www.grossmont.edu/50years. Forward it to your friends, neighbors, former GC employees, and others who might want to be involved. All volunteers will be asked to complete a waiver form. If you have any questions about volunteering, please contact Pat Murray at ext. 7316. Your support and participation will make our college proud. Honestly, I don't know how I can ever thank you enough!

CLASSIFIED STAFF APPRECIATION DAY

Classified Staff Appreciation Day was held on April 2 (Monday of Spring Break) on the Grossmont campus. The theme was “Enriching Classified – Mind, Body & Soul,” and the keynote speaker was Pam Smith of the County of San Diego’s Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) and Aging & Independence Services. The many raffle prizes included a beautiful hard body guitar donated by Taylor Guitars, and Bradford Portraits donated a $5,000 portrait package.

GROSSMONT COLLEGE FRIENDS OF MUSIC

The Grossmont College Friends of Music will host its second annual Friends of Music Gala fundraiser to benefit the Grossmont College Symphony and Master Chorale from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, April 28, at Griffin Center, Grossmont College’s new Student Center. Admission is $50 per person. Corporate sponsorships are available for $750 for a table of 8. The event will feature live music, dinner, and a silent auction, along with an opportunity drawing. For more information, call Lisa Oberndorfer at (619) 743-2010, or lisakay@gmail.com. To purchase tickets, please visit www.grossmontsymphony.tix.com.

BRAD DALUISO GOLF CLASSIC

The Foundation for Grossmont and Cuyamaca Colleges, the non-profit organization that directly supports students, faculty and staff at both colleges through scholarships and educational equipment, supplies and programs, will host the 10th annual Brad Daluiso Golf Classic, a fundraising tournament, starting at 11 a.m. (shotgun start) on Friday, May 4, 2012, at the Sycuan Golf & Tennis Resort, 3007 Dehesa Road, El Cajon. Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the Grossmont College Athletics Programs. Player spots are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Entry donation to play is $250 per person, which includes green fees, cart, a fitting for TaylorMade clubs, tee prizes, goodie gift bag, unlimited range balls, putting contest, course games, raffle tickets, BBQ steak lunch, snacks, beverages, player awards and after-golf awards reception.  Sponsorship opportunities are available and donations of merchandise and/ professional services for the silent auction and raffle are welcomed. Please share this information with your circle of contacts. Event brochures are available for distribution. Please contact Laurie Corbin at 619-644-7109 or laurie.corbin@gcccd.edu with any questions or to receive brochures to share. You may also drop by the Foundation office to pick up your supply of brochures. Our thanks again to Brad who lends his name, talents and time to making this an annual premier event. For registration information, visit www.foundation.gcccd.edu.

RECENT HONORS

Speech and Debate

Congratulations to Grossmont’s Speech/Debate Team for their success against 42 colleges and universities at the Pacific Southwest Collegiate Forensics Association’s Spring Championship Tournament. Recognition was earned by the following students.

·         Darron DeVillez, 1st Place in Jr. Division of Program Oral Interpretation

·         Gabi Johnson, 2nd Place in Novice Division of Prose Interpretation

·         Ali Majed, Bronze Award in Jr. Parliamentary Debate and 6th Place Speaker Award in Jr. Parliamentary Debate.

·         Vanessa Spear, Bronze Award in Jr. Parliamentary Debate

·         Darron DeVillez, Bronze Award in Novice Parliamentary Debate

·         Joey Zaliagiris, Bronze Award in Novice Parliamentary Debate

Honors

·         Honors student Ralf Schuster received the Director’s Award for the HTCC (Honors Transfer Council of California) conference last week in Irvine. This is the top award given to honors students in California community colleges. His award was for research done in a Science 110 -- Introduction to Scientific Thought class last Fall. His will receive $1,000 and his work will be published in a professional journal. Also to be honored at the conference: Daniel McKay received an Exemplary Achievement Award; Heather Roth received for her Henrietta Lacks essay.

·         Donald H. Harrison, creator and editor of San Diego Jewish World, an online newspaper, and an adjunct instructor for the class that produces the student newspaper called The Summit, has written a story about Tate Hurvitz, Assistant Professor, Department of English, and Tate’s work on the Henrietta Lacks Project. Here is a link to the article. http://www.sdjewishworld.com/2012/03/20/interdisciplinary-inter-campus-movement-expands-in-san-diego-grossmont-college-english-prof-hurvitz-helps-shape-trend/

CAMPUS EVENTS

·         The Hyde Art Gallery’s “Beyond the Limit,” a ceramics exhibit with works by Kelly Berning, Yoonchung Kim and Sasha Koozel Reibstein, runs through April 12.  This exhibition features 42 pieces, including dancing tea pots that resemble human forms, ceramic boxes with the history of ceramics in the Korean language and ceramic internal organs.

·         The Grossmont College Dance Department will present “Entrances and Exits,” a faculty-choreographed dance concert featuring performances by Grossmont College dance students demonstrating various genres of dance. Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 26, 27 and 28. All performances will be held at the Kroc Theatre, and feature dance performances in salsa, tap, ballet, contemporary, modern and hip hop. Admission is $12 per person at the door. For more information, phone the Grossmont College Dance Dept. at (619) 644-7766, or visit www.grossmont.edu/dance.

·         The Grossmont College Creative Writing Program and the World Arts and Cultures Committee are thrilled to present the 16th Annual Literary Arts Festival to be held April 24-May 3. The festival will feature award-winning authors as well as showcase talent from the campus and community. Highlights of this year's festival include author Sandra Cisneros, an American novelist, short-story writer, essayist and poet.  Cisneros is best known for her novel House on Mango Street. She will read and sign books on Thursday, April 26 at 7 p.m. in Griffin Gate. Additionally, Grossmont College welcomes Tim O'Brien's in Week 2 of the Festival. O'Brien, considered one of our greatest living American authors and inspirational speakers, is best known for his novel The Things They Carried. O’Brien will lecture and read from his work on Thursday, May 3 at 2 p.m. in Room 220. All events are free and open to the public. Professional Development credit is available for faculty. For additional information, contact Sydney Brown at (619) 644-7523 or visit the campus website at www.grossmont.edu/english/Festival.

·         The 50th annual Associated Students of Grossmont College, Inc. and Inter-Club Council Scholarship and Service Awards Ceremony will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 25 in Griffin Gate.  A pre-reception will be held outside of the Griffin Gate at 5:30 p.m. Outstanding student leaders will be recognized for their academic, service, and student life achievements during the 2011-2012 academic years. For more information, contact Barbara Bender, ASGC, Inc. secretary, at Barbara_Bender@gcccd.edu.

·         The Theatre Arts Department will present “Lost in Yonkers,” a play by Neil Simon and directed by Jeannette Thomas, at 7:30 p.m. on May 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11 and 12, and at 2 p.m. on May 5 and 12. When brothers Artie and Jay are sent to live with their Grandmother, they find out that their father’s family puts the “fun” in dysfunctional. Set in 1942, Neil Simon’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning play is a heart-warming, honest and funny look at how we define “family.” With an uncle who is a small-time gangster, an aunt with the mentality of a child, and a formidable, steely grandmother who struggles to understand love, Artie and Jay are thrust into a crazy world that they must somehow survive. Will it be the longest ten months of their lives? Or will they all learn that “love” comes in many forms?

·         For details on upcoming student club activities, visit www.grossmont.edu/student_activities/gc_clubs.asp.

·         For recent print news clips collected by the Office of College & Community Relations, visit www.grossmont.edu/newsclips/