December 2018

Veterans Appreciation 1Signing Day for Martin and Banks 1ESCC Travels to Nevada 2Bishop Welcomes Land 2Men of Worth in Concert 2HACU: Building America’s Future 3Meet and Greet Halloween Fun 3PTK CEO Visits 4

Tehachapi Open House on Halloween 4Students Host Candidates Forum 4Umoja Students Host Kwanzaa Festival 5Duff Promoted to A & R Tech I 5Warp Trio in Concert 5Scariest Haunted House Around 6Foundation Feature: Giving Tuesday 6

Inside this Issue

Veterans Appreciation

In recognition of Veterans Day, the Veterans Club with support from Military and Veteran Services, invited staff and students to participate in the Wall of Courage 2018, a display of photos and a short bio of Cerro Coso Community College’s veteran students, faculty and staff. The wall served as a place to honor the brave men and women who have and are currently serving in our military. A special luncheon was held on Tuesday, November 13th, in the Student Center for Veterans along with an unveiling of the 2018 Wall of Courage. Each was presented with a special certificate of appreciation for their service. NURTURED. ENGAGED. CONNECTED. VALUED.

Signing Day for Martin and Banks

Two Cerro Coso Baseball players, Cole Martin and Tyson Banks, have signed letters of intent to play for universities next fall. Martin, a native of Ridgecrest and a Burroughs High School alum, will attend Colorado State University-Pueblo. Originally from Odessa, Texas, Banks will be attending the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. “This might be the best part of my job,” said Head Baseball Coach Justus Scott. “My most favorite part of this job is seeing these guys work hard for two years and move on to another school on a baseball scholarship.” He also went on to state 19 Cerro Coso baseball players have signed on to play collegiately over the last three years. Congratulations to Martin and Banks. We wish you much success. DIRECTED. FOCUSED. NURTURED. ENGAGED. CONNECTED. VALUED.

L to r: Heather Ostash, Vice President of Student Services; Jill Board, Cerro Coso President; Cole Martin; Tyson Banks; Justus Scott, Head Baseball Coach; and John McHenry, Athletic Director.

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ESCC Travels to Nevada

On Friday, November 2nd, 30 ESCC students and faculty traveled to Reno, Nevada, to attend the Nevada Transfer Bound Day at the University of Nevada. Many Cerro Coso students transfer to UNR, the closest university to ESCC, to continue their studies. The trip exposed interested transfer bound students to university life on-campus for the day. The students were introduced to the transfer process, degree programs, and services offered, and attended in-depth college major breakout sessions and a tour of campus and facilities including transfer student residence halls. Greg Kost and Matt Hightower chaperoned the event. This was ESCC’s 2nd Nevada bound student trip and they look forward to another great trip fall 2020. DIRECTED. FOCUSED. NURTURED. ENGAGED. CONNECTED. VALUED.

Men of Worth in Concert

Men of Worth, featuring Donnie MacDonald and James Keigher, once again delighted an Indian Wells Valley audience when they appeared in concert at the college on Friday, November 16, 2018, courtesy of the Cerro Coso Alumni Association. The concert featured the very best in Celtic music–songs that come from past generations as well as stories from present day observations. Donnie MacDonald, a Scotsman, and Jimmy Keigher, an Irishman, combine music with humor in a very special union that leaves an audience laughing and cheering for more. They have been recording and performing since 1986 and have gained popularity from audiences all over America, Canada, Scotland, and Ireland. ENGAGED. CONNECTED. VALUED.

Cerro Cosowill be closedDec. 24, 2018-

Jan. 1, 2019

Happy Holidays!

Bishop Welcomes Land

ESCC is very excited to welcome their newest team member, Sarah Land, the new Department Assistant II replacing Debbie Martell, who retired in August of 2017 after 28 years of service. A woman of many trades, Land came to Bishop from Yosemite National Park, where she worked in a variety of capacities – everything from hairdresser to wildlife volunteer in the bear monitoring program. In 2011, she decided it was time to pursue her education, and found that Cerro Coso Community College had a campus in Bishop, California. One of those people who makes an immediate impact, Land shows initiative, is willing to collaborate, and possess the ideal balance of experience for her new position. DIRECTED. FOCUSED. NURTURED. CONNECTED.

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Meet and Greet Halloween Fun It is important for new employees to learn the culture and people of an organization. Every other month the college holds a Meet and Greet to welcome new employees, celebrate staff milestones and promotions, enjoy a good lunch, and have some fun. The Ridgecrest campus knows how to have a devil of a good time. Paper dolls, scarecrows, rockers, and more! There was no telling who would show up at the door. Halloweens a spooky sensation – so the staff was invited to the October Meet and Greet celebration. Many dressed the part, whether creepy or sweet, and were served up tricks and treats. Chancellor Burke was on hand to witness the mayhem and mischief and other such frights…while sharing the scariest of all new budget estimations. A howling good time was had by all. CONNECTED. VALUED.

HACU: Building America’s Future

Professors Laura Vasquez and Lucilla Gonzalez-Cirre took a group of students to the annual Hispanic Association of Colleges and

Universities (HACU) conference in October. The theme for the conference was “Championing Hispanic Higher Education Success: Building America’s Future” held in Atlanta, Georgia. This year’s conference drew nearly 1,800 attendees for the three-day career development and networking symposium designed to build the career skills of undergraduate students. An increasing number of Hispanic students are entering college, but not many of them finish. What can we do to retain these students? Empowering the next generation of minority students to accomplish their full potential by working together to implement a more intentional approach is important. “Hispanic students are not the only ones unprepared,” stated Professor Vasquez. “Faculty have not been fully prepared to meet the needs of minority students. We need to champion diversity with an inclusive strategic plan.” Professor Gonzalez-Cirre agreed, “rather than asking if Hispanic and other minority students are college ready, we must support faculty and staff to be more student ready.” HACU’s Annual Conference provides a unique forum for the sharing of information and ideas for the best and most promising practices in the education of Hispanics. Students had a great time and learned a lot in the process. They met with several potential employers, and attended workshops throughout the day on effective interviewing and resume building skills, successfully managing their first corporate job, and money management skills. All agreed, meeting with such a diverse group of potential employers was the most exciting part of the trip. NURTURED. ENGAGED. CONNECTED. VALUED.

L to r: Professor Lucilla Gonzalez-Cirre, Ashley Douglas, Ruby Horta, Tanya Frandsen, and Professor Laura Vasquez.

Front (l to r) Amber Reed & Natalie Dorrell. Back (l to r) Fabian Meneses, Cheryl Fitzsimmons, Jan Moline, Tom Foggia, Jessica Kawelmacher, Katie Bachman, Rebecca Rock, Lacie Pena, Stephanie Brantley, Jamie McClure, Jennifer Curtis, Tom Burke, and Jill Board.

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PTK CEO Visits Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, the CEO of the national Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honors Society, visited the Ridgecrest campus on November 13th and 14th to connect with faculty and PTK students, promote the program, and answer questions regarding the value of the program. CCCC President Jill Board hosted a faculty reception with Dr. Tincher-Ladner in the new Community Room to share what PTK has to offer students. On Wednesday, she met with PTK students in the Administrative Conference Room over lunch and talked with them about the many services and scholarship opportunities available through the PTK organization. The CCCC Foundation recognizes the importance of the PTK Program for students and their future and helps to financially support the program’s travel to Catalyst and regional conferences, induction ceremony, events such as the Honors in Action, graduation regalia for all PTK graduates, and membership fees. In 2017, the CCCC Foundation provided 84 membership scholarships to join the national PTK organization and 237 scholarships in 2018. DIRECTED. FOCUSED. NURTURED. ENGAGED. CONNECTED. VALUED.

Students Host Candidates Forum The public was invited to a Candidates Forum on Tuesday, October 30, 2018, in the new Community Room at the Ridgecrest campus. The forum was organized by the Student Government of Cerro Coso (SGCC) to inform students and local voters about candidates running for the office of KCCD Trustee to represent the CCCC service area, Ridgecrest Mayor, and Ridgecrest City Council. Students researched a variety of important topics and developed questions asked of the candidates. “It’s important for our students to get involved in the political process,” said Katie Bachman, Director of Outreach Services. “Conducting a forum like this is an exciting experience for young people. It allows them to talk directly with leaders about issues they’re concerned about while gaining insight on how government works.” It also provides candidates an opportunity to express their views openly so participants can understand their positions and make informed voting choices. SGCC President Subber Dhillon moderated the event. ENGAGED. CONNECTED. VALUED.

KCCD Trustee candidate Jack Connell answers student questions during the forum.

L to r: Dr. Sarah King, Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, and Dr. Christine Swiridoff. Both Dr. King and Dr. Swiridoff serve as PTK advisors for Cerro Coso students.

Tehachapi Open House on Halloween(L to r) Kristie Nichols, Karee Hamilton, Anna Carlson, Lupita Zamora, and Nicole Griffin got into the Halloween spirit dressing like some of our favorite candies M&Ms. Did you know the iconic M&M is 77 years old this year? These sweet women took the time to dress up and play the part during the Tehachapi Open House on October 30! We appreciate their creativity, enthusiasm, and hard work on behalf of all of our Tehachapi and incarcerated students. NURTURED. ENGAGED. CONNECTED. VALUED.

Umoja Students Host Kwanzaa Festival Mostly celebrated in the United States, Kwanza is a seven day festival that celebrates African and African American culture and history and takes place from December 26th to January 1. Umoja students at Cerro Coso held a festival in the entry of Learning Resource Center on Tuesday, November 27 at the Ridgecrest campus to share the customs and meanings of Kwanza. There was face decorating, food, and information on the Kwanzaa festival created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966. Dr. Karenga wanted a way to bring African Americans together and remember their black culture. During Kwanzaa a special candle holder called a kinara is used. A kinara holds seven candles, three red ones on the left, three green ones on the right, with a black candle in the center. Each night during Kwanzaa a

candle is lit. The center candle is lit first and then it alternates between the red and green candles starting with the ones on the outside and moving inwards. The seven days and candles in Kwanzaa represent the seven principles of Kwanzaa: Umoja:Unity, Kujichagulia: Self Determination; Ujima:Collective work and responsibility; Ujamaa:Cooperative economics; Nia:Purpose; Kuumba:Creativity, and Imani:Faith. A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people. ENGAGED. CONNECTED. VALUED.

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Warp Trio in Concert The Music Department and SGCC presented Warp Trio in Concert on November 7 in the Lecture Center. The first event to be held in the Lecture Center after the big move, this eclectic trio from New York pushed the boundaries of music consumption through inter-disciplinary collaborations and eclectic programming that included electrifying original material, dynamic interpretations of popular music, improvisation, and unique takes on classical repertoire. Lying at the intersection of a chamber music ensemble, rock band, and art project, Mikael Darmanie (Piano), Ju Young Lee (Cello), and Josh Henderson (Violin) transported the audience to the next level of concert experience. The event was free and open to the public. ENGAGED. CONNECTED.

Latrice Donerson (left) gets her face painted by Jannah Bismillah (right).

(L to r) Students Teshaun Claiborne and Letia Bogan celebrate the Kwanza festival.

Duff Promoted to A & R Tech I

Congratulations to Robin Duff on her recent promotion to A & R Tech I. A 2001 graduate of Cerro Coso, Duff joined the staff in 2011 as a Department Assistant II for Special Services (now known as Access Programs). She moved to Ridgecrest when she was a junior in high school and then met her husband Andy, a native of the area. Together they have chosen to stay local and raise their seven children: Josh, Neil, Collette, Melissa, Aly, Bryce, and Hannah. DIRECTED. FOCUSED. VALUED.

Scariest Haunted House Around Not for the faint of heart, the SGCC’s haunted house proved to be one of the scariest in town. A haunted house and then some, hidden deep under the Classroom Wing at the Ridgecrest campus, it tops the list of scariest haunted houses locally for one simple reason: dedication to the fear. For those who wanted a haunted experience where maxing out their real life fear is the one and only goal, this was the place. Visitors had to be warned of the secret passages, ghastly secrets, and undead abominations, it was not just any old haunted house, it was a frightening adventure. ENGAGED. CONNECTED. VALUED.

The Coyote Howler is a publication of Cerro Coso Community College. For more information about the stories in this publication, or to include information in this publication, contact Natalie Dorrell, Public Relations

Director, at 760-384-6260 or email ndorrell@cerrocoso.edu.

BAKERSFIELD COLLEGE

CERRO COSOCOMMUNITY COLLEGE

PORTERVILLE COLLEGE

About this Publication

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Giving TuesdayThe Cerro Coso Foundation joined the movement of #GivingTuesday, a globally celebrated day focused on giving back to the communities in the spirit of the holiday season. This year the Foundation sought support for their newest scholarship initiative, the Cerro Coso Promise. The Promise is a scholarship intended for hard-working, dedicated students whom deserve an education, regardless of financial or personal status. The Promise will effectively reduce financial barriers to allow students to focus on completing their educational goals in an affordable and timely manner. This merit-based scholarship is unique in its support for students regardless of their financial situation. Thank you to all those who joined us in this global movement to help students achieve educational success! Every investment, whatever the amount, makes a difference in the lives of our students in very significant ways. It is a voluntary effort and tax deductible. DIRECTED. FOCUSED. NURTURED.ENGAGED. CONNECTED. VALUED.

FOUNDATION FEATURE

“The Cerro Coso Promise is a pledge to prepare students for the 21st century workforce and the pursuit of the American Dream without the added burden of unmanageable college debt. It’s a sustainable solution to college affordability. The Cerro Coso Promise is a commitment to the future.” –President Jill Board