WELCOME TO MESA E-NEWS, the monthly e-zine of college-wide events, activities
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SPECIAL SALUTE TO VETERANS ISSUE
Inside this Issue
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| Tribute to Vet: Fall Fest & More
| SVO In the Community
| Tennis Courts Refurbished
| Faculty About in the Community
Photo above and right : Mesa College Student
Veterans join other colleges and universities
at the Veterans Day Parade on Harbor drive.
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Mesa Salutes its VETS with displays, panels, workshops and more
Student Development and the Student
Veteran’s Organization (SVO) led the charge to
salute Mesa College veterans during Veterans
Week, November 10th. Joining in was Student
Veterans Services, the Student Health
Services, the Transfer and Career Centers, and
the Office of Communication. Following the
Tuesday holiday, the SVO held an open house
in the Vets Center in I-102. Comments were
given by Jordan Agricula, SVO President, VPSS
Julie Barnes, Dean Susan Topham and others.
Jerome’s Furniture was recognized for their
generous contributions of furnishings for the
center.
Students of Prof. Veronica Gerace’s
communications class presented a banner and
personal notes of appreciation to the members
of the SVO for their service to the country.
Also, on Thu., Nov. 6 Prof. Gerace invited
former homeless veteran, Stand Down
Graduate and advocate Sandy Borum to speak
to her the Intercultural Communications class,
and invited others to hear Borum’s powerful
presentation, which was presented to a packed
classroom.
Teaching and learning opportunities included
transfer and “Career Conversations”
workshops, a World War II Veterans Panel that
discussed the war that claimed more than
405,000 American lives and left more than
670,000 troops wounded; a campus clean-up
organized by ASG and the SVO; and a Veterans
Relaxation Tent hosted by Student Health
Services.
The Office of Communications assisted in the
creation of a poster display saluting Mesa’s
vets, which was on display in the LRC foyer
throughout the month of November. Featured
Vets included faculty and staff: Rick Cassoni,
Jesse Reyes, James Jaworski, Keith Cox,
Donald Abbott, Tonya Whitfield, Leroy
Johnson; and students Mario Romero,
Jhonnathan Chinchilla, Marcos Olivarez,
Brittany Medina, Michael Baumgarten, Logan
Black, Randi Cooper, and Jordan Agricula, SVO
President.
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Fall Fest raises funds to create emergency fund for Mesa Student Veterans
San Diego Mesa College is went all-out for
veterans on Veterans Day Weekend with Fall
Fest events benefiting programs the 2,000
student veterans who attend Mesa College each
semester. The day began with a 5K run/walk,
followed by a community street fair, and the
college’s homecoming football game, on
Saturday, November 8.
About 110 walkers and runners turned up for
the 5K race, a one mile run/walk, or the halfmile for disabled racers. The track ran through
the Mesa College campus, finishing on the track
field. The race netted about $6,000 in support
of runners.
The free community street fair also raised
about $1,200 dollars to support our vets, with
student groups and clubs, artisans, and
community vendors selling their wares. A big hit
was the delicious food offered Mesa’s culinary
students. This writer can personally attest to
the best potato chips ever tasted.
The Mesa College Olympians beat the El
Camino Compton College Tartars, with fun preand half-time activities including patriotic songs
sung by the Mesa Vocal Ensemble; the Kearny
High School Color Guard, and the popular t-shirt
toss by the Lady Olympian Volleyball team.
Thanks to everyone who participated,
volunteered and worked on Mesa's first FallFest
Run! See more photos at
www.facebook.com/sandiegomesacollege.
Mid-week Rally Raises Spirits
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MESA VETS PROVIDE FOOD AND CLOTHING TO SAN DIEGO’S HOMELESS
"Feed The People" is a project that was
started by one of our student veterans a little
over a year ago. “It’s a cool way to provide
food and clothing to the local homeless
population at several shelter locations around
downtown San Diego,” noted SVO President
Jordan Agricula The Nov. 29th event was the
second annual joint event between "Feed The
People" and the SVO. This year was the first
official participation from Mesa’s Associated
Student Government, who helped to raise
monies to cover the cost of the pizzas passed
out. Reports Agricula: “There was a total of 80
pizzas for a total of $400, which was in turn
used to help feed about 150-200 people. “
Student Groups Clean Up Mesa
Mesa College Student Veterans Organization invited the campus to join in and “do something
good.” Associated Student Government representatives and the Women’s Volleyball Team took
up the challenge and went out in force to clean up the campus on Friday, Nov. 7. The Student
Veterans Organization provides support, benefits, and emergency assistance to student veterans,
and welcomes all vets to join their group at
http://www.facebook.com/groups/MesaStudentVeteransUnion/
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Mesa College Cuts the Ribbon on Renovated Tennis Courts
Mesa College students are now playing on newly
renovated tennis courts thanks in part to the
Greater San Diego City Tennis Council (GSDCTC)
and the San Diego District Tennis Association
(SDDTA). On hand to cut the ribbon on the new
blue tennis courts on Nov. 18 was 90-year old
renowned tennis champion and coach, Ben Press,
president of the GSDCTC, and Anne Podney, Grant
Committee Chair for SDDTA. Pamela T. Luster,
President; Dave Evans, Dean, School of Physical
Education/Health Education/Athletics, and Michael
Hootner, Mesa College Tennis Coach, represented
the college. Also attending were members of both
tennis associations, members of Mesa’s men’s and
women’s tennis teams, Dr. William Reeves, Mesa’s
first tennis coach, Dennis Oppeltz former coach,
and Mark Pinckney, Women’s Tennis Coach.
.
“Tennis is an individual sport, but this truly was a
collaborative effort. We are very proud of
partnerships such as these so that our community,
as well as our student athletes, can enjoy these
unique courts,” said Dr. Pamela T. Luster, president
The GSDCTC donated $15,000 in matching funds
towards the renovation of San Diego Mesa
College’s eight tennis courts, which were
resurfaced in June. They also donated four tennis
nets valued at approximately $250 each.
The new blue-on-blue courts are used by Mesa
College’s competitive men’s and women’s tennis
teams, and USTA events. When not in use, the
general public is invited to use the courts free of
charge. The new, all-weather courts will also enable
Mesa College to better accommodate USTA Junior
events, tournaments, family day, clinics, and other
promotional and competitive events.
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Faculty Out and About in the Community
• Two 10 x 10 inch paintings by Professor Georgia Laris were
among 31 juried by Robert Pincus and Mark Lugo, and
included in the Synergy event held in November. As an
artist, Georgia transforms the support for the
painting. The surface becomes a new material.
• Writer, poet, and fisherman extraordinaire Scott
Starbuck published his “Manifesto from Poet on a
Dying Planet” at Split Rock Review. That issue will also
publish his poem "Bumper Sticker: Extinction is
Forever." Earlier this year, Starbuck was a Friends of
William Stafford Scholar at the "Speak Truth to Power"
FOR (Fellowship of Reconciliation) Seabeck Conference
on Hood Canal in Washington. Follow Scott Starbuck’s
blog
• Laurie MacKenzie sends a shout-out the fifteen faculty members who stepped up and were
selected as mentors to our 27 new faculty. The Instructional Mentoring Program (IMP) was
very successful because of the mentors involved and the support received from campus
administrators. The mentors are: Chris Sullivan, Jennifer Cost, Michelle Rodriquez, Elizabeth
Chu, Lupe Gonzalez, Judy Sundayo, Denise Rogers, Michael Fitzgerald, Toni Parsons, Donna
Duchow, Terrie Teegarden, Kris Clark, Leela Bingham, Kim Perigo, and Richard Chagnon.
“Thanks to everyone who had made this first IMP step possible.” Laurie said in an email. “I
believe we have truly helped new faculty understand, and be excited about, the large and
diverse institution Mesa truly is.”
Women’s Cross Country Takes 2nd
Coach Renee Ross reports that the
track ladies team The ladies did an
incredible job and took 2nd place in
conference just missing defending
their conference title by five points.
“We are proud of them as they have
qualified for the Southern California
Championships that will be held on
Friday Nov. 7,” emailed Coach
Ross. ”The So Cal Championship
meet qualifies them for the State
Meet. Our ultimate goal is to
compete at the State Meet in
Fresno.”
Stay Informed and Engaged
 First Monday on the Mesa. All of President Luster’s postings on important happenings on the Mesa,
Cabinet Agenda Outcomes and Cabinet Documents can be found on this link provided here. .
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