The
Merritt Connection
March 31, 2016
Dr. Norma Ambriz-Galaviz, President
Inside this Issue
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President’sNews&Notes
MerrittPTKMemberWinsStatewideHonor
GreenJobsCenterOpenatENVMT
ProfessionalDevelopmentBooksatLibrary
EasterEggHuntThrillsKidsandAdults
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PuenteConferenceInspiresMerrittTeam
CTEandScienceBuildingToursAbound
OUSDTourtoPrepareforRegistration
Announcements&Events
SuggestionsforSharingYourNews!
President’s News & Notes
Chancellor Laguerre to Deliver Gift of Soccer Balls to Haitian Children
The athletic departments at Merritt, Contra
Costa, and Solano colleges teamed up to
provide soccer balls to Haitian children to be
delivered by PCCD Chancellor Jowell
Laguerre. They recently joined together on the
soccer field of Merritt College for a photo shoot to show off
the shiny new balls. “We all believe it's our mission at the
community college level to reach out not only in our
neighborhoods, but to globally assist young people and
build goodwill,” said John Wade, Contra Costa’s athletic
director, who added that the gesture was purely voluntary with no college funds involved. “We are extremely
fortunate that Chancellor Laguerre will be able to transport the soccer balls to Haiti for the children.” Pictured:
President Norma Ambriz-Galaviz, Chancellor Jowel Laguerre, and representatives from the athletic
departments at Merritt, Contra Costa, and Solano Colleges. (Photo credit: Birhon Quizhpe)
PTKMemberfromMerrittHonoredAmong93StatewideforScholarshipandLeadership
MerrittPTKmemberXiaokai(Kaiey)Zheng,whomovedtotheU.S.from
Chinajustthreeyearsagowithplanstopursueacareerinhealth,was
among93membersinCaliforniatobenamedtothePhiThetaKappa
All-CaliforniaCommunityCollegeAcademicTeam.Thisannualeventto
recognizescholarship,leadership,andcommunityservicewasheldon
March24attheSacramentoConventioncenter,hostedbythe
CommunityCollegeLeagueofCalifornia.PresidentNormaAmbrizGalavizandFaculty/ChapterAdvisorBarbaraA.Dimopoulosattended.
“Kaieyisafull-timestudentstudyingtobeaDiagnosticMedicalSonographerandisdedicatedto
women’shealthissuesandeducation,”saysBarbara.“ShevolunteershertimeatKaiserHospitalwhere
sheuseshernativelanguagetofacilitatecommunicationbetweenpatientsandhospitalstaff.We
congratulateheronheroutstandingachievementsandthankherforrepresentingBetaThetaLambda
ChapteratMerrittCollege.Pictured:KaieyZhengwithMerrittPresidentNormaAmbriz-Galaviz.
GreenJobCenterOffersENVMTStudentsChanceforExperienceandIncome
InanefforttohelpEnvironmentalManagementandTechnology
(ENVMT)studentsfindemploymenttogetexperienceinjobs
relatedtotheenvironmentandtoearnmoney,programfaculty
initiatedaGreenJobsCenterthissemester.WendyWheeler,
ENVMTadjunctfacultymember,alongwithBethTeper,ENVMT
coordinatoroftheproject,findthatmanystudentswithapassion
forlearninginenvironmentalfieldsneedto
worktoallowthemthefinancialabilityto
continuetheireducation.“These
opportunitiesprovidestudentswithkey
skillsandreferencestoaddtotheir
resumesandoftenleadtofull-timeemploymentdowntheroad,”saysWheeler.
“Additionally,ourenvironmentalclassesbenefitwhenstudentsbringreal-world
examplesbackintotheclassroom!”
BethTeperactivelyconnectswithlocalemployersandorganizationsinthe
communitytoexpandtheopportunitiesforstudentstofindsuccessand
implementenvironmentalsolutionsinourarea.TheEastBayRegionalPark
DistrictrecentlybeganofferingpaidinternshipstoMerrittstudentsthathave
traditionallybeenallottedtofour-yearcollegestudentsbecauseofthequalityandrelevanceofMerritt’s
ENVMTcoursesandthecaliberofthestudents.SeveralMerrittstudentshavealreadybeenhiredas
StudentAids,RecreationLeaders,FieldInterns,andRanger/Naturalists.“Whenstudentshelpbuildan
environmentallysustainable,sociallyjust,communityforalltolivein,”saysTeper,“weallbenefit.”
FormoreinfoorreferralstotheGreenJobsCenter,contactBethTeperandWendyWheelerat
[email protected]:Topleft,WatershedRestorationclassatLeonaCanyon
Trail(offMerrittParkingLotE);right,WendyWheelerandBethTeper
–NancyCediwyn
NowYouCanRequestaProfessionalDevelopmentBookfromtheLibrary’sNewCollection
TheLibraryiswelcomingrequestsandrecommendationstoaugment
itsnewcollectionofprofessionaldevelopmentbooksrecentlycreated
toprovidepracticalinformationresourcestoadministrators,faculty,
andstaffinterestedinimprovingteachingandlearningatMerritt.
Using$7,000inStudentEquityfundingtomeetthisgoal,thefirst
roundofprintandelectronicbooksfocusesprimarilyonissuesof
studentaccessandachievement,includingassessment,online
education,pedagogy,publicpolicy,
socialjustice,andstudentsuccess.
ChemistryChairandinstructorJenniferShanoskirecentlytook
advantageoftheopportunityafterparticipatinginaweeklong
workshoponFoodChemistrysponsoredbytheNationalScience
FoundationandfundedbyMerritt’sPDCcommittee.“Ihadwantedto
developageneraleducationfoodchemistrycoursewiththeultimate
goalofencouragingawideraudiencetolearnaboutandlove
chemistry,”saysJennifer(picturedwithstudents)“Irequestedthebook,ModernistCuisine:TheArtand
ScienceofCooking,”asix-volumeencyclopedia-typeseriesofbooksthatcoversthetechniques,history,
andscienceofcooking.Iwillusethesebookstohelpdevelopmycurriculum.”
Checkoutthecollectionandspeaktoalibrariantofindoutmore!(Pictured:Lotsofnewbooksand
Dr.JenniferShanoskiwithstudents).
–NghiemThai
CareerClassesandtheBeautyoftheScienceBuildingAttractTourGoers
March4-Merritthostedmorethan40highschoolseniors
fromOaklandUnifiedSchoolDistrictwhoexploredour
programsandsawourbeautifulcampus.Thistourwasa
uniqueformat,asitwasinpartnershipwithStudentServices
andDivisionIIwiththemorningfilledwithminilectures
fromDr.JenniferYates(RadiologicScience),Demond
Simmons(EMT)andBrianRowning(Biosciences)who
highlightedtheskillsandbenefitsofourprogramsandlater
discussedthematriculationprocess.Studentsexploredthe
campusandwerewarmlywelcomedbystaffandfaculty
acrossthecampus(thanks,CoachMcMiller)!Bytheafternoon,overhalfofthestudentswerereadyto
becomeMerrittThunderbirds.Awarmthankyouforallofthosewhowereapartoftheeffort.Weare
excitedtocontinuethispartnership.Therewillbemanymoretoursscheduledthisspringtobringmore
ofourlocalyouthontoourcampus,sopleasetellmeifyouareinterestedingettinginvolvedinthis
effort!Pictured:DemondSimmonspresentingthebenefitsofMerritt’sEMTprogramtothegroup.
–RachelAntrobus
March16–AninquisitivegroupofChabotCollegesciencefaculty,staff,andadministratorsmadean
exploratoryvisittoourBarbaraLeeScienceandAlliedHealthCenter,conductingresearchandgathering
informationforthedesignandconstructionoftheirownnewsciencebuilding.Thegroup,ledby
Dr.StaceyThompson,formerlyMerritt’sDivisionIDeanandnowChabot’sVicePresidentofAcademics,
spentaconsiderableamountoftimeobservingmanyofthebuilding'sunusualfeaturesanddetails,as
pointedoutbyDeanRosemaryDeliaandBiosciencesinstructorHankFabian,whogavethema
comprehensivetouroftheclassrooms,labs,andstate-of-the-artequipment.
One-DayCollegeWorkshopandTourGiventoLeadtoFallPeraltaRegistrations
Forthethirdyearinarow,MerrittpartneredwiththeTransitionPartnershipProjectandtheResource
TeachersofOaklandUnifiedSchoolDistricttoprovideacomprehensiveOrientation,Assessment,
CampusTour,andStudentEducationalPlanforstudentscomingfromCastlemont,OaklandHigh,Oakland
Technical,Skyline,andSojournerTruthHighSchools.WithassistancefromMariaSpencerofthe
WelcomeCenterandthestaffofDisabilityServicesfromMerrittandBerkeleyCityCollege,34students
participatedinOrientation,26studentparticipatedinAssessment,and23participatedinthe
developmentoftheirInitialStudentEducationalPlanfortheFallSemester.
ThestudentswereabletoindividuallymeetwithaDisabilityServicesCounselorinordertoidentify
coursesthatwouldbemostappropriateforthemfortheirfirstsemester.Weareproudlyofferingnew
courseswhichwouldbemostappropriateforthosewithneedsforadditionalhelpinthebasicsofMath
andEnglish,andweanticipatethatthesecourseswouldprovidepathwaysforsuccessineither
CertificateorDegreeprogramsforthefuture.
ThecoordinatorfromtheTransitionPartnershipProject,pleasedwiththetour,said,“Wehadagreat
turnoutfortheOne-DayCollegeWorkshopatMerrittCollege.Thestaffwelcomedusallwithopen
arms!!Itwasaveryproductivedayforourstudents.”ThankstoLeslynHenrywhoheadeduptheOUSD
staffwhichincludedLakishaBeverly,CarmenBuenger,andothers.Thisprogramwillensurethatthese
studentswillhavecompletedthenecessarystepstoregisterforclassesfortheFallandbesuccessfulin
thePeraltaCommunityCollegeDistrict–nomatterwhichschooltheyattend.
NextwewillbeofferingworkshopstohelpstudentsregisteronWednesday,May4andWednesday,May
11,from2to5p.m.inP-306.
–MaryCiddio
CampusEasterEggHuntBringsHolidayFuntoLocalChildren—andAdults!
Thankstocoordinationfromseveralstudentorganizations,
SpringBreakgotrollingonMarch19withafirst-everEaster
EggHuntforMerrittfamilieswhichbroughtnearly60adults
andchildrentotheMerrittcampusfortheevent.Whatwas
sospecialaboutit?MychildhoodmemoriesofEasteregg
huntsneverincludedindoorbowlingwithbunnypins,
miniaturegolf,musicalchairs,thegame‘SimonSays,’hulahoops,flyingsaucertoss,jumprope,soapbubbles,paddle
ballandmusicfromfavoritechildren’ssongs.Afterthe
traditionalegghuntonthefrontlawn,thechildrenwere
treatedtofreshlygrilledhotdogsandhamburgers,drinksand
othergoodies.Someoftheadultsreconnectedwiththeir
“innerchild”andjoinedinsomeofthegames.
StudentsfromAbilityCounts,StreetScholars,Unity,andASMC/Inter-ClubCouncil,andASMC/Inter-Club
Council,cametogethertofund,organize,prepareandhostthismagicalevent.Alsoparticipatingwere
MichaelPrice,acommunitymemberwhodonatedhis
grillmasterskillsandtimetoprovideahotlunchfor
everyone,andMerrittstaff:AbilityCountsadvisors
MaryCiddioandBarbaraDimopoulos,DeanRomeo
Garcia,andDr.ArnulfoCedillo,VicePresidentof
StudentServices.RandyDillardsetthevenueinthe
StudentLoungewhichwasdecoratedbyMerritt
students,andRonPerezprovidedtechnicalsupport.
ItsoundsliketheEasterEggHuntmaybecomeanew
Merritttradition,accordingtoJenniferHughes,Ability
CountsFoundingPresident,“Nextyear’sEggHuntwill
bebiggerandbetter!Pictured:Topleft:Children
huntingforEastereggs,Bottomright:AbilityCountsClubwithfacultyadvisorBarbara
Dimopoulos.
–BarbaraDimopoulos
PuenteTeamReturnsfromRegionalTrainingEnergizedtoTeach&Learn!
LastmonthIattendedthePuenteNorthernRegionalTrainingwithnewPuentecounselorJoseSalceda
andreturnedenergizedandeagertoshareournewknowledgewithMerrittCollegecolleagues,
administrators,andstudents.
Ahighlightformewasmeetingworld-renownedjournalist,SoniaNazario,authorofEnrique'sJourney,a
mesmerizingnon-fictionbookIuseinmyEnglishclassesthattellstheharrowingtrekthatthousandsof
unaccompaniedminorsfromCentralAmericaandMexicotakeinsearchoftheirmotherswhoworkin
theU.S.Thisbookhashadatransformativeeffectonmystudentsperceptionsofimmigrants.Manyof
themhavecriedbecausetheynowseedaylaborersthroughaverydifferent,muchwiderlens.Enrique's
Journeyhasreallyhelpedstudentsmakevisceralconnectionsbetweentheirownexperiencesandour
changingsociety."
Alsoduringtheconference,thePuenteStatewideOfficeprovidedthe
communitycollegeandhighschoolteamsareportofthelatestPuentedata.
OverallMerritt’sdatacontinuestoreflectsignificantpositiveimpacton
retention,persistence,andsuccessforPuentestudentsdespitethefactthat
statefundinghasdroppedfrom$85,182in2000-2001to$24,557in20142015forStudentAcademicPreparationandEducationalPartnerships.Says
Jose,“Itisvalidatingandencouragingseeingthatthehardworkand
dedicationofthePuenteTeamatMerrittCollegeistrulymakinga
difference."
Oneofthemostinspiringcomponentsof
thesekindsofPuenteTrainingsisseeing
whatotherPuenteTeamsaredoingat
theircampuses.OneEnglishinstructorpresentedadynamicworkshoptitled,"ConceivingAnother
World:DevelopingaCounterNarrativeThroughArt."Counselorsandinstructorsviewedfilmson
engagement,andwehadadiscussiononhowtoworktogethertosupportstudentsthroughemotionally
chargedmaterial.Thesekindsoftrainingsplayatremendousroleinmyprofessionaldevelopmentand
commitmenttoeducationasI’malwayschangingthingsupandtryingnottobecomplacent.
PuentehasdemonstratedsuchremarkableresultsinCaliforniathatotherstatessuchasTexasand
WashingtonarenowestablishingPuenteProjectprogramsatsomeoftheircommunitycolleges
campuses.Onesuchcollege,HighlineCollegeinDesMoines,Washington,visitedMerritt’sPuenteteam
thisweektolearnmoreabouttheprogram,itscurriculum,andthesymbioticrelationshipbetweenthe
CollegeandthePuenteProjectwhichpromotesourstudentsuccess.Pictured:IselaSantanawith
authorSoniaNazario.
–IselaSantana
Announcements & Events
• Friday, April 1 – 1:30-3 p.m. Master Plan Town Hall Meeting
• Sat., April 9 – Track & Field Annual Home Game (see season schedule at merritt.edu/wp/track/schedule)
• Fri., April 15 – 6-8 p.m., Opening Reception, 17th Annual Merritt Art Show, S Building.
• Tues., April 26, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Quad – Community Health Fair, sponsored by Health Services
• Fri., April 29 – 7th Annual Achievement Awards Celebration, Scott’s Seafood Restaurant
• Wed., May 11 – ASMC Scholarship Awards
Share Your News with the Merritt Community
Please send your suggested ideas, articles and/or photos to Merritt Connection Editor Susan May at
[email protected].