Grads to Be Program Adds Free Legal Consults for Campus Community

Cypress College has been selected by the CCCCO, the Foundation for California Community Colleges, and the California Department of Social Services as a pilot school to provide free legal services to our undocumented students and neighboring communities. We have contracted with the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), to provide free legal services to students. This new service will further enhance our Grads to Be Program for undocumented students by providing additional resources and support.

If you are a student needing immigration legal services, CHIRLA, can help. They serve students, faculty and staff to ensure their rights and protections. The CHIRLA immigration attorneys and Department of Justice representatives provide culturally competent, reliable expertise with sensitivity to the trauma our immigrant community regularly sustains.

To book a free confidential virtual appointment, visit legal.chirla.org/ and select Cypress College.

Cypress College Reports First Student-Related COVID-19 Case of 2020-21 Academic Year

A Cypress College student who is currently enrolled in a class that meets intermittently on campus tested positive for COVID-19. The student notified Cypress College of a positive test result on Thursday, October 8, and was last on campus the morning of October 1.

Tracing information provided by the student states that appropriate protective equipment, including a face mask, plastic shield, and gloves were worn at all times when the student was on campus. In addition, the student did not have either direct or prolonged contact with anyone else on campus. The student reported no needs of support from the college and is self-isolating in accordance with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control.

According to the CDC, “A potential exposure means having close contact within 6 feet of an individual with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 for 15 minutes or more without Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The timeframe for having contact with an individual includes the period of time of 48 hours before the individual became symptomatic.”

While the CDC guidelines for potential transmission exposure to others was not met in this instance, Cypress College has notified all students in the course, along with the instructor and staff member who was assisting that day, so that they are informed about the positive COVID-19 result. To be cautious, Cypress College has encouraged each student enrolled in the class to self-quarantine at home and to practice physical distancing. In addition, Cypress College has made available its Health Center professionals to answer questions or to provide additional guidance and support to these students.

In advance of the semester, Cypress College launched its “We Above Me” Health and Safety Protocol campaign which connected the college’s motto with the need for safety precautions both on and off campus.

All participants in on-campus coursework and study sessions must complete a health and wellness screening in the college’s mobile app prior to participating. Students are not permitted to participate in on-campus activities if they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or if they believe they may have been exposed to someone with the virus. In addition, masks and social distancing are required at all times while on the Cypress College campus.

New On-Campus Charger Study Space Now Open

Cypress College is providing a new, safe study space on campus for students to use throughout the fall semester.

The study space will be available Monday–Thursday 7:30 a.m.–10 p.m. and Friday 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Make a mandatory appointment in two-hour blocks using the college’s Cypress Connect app. If you haven’t downloaded the app already, please download it here.

To complete your reservation time, please go to our COVID-19 module within the mobile app. Next, complete the required Wellness Check Form, also located in the COVID-19 module in the app, each time before coming onto campus. Wear a mask while on campus and maintain a distance of at least 6 ft. with others.
Additional guidelines are available below:

I made an appointment. How do I access the study space?
You may enter the study space using the designated access area from Lot 1 through Gateway Plaza only.

Will charging outlets be available?
Limited charging outlets will be available in the study space. It is strongly recommended that you charge all of your devices prior to coming on campus.

Will I be able to use the restroom while on campus?
Yes, there will be designated restrooms and hand-washing stations for use. You must wipe down or spray each area touched after each use.

Can I eat while studying?
No, food is not allowed in the study space. There will be designated areas for eating. Please ask a staff member about these designated areas.

Is it OK for me to attend a Zoom class while at the study space?
Certainly! To be considerate of others using the study space, you are required to use head/earphones if you are taking a live Zoom class that requires sound and interaction.

Can I go anywhere else on campus?
No. Students must stay in the study area only. When exiting campus, leave the study space area and return straight to your transportation. Exceptions will be made for students with an on-campus class before or after using the study space; however, these students are also limited to accessing only those areas at the entry point identified by their instructors.

What health and safety precautions are being taken to provide this study space?
You must wear a mask while on campus, and may only remove it when seated at your designated study space and at least 6 feet away from anyone else. Hand sanitizer will also be available to students at every table.

The study spaces must be wiped down and disinfected with provided materials by students and staff after each use, and the campus’ Maintenance and Operations team will do a nightly deep cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing.

Register to Vote, Help Cypress College Win Ballot Bowl

The California Secretary of State, along with each California higher education system and the Lieutenant Governor, has created the California Students Vote Project (CSVP). The goal of the CSVP is to help improve student civic engagement, the Secretary of State’s Office wrote in an email sent to California colleges and universities.

As part of this goal, California colleges and universities have been asked to participate in the second Ballot Bowl, a competition encouraging students to vote. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo won the last Ballot Bowl with over 3,000 registrations, according to an email sent by the Secretary of State’s Office.

Can Cypress College win this year? To do so, we need your help! Register to vote here.

Professor Jenelle Herman Earns Annual Diversity Award

Faculty member Jenelle Herman is the recipient of Cypress College’s 2019-2020 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award. Herman has served as a full-time member of the English as a Second Language Department faculty since Fall 2016. She also is an advisor for the LGTBQ student club, has been a mentor for the Legacy Program, serves on the college DEI Committee, and spearheaded the planning of Coming Out Day at Cypress College.

“This year one name rose to the top for her work in ensuring that all voices are heard at our college, for her fierce advocacy on behalf of our LGBTQ community, and despite her own personal fight with cancer this past semester, she has never stopped fighting for our LGBTQ students to be treated with dignity and respect,” President JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D., said during the award presentation. “Jenelle has worked tirelessly to advocate for preferred names on our rosters and in Canvas, for the need for gender neutral restrooms and is currently serving as the campus LGBTQ faculty coordinator, among so much more.”

The annual award is presented based on nominations made to the college’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Nominations are evaluated for individuals or groups that: Demonstrates outstanding effort in support of advancing the issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus and in our communities.

Cypress College Affirms that Black Lives Matter and Our Commitment to Racial Equity

As we begin our summer, the tragic events unfolding across our nation demand a response, so please allow me to affirm our commitment to our work in support of equity on the Cypress College campus. Recent events remind us, yet again, there is no escaping just how far we have to go to eradicate the awful stain of racism within our communities and institutions. 400 years after the first enslaved people were forcibly taken from their homes, 160 years after their descendants were “freed,” 60 years after the civil rights movement, we still live in a country where too many of our citizens cannot go about their daily lives without the fear that a trip to the store, a jog down the street, or a drive into a new neighborhood could result in violence or death. Each death, each act of bigoted violence, each moment someone is silenced or told they don’t belong, diminishes each of us. It is a pain that cannot be ignored.

As members of an institution of higher learning, we must continue our resolve to take racism seriously on the Cypress College campus and stand up to the institutional norms that cripple each of us, no matter who we are. The responsibility of living within a democracy is both a gift and a chore.

These are uncertain times but I am reminded that each generation has faced their own defining point; I hope this will be ours. I hope we will finally say “enough,” and stand together for change. Willing or not, change is upon us and we must choose a world where justice is offered to all. [Read Dr. Schilling’s full statement here.]

Cypress College is a member of the Equity Alliance. See the Black Lives Matter Task Force Recommendations.

President Schilling’s Board Report for July 28, 2020

The following is a report to members of the North Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees.

Presented by Cypress College President JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D.

on July 28, 2020

In the last month, our campus community continues to address the challenges brought on by the surge in COVID-19 cases, the continued commitment to addressing anti-racism on our campus and in our communities, and challenges posed by budget and declining enrollment. Despite our enrollment being up by 1% for summer, our fall enrollment is down almost 5%, an alarming trend. Although this is in line with other colleges across the state, the feedback we received from students indicated they would be returning in the fall. We are actively reaching out to all students who have missed a registration appointment to determine how we can assist and support. This summer has been anything but quiet and I am grateful for the faculty, staff, and managers who have delayed or shortened their own vacation time to address the important issues facing our college.

Community College Equity Leadership Alliance: Cypress College will be participating in USC’s Race and Equity Center’s Equity Leadership Alliance with other community colleges across the state. This alliance will provide the college with access to a 12-month curriculum led by racial-equity experts; an online resource library of rubrics, readings, and case studies; guidance on designing action plans; and climate surveys for students, faculty, and staff members. The first eConvening will be from 1-5 p.m. on Thursday, September 10. The topic will be Fostering and Sustaining Inclusive Classrooms for Students of Color. Attention will be paid to equitable teaching practices in virtual and traditional on-campus learning environments. A decision will be made on which participants will take part at this eConvening by the Equity Alliance Task Force at our meeting July 28.

Black Faculty and Staff Association Task Force: A group of Cypress College BFSA members have been meeting the past 5 weeks to identify and make recommendations on six areas for change as we grapple with becoming an anti-racist campus. These six subcommittees are: 1) Documents, Compliance and Policies; 2) Campus, District Committees; 3) Institutional Hiring Committees; 4) Curriculum; 5) Special Programs; 6) Student Needs. My thanks to the leaders of these committees, Annette Letcher, Fola Odebunmi, Daniel Lind, Virgil Adams, Renee Ssensalo, and Deidre Porter.

Black Minds Matter: The Cypress College Executive Team is taking part in the Black Minds Matter webinar series provided by CSUSD. This weekly series is offered each Thursday beginning July 16 and continues through August 13.

Our COVID-19 Response Team continues to meet throughout the summer to address planning for the fall semester. The Response Team is identifying the equipment, PPE, and other safety requirements for an eventual re-opening of the campus, when it is deemed safe. The C-19 Response Team is working in tandem with our Emergency Operations Committee to plan for C-19-related and other emergencies requiring a clear and informed response. As we have seen a spike in employee cases of C-19, we continue to modify our plan for remote work, and have developed protocols for those limited courses that still require some F2F instruction on campus.

Athletics moves to spring semester: The CCCAA Board of Directors overwhelmingly approved implementation of its Contingency Plan on Thursday, July 17, providing a return to intercollegiate athletics for the 2020-21 academic year that shifts all sports to the spring season. The return to athletics in January will only occur if it is safe to do so, a decision that will be guided primarily by state and local health guidelines. The Contingency Plan can be viewed here.

Food Distribution: Our food bank, which is closed during the campus closure, will be re-opening in August in collaboration with NOCE and Pathways of HOPE. The college will be implementing a weekly drive-up food distribution for all students on the Cypress campus each Tuesday, as well as virtual appointments to assist with student housing needs. Volunteers will be needed each week to assist.

Caring Campus Kick Off: We are happy to announce the classified employees who have agreed to be Caring Campus Coaches this year. They are: Summer Justice, Diana Domingo, Evelyn Lindley, Cari Jorgensen, Tayler Thomas, Mohammad Chaudry, Jodie Thomas, Sarah Barriga, Angela Haugh, Ayman Gadalla, Anne Marie Valadez, Ashley Berry, Temperance Dowdle, Belinda Allen, Cindy Lopez, Julie Vorathavorn, Vivian Kim, Gloria Ortega, and Cindy Cao. The upcoming coaching sessions are scheduled for: Session 1, July 28; Session 2, August 18; Session 3, September 15; Session 4, October 6. Thank you to Lisa Gaetje and Ruth Gutierrez for organizing our classified employees as part of IEBC’s Caring Campus Initiative.

Cypress College in the News: Our STEM(2) program was recently named as one of NASA’s 11 top community colleges in the nation for their work as a minority-serving institution. This honor comes with funding to help recruit and retain more underrepresented students in the STEM fields, while providing opportunities for research internships with NASA. Congratulations Yanet Garcia and the STEM(2) team!

For the third year in a row, Cypress College was voted as the Long Beach Press-Telegrams’ Best Community College, by its readers. This designation was given by readers and students at surrounding community colleges (including Cerritos, Long Beach, Golden West, El Camino, and Compton colleges) for our student-friendly outreach, support for students and community, and for being the college students most want to attend. Congratulations for the continued excellence of our faculty, staff, and administrators.

Congratulations is also in order for the Cypress College IT team for the recent recognition by Modo Labs at the 2020 Appademy Awards for Best Student Driven Mobile Application. Cypress beat out other institutions across the country, including runners-up Penn State and UC Berkeley, for this honor. We are very proud of the work performed by students James, Chia, Tareq, and Urjaa on the projects they worked on and for the support of our IT team to move us forward in the digital application ecosystem.

A reminder to our board that our Opening Day convocation will be held virtually this year on August 20 from 9–11 a.m. On August 19, the FLEX Day focus will be on Distance Learning, in collaboration with Fullerton College. The Opening Day event will feature a virtual guest speaker discussing the laws that support racism against our communities of color, followed by a panel of our Black faculty who will discuss their personal and professional experiences with racism. We hope you will join us for this virtual event.

Buen Cypress! We Take This Journey Together!

International Students Will Remain in U.S. After Federal Government Relents on ICE Plan

Last week we shared with the campus community that the Trump Administration, through Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was moving to expel international students from the United States unless their campus offered in-person instruction in the fall. Today, we have good news: at a court hearing seeking to block implementation of the plan, the White House reversed course fully — meaning our international students will be able to remain enrolled in the fall semester.

To those employees and students who expressed concern and advocated on behalf of our international students: thank you.

Cypress College is home to 160 students (30 new and 130 continuing on from last academic year) as part of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, known as SEVP. Both Cypress College and the California Community Colleges made immediate pledges to support our students. The State of California — on behalf of students enrolled in the California Community Colleges, the California State University system, and the University of California system — was among the groups seeking legal intervention.

Here is some information from the Associated Press (full AP story):

Facing eight federal lawsuits and opposition from hundreds of universities, the Trump administration on Tuesday rescinded a rule that would have required international students to transfer or leave the country if their schools held classes entirely online because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The decision was announced at the start of a hearing in a federal lawsuit in Boston brought by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs said federal immigration authorities agreed to pull the July 6 directive and “return to the status quo.”

Today’s decision is a full and complete reversal, according to NAFSA: Association of International Educators, which posted a partial transcript of the court procedures.

International students who have any questions can reach out to Yongmi Han, our International Students Program manager, at international@cypresscollege.edu.

Cypress College Supports Our International Students

We know that this week’s surprise announcement from Immigration and Customs Enforcement related to the status of international students across the nation is both jarring and stressful for many of us in the campus community.

Cypress College wants all of our international students to know that we stand with you and we are already designing a strategy to facilitate your continued education here in the fall and through completion. You have all already been contacted by Yongmi Han, our International Students Program manager. She and the ISP staff are available to you at this time via email at international@cypresscollege.edu, and our college administration is here for you.

Rest assured that her communication to our Cypress College international students is just the first of many steps. Cypress College, along with California’s other colleges and universities, will be working tirelessly to keep our students here in this country, and moving forward with your academic journey at Cypress College.

JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D.
President
Cypress College

Cypress College ESL Among the First in SoCal to Offer Transfer-level Composition ESL Course with UC/CSU Approval

The Cypress College ESL Department is proud to offer a NEW course: ESL 110 C College Composition for Non-Native Speakers (5 units). Starting Fall 2020, students have another option for freshman composition. ESL 110 C is among the first course of its kind in all of Southern California, and Cypress is one of only seven California community colleges to have an ESL course specifically designed for English language learners to complete their UC/CSU composition requirements.

ESL 110 C College Composition for Non-Native Speakers focuses on language. It meets the Written Communication requirements for both UC/CSU transfer as well as Cypress College AA/AS degrees.

ESL 110 C Fast Facts:

Approved for transfer to the UCs (IGETC 1A)
Approved for transfer to the CSUs (CSU A2)
Approved for Cypress College AA/AS degrees (A1)
5 units
Remote and fully online options available for Fall 2020

ESL 110 C is ideal for students wanting ongoing grammar and vocabulary instruction in their composition course. For more information, contact a Cypress College counselor or send an email to ESL@cypresscollege.edu.

Cypress College Named One of NASA’s 11 Minority-Serving Community Colleges

Cypress College has been named a NASA Community College Aerospace Scholar (NCAS) and was awarded $62,500 with the goal of attracting and retaining more minority students in STEM careers.

Just 11 community colleges nationwide were chosen as a minority serving NCAS, splitting a total of $800,000 in awards funded by NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP). The award will be used at Cypress College to increase diversity and inclusion in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields by implementing NASA’s evidence-based NCAS model on campus.

NASA on Campus engages students in NASA missions and research through blended learning experiences of online research and activities with NASA-affiliated research labs, museums, industry partners and NASA internships.

“This award provides even more opportunities to educate and serve our students,” Cypress College President Dr. JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D. said. “We are proud to be a minority-serving institution partnering with NASA, and honored to be recognized for creating access to underrepresented students in the emerging science and technology fields.”

Cypress College STEM students who successfully complete the five-week online course are invited to a four-day, on-campus engineering design and robotics competition. The competition offers first and second-year students a hands-on, collaborative engineering experience early in their college careers and further connects students with NASA content and experts in the STEM field.

“We are elated to be one of three California community colleges selected for this amazing opportunity,” said Yanet Garcia, STEM Program Director. “Over 160 of our STEM students will gain this NASA experience during the next four years.”

Cypress faculty will begin training this summer. Through a blend of individual and group online activities, the training will build toward a campus onsite event in fall of 2021.

For more information about STEM at Cypress College, visit cypresscollege.edu/academics/divisions-special-programs/science-engineering-math.

About Cypress College:

Cypress College offers students a pathway to their future in an environment in which employees commit to joining students on their educational journey. The college’s half-million-plus alumni include actors, athletes, doctors, executives, mechanics, nurses, and teachers. For some, Cypress College is the ticket into their university of choice, and for others, it provides essential training for a prosperous career. Just one Cypress College class is often all it takes to provide cutting-edge skills that lead to a promotion or a new job.

Cypress College’s 16,000 students and the highly qualified teaching faculty are proud of the many excellent academic and vocational programs. Cypress College offers 56 university-transfer majors, 174 career-certificate programs, and degrees in 98 areas of study. The college’s traditional semesters begin in January and August, while short-term courses start throughout the year. A Cypress College education costs $46 per unit — $138 for a typical, full-credit class — California’s lowest tuition. Financial aid and scholarships are also available to qualifying students.

Cypress College is one of three campuses in the North Orange County Community College District and a member of the 115-campus California Community College system. The college primarily serves the cities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress, Garden Grove, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, and Stanton.

Located at 9200 Valley View Street in Cypress, the college is easily accessible from several Southern California freeways, including the 5, 91, 605, 22, and 405. The campus is just a stone’s-throw from Downtown Disney and Knott’s Berry Farm.

In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, all of Cypress Colleges and services are offered remotely. Students can access support services online at cypresscollege.edu/coronavirus.

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Engineering Technology New Equipment Makes Program “One of the Best”

Engineering Technology recently acquired new equipment and software licenses to assist students. The additions have raised the quality of the program above and beyond others, according to Professor of Engineering & Engineering Technology Massoud Saleh.

“Our Mechatronics lab is one of the best and most complete labs anywhere,” as a result of the recent purchases, Saleh says.

The following is a list of the new additions:

Ten computer stations added to room 102, converting the lab to a computer lab
Eight units of Elvis III
Quanser sensor and mechatronics panels, for hands-on training of the students
A Parker Hydraulic/Pneumatic trainer cart (our system is the newer version that is more compact than the one in the video but has same functionalities)
License to LabVIEW. This is software that also can be used as a virtual replacement of some equipment for remote teaching. More information about LabVIEW can be found here:

“We were able to purchase a sample of almost every type of sensor out there for hands-on training of the students,” Saleh says. “These sensors can be connected to Labview for a realistic analysis of any system in form of a digital twin.”

Cypress College Among Initial Members of New USC-Based Equity Leadership Alliance

Cypress College is among the initial members of the California Community College Equity Leadership Alliance, an initiative from the USC Race and Equity Center formed in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd and nationwide protests. The alliance is an effort to move from words to action.

“Cypress College is committed to addressing institutional racism and improving the experiences and outcomes of our Black employees and students,” said Cypress College President Dr. JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D. “We have always focused on ensuring our students of color have access to a welcoming environment, a quality education, and successful results in the classroom. But we must do more.”

In the past week, the college’s Associated Students held a town hall, and plans are in place for similar forums throughout the coming academic year. A series of employee town halls have been organized and a campus wide equity retreat — originally planned for March, but delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic — is being re-scheduled in a remote format for the fall semester.

“Our students and employees want to know they will be seen and heard, and we must all be part of the solution to make sure we not only create a space for meaningful dialogue, but are a campus that allows for engagement to flourish,” Dr. Schilling said. “Our vision is to ensure we have the best people working here at Cypress and continue to hire dynamic and diverse employees who demonstrate compassion for, and commitment to, ensuring equity and student success.”

Joining the alliance is a significant step in forwarding the college’s goals on equity. The alliance will: help Cypress College improve professional development related to equity issues; provide access to a racial equity resource portal with tools for all campus employees; and administer a national campus climate survey to measure metrics such as belonging, encounters with racism, cross-cultural interactions, and more.

The alliance was formed by Dr. Shaun Harper, who directs USC’s Race and Equity Center. He is a nationally recognized expert on race and equity.

“Merely proclaiming in written statements that Black Lives Matter is insufficient,” said USC Rossier School of Education Professor Harper in a release. “I am grateful to the presidents who responded favorably to my invitation to take serious, strategic action to dismantle systemic racism, address longstanding racial climate problems and eliminate racial inequities on their campuses.”

For more information about Cypress College, visit cypresscollege.edu.

About Cypress College:

In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, all of Cypress Colleges and services are offered remotely. Students can access support services online at cypresscollege.edu/coronavirus.

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Cypress College Partners with National Guard in 22-Week Jobs ChalleNGe CTE Academy

Cypress College was awarded the 2020 National CyberWatch: Innovations in Cyber Security Education award for their work with Jobs Challenge last semester. This is the second consecutive year in a row that the Cypress College Cybersecurity Program is being honored.

The program is led by Ben Izadi and Russ Alizadeh and the Dual Enrollment team, led by Dr. Henry Hua, Stephanie Teer, and Stephanie Flores, was also involved in the effort, along with the Auto Technology program faculty. The Jobs Challenge program is a collaboration with the National Guard and Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos.

Last semester, nearly 50 students completed the California Jobs ChalleNGe, a 22-week residential career technical academy at Cypress College. The program was formed by the National Guard to provide post-secondary Career Technical Education (CTE) to graduates of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program.

The California Jobs ChalleNGe program provided CTE training and career readiness skills that will lead to gainful employment. Student participants earned industry-recognized certificates, college credits and selected between automotive technology, construction pre-apprenticeship and cybersecurity programs.

“We are so honored to have hosted this important program,” said Cypress College President Dr. JoAnna Schilling. “One of our Cybersecurity students, Noah Touchstone, broke the record on our campus earning the highest score on the CompTIA IT Fundamentals+Cybersecurity exam, and students in our automotive program also earned Cypress College certificates and achievement patches. Most important, every student participated in Career Professional Development activities to assist with potential employers. We are proud of our partnership with the National Guard and each of the students who participated in this program.”

Forty-seven students participated in the California Jobs ChalleNGe program graduation, held at the end of last semester. Program participants must be between the ages of 17 and a half and 20 years of age, have graduated from a California ChalleNGe Academy, have a high school diploma or GED, and agree to reside at the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base for the duration of the program.

Cybersercurity graduates Grace Motley, Ivan Torres, Noah Touchstone, and Daniel Uscanga were sponsored by the Western Academy Support and Training Center (WASTC) to co-present with Cypress College on the cybersecurity program at the WASTC 2020 Winter ICT Educator Conference in January at CISCO’s headquarters in San Jose, California.

Four graduates of the program have already accepted internships at local companies and are continuing their studies at Cypress College in pursuit of their associate degrees.

This year’s graduates are: Robert Augustine, Leann Avila, William Barela-Irvin, Edward Barragan, Jonathon Benson, Dulce Cardona, Kiley Cardona, Victor Castaneda, Nicholas Castro, Romero Clark, Jaden Crawford, Juan Delgado, Brian Elias, Zach Fretland, Justin Fuentes, Carmen Garcia, Arriana Gonzalez, Nancy Hernandez Tovar, Maleni Hernandez, Gilberto Jaramillo, Isaiah Johnson, Chantal Lopez, Sandra Luna, Ethen Magana, Isabella Martinez, Samantha Martinez, Anthony Mcgrew, Ricardo Mendoza Torres, Wendy Montoya, Miguel Moran, Grace Motley, Ruby Nunez, Alex Olivera, Natalie Omana, Dixie Palacios, Nathaniel Peralez, Kathy Perez, Maria Ramirez, Christin Rios, Ivan Torres, Noah Touchstone, Gabriella Urquidez, Daniel Uscanga, Joana Vargas, Juana Venegas-Jeronimo, William Washington and Jimmy Zamecki.

For more information about the Jobs Challenge, visit http://cajc.us.

About Cypress College:

Cypress College’s 16,000 students and the highly qualified teaching faculty are proud of the many excellent academic and vocational programs. Cypress College offers 56 university-transfer majors, 176 career-certificate programs, and degrees in 73 areas of study. The college’s traditional semesters begin in January and August, while short-term courses start throughout the year. A Cypress College education costs $46 per unit — $138 for a typical, full-credit class — California’s lowest tuition. Financial aid and scholarships are also available to qualifying students.

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Cypress College Earns 2 National Rankings, Ranked #3 Best Community College and #8 in Success Rate

The faculty and staff at Cypress College are doing their part to help students complete their goals, and it has not gone unnoticed. Cypress was named the #3 best community college in the nation by College Consensus, and #8 in student success among 4-year public colleges by The Chronicle of Higher Education.

“Our shared sense of purpose at Cypress College creates an environment committed to serving students and helping them reach their goals,” said Cypress College president Dr. JoAnna Schilling. “These two recognitions of Cypress College as one of the best educational institutions in the United States, validates the hard work of our faculty, staff, and administrators by making sure we live our core values and are focused every day on providing quality instruction and support services to our students.”

College Consensus ranked the Top 50 Community Colleges focusing strictly on regionally accredited, reputable institutions. Programs were ranked by three evenly weighted points: cost using current data from the U.S. Department of Education; reputation using Niche data; and success using Payscale data. With those factors, College Consensus ranks colleges according to their “success in providing a return on investment.” Cypress College was chosen as the nation’s third best combination of market reputation, educational quality, and rewarding income.

The Chronicle of Higher Education noted that low graduation rates at two-year public colleges inadequately reflect “the value of these colleges to students.” The Chronicle List ranks colleges that mainly serve students who are seeking an associate degree or preparing to transfer to a four-year institution by the percentages of first-time, full-time students who completed within 150 percent of the normal time, transferred to another higher-education institution, or were still enrolled at the original college.

Among “4-year public colleges that primarily offer associate degrees,” Cypress earned the 8^th highest percentage – 72.1% – of its students completed, transferred, or are still enrolled.

For more information about Cypress College, visit cypresscollege.edu.

About Cypress College:

In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, all of Cypress Colleges and services are offered remotely. Students can access support services online at cypresscollege.edu/coronavirus.

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Dance Department Presents Annual ‘People in Motion’ Virtually

Every year since the 1980s, the Cypress College Dance Department has put on its People in Motion dance concert. With the campus closure due to COVID-19, there was a possibility of not holding the concert. However, in an effort to continue the tradition, People in Motion was performed virtually.

Students and faculty came together via the internet to present what they’ve worked so hard on throughout this semester. Check it out on YouTube.

Cypress College Commencement Efforts Lauded in News Coverage

Media coverage of Cypress College’s amazing 53rd Commencement ceremony on May 22, 2020 continues to come in. Today, Kylie Christensen, one of nine Presidential Scholars of Distinction, was profiled by Adolfo Guzman-Lopez of KPCC-FM and LAist.

Christensen, who represents the Fine Arts pathway, was the subject of both an audio and a written profile.

The commencement was also covered by David N. Young at the Event-NewsEnterprise. The feature highlighted 2020 Outstanding Graduate Elise Cunanan and the Presidential Scholars of Distinction: Brandon Nguyen, Business/CIS; John Lasater, CTE; Christensen, Fine Arts; Christina Williams, Health Science; Frankie Islas, Kinesiology; Nate Garcia, Language Arts; Anh Nguyen, L/LRC; Connor Kilzer, SEM; and Sarah Queneau, Social Sciences. Young also highlighted the Academic Senate’s faculty awards — which were presented to all full-time faculty, all adjunct faculty, and Distance Education Coordinator Kathleen McAlister. The awards recognize the tremendous effort necessary to transition the college from in-person instruction to remote nearly overnight in mid-March.

On Wednesday, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office spotlighted Cypress College, specifically the work of the Charger Experience team with a photograph and caption at the top of their daily report: “Members of Cypress College’s Charger Experience team pause for a photo while distributing regalia to the college’s Promise students. The drive-up distribution supported participation in Cypress College’s virtual commencement on May 22. The Charger Experience Program supports the college’s Pledge/Promise students and their transition into college, connecting them to services and people on campus to help ensure a successful higher education experience.”

Finally, on the Sunday prior to commencement, the Times Orange County printed an article about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on OC graduations (the article also appeared online earlier that week). The coverage included a color photograph of Cunanan. Ada Tseng of the Times wrote: “The processional will include a 2019-20 highlight video, a roll call of graduates, as well as a video of their 2020 Outstanding Graduate Elise Cunanan and their 2020 Presidential Scholars of Distinction. President JoAnna Schilling, Chancellor Cheryl Marshall, Academic Senate President Craig Goralski, Associated Students President Presten Jimenez and Student Trustee Ester Plavdjian will give remarks.”

A complete recap, including the full video along with individual segments, is available online.

Aviation Department Coordinator Flies In Memorial Day Tribute

Capt. Ed Valdez, Cypress College’s aviation instructor, participated in a well-publicized Memorial Day tribute. He was among the aviators aboard the “Flabob Express,” a World War II-era DC-3 that flew in the lead group.

In all, about 14 vintage aircraft flew as the “D-Day Express” across Southern California on Monday, May 25, crossing above landmarks in San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, and Los Angeles counties.

Valdez is aboard the light-colored plane in this group of three Douglas DC-3 aircraft.

Valdez is the department coordinator for Cypress College’s Aviation & Travel Careers Department , as well as an instructor with the Commercial Pilot Program.

Ed Valdez flies the DC-3 "Flabob Expres.s"

Valdez’s view from the Douglas DC-3 “Flabob Express.”

In addition to teaching at Cypress, Valdez flies for United Airlines on the Boeing 757 and 767; he occasionally flies private Gulfstream G3 aircraft on a contract basis as well.

Recently, he was invited to fly the Flabob Express (a Douglas DC-3) as a volunteer pilot, and is currently in training for the aircraft.

Psychology Research Methods Poster Session Now Online

Students in Dr. Randy Martinez and Dr. Angela deDios’ Psychology 202 classes participated in a psychology reseach poster project this semester. Traditionally held on campus, this semester’s presentations are available online.

You’re invited to view the presentations, leave questions and comments for the student researchers, or simply observe.

Click here to view our students’ research posters.

Cypress College’s 53rd Commencement Scheduled for Friday, May 22, Via Virtual Broadcast

The celebration will go on! Cypress College will celebrate the Class of 2020 by hosting its 53^rd Commencement at 5 p.m. on May 22, 2020, as a streamed virtual event. Graduates will participate with viewing parties from their stay-at-home locations. The Class of 2020 is also invited to participate in Cypress College’s next in-person commencement.

Cypress College President Dr. JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D., said hosting the celebration without delay felt like the best way to honor the Class of 2020’s achievements.

“We decided it was essential to hold a virtual commencement on our original graduation date to best honor our students’ accomplishments,” Dr. Schilling said. “We know nothing can substitute for the opportunity to walk across our stage, to share in that moment with family, friends, and beloved faculty, but every attempt has been made to create an event that is celebratory, meaningful, and acknowledges the accomplishments of our scholars.”

Each student will be recognized in the ceremony, which is part traditional but also tailored for delivery in a digital environment. The commencement will be streamed from the college’s Commencement Central website at cypresscollege.edu/commencement-central. In addition to the traditional roll call of the Class of 2020, the commencement will feature an address by Dr. Schilling, and messages from North Orange County Community College District Chancellor Dr. Cheryl Marshall, NOCCCD Board of Trustees President Ryan Bent, Cypress College Academic Senate President Dr. Craig Goralski, Cypress College Student Trustee Ester Plavdjian, and Cypress College Associated Students President Presten Jimenez.

Video features will honor Cypress College’s 2020 Outstanding Graduate Elise Cunanan and the nine Presidential Scholars of Distinction, who represent each of Cypress College’s academic pathways.

As part of the virtual ceremony, each graduate was provided the opportunity to be recognized with an official customized slide with their photo and a personal message, which can be downloaded and shared on social media.

Class of 2020:

This year, 1,695 students are graduating from at least one of Cypress College’s 98 degree programs. Combined, these students are earning 2,227 associate degrees — meaning some are earning multiple degrees. In addition, 1,528 students have earned occupational certificates from one of the college’s 174 career-certificate programs.

In addition:

58% of the graduates have chosen a transferable degree, meaning they will be attending four-year colleges and universities in the fall;
225 degree-earning students earned a cumulative GPA of 3.75 to 4.0, qualifying for the President’s Honor Roll;
811 degree-earning students earned a cumulative GPA of 3.0 to 3.74, qualifying for the Dean’s Honor Roll; and
Three students are graduating with bachelor’s degrees from Cypress College’s Baccalaureate Degree Program in Funeral Services.

Outstanding Graduate:

Elise Cunanan is Cypress College’s 2020 Outstanding Graduate. Cunanan completed two associate degrees in fall 2019, one in sociology and the second in liberal studies: social and behavioral sciences. She began attending California State University, Fullerton, this spring. Her career goals are to become a school counselor and to work for a non-profit organization.

At Cypress College, Cunanan was a member of the Associated Students, worked as a member of the Student Ambassador team, and established the Student Advocates for Education Club to provide community service to K-12 and higher education students. She also worked to raise awareness about student homelessness.

“I selected Cypress College because my parents both are alumni of community colleges, my mom even attended Cypress College herself,” Cunanan said. “I actually did not apply to any universities as a high school senior, because I felt that choosing a university to attend was a big decision that I was not ready to make at the time. Another great benefit about Cypress College is that tuition is affordable and the staff here is extraordinarily helpful.”

Presidential Scholars of Distinction:

Cypress College’s 2020 Presidential Scholars of Distinction represent a scholar from each of the college’s eight academic pathways, as well as academic support areas representing either the Counseling Division or the Library/Learning Resource Center.

The 2020 scholars are: Brandon Nguyen, BUS/CIS; John Lasater, CTE; Kylie Christensen, Fine Arts; Christina Williams, Health Science; Frankie Islas, Kinesiology; Nathaniel Garcia, Language Arts; Anh Nguyen, L/LRC; Connor Kilzer, SEM; Sarah Queneau, Social Sciences. Each scholar will also receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Cypress College Foundation.

This tradition, begun in 2019, honors a student who best represents their academic pathway. The graduates are nominated and voted for by their respective division faculty and were chosen using the following criteria: a) must be graduating in 2020; b) be in good academic standing; c) exhibit persistence in overcoming adversity; and d) represent the values of the academic division.

Faculty Awards:

Each year, the Cypress College Academic Senate selects recipients of three awards: the Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Award; the Outstanding Adjunct-Faculty Award; and the Charger Award, which recognizes professional dedication beyond the classroom.

For the first time in college history, the Academic Senate voted to present the Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Award to all full-time faculty members, and the Outstanding Adjunct-Faculty Award to all adjunct faculty members.

“This unique selection is made to illustrate that we have collectively risen to the occasion in transitioning our classes to a remote environment under the most stressful of circumstances,” said Dr. Goralski. “This collective recognition highlights that every faculty member’s contribution was essential to completing the semester successfully and helping to ensure that students all are able to graduate on time.”

The Charger Award was presented to Kathleen McAlister. While her role as the distance education coordinator is likely transparent to students, she has been instrumental in facilitating the transition for Cypress College faculty to a remote teaching environment.

“It has traditionally been the Academic Senate’s practice to avoid honoring an active member of the body,” Dr. Goralski said. “However, Kathleen’s hard work, especially during our COVID-19 response, made her an undeniable recipient of this award.

“We are grateful for the dynamic and innovative work our faculty do,” he continued. “Our appreciation for the contribution that each of our faculty make to our students cannot be fully expressed.”

About Cypress College:

In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, all of Cypress Colleges and services are offered remotely. Students can access support services online at cypresscollege.edu/coronavirus.

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MAD Film Fest Premieres Online

The Media Arts Design Film Showcase debuts today, to display the work of MAD students and , this year, to offer alumni contributions. In keeping with government guidelines to limit the spread of the Coronavirus, this year’s festival will take place online.

According to Professor Ian Holmes, digital cinema coordinator, the virtual event features 50 works from live-action narrative films, to stop-motion animations, to motion graphics title sequences. You can see all entries here.

Originally, the MAD department planned to hold an alumni film showcase in April, separate from the the annual student event. The campus closure related to COVID-19 caused organizers to rethink the two events and combine them into one.

Mort Sci Student Answers Call to Volunteer Assistance with Coronavirus Victims

The spread of COVID-19 continues to grow nationwide, and the need for medical responders rises with it. The duty of first responders, such as doctors and nurses, is well known, but there is also a call for last responders: workers who tend to those who have passed.

The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) alerted its members that volunteers in heavily affected areas would be valuable in addressing the pandemic. Several have responded, including a student in Cypress College’s Mortuary Science program named Soraya Pitram.

“I was already packed and ready to go — I had my scrubs — and then they told me that they had sufficient staff,” Pitram said. She planned to work in New York City for two weeks at a medical center teaching hospital.

Pitram, who is in her second year of the program and works in the industry at two Orange County funeral homes, had secured the proper identification and was fully prepared. Volunteers in closer proximity, however, were selected to fill in for the NFDA’s requested two-week volunteer rounds.

“What I’ll be doing now, since I have my ID, is that I have access to all volunteer opportunities,” Pitram said. “When people’s two weeks are over, I’ll have a chance to go.”

Pitram says this is unlike other NFDA calls for last responder volunteers, such as during Hurricane Katrina, where the experience is to do recovery after a catastrophe has occurred. She says in this case, the need for last responders will ebb and flow as the Coronavirus infection curve flattens and possibly resurges.

“Honestly, with how things are going in California, I might get sent to Sacramento or LA or somewhere more populated,” Pitram said. “Who knows how long this is going to last.”

Student Finalists in National Video Contest

Cypress College students have gained national attention in a contest called “Stay Home and Sing,” with a video featuring their adaptation of a song from the Lin-Manuel Miranda musical “In The Heights.” The students performed the song “96,000,” selected from their spring production of the musical, which was cut short due to the Coronavirus-related campus closure.

If the students earn enough votes, they could win thousands of dollars for a charity of their choice and a chance to perform their musical number for a public audience. The team entered in the “Open” category, and became one of three finalists in that group on April 27.

Voting ends April 29. Click here to support the Cypress College entry, under the header “Open”: https://inspireamarillo.com/#/home.

The contest was created by a group from the Texas panhandle called Inspire Amarillo. According to the contest page, their goal is “to ‘connect’ with our family, friends and colleagues” through videos of teams performing their favorite songs.

The Theater Department’s adaptation of the Lin-Manuel Miranda musical “In The Heights” was directed by Angela Cruz, a Professor of Theater at Cypress College. It premiered Friday, March 6, and ended its run Sunday, March 8; the campus closed before the second weekend of the performance, because of government-mandated shutdowns to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The sets still stand in the Cypress College theater awaiting the scheduled shows that never took place.

Inspire Amarillo describes itself as “a way for all of Amarillo, the Panhandle and the Nation to virtually speak, perform or sing words of hope.” The contest is sponsored by Fairly Group.

The grand prize is performing at the Amarillo Sod Poodles 2020 Opening Day Game. In addition, five entries with the most votes each get to pick a charity to receive $5,000.

Cypress College Transitions to Remote Learning, Student Service Delivery Without Missing a Day

Cypress College is operating at nearly full capacity as a remote learning environment — with approximately 90% of all coursework transitioned from in-person instruction and essentially 100% of student services available to students online. The immediate transition of all services is unique among regional peer institutions, and perhaps across the state.

Delivery of uninterrupted student support services is especially impressive because Cypress College accomplished the transition from in-person to remote without missing a day of meeting students’ needs. When state orders accelerated the campus closure in mid-March, Cypress College paused classes on March 13, 16, and 17 to facilitate a transition to remote instruction.

The faculty, Distance Education, and Student Services teams kept right at work. For example, using Cranium Café, the student support staff began meeting virtually with students to provide needed support. Cypress College was in full swing with Counseling, Veterans Services, EOPS, Disabled Student Services, and Admissions & Records available. All services were fully implemented by Friday, March 20.

“Our student services staff have completely reinvented how they provide services,” said Cypress College President JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D. “This expanded capability meets students’ needs on demand and without requiring students to come into an office to receive the same high-touch assistance.”

At the same time services were transitioning, the Distance Education team worked to expand their framework and support — and connected with faculty across the entire curriculum to ensure that nearly all courses (including many with lab components) could transition to some virtual format.

Nearly all employees played some part in the transition. Leadership came from the college’s executive staff, the Academic Senate, Associated Students, and a group of in-house experts such as the Health Center, Maintenance and Operations, IT, and Campus Safety.

“I am so proud of the work accomplished by our employees to make this transition happen,” Dr. Schilling said. “Converting classes from in-person to remote is a tremendous undertaking and I am amazed and thankful for the lengths our faculty are going to in order to make this happen so that we can continue to meet our students’ needs. Our Distance Education team, especially, has done tireless work. This transition is an incredible achievement on its own. It is even-more amazing when you consider that half of our courses are in career-technical fields, such as automotive technology and health sciences. I commend the creativity, hard work, and dedication of our faculty and staff.”

In addition to providing services such as Counseling, Financial Aid, Admissions and Records, Disability Support Services, the Health Center, and the Library/Learning Resources Center, our student ambassadors and Student Services staff are also reaching out to all students through the Cypress Cares Campaign, which focuses on helping students complete their studies.

The college organized and implemented a laptop-loaner program for students and employees who need equipment at home, is raising emergency funds through the Foundation to provide assistance to students, hosted two virtual town hall meetings, and launched drive-up WiFi service for students who need temporary access to high-speed internet connections.

A number of events are also scheduled to continue in virtual format, including: commencement on its original date of May 22; Commit2Cypress; outreach to high school seniors; virtual tours; and the popular Charger Experience/Charger Fridays campus visits.

Cypress College has paused all in-person instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic through May 23 in response to stay-at-home orders.

About Cypress College:

Cypress College’s 16,000 students and the highly qualified teaching faculty are proud of the many excellent academic and vocational programs. Cypress College offers 56 university-transfer majors, 176 career-certificate programs, and degrees in 73 areas of study. The college’s traditional semesters begin in January and August, while short-term courses start throughout the year. A Cypress College education costs $46 per unit — $138 for a typical, full-credit class — California’s lowest tuition. Financial aid and scholarships are also available to qualifying students.

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“Drive-Up WiFi” Program Launched by Cypress College to Facilitate Student Internet Access

In an effort to provide students with reliable, high-speed internet access — and in keeping with social-distancing directives issued by county, state, and national officials — Cypress College is launching “Drive-Up WiFi” available to all enrolled students.

Wireless access will be available to students in Lot #1 on a first-come, first-served basis. Access is for registered Cypress College students with valid login credentials. Access to Lot #1 will be available to students on weekdays, from 7:30 a.m. until the end of the last scheduled class on that particular day of the week (typically 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 5 p.m., Friday).

Students must remain in their cars while using the college’s network and adhere to all current public health directives, including social distancing. In congruence with social-distancing restrictions, the college will not accommodate pedestrians or cyclists; in addition, no restroom or other facilities will be made available. Students will park in every-other parking stall to enhance social-distancing protocols.

To use the WiFi, students will enter the college, and Lot 1, at the main entrance (Valley View Street and Cypress College West) and exit onto Orange Avenue. A valid Cypress College parking pass is required to access the college and Lot 1. Additional restrictions and requirements are designated on the college’s website.

Cypress College President, JoAnna Schilling, expressed her pride at the many ways the college community has stepped up to address student needs.

“The resilience our students have demonstrated during this health emergency has been inspirational, but the need for support is great,” Dr. Schilling said. “Hearing the challenges our students are facing is heartbreaking, but we are grateful to our staff for their personal and professional contributions to our students. We are also thankful for donations made to the Cypress College emergency-assistance campaign.”

Cypress College last held in-person instruction on March 12 before entering a three-day pause to convert instruction to remote methods in response to the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. At roughly the same time, the college launched a survey of students to determine their technology needs for continuing their studies remotely. With more than 3,300 responses, Cypress College students indicated overwhelmingly they had access to necessary technology — 92.4% of respondents stated they had access to a computer, 88% noted they have reliable internet access, and an additional 30% indicated they did not have a private space at home to conduct their class work. Students who did not have these resources were invited to request assistance.

With data collected from the survey, the college has loaned approximately three dozen laptops and Chromebooks to students. The “Drive-Up WiFi” program comes in addition to helping connect students to free and low-cost internet opportunities in the commercial marketplace. The Cypress College Foundation has also launched an emergency-assistance campaign to help students: who have lost a job or experienced income loss; buy/borrow computers for home use; obtain access to reliable home internet; and purchase books for online classes. So far, the Foundation has provided 24 emergency grants, totaling $12,000. Donations can be made at cypresscollege.edu/about/foundation.

About Cypress College:

Cypress College’s 16,000 students and the highly qualified teaching faculty are proud of the many excellent academic and vocational programs. Cypress College offers 56 university-transfer majors, 176 career-certificate programs, and degrees in 73 areas of study. The college’s traditional semesters begin in January and August, while short-term courses start throughout the year. A Cypress College education costs $46 per unit — $138 for a typical, full-credit class — California’s lowest tuition. Financial aid and scholarships are also available to qualifying students.

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Professor Shares Creative Solution During Difficult Time

In uncertain times, such as these, our old ways of solving problems might not work. A long-time Cypress College professor recently shared a story that might get creative wheels turning while many of us reconfigure our work and study environments and routines during the Coronavirus-related order to stay home.

Management and Marketing Professor Emerita Patti Kishel remembered an exercise during her first year teaching, in 1990, during a team-building retreat at the UCLA Conference Center at Lake Arrowhead. She recalled a “Survivor Exercise” for attendees: Determine which of a group of people would get to stay in a crowded lifeboat and which would be sacrificed (young person with potential, the older person with skills to share, the scientist, farmer, etc.).

Kishel described the results:

“With only limited space available each team had to make hard decisions and justify them – placing a value on human life. One by one, each group told who they picked to stay in the lifeboat – and why. It was hard making life-or-death decisions this way even in a simulation, in effect ordering people ‘Out of the boat!’

“The last group to share their decisions was the teachers from the Fine Arts Department. And, unlike the other teams, they had another approach. Working together, the people in the boat were going to make a float out of existing materials and position it under the lifeboat so that it was strong enough that all the people could stay in the boat. Rather than limiting their decision to the parameters of the problem, they expanded them and took a more creative approach.

“Instead of saying ‘Out of the boat!’ they said, ‘Back in the boat!’

“This is where we are now. Looking for new ways to keep us safe and to keep more people in the boat. With creativity, we can expand our parameters to do so.”

It’s a great reminder to rethink the usual choices we make – it could yield great results. Why not take a moment to find a new way to view work or study options today.

Dance Students Chosen to Perform at CSULB

The Cypress College Dance Department participated in an annual conference put on by the American College Dance Association March 4-7. The ACDA’s Baja Conference took place at California State University Long Beach, and was open to faculty, staff, students, and musicians.

The conference was capped off with a gala performance at CSULB’s Carpenter Center. The adjudicators picked 11 pieces to be featured in the Gala Performance, one of which was Cypress College’s “This Is Who We Are,” a piece choreographed by the students. The Student Equity and Achievement Committee provided funding to attend.

“Thank you Student Equity and Achievement Committee for giving our students the opportunity to experience a conference, master classes, performances, and to share the stage with so many academic programs in dance,” Maha Afra, chair of the Cypress College Dance Department, said. “Our students and faculty represented all of you Chargers. The faculty taught classes and students performed.”

Cypress College presented another piece called “Sui-T-able,” choreographed by faculty member Francesca Lee, with costumes by Marci Alberto and Francesca Lee. “This Is Who We Are” featured costumes by Becky Ogden.

“The three adjudicators’ feedback was an endless stream of accolades for both pieces,” Afra said.

The conference portion of the event featured four days of classes, workshops, adjudication and informal concerts, feedback sessions, scholarly presentations, and faculty-only classes.

The students who attended were Astrid Ardon, Anthony Capulong, Kylie Christensen, Nickolas Currenton, Xavier Contreras, Briyanda Fresquez, Gabriella McQuoid, Michael Moseray, Brittany Post, Briana Sanchez, Isaiah Singleton, and Rochelle Villaroel.

CSULB student Production Assistants worked to design and produce Baja at the Beach, the sixth ACDA conference held on the CSULB campus, according to the university.

Commit2Cypress and Take Advantage of Free Tuition Through Pledge and Promise

Join us at Commit2Cypress on Thursday, April 30 at 4:30-8 p.m. to learn more about and sign your contract for the fall 2020 North Orange Promise or AUHSD Pledge granting free tuition to all qualifying first-time college students for their first two years!

Meet representatives from support programs and services on campus, interact with deans and professors from the college’s academic programs, and attend sessions on topics most relevant to new college students and parents.

RSVP here!

Cypress College Wins Overall Best Project at 2019 Excellence in Energy and Sustainability Awards

Cypress College was honored with a 2019 Excellence in Energy and Sustainability award on Tuesday, January 14, 2020, at the California Community Colleges Board of Governors (CCC BOG) meeting in Sacramento for its commitment to reducing the campus’ reliance on electricity. The college and the North Orange County Community College District received top recognition as the Best Project — Large District Category.

The award was presented for Cypress College’s chilled-water, thermal-energy storage tank, which reduces cost and increases energy efficiency. In addition to Cypress, the Board of Governors honored nearly a dozen California community colleges and college districts for environmentally sensitive projects developed to save taxpayers more than $2 million annually.

“We are thrilled to have our project recognized by the state Chancellor’s Office,” said JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D., president of Cypress College. “Sustainability is one of our top priorities. Bringing the energy storage tank online is the result of significant effort by current and former employees who share a vision of providing sound energy and fiscal stewardship.”

The award was received on behalf of the college by Phil Fleming, Cypress College’s Physical Plant and Facilities director, during the CCC BOG meeting. In addition to Fleming’s leadership, the project was initiated and developed under the direction of two now-retired Cypress College employees: Albert Miranda, Fleming’s predecessor, and Karen Cant, the former vice president of Administrative Services. Cypress College’s HVAC staff are also integral to the implementation and operation of the thermal-energy storage tank.

“With 115 colleges across the state, the California Community Colleges have a responsibility to meet the state’s climate change goals,” said Board of Governors President Tom Epstein. “The Board is pleased to recognize this year’s winners for setting the standard in taking action to protect our environment while saving taxpayer dollars.”

Cypress’ 890,000-gallon chilled water Thermal Energy Storage (TES) tank is connected to a chilled-water system that loops the campus to reduce electricity demand. The $7.82 million project included more than $1.7 million of Proposition 39 funds.

“We at Cypress College are honored to receive this award and do our part to reduce our energy use on campus,” said Alexander Porter, Cypress College’s vice president of Administrative Services. “This innovative project saves us $162,000 in annual energy costs and reduces our consumption by 448,000 kilowatt-hours, which is the equivalent to powering a 2,000-square-foot home for more than 37 years. This is just the beginning. We continue to strive to reduce our overall energy usage, and seek sustainable and green energy sources to power our campus.”

Established in 2012 to recognize leadership in implementing goals set forth in Proposition 39 — the California Clean Energy Jobs Act — the Excellence in Energy and Sustainability Awards recognize schools striving to improve energy efficiency and expand clean energy generation on their campuses. Awards are given in the following categories: Excellence in Energy and Sustainability-Proposition 39 Projects, Excellence in Energy and Sustainability-Faculty/Student Initiatives, and Excellence in Energy and Sustainability-Sustainability Champion.

Visit the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office website at www.cccco.edu/About-Us/News-and-Media/Press-Releases/2020-Energy-Awards-PR for a complete list of winning projects.

About Cypress College:
Cypress College offers students a pathway to their future in an environment in which employees commit to joining students on their educational journey. The college’s half-million-plus alumni include actors, athletes, doctors, executives, mechanics, nurses, and teachers. For some, Cypress College is the ticket into their university of choice, and for others, it provides essential training for a prosperous career. Just one Cypress College class is often all it takes to provide cutting-edge skills that lead to a promotion or a new job.

Cypress College’s 16,000 students and the highly qualified teaching faculty are proud of the many excellent academic and vocational programs. Cypress College offers 56 university-transfer majors, 176 career-certificate programs, and degrees in 73 areas of study. The college’s traditional semesters begin in January and August, while short-term courses start throughout the year. A Cypress College education costs $46 per unit — $138 for a typical, full-credit class — California’s lowest tuition. Financial aid and scholarships are also available to qualifying students.

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Photos Attached.

Top: Phil Fleming, Cypress College’s Physical Plant and Facilities director (third from left) received the 2019 Excellence in Energy and Sustainability award on Tuesday, January 14, at the California Community Colleges Board of Governors meeting in Sacramento on behalf of Cypress College and the North Orange County Community College District. Also pictured are California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley (far left) and Board of Governors President Tom Epstein (second from right). Below: The 2019 Board of Governors Energy and Sustainability Award — Overall Best Project, Large District Category.

View this news release as a PDF file

Retired Journalism Chair Robert Mercer Remembered

Cypress College is remembering Robert Mercer, a long-time Journalism Department Chair who died on Tuesday morning (January 21, 2020). Mr. Mercer retired from Cypress College in 2015, almost 20 years after being hired.

Mr. Mercer brought the Cypress College Journalism Program into the digital age. He was a pioneer in convergence journalism, presenting nationally on the topic in 2003. He received at least two Fullbright grants for educational programs in Ukraine and Pakistan, and was a participant in the college’s Study Abroad Program.

In a Facebook post, Mr. Mercer’s wife, Rose Mary Sloan Mercer, referred to her husband as “wonderful, crazy, curious, life-loving” and noted his 25-year battle with liver disease that included a 1998 transplant.

“Forty-six years seems like a long time to be married,” she wrote. “But I realized this week just how short it really is. He loved learning, always reading and watching documentaries and always encouraging others to learn.”

Mr. Mercer served as the advisor to the student newspaper, the Cypress Chronicle, and the online CyChron.com publication. In addition, he taught journalism courses and was an active member of the Academic Senate and the United Faculty. He earned tenure in 2000.

Services for Mr. Mercer will be held this Sunday Martinsburg, MO. Mrs. Mercer noted that contributions can be made in her husband’s memory to the Alpha1 Foundation, at https://www.alpha1.org/

Go MAD This Semester

This spring, several courses offer a variety of ways to learn or improve computer illustration, modeling, and projection mapping, among other skills. These Media Arts Design classes can help expand and enhance your professional portfolio or provide enrichment if you are simply interested in digital design.

Learn art that you can apply with the following courses, which still have availability for the upcoming spring semester. Visit myGateway today to enroll.

MAD 104 C – Intro to 3D Graphics-Mac (3 units)
MAD 105 C – Intro to 3D Graphics-Win (3 units)

Find out about 3D computer graphics, with an emphasis on 2D paint and 3D modeling and animation software used in animation. You’ll create original 3D still and animation imagery for your portfolio. This course is a gateway into the variety of classes for the Art Computer Graphics program, where you can pursue more in-depth study on the topic(s) you were drawn to during this introductory class.

MAD 106 C – Social Media Vlog Production (3 units)

Examine the evolving role social media and video play in cultural and corporate 21st Century life. You will learn to create a Vlog (Video Blog), and shoot and edit video and audio content. You’ll create a plan to distribute and market your Vlog brand identity.

MAD 112 C – Electronic Illustration-Mac (3 units)
MAD 113 C – Electronic Illustration-Window (3 units)

Learn how to generate Mac and Windows Postscript (vector) images for desktop publishing/page layout software and as standalone images with high-resolution output. In these classes, professional artists can build basic Mac and Windows skills needed for employment and/or advancement.

MAD 120 C – 3D Modeling-Mac (3 units)
MAD 121 C – 3D Modeling-Windows (3 units)

These courses focus on the introduction of Mac and Windows creation techniques for making three-dimensional computer graphics content. Classes emphasize 3D modeling and animation tools, menu structures, and model-building applications.

MAD 201 C – 3D Typography for Media Design (3 units)

This intermediate typography course focuses on graphic communication usage. Learn how to develop concepts, layout, and presentations. Projects include lettering design, layout, and 3D typography. You’ll learn electronic design techniques in 2 dimensional and 3 dimensional forms.

MAD 207 C – Projection Map/Live Entertain (3 units)

Get an overview of the many uses of projection mapping with an emphasis on 2D and 3D design to make digital presentations. You will create projection mapping projects for public display.

Former HRC Instructor Meets Challenges on ‘Chopped’

Blackmarket Bakery owner Rachel Klemek can work under pressure. She runs three bakeries, has four kids, and counts herself as a former Hotel, Restaurant & Culinary Arts faculty member of Cypress College. And now, she can call herself a “Chopped” episode champion and season finale runner-up.

We asked her a few questions about her experience. She offered an inside glimpse of the popular cooking competition show, as well as some sound advice that works in and out of the kitchen.

How did you get involved in being on the show “Chopped?”
Back in October of 2018, I received an email from a casting company requesting that I apply to “Chopped.” At that time, I hadn’t seen more than a few snippets from “Chopped” over the years but thought I should just give it a try anyway. My family strongly discouraged me, given how challenging it looked. Being an optimist, I filled out their app online and submitted a few videos of myself baking. A Skype interview and a more in-depth phone interview followed. Even then, I didn’t think I would get cast. Then, a producer called to schedule my “bio-pack,” where a crew filmed in the bakery location. But the producer warned that nothing was decided. Then, three weeks before the first episode filmed, they emailed to say that I was cast in a dessert episode and needed to get to NYC! I memorized and tested as many “fast” recipes as possible, not knowing what kinds of desserts I would be making.

At the start of the “Sweets Showdown: Cake” episode, you said your philosophy on the show was to “Keep Calm and Cake On.” Is this your motto for everyday life, too?
I think I came up with that on the spot, at the producer’s prompt to have a tagline. But in essence, I aspire to follow that advice. Freaking out about stuff is not productive, but sometimes it still happens!

You called one of the judges on the show, Sylvia Weinstock, a legend. Did that make you more nervous?
The whole process of filming was completely nerve-wracking, but I don’t know if any particular judge made it any more so. Sylvia Weinstock was a trailblazer in exquisite sugar flowers and incredible tiered cakes, so I was familiar with her stature in the industry but decided that being overly intimidated would be a handicap so tried to act as normal and confident as possible.

Squid-ink toffee — what inspired you? It was very popular!
Toffee is basically sugar, butter, water and a bit of salt. Since the salt is necessary to balance the sweetness, the saltiness of the squid ink seemed like it would work well. My mistake was adding the squid ink before the toffee was completely cooked, since I relied on the color to tell doneness. Luckily, I was able to guess when the toffee reached temperature (before burned and turned bitter) by the bubbles. Plus seafood and butter made sense to me!

You said the other contestants’ Bundt cakes were simpler. Do you think your more complex take helped you?
I think substituting the tomato soup as part of the liquid in the cake was the key to my surviving that round. Adding ganache and caramel, which seemed like a good idea for a dessert, was perceived by the judges as going overboard…

What did you win for being the best chef of that episode?
For winning the Chopped Cake episode, I won the chance to go back and compete in the Sweets Finale. And the ability to claim that I am a Chopped Champion. That’s it!

For the finale, the pressure seemed stronger. And did the ingredients seem weirder?
The ingredients were pretty weird in all six of my rounds (in both shows), but in every round there were at least two items that were easier to address. With Martha Stewart judging and that $50,000 on the line, the pressure was more intense in the finale.

It appeared as if the closer the show drew to the end, the more camaraderie there was among contestants. Did you feel that way?
Not particularly. In between rounds, there was a minimum of conversation between contestants. We were all coping with a very stressful situation together, but since we were still in it, I think we all kept pretty focused and to ourselves.

What was the most intimidating/challenging thing in that episode? What was the best?
Making a dessert to flambé was really tough for me. A new experience! I considered using the cotton candy machine but hadn’t done so before and didn’t want to count on it without any prior experience. The high point was making desserts for Martha Stewart and hearing positive feedback. One of my favorite cookbooks as a young baker was Martha Stewart’s Pies and Tarts, so I am a huge fan!

You got good feedback on your flavor. And your flambé looked so pretty! Judge Alex Guarnaschelli said you are “such an unbelievable baker.” Is that how you were able to walk away saying you were “feeling like a winner for sure”?
Going into the whole “Chopped” experience, I had no expectation of getting through even one round. So winning one episode and being the runner up in another constitutes a big accomplishment in my view. Being a business owner, I spend lots of time on office stuff like marketing, hiring, accounting, scheduling, etc and not much in the kitchen anymore. So I was proud to have gotten as far as I did!

Is there anything you learned from the experience that you might bring back to your students?
My take-away from filming two “Chopped” episodes is:
1. Practice, prepare, and be as ready as possible (for life, for baking, for anything)
2. Trust your instincts
3. Do work you are proud of
4. Remember to have fun and not take yourself too seriously

Cypress College Career Technical Education Receives Two Awards

Automotive Technology instructor Russell Bacarella and student Gable Kemma-Berg received the Instructor Finalist Award and a Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Scholarship, respectively, last month at the 2019 SEMA Education Event in Las Vegas.

The three-day event, part of the annual SEMA show and organized by SEMA and the North American Council of Automotive Teachers (NACAT), saw approximately 2,000 students and instructors from across the United States and Canada.

Bacarella, a master Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified technician who has been teaching since 1999, received his award at the Educator of the Year Awards banquet. With approximately 200 instructors in attendance, Bacarella and two instructors from across North America received the honor for fostering the professional development of promising new students. The award is open to anyone who teaches automotive-related instruction including auto tech, diesel and collision, and recognizes instructors who implement and emphasize aftermarket technology in their classrooms.

Additionally, Cypress student Kemma-Berg received a $3,000 SEMA Student Scholarship, created to introduce and encourage students studying automotive, diesel or collision to pursue careers in the automotive aftermarket industry.

As the largest automotive organization in the world, SEMA has roughly 21,000 corporate members. The annual SEMA Show hosts over 200,000 annually during the four-day event in Las Vegas.

Cypress College Remembers Walt Bowman, Alumnus and Foundation Board Member

Cypress College is remembering long-time Foundation Board of Directors Member and Alumnus Walter Bowman, who passed away on Sunday (November 17, 2019). Mr. Bowman, a former mayor of Cypress, is being memorialized this evening.

Mr. Bowman’s association with Cypress College is long and strong. He enrolled at Cypress College following military service in the Army. In 2006, he was recognized as the Cypress College Foundation’s Alumnus of the Year. He served on the Foundation Board of Directors since 1993, was a past president, past chairman of the Americana Awards, past title sponsor of Americana, a Citizen of the Year from Cypress in 2002, and a member of the college’s Legacy Society.

“Walt made an impact on me as one of the most thoughtful, kind, and dedicated individuals we will know,” said Cypress College President JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D. “Cypress College and our community will miss him deeply and so will I.”

A service for Mr. Bowman will be held tonight (November 21, 2019) at Cypress’s Holy Cross Lutheran Church, where he had been a member of the choir.

Mr. Bowman moved to Orange County in 1978 from his family dairy farm in Michigan only to settle in Cypress, which was known as “Dairy City” in the early 1950s.

“I think many people feel the way I do — and they are proud of the community and I want to make sure it stays this way,” Mr. Bowman said in 2001, following his selection as the Americana Awards Citizen of the Year for Cypress. “That’s why I stay involved. I think Cypress has a good family atmosphere and it is a really nice place to live and raise children.”

Walter and his wife Ethel have served their community for many years, volunteering with groups their children were involved in, including Little League, boosters, and PTA.

In addition to his strong association with Cypress College, Mr. Bowman spent a number of years on the Cypress City Council (1989-98), including service as the town’s mayor (1991 and 1996). He was a long-time board member with the Cypress Chamber of Commerce, and was named the organization’s Man of the Year in 2000. He is a former director of the Boys & Girls Club of Cypress, former chairman of the Cypress Redevelopment Agency, the Permit Streamlining Committee of the Southern California Associations of Governments, and former chairman of the Orange County Housing Commission. He also served as president of the Stanton Chamber of Commerce, the Stanton Boys & Girls Club, and Kiwanis.

Since 1974, Mr. Bowman was the proprietor of a successful real estate business. He earned an associate degree in business administration from Cypress College, and a bachelor’s degree in finance from California State University, Long Beach. He also served in the U.S. Army for three years.

Walt and Ethel Bowman, pictured at the 2006 Americana Awards.

Cypress College Offers New Creative Writing Certificate

Cypress College’s Language Arts Division is offering a new certificate in creative writing. The certificate program is designed for students seeking a broad appreciation of literature and increased skills in communication. In particular, it provides students with the opportunity to pursue their interest in creative writing through intensive study and practice of the literary arts. Students will immerse themselves in a structured, focused, and multifaceted curriculum of the writer’s art by studying literature and honing their own writing skills to create original, polished works of poetry and prose. Students will read, write, and engage in dialogue about creative works in a supportive workshop environment. Students will also receive mentorship about opportunities for publication, performance, and recitation.

The certificate is awarded upon the completion of 18 units of coursework, including one core course and five electives. A list of classes for this certificate is provided below for your convenience.

For more information about the Creative Writing Certificate Program, please contact program coordinators Professor Bret Kaufman at bkaufman@cypresscollege.edu and Professor Stephanie Tran at stran@cypresscollege.edu.

Required Core (3 units)

ENGL 105 C Introduction to Creative Writing (3 units)

Electives (15 units)

ENGL 102 C Introduction to Literature (3 units)
ENGL 126 C Introduction to Screenwriting (3 units)
ENGL 127 C Introduction to Poetry Writing (3 units)
ENGL 128 C Introduction to Short Story Writing (3 units)
ENGL 130 C Introduction to Creative Nonfiction Writing (3 units)
ENGL 225 C Literary Journal Publication (3 units)

For the Spring 2020 semester, we will be offering 6 courses that meet the requirements for the certificate:

ENGL 105 C Introduction to Creative Writing (3 units)
ENGL 102 C Introduction to Literature (3 units)
ENGL 126 C Introduction to Screenwriting (3 units)
ENGL 127 C Introduction to Poetry Writing (3 units)
ENGL 128 C Introduction to Short Story Writing (3 units)
ENGL 130 C Introduction to Creative Nonfiction Writing (3 units)

Of these courses, the following three are brand new and being offered for the first time:

ENGL 127 C Introduction to Poetry Writing (3 units)

Students will write original poetry, study forms, techniques, and literary elements of poetry, including classical poetic forms and free-verse tradition. Student work will be critiqued in a workshop setting.

CRN: 23955 12:30-1:55P MW Payne, John HUM-203

ENGL 128 C Introduction to Short Story Writing (3 units)

In this course, students will write original short stories while studying the evolution of the form and its narratological techniques and literary elements, including the form’s place in a variety of literary genres. Students will also critique each other’s work in a workshop setting.

CRN: 23954 Online 2/3/20-5/3/20 Tran, Stephanie

ENGL 130 C Introduction to Creative Nonfiction Writing (3 units)

In this course, students will write original works of creative nonfiction while studying the evolution of the form and its narratological techniques and literary elements, including the form’s place in a variety of literary genres. Students will critique each other’s work in a workshop setting.

CRN: 23953 Online 2/10/20-5/10/20 Kaufman, Bret

Hospitality & Culinary Students Tour Marriott

In late October, Hotel, Restaurant, and Culinary Arts students toured Marriott Anaheim to hear from professionals in their field and see where a degree or certificate from the HRC program could take them.

The field trip included students from the Hospitality Law class and the Hospitality Leadership class. Marriott gave an orientation and walked students and faculty, including professors Jeannette Jones and Lisa Clark, through the heart of the house to hear from managers and key associates.

“It was especially fun to hear from the Banquet Chef, Patrick Duralde, former Cypress alumni,” Clark says. “We have dozens of students working for Marriott with many more over the years. Marriott is a long-standing educational partner. They serve on our advisory board, offer field trips, guest speak, attend career fairs and, of course, hire and develop our students.”

Professor Jones also works on call with Marriott. Clark calls her connections “invaluable” in coordinating these opportunities.

Cypress College Welcomes Prospective Students to Second Connect2Cypress Outreach Event on Nov. 5

Cypress College welcomes prospective students to its second Connect2Cypress event — an introduction for students to the college by connecting them with resources needed to foster a successful journey at Cypress College. The event takes place on Tuesday, November 5, 2019.

Connect2Cypress, featuring Majors2Careers, provides the opportunity for future Chargers to explore different academic majors and careers. The events features a resource fair, the opportunity to talk with deans, faculty, counselors, and current Cypress College students. Prospective students also learn about programs and services offered on campus, such as Charger Experience, Financial Aid, Associated Students, and how to enroll at Cypress College.

The Connect2Cypress event emphasizes Cypress College’s philosophical approach that all members of the educational community are on an interconnected journey. Connect2Cypress is intended to support the college’s Guided Pathways initiative, connecting students to success, completion, and employment.

“Connect2Cypress helps high school students start thinking about college. They are already developing a relationship with Cypress College as they learn about what we have to offer, and this event helps connect them with campus partners, while envision themselves on campus,” said Dr. Richard Rams, who serves as the dean of Student Support Services. “Through this event, prospective students begin identifying the services and programs that will support them in reaching their personal, academic, and career goals. Similarly, Majors2Careers helps underscore the relationship between education and careers for current students.”

Connect2Cypress featuring Majors2Careers is open to all current students. High School students participate by invitation only.

About Cypress College:

Cypress College’s 16,000 students and the highly qualified teaching faculty are proud of the many excellent academic and vocational programs. Cypress College offers 56 university-transfer majors, 176 career-certificate programs, and degrees in 73 areas of study. The college’s traditional semesters begin in January and August, while short-term courses start throughout the year. A Cypress College education costs $46 per unit — $138 for a typical, full-credit class — California’s lowest tuition. Financial aid and scholarships are also available to qualifying students.

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View this news release as a PDF

Instructor Exhibits in Louvre Museum

This month, Cypress College art instructor Paul Paiement exhibited at the Louvre museum in Paris during a special event. Annual art fair Le Carrousel du Louvre took place October 18-20 and included artists selected by a committee, based on nominations. Paul’s European art dealer Adelinda Allegretti submitted his work for consideration.

“It’s a huge honor to exhibit my paintings in the largest and most prestigious art museum in the world,” Paul said. “Drilling a screw into the same walls that house Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Mona Lisa’ was an incredible experience.”

Paiement selected four paintings from his Nexus series to exhibit. He was able to complete these paintings during a sabbatical from teaching at Cypress, a period in which he says he was “more prolific than I’ve ever been.”

The resulting work was well received at the show; Paul says the pieces created a lot of dialogue among visitors, and his painting ‘Nexus — Ronan, Montana’ was selected and published in the exhibition catalog.

“It was all very real,” Paul said. “By real, I mean tangible. I’ve read, seen documentaries, and heard stories about the Louvre. It’s has a ‘larger than life’ mythology. It has the largest and most comprehensive art collection the world has ever seen. Assisting the museum staff in the installation of my artwork was very real.”

The work exhibited in Paris was painstakingly created. Paul says during the school year, one of his paintings can take anywhere from 3-14 months to complete; during his sabbatical, his goal has been to complete one painting a month — based on a 40-60 hour week. The sabbatical continues until spring 2020 but even when Paul returns he will find a way to continue on this creative streak.

“I don’t find time to create — I create time to create art,” he says. While teaching, he commits to working in his studio three to five days a week.

Paul’s Nexus series bridges natural backdrops and engineered structures. It incorporates the elements that inspire him.

“I draw inspiration from concepts and questions about our reality. Questions like who are we? Who am I? What is nature? Am I part of nature? I hope these concepts are communicated to the viewer in my paintings.”

To view more of Paul’s exhibited work, click on his Carrousel du Louvre link here. You can see additional paintings by visiting his personal website here.

Cypress College Foundation Raises $80,000 at its Annual Golf Classic

The Cypress College Foundation held its Annual Golf Classic at Los Coyotes Country Club in Buena Park October 21, raising $80,000 to fund student scholarships and book grants/loans, faculty grants, and more. There were 168 participants, including a member of the LPA team who shot a hole-in-one and won a new vehicle.

The Foundation gives a warm thank you to all of its sponsors, participants, and volunteers and student ambassadors.

Title Sponsor
TEM – Total Environmental Management

Corporate Sponsors
A.O. Reed & Co. and Foundation Pile
Control Air and Helix Electric
Forest Lawn Memorial Parks & Mortuaries
MAAS Companies
SUNDT Construction Inc

Eagle Sponsors
Air Treatment Corporation
Morgan Stanley
Newport Diversified

Birdie Sponsor
Cypress Lawn Funeral and Cemetery

Foursomes included players from the following sponsors
Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo
ACCO Engineered Systems
Air Treatment Corporation
American Crematorium
Buena Park Police Department
The City of Cypress
CSI Fullmer
Cypress Police Department
Remax/Tiffany
Fullerton College
So Cal Gas
Golden State Water
Hazelrigg Claims Management
Johnson Controls Fire Protection LP
Patron Property Management
Piping Industry Progress and Education
Toyota Place
Union Bank
Westberg White Architecture

Cypress College Career Technical Education Counselor Named Counselor of the Year

The Orange County Career Education Community College Network recently named Cypress College Career Technical Education Counselor Dr. Jane Jepson as a 2019 Counselor of the Year. The award, given each year to counselors who excel in a number of areas pertaining to student and career success, will be presented at the 2019 OC Counselor Symposium on Thursday, November 7.

“Dr. Jepsen is good-natured, positive, and hard-working, but most importantly she has demonstrated an empathetic understanding and sensitivity to her students,” said Cypress College Vice President of Student Services Dr. Paul de Dios. “She has earned the respect of administrators, faculty, and students. She is committed to student learning, assessment of learning outcomes, and helping students reach their goals. I can attest to the significant impact she made not only in the lives of her students, but for the community as well. She has truly made, and continues to make, a difference.”

Counselor of the Year recipients promote student enrollment, and college and career readiness; advocate for the integration of academic, personal, and career learning; are knowledgeable in current goals, changes, and processes of the community college system; collaborate with other counselors; engage in ongoing professional development efforts; and possess collaborative and leadership capabilities in their current role.

“It is a labor of love to work with a diverse population of students seeking better, more productive, and engaged lives in a progressive educational environment,” said Jepsen. “It is my pleasure to be recognized for what is the best job ever, which is providing information and inspiration to people wanting to enrich their lives with relevant knowledge and skills.”

Jepsen said she shares the honor with all Orange County Career Education counselors with whom she shares a commitment to championing career education at the community college level and the students who have touched her life over the years.

“Each student is dear to me, special because of the uniqueness of their aspirations and background and desire to be the best they can be,” she said. “And although I may not remember the details of each student’s story from month to month and year to year, I hope each one of them knows I am a vessel for their hopes and dreams, and a witness to their challenges and accomplishments.”

Jepsen received her master’s degree in counseling and recently completed her doctorate in social and environmental pedagogies at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco. Her research, subtitled “Finding Meaning, Locating Praxis and Connecting to Place,” focuses on alternative ways of knowing and being in a world of interconnected social and environmental inequities and injustices. In fall 2020, she will launch a Global Citizenship Studies program.

Jepsen currently serves on Cypress College’s curriculum committee, oversees the Perkins and Strong Workforce grants, and teaches “Educational Planning” for the Counseling Division and “Cultural Tourism” for the college’s Aviation and Travel Careers program. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and gardening and is a strong advocate for creating ecologically friendly habitats of native, bee and bird-attracting plants in home gardens.

Over 700 counselors are anticipated to attend the 2019 OC Counselor Symposium, which will be held at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel and focuses on supporting student wellness and success through academic, career, and social/emotional support and development.

AC&R Program Passes Accreditation

Cypress College’s Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Program passed a reaccreditation visit on Oct. 3, ensuring its accreditation for six more years.

Members of validation group HVAC Excellence, which sets educational program standards and verifies their fulfillment, met with Cypress faculty Doug Sallade, Carlos Urquidi, and Richard Hock to tour the Air Conditioning & Refrigeration facilities and review curriculum.

The Air Conditioning & Refrigeration program offers an associate degree and nine certificates, ranging from core knowledge to a four-semester long comprehensive certificate. The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges job placement rate reports that 93% of recent program graduates were hired in their field. The US Department of Labor projects a 15% growth in employment by 2026 for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers.

The photo above shows the faculty and HVAC Excellence team. From left to right: Sallade, HVAC Excellence Accreditation Specialist James Crisp, Urquidi, Esco Group Director of Technical Education & Standards Eugene Silberstein, Hock, and HVAC Excellence Accreditation Specialist Steven Allen.

Smoke-Free Art Contest Open to Cypress College Students

The Smoke-Free Art Contest invites all students from Cypress College to submit an entry that represents “Why I want a 100% smoke-free campus.” Entries will be accepted in the form of drawing, painting, or digital arts.

Download the contest rules here.

Contest Timeline

October 7 — Contest opens for submissions
- Submit to Cypress College in the Student Activities Center (Gym II, 2nd Floor)
December 13 — Deadline closes at 4 p.m.
- Blank sheets provided (Gym II, 2nd Floor)
January 27 — Winners Announced
- 1st Place ($100 Target gift card and publication)
- 2nd Place ($50 Amazon gift card)
- 3rd Place ($25 Starbucks gift card)
- All participants will receive a gift at submission!

Submission Locations

Physical artwork to the Student Activities Center (Gym II, 2nd floor) by 4 p.m. on December 13, 2019 (physical submissions will be collected and returned by the end of the semester). Download the entry form here.
Digital artwork to collegeartcontest.weebly.com/ by 11:59 p.m. on December 13, 2019.

Selection Process

Judge panel will be representatives from Orange County Health Care Agency, Waymakers, Brown Marketing Strategies, Associated Students, Health Center, and Fine Arts.
Artwork will be reviewed for the following characteristics:
- Creativity and originality
- Quality of artistic composition and overall design based on the theme

Guidelines for Contest Entries

Entries that do not meet the requirements outlined below may be deleted from the contest.

All entries must be the designer’s original work.
Artwork messaging is free of grammatical errors.
The source files to winning design entries must be uploaded within 24 hours of being rewarded.
All physical artwork entries should be on the 12w x 18h (safe zone* 11×17). Paper provided and available for pickup at the Student Activities Center (Gym II, 2nd floor).
All digital artwork entries should be 17w x 22h (safe zone* 16×21).
Must not contain material that violates or infringes upon another’s rights, including but not limited to privacy, publicity or intellectual property rights, or that constitutes copyright infringement; entrants may be requested to provide a signed written proposal release from recognizable and identifiable persons in the artwork submitted.
Must not contain brand names or trademarks.

Image Format Requirements

If the size and format requirements are not met, the quality and resolution of your images will be compromised and may not be able to be used. All entries must be submitted to the Student Activities Center along with an entry form or submitted electronically via collegeartcontest.weebly.com/.

Physical Artwork

Submission must be on the provided 12w x 18h paper (safe zone* 11×17).

Digital Artwork

File size should be 17w x 22h (safe zone* 16×21).
File should be provided as .pdf or .jpeg, in addition to the native file (.ai or .indd).
Please package the file with all layers, fonts (typography), and imagery.
Provide typography name and file.
Provide color code.
Do not include watermarks.
If photography is used, provide the original, high-resolution photo file.
If you use imagery from an online source, check for specific copyright details and read the End User License Agreement for clipart rules.

Rights

By entering artwork in this competition, the entrant retains all rights. However, entrants grant the Selection Committee the right to edit, adapt, reproduce, and publish the artwork.

*Safe zone = A zone where the artwork will be safe from being altered during the cutting/placement process. While a bleed goes to the very edge of a design, the safe zone will be within the confines of the overall design. Please do not include any type or crucial elements past this safe zone.

2019 Annual Safety and Security Report Now Available

Cypress College’s 2019 Annual Safety and Security Report is now available. The report meets the requirements of the Jeanne Clery Disclosure Act — which is intended to provide students and the public with access to information critical to their safety.

The Campus Safety Department prepares this report annually to comply with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act. The report is prepared in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies near our campus.

The report can be viewed at: http://news.cypresscollege.edu/Documents/CC-2019-Clery-Report.pdf. Students are notified of the report’s availability via the campus website, the myGateway portal, and the College’s social media properties. If desired, paper copies of the report will be available through the Campus Safety Office.

If you see something, say something

Cypress College takes matters related to personal and campus safety seriously. Suspicious activity should be reported to Campus Safety and/or Cypress Police immediately. Providing such information may prevent someone else from becoming a victim. Campus Safety can be reached 24-7 at (714) 484-7387. All members of the campus community are encouraged to program the number into their mobile devices.

As part of our commitment to safety, Cypress College plans and implement drills each semester. When appropriate, Cypress College issues Timely Warnings in accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure Act. For more information, visit: https://www.cypresscollege.edu/administrative/campusSafety.

The Clery Act

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act is a federal law that requires colleges and universities to disclose certain timely and annual information about campus crime and security policies. All public and private post secondary educational institutions participating in federal student aid programs are required to comply with it.

The law, originally enacted by Congress in 1990 as the Campus Security Act, was initiated by Howard and Connie Clery after their daughter Jeanne was tragically murdered at Lehigh University in 1986. Amendments to the Act in 1998 renamed it in memory of Jeanne Clery.

U.S. Department of Education Awards $2.8 Million Title V Grant to Cypress College

Cypress College is the recipient of a $2.8 million federal Title V grant intended to improve graduation and transfer rates. The U.S. Department of Education awards the grants to colleges and universities across the country as part of the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program.

Title V grants are highly competitive — 43 recipients were selected for funding across the country from a pool of 223 formal applications in the 2019 cycle. The 5-year grant will bring $2,773,406 to Cypress College to help fully implement the Guided Pathways model — a transformational approach to operations designed to eliminate barriers students encounter in their educational journey.

Recently ranked as the top community college in California, Cypress College operates on a belief that we owe it to our students to continually be our best so they can be their best. Congruent with this philosophy, the college’s grant focuses on clarifying the path from admission to completion.

“Receiving this grant validates that work that we are doing at Cypress College to genuinely walk this educational journey in tandem with our students,” said Cypress College President JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D. “I am proud of the work we do and of our commitment to student success. True commitment to helping students means that we are always looking for ways to improve. I am thankful to our employees who worked tirelessly to develop the Title V grant proposal. Receiving this grant means more students will achieve their goals.”

Based on evidence, the Guided Pathways model shows great promise in improving students’ graduation and transfer outcomes. Cypress College’s project incorporates three components and five distinct strategies, which were selected to address friction points that contribute to identified problems experienced by students. These strategies are organized around the Guided Pathways pillars to follow best practices established by leading community colleges.

Cypress College’s Title V project, titled Enhancing the Student Experience through Guided Pathways, will benefit the current 16,000-plus students, along with thousands of students who will follow in future years. Every student who attends Cypress College will have an improved institutional structure that facilitates achieving completion.

In alignment with the Guided Pathways goals, this Title V project will shorten the amount of time students need to complete their programs of study, improve their chances of university transfer and degree or certificate attainment, and reduce the cost of instructional materials by eliminating those items that don’t move them closer to their goals.

In fall 2018, 49% of the 16,042 enrolled Cypress College students were Hispanic, and 65.5% of these students received financial aid; nearly half of all students are first-generation college students. This means the long-term results are likely to positively impact the most vulnerable communities in the college’s service area.

About Title V:

The Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (DHSI) Program provides grants to assist HSIs to expand educational opportunities for, and improve the attainment of, Hispanic students. These grants also enable HSIs to expand and enhance their academic offerings, program quality, and institutional stability. Title V is a component of the U.S. Higher Education Act.

About Cypress College:

Cypress College’s 16,000 students and the highly qualified teaching faculty are proud of the many excellent academic and vocational programs. Cypress College offers 56 university-transfer majors, 176 career-certificate programs, and degrees in 73 areas of study. The college’s traditional semesters begin in January and August, while short-term courses start throughout the year. A Cypress College education costs $46 per unit — $138 for a typical, full-credit class — California’s lowest tuition. Financial aid and scholarships are also available to qualifying students.

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View this news release as a PDF

2019 TPG Fair Prepares Students for Graduation, Transfer to University

Interested in transferring, but aren’t sure to where? Think you’re about ready to graduate, but want to make sure? The Transfer Center and Admissions & Records are teaming up to give students the opportunity to learn about their transfer options and prepare for graduation in this semester’s all-in-one TPG Fair! Speak with representatives from more than 50 public and private colleges and universities, get your graduation questions answered, pre-order graduation items, and more!

The TPG Fair is happening Thursday, November 7 from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. at the Fine Arts Plaza.

Campuses Attending This Year’s TPG Fair

Academy of Art University
ArtCenter
Biola University
Brandman University
Cal Poly Pomona
California Baptist University
California College of the Arts
Chapman University
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine & Science
Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Claremont School of Theology
Columbia College Hollywood
Concordia University Irvine
CSU Dominguez Hills
CSU East Bay
CSU Fullerton
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Associate Degree Nursing ACEN Accreditation Site Visit Oct. 9, 2019

Public Notice of Upcoming Accreditation Review Visit by the ACEN

The Cypress College Registered Nursing Program is hosting a site review for continuing accreditation of its Associate Degree program by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

You are invited to meet the site visit team and share your comments about the program in person at a meeting scheduled at Cypress College in TE3-203 (Health Science, Building 13) on Wednesday, October 9, 2019, from 12:45–1:45 p.m.

Written comments are also welcomed and should be submitted directly to:

Dr. Marsal Stoll, Chief Executive Officer
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850
Atlanta, GA 30326
Or email: mstoll@acenursing.org

All written comments should be received by the ACEN by Wednesday, October 2, 2019.

Click here for more information on the Cypress College Nursing Program.

Cypress College Displays ‘Hostile Terrain,’ Brings Attention to Humanitarian Crisis at Southern Border

Bringing America’s humanitarian crisis at its southern border front and center, Cypress College presents “Hostile Terrain,” a global pop-up installation and wall map created by anthropologist Jason De León.

“Hostile Terrain,” organized by the North Orange County Community College District Office of Diversity and Compliance, asks visitors to fill toe-tags with information about the more than 3,000 individuals who have died trying to cross into the United States through the Sonoran Desert over the past 25 years. Participants are then asked to place the tags on the map in the exact location where the person’s body was found.

“This has been happening for 20 years — people are dying in the Arizona desert,” De León told Associated Press earlier this year. “Nobody, Republican or Democrat, seems to want to talk about this.”

The display serves as a distressing reminder of the United States’ immigration enforcement policy, “Prevention Through Deterrence,” which was designed to discourage migrants from attempting to cross the border near urban ports of entry, forcing them to take a much more dangerous route. Since the policy was put into place in 1994, 3,116 people have died, largely from dehydration and hypothermia.

De León, author of “The Land of Open Graves: Living and Dying on the Migrant Trail,” is a professor of anthropology and Chicana/o studies at the University of California, Los Angeles and executive director of the Undocumented Migration Project, a 501(c)(3). “Hostile Terrain” serves as the precursor prototype to De León’s 2020 global participatory exhibition of the same name.

A reception with a performance of “Piedras y Luz” by the Cypress College Dance Department and Maha & Company is scheduled for Thursday, September 19 from 6-8 p.m. The Cypress College Art Gallery is at 9200 Valley View Blvd. in Cypress. Additional events throughout the duration of “El Artist” include a screening of “Border South/Frontera Sur” and Q&A with director Raúl Paz Pastrana on Thursday, September 19; a concrete casting workshop with Ed Giardina on Monday, September 23; a talk with Gustavo Arellano on Thursday, October 3; a lecture by former Director of the Museum of Latin American Art, Consul of Cultural Affairs of Mexico in Los Angeles and the First Secretary of the Embassy of Mexico in Washington DC Gregorio Luke, “Siqueiros: A Revolutionary in Art and Life,” on Tuesday, October 14; and a concurrent show, “El Artist” featuring the works of J. Sergio O’Cadiz Moctezuma. Visit cypresscollegeart.com/ccgallery for more information.

“Hostile Terrain” is presented as part of the 5th SUR:biennial. Established by the Director of Outpost for Contemporary Art, Ronald Rafel Lopez, to explore the complex notion of globalization and exchange that takes place in the ambiguous borderlands between Los Angeles and the broader “South,” SUR:biennial features the works of local and international artists who have been influenced by the cultures and artistic traditions of Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean. The 5th SUR:biennial takes place at seven different venues across the greater Los Angeles region. This year, Cypress College joins the Cerritos College Art Gallery, the Eastside International (ESXLA), the Long Beach City College Art Gallery, the Rio Hondo College Art Gallery, SPARC: The Social & Public Art Resource Center, and Torrance Art Museum.

About Cypress College:

Cypress College’s 16,000 students and the highly qualified teaching faculty are proud of the many excellent academic and vocational programs. Cypress College offers 56 university-transfer majors, 176 career-certificate programs, and degrees in 73 areas of study. The college’s traditional semesters begin in January and August, while short-term courses start throughout the year. A Cypress College education costs $46 per unit — $138 for a typical, full-credit class — California’s lowest tuition. Financial aid and scholarships are also available to qualifying students.

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View this news release as a PDF

Cypress College Presents ‘El Artist’ — Works of J. Sergio O’Cadiz Moctezuma Sept. 19-Nov. 14

As part of Cypress College’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations, the Cypress College Art Gallery presents the work of J. Sergio O’Cadiz Moctezuma this month.

Exploring O’Cadiz Moctezuma’s innovative poured concrete process, “El Artist” displays paintings, drawings and public artworks that demonstrate his often-controversial, boundary-crossing creativity.

“His work makes OC stare uncomfortably at what it never dreamed of when it came to its Mexicans: unapologetic. Proud. Talented. Successful,” writes journalist and author Gustavo Arellano. “‘My idea of America,’ [O’Cadiz Moctezuma] once told the Los Angeles Times, ‘is the right to be as Mexican as I want.’”

For over 50 years, O’Cadiz Moctezuma created public artwork, Chicana/o and community-based murals and studio-based works that have contributed to the cultural life of Orange County. His work, though often sparking debate, raises compelling questions about who determines history, who is provided a voice in the public arena and who is considered an American.

Although many of O’Cadiz Moctezuma’s public pieces have been destroyed or removed from view, his legacy is displayed within the selections presented in “El Artist.” His talent is further seen, although often unknowingly, on the Cypress College campus, which is home to one of O’Cadiz Moctezuma’s massive, 4,500-foot, acid-stained concrete murals.

A reception with a performance of “Piedras y Luz” by the Cypress College Dance Department and Maha & Company is scheduled for Thursday, September 19 from 6-8 p.m. The Cypress College Art Gallery is at 9200 Valley View Blvd. in Cypress. Additional events throughout the duration of “El Artist” include a screening of “Border South/Frontera Sur” and Q&A with director Raúl Paz Pastrana on Thursday, September 19; a concrete casting workshop with Ed Giardina on Monday, September 23; a talk with Arellano on Thursday, October 3; alecture by former Director of the Museum of Latin American Art, Consul of Cultural Affairs of Mexico in Los Angeles and the First Secretary of the Embassy of Mexico in Washington DC Gregorio Luke, “Siqueiros: A Revolutionary in Art and Life,” on Tuesday, October 14; and a concurrent show, “Hostile Terrain” created by anthropologist Dr. Jason De León. Visit cypresscollegeart.com/ccgallery for more information.

“El Artist” is presented as part of the 5th SUR:biennial. Established by the Director of Outpost for Contemporary Art, Ronald Rafel Lopez, to explore the complex notion of globalization and exchange that takes place in the ambiguous borderlands between Los Angeles and the broader “South,” SUR:biennial features the works of local and international artists who have been influenced by the cultures and artistic traditions of Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean. This year, Cypress College joins the Cerritos College Art Gallery, the Eastside International (ESXLA), the Long Beach City College Art Gallery, the Rio Hondo College Art Gallery, SPARC: The Social & Public Art Resource Center, and Torrance Art Museum.

About Cypress College:

Cypress College’s 16,000 students and the highly qualified teaching faculty are proud of the many excellent academic and vocational programs. Cypress College offers 56 university-transfer majors, 176 career-certificate programs, and degrees in 73 areas of study. The college’s traditional semesters begin in January and August, while short-term courses start throughout the year. A Cypress College education costs $46 per unit — $138 for a typical, full-credit class — California’s lowest tuition. Financial aid and scholarships are also available to qualifying students.

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View this news release as a PDF file

Participate in the Installation of “Hostile Terrain” Exhibit

Seventy student and faculty volunteers are needed to assist with the installation of the “Hostile Terrain” exhibit. The installation will take place September 17 and 18 in the Cypress College Theater from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Thirty-minute time slots are available for each group of 30 individuals.

Please contact Nicole Smith at nicole@hostileterrain94.com or Ranmalee Perera at rperera@noce.edu if you or your class is interested in participating and to schedule a time.

About

As of today, we have record of 3,116 people who have died, largely from dehydration and hyperthermia, while attempting this journey through Arizona. For this exhibition, we are asking volunteers to hand-write the toe tags of each body recovered from the Arizona/Mexico border. We will then construct a wall map of the border, onto which the tags will be placed in the exact location the individuals were found.

Student, Faculty, and Community Participation

Tables will be set up in the lobby of the Cypress College Theater. Volunteers fill out tags under the guidance of Director, Dr. Jason De León.

Click on the sign-up page here for a 30 minute time slots.

Walk-ins welcome although for a large group a scheduled time slot is highly recommended.

To view the promotional video, click here.

On-Campus Child Care Services are Back

This semester, in partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Cypress and Anaheim, and North Orange Continuing Education, Cypress College is offering free on-campus child care services for all enrolled students while accessing services on campus like counseling appointments, tutoring sessions, and studying in the L/LRC. These services are also available to students taking NOCE classes.

To assist students with school-age children, Boys and Girls Club offers services throughout the semester Monday–Thursday in NOCE (Bldg 18), Room 117 from 2:30 – 7:30 p.m. Children are offered help with their homework, or can engage in games and arts and crafts.

For more information, please contact the Boys and Girls Club of Cypress at (714) 527-2697 ext. 200 or email information@bgccypress.org.

Cypress College’s Automotive Technology Program Named Toyota’s Top T-TEN School in the U.S.

Cypress College’s Automotive Technology Program swept the recent Toyota Technician Training & Education Network (T-TEN) awards — including being named the #1 T-TEN program in the nation. The announcements came at the recent Toyota Technician Training & Education Network (T-TEN) awards held at Lakes Community College in Laconia, New Hampshire.

“I am proud and deeply appreciative of the standard set and maintained by our Automotive Technology Program,” said Cypress College President JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D. “The department is constantly searching for ways to set the bar higher and provide the best possible learning experience for our students. Being recognized in this way shows the hard work and dedication of our students and staff to this lucrative field.”

Cypress College was the recipient of three awards:

T-TEN ASE Award for the highest per student pass rate, 6.4 of 8, of available Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification tests;
T-TEN Techstream Award — presented to only two, two-year colleges — for graduating 15 or more students this past year; and
T-TEN Top School Award, given to the school with the most graduating students and highest ASE pass rate in 2019.

The T-TEN awards recognized certified programs that have excelled and met the standards set by Toyota.

In recognition of these accomplishments, Cypress College’s Automotive Technology Program will receive four new Techstream scan tools, valued at $8,000. These four Techstream scanners will join the two Techstream tools acquired by the program in 2019 and will improve student access during practice lab on-vehicle diagnosis.

“This past May, we were able to graduate 17 students, which was the highest number of graduates of all 38 T-TEN programs across the United States,” Dr. Schilling said. “Eight of those graduates received all eight available ASEs. Our program is focused on ensuring students earn a livable wage after completing the program. Students with all eight certifications are valuable employees to dealerships and can perform almost all available warranty and recall work. These students are poised to earn over $60,000 within the first 18 months of employment, and over $75,000 within three years.”

The Toyota T-TEN program at Cypress College is a cooperative, two-year training program designed to enhance the technical and professional competency of Toyota and Lexus dealership technicians. Students participate in classroom and laboratory sessions using current Toyota and Lexus vehicles and components to receive valuable work experience at a Toyota and Lexus dealership. Cypress College’s program has been part of the T-TEN family of schools since 1990 and begins a new cohort every summer.

Cypress College students typically receive over 1,000 hours of internship during the 63 units of coursework needed to complete the program and graduates have received positions as shop foreman, service managers at local and regional offices, as well as returned to Cypress College to teach part-time in the college’s general automotive program. All instructors in Cypress College’s National Automobile Technician Education Foundation (NATEF)-certified program are National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Master Technician Certified. For additional information, visit cypresscollege.edu/academics/divisions-special-programs/career-technical-education/automotive-technology/toyota-t-ten.

About Toyota T-TEN

Toyota’s Technician Training & Education Network (T-TEN) is a partnership between Toyota, community colleges, vocational schools and Toyota and Lexus dealerships to develop and place thousands of factory certified technicians in challenging, rewarding and well-paid positions in over 1,400+ Toyota and Lexus dealerships across the country. The T-TEN program provides state-of-the art, hands-on automotive diagnosis and repair education and training in classroom and dealership settings. Since its inception in 1986, T-TEN has been considered as the auto manufacturers’ benchmark for technician career-entry programs, with over 10,000 students that have completed the program and received Toyota factory Certification. Each year 9 out of 10 T-TEN graduates are hired by a Toyota or Lexus dealer.

About Cypress College:

Cypress College’s 16,000 students and the highly qualified teaching faculty are proud of the many excellent academic and vocational programs. Cypress College offers 56 university-transfer majors, 176 career-certificate programs, and degrees in 73 areas of study. The college’s traditional semesters begin in January and August, while short-term courses start throughout the year. A Cypress College education costs $46 per unit — $138 for a typical, full-credit class — California’s lowest tuition. Financial aid and scholarships are also available to qualifying students.

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Note: View the news release

Don Tyrrell Remembered for His Guidance of Cypress College Students

Retired Counselor Don Tyrrell is seen advising a student in this 2001 photograph. The pictures of former students and USC memorabilia in his office reveal his passions.

Cypress College is remembering Don Tyrrell, a 35-year employee who continued to support the campus following his retirement in 2005. Mr. Tyrrell, a resident of Westminster, died on August 22. He was 81.

Mr. Tyrrell was a counselor serving business majors during his entire tenure at Cypress College — and was frequently cited by alumni as their favorite college employee. He moved from his hometown of Osage, Iowa, where he had been a junior high school teacher and coach, to attend the University of Southern California in pursuit of his master’s degree.

He worked at Westminster High School as a counselor for five years after graduation from USC. He was hired at Cypress College in 1970 where he because one of the college’s most-recognized faculty.

“All of our employees are selected based on their commitment to support students throughout the course of their journey at Cypress College,” said President JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D. “Don Tyrrell represented that commitment perhaps more than any other member of our community.”

Don Tyrrell receives a standing ovation from his colleagues during a ceremony recognizing retiring employees in May 2005.

Though he was retired for 14 years, alumni regularly inquired about him — a sentiment reflected in a 2004 welcome letter to students written by then-Cypress College President Dr. Margie Lewis in which she referred to Mr. Tyrrell as “the consummate counselor.”

Those feelings were echoed by his dean when Mr. Tyrrell was selected for the prestigious National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development 1997 Excellence Award. “[The award] exemplifies the esteem in which he is held by his students and colleagues,” then-Counseling Dean William Parmenter noted in Mr. Tyrrell’s personnel file.

Another performance review noted: “Don articulates his philosophy of counseling for student success strongly, but with a sensitivity to others’ opinions. He leaves no doubt that his primary role is to assist individual students in enhancing their learning and success.”

Don Tyrrell

At Cypress College, Mr. Tyrrell served on numerous committees — including accreditation and assessments of both instructional quality and student services — and advisory boards. Following his retirement, he continued committee work, helping plan the 40^th and 50^th anniversaries of the college and serving annually for many years to select the alumnus of the year.

Mr. Tyrrell is survived by his wife Audrey, a retired teacher, and sons Scott and Mike. Services are pending.

Cypress College Again Named by Niche as #1 Community College in California

Cypress College is once again the top community college in California according to a top college-selection organization. Niche, Inc. named Cypress College the 2020 Best Community College in the state last week.

Niche previously identified Cypress College as California’s number one community college in its 2018 examination of colleges and universities. Because of a data flaw related to the college’s participation in the state’s baccalaureate degree program, Cypress College did not appear on the community college list in 2019.

Niche’s ranking is based on a rigorous analysis of academic, financial, and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education, as well as millions of reviews from students and alumni. These metrics account for both student success, in areas such as completion and university transfer, as well as student perceptions of the campus and the college’s faculty.

Cypress College also ranked #54 of 871 community colleges in the nation.

“Cypress College is invested in the success of each of our students,” said Cypress College President JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D. “We are honored to be selected as Niche’s #1 California Community College. The larger picture, however, is our commitment to ensuring our students achieve their academic goals; they, along with our alumni, believe that we have helped them create better lives for themselves. At Cypress, our motto is ‘we take this journey together’ and the results of this partnership can be transformational.”

Dr. Schilling also noted that the recognition — among many accolades in the past academic year — should serve as a point of pride for the college’s employees.

“We are provided the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives,” she said. “As employees, we are fortunate to do such meaningful work.”

About Cypress College:

Cypress College’s 16,000 students and the highly qualified teaching faculty are proud of the many excellent academic and vocational programs. Cypress College offers 56 university-transfer majors, 176 career-certificate programs, and degrees in 73 areas of study. The college’s traditional semesters begin in January and August, while short-term courses start throughout the year. A Cypress College education costs $46 per unit — $138 for a typical, full-credit class — California’s lowest tuition. Financial aid and scholarships are also available to qualifying students.

Related:

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Note: View the release

Cypress College Announces First-of-Their-Kind ESL Milestone Certificates

Effective this fall, Cypress College will offer Guided Pathways ESL Milestone Certificates. These certificates are first of their kind in the California Community College system. There are nine certificates for different student pathways, and if you have taken GE courses, you may already qualify for at least three to four certificates, maybe more if you have already completed ESL 184 C, 185 C, and 186 C. You are eligible even if you started at the ESL 185 C or 186 C levels.

The priority deadline to apply is September 16, but you can apply now by seeing a counselor or going to the Cypress College Admissions & Records office. If you apply soon, you will be among the first students in the entire state of California to earn these certificates. The final deadline to apply for fall 2019 is September 27.

These certificates have been featured at the following:

Public Policy Institute of California English as a Second Language in California’s Community Colleges
ASCCC Curriculum Institute, July 2019
CCCCO/ASCCC AB 705 ESL Subcommittee Workgroup

They will also be featured in the Strengthening Student Success conference, RP Group, October 2019, and potentially at the November 2019 Chancellor’s Office Vision Spotlight to the Board of Governors.

ESL students seeking these certificates must take ESL 184 C, 185 C, and/or 186 C, in addition to the courses in their major. For details, students should speak with a counselor or their ESL professor.

About the Certificates

The ESL Milestone Certificate program is designed to prepare English Language Learners (ELLs) for the academic rigor of degree-applicable coursework in various Guided Pathways Meta Majors. Students completing these certificates have achieved academic English reading and writing skills at an advanced, post-secondary level; they have also achieved success in prerequisite or introductory coursework in a variety of degree, certificate, or general education patterns. These two elements combine to demonstrate significant achievement of a milestone along their pathways to degrees, certificates, or transfer. To earn a certificate, complete the required courses as listed with a grade of C or better. At least 50% of all coursework must be completed at Cypress College.

Announcing Cypress College Night at Angel Stadium on Sept. 26

Take us out to the ball game! Cypress College has partnered with the Angels for the first-ever Cypress College Night at Angel Stadium. Join us Thursday, September 26, as the Angels host the Houston Astros in the final home stand of the 2019 season. Tickets are on sale now! Purchase online or save the convenience fee and buy in person at the Bursar’s Office (located on the first floor of the Student Center).

The $25 ticket includes a field box, terrace box, or field reserved ticket and a custom, collector’s-edition Cypress College/Angels baseball cap.

Download the PDF version of the flyer.

Cypress College Aviation Program Adds Full-Motion Simulator to Enhance Technical Skills

Cypress College is home to a full-motion, twin-engine flight simulator.

Cypress College recently announced the addition of a full-motion, Twin-Engine Reciprocating & Turbine Motion Simulator to its new Aviation Lab.

The Twin-Engine Reciprocating & Turbine Motion Simulator enables Cypress College instructors to train aspiring pilots for their initial private pilot certificates. This on-the-ground training saves students between 30 and 60 hours of flight time, equating to a savings of $7,500 to $15,000.

“This new simulator will enhance the training we’re able to provide students,” said Cypress College President JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D. “It dramatically reduces FAA required flight training times, providing our students with an economical path to the completion of their flight program. We couldn’t have made this purchase without the donation we received from an anonymous donor last year.”

Last October, Cypress College was the recipient of the largest individual gift in campus history when an anonymous donor provided a $1 million donation to the college’s aviation program. The donation was earmarked to transform Cypress’ state-of-the-art flight simulator lab into the region’s best public facility, support Cypress’ flying team, and be used toward the purchase of an airplane. In addition to the new Twin-Engine Reciprocating & Turbine Motion Simulator, four FAA certified simulators will soon be installed to better enhance the attainment of technical skills and increase student completion rates. The five simulators are part of the ultimate plan for the Aviation Lab to include eight flight simulators, with one slated as a full-motion multi-engine turbo-prop simulator. The college is home to a unique simulator that mirrors the recently released Boeing 737 Max commercial jet.

About Cypress College:

Cypress College’s 16,000 students and the highly qualified teaching faculty are proud of the many excellent academic and vocational programs. Cypress College offers 56 university-transfer majors, 176 career-certificate programs, and degrees in 73 areas of study. The college’s traditional semesters begin in January and August, while short-term courses start throughout the year. A Cypress College education costs $46 per unit — $138 for a typical, full-credit class — California’s lowest tuition. Financial aid and scholarships are also available to qualifying students.

Note: View the news release

Cypress College’s Accreditation Fully Reaffirmed Through 2024

Dr. JoAnna Schilling (right) with scholarship recipients and faculty member Damon de la Cruz. Dr. Schilling cited Cypress College’s focus on students in announcing the college’s full re-affirmation of accreditation.

Cypress College received reaffirmation of its accreditation from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The college addressed the single compliance requirement identified in its follow-up report and was reaffirmed for the remainder of its review cycle, which runs through 2024.

“The reaffirmation of the excellent work being done on behalf of our students reflects a well-integrated, campus-wide effort,” said Cypress College President JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D. “I am deeply grateful for the leadership demonstrated by our faculty and staff to ensure we can continue serving our community as a premier college. Our priority is to continue as a welcoming environment for all students who seek to learn, thrive, and grow through the power of education.”

Dr. Schilling specifically cited the efforts of: faculty member Liana Koeppel, who chairs the college’s accreditation steering committee; the Academic Senate; and Phil Dykstra, who serves as the college’s accreditation liaison officer.

Accreditation from ACCJC, WASC certifies Cypress College as an effective institution for student learning, assuring the integrity of college programs and transcripts, and facilitating the transfer of credits to English-speaking colleges and universities worldwide.

As part of the continuous accreditation cycle, Cypress College must submit a midterm report in 2021 before receiving its next comprehensive review in fall 2024.

About the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges

Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) as a reliable authority regarding the quality of education offered by the institution it accredits in keeping with the Higher Education Act of 1965, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges works with its member institutions to advance educational quality and student learning achievement. This collaboration fosters institutional excellence and continuous improvement through innovation, self analysis, peer review, and application of standards. The ACCJC expresses a set of core values: integrity, quality assurance, institutional improvement, peer review, student learning and achievement, and collegiality.

About Cypress College:

Cypress College’s 16,000 students and the highly qualified teaching faculty are proud of the many excellent academic and vocational programs. Cypress College offers 56 university-transfer majors, 176 career-certificate programs, and degrees in 73 areas of study. The college’s traditional semesters begin in January and August, while short-term courses start throughout the year. A Cypress College education costs $46 per unit — $138 for a typical, full-credit class — California’s lowest tuition. Financial aid and scholarships are also available to qualifying students.

Note: View the news release

Remembering Irv Pickler, Long-Time Supporter of Cypress College

Cypress College is remembering long-time supporter Irv Pickler, who passed away at age 98 on Wednesday, July 17, 2019.

Mr. Pickler served for 30-plus years as member of the Cypress College Foundation Board of Directors — during that time, he served in every leadership role on the board — and was a dedicated public servant. He served as a member of the Anaheim City Council for a dozen years, was a World War II veteran, and the father of legendary Cypress College coaches Scott (baseball) and Brad (softball) Pickler.

Irv Pickler became known as the number one fan of those two teams — a fixture seated behind home plate, where he encouraged the student athletes and assisted umpires in their decision making. Mr. Pickler was also seated behind home plate when the Angels won the World Series in 2002.

“Irv Pickler embodies the spirit of Cypress College and worked tirelessly to provide assistance to our students,” said Cypress College President JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D. “He served in official capacities on the Cypress College Foundation Board of Directors for more than 30 years and is equally known for his informal roles as an athletics fan and as the father of two of our most-successful coaches. As a member of America’s ‘Greatest Generation,’ he was admired and respected by those Cypress College students who had the opportunity to meet him.”

In 2006, he was recognized as the Cypress College Foundation’s Americana Man of the Year. Five years later, in May, 2011, Mr. Pickler was recognized with an honorary associate’s degree from Cypress College — one of only three presented in the college’s history.

“The Cypress College Foundation has been shaped by Irv Pickler’s leadership,” said Executive Director of the Foundation and Community Relations Howard Kummerman. “He served in every leadership capacity on our Board of Directors and set a high bar for other members. When he was honored as Americana Man of the Year in 2006, we set a record for attendance at the event — which is a tribute to him as an individual and a leader.”

Irv Pickler, center, with members of the Americana Awards Anaheim City Committee in 2006. Also pictured are (from left) Bill Ross, Bruno Serato, Mary Bouas, Mr. Pickler, Carol Latham, and Michael Kasler.

Mr. Pickler was born in Cambridge, MA in 1921. He married Betty Strauss in 1943. The couple had five children and were married 63 years until Betty Pickler passed in 2006. Mr. Pickler joined the United States Army at the onset of World War II, earning the rank of 2nd Lieutenant before transferring to the United States Air Force. He flew 35 missions during the war, earning the rank of 1st Lieutenant. He was awarded the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, and an EAME ribbon with three bronze stars.

He moved to Anaheim in 1956, started a business, and coached his children’s baseball teams. He served as a member of the Anaheim Unified School Board, the Orange County Planning Commission, and then the Anaheim City Council. In addition to his work with the Cypress College Foundation, Mr. Pickler served on many philanthropic boards, the Orange County Transportation Authority, the Orange County Water District, the Anaheim Heart Association, the Anaheim Family YMCA, and the Kiwanis Club of Greater Anaheim.

Mr. Pickler is survived by his five children: Don; Marcia; Scott; Ellen; and Brad; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Memorial services will be scheduled at a later date.

Featured Class: Spanish for Spanish Speakers

¿Hablas español? ¡Esta clase es para ti! SPAN 201C (5 units) is Spanish for Spanish speakers just like you.

Prerequisite: You must be able to speak and understand spoken Spanish.

Inscríbete para hablar, escribir y leer con confianza en español.

Conoce los secretos de los acentos escritos
Eleva tu dominio del español oral y escrito
Descubre obras maestras literarias del mundo hispanohablante
Haz amistad con compañeros hispanohablantes como tú

Enroll today to speak, write, and read with confidence in Spanish.

Learn the secrets of written accent marks
Improve your skills in spoken and written Spanish
Discover literary greats of the Spanish-speaking world
Get to know Spanish speaking students just like you

Contact Professor Jessica Puma at jpuma@cypresscollege.edu for more information.

Psychology Students Inducted into Honor Society

On Friday May 3, 2019, 14 Cypress College students were formally inducted into Psi Beta, an honor society for students attending two-year colleges. A gathering in the Humanities Building marked the occasion with a candle-lighting ceremony and celebration of these students’ achievements.

Founded in 1982, Psi Beta’s mission is to encourage professional development and psychological literacy of students by promoting and recognizing excellence in scholarship, leadership, research, and community service.

In order to become a member of Psi Beta, students must have completed 12 college units and have earned a grade of B or higher in a college-level psychology course. They also must have maintained an overall minimum GPA of 3.25.

The 14 students who reached this goal are:

Helen Alsunna
Felicia Cleaver
Ashley Gee
Lillian Hoang
Gigi Liu
Alejandra Lopez
Vanessa Orduno
Estephania Ovalle Patino
Angelique Robinson
Yasmeen Qtaish
Jessica Rojas
Kimberly Soriano
David Su
Crystal Wilcox

Cypress, NOCCCD Collaborate with Pathways of Hope To Support Students with Food, Housing Insecurities

Cypress College, Fullerton College and North Orange Continuing Education (NOCE) have partnered with Pathways of Hope to increase services for North Orange County’s students struggling with food and housing insecurity at each of the three schools.

The North Orange County Community College District (NOCCCD) and Pathways of Hope launched this partnership on July 1, 2019. Through the partnership, Pathways of Hope will operate and scale up existing food banks at Cypress College, Fullerton College, and establish a new food bank at NOCE’s Anaheim Campus. Pathways of Hope staff will operate food and resource hubs at each site where students may receive food and hygiene products for free, as well as housing referral services.

“Many of our students do not have the security of knowing where their next meal will come from or where they will sleep at night. As educators committed to student success, we are compelled to expand our support services more than ever before,” said NOCCCD Chancellor Cheryl Marshall. “By partnering with Pathways of Hope, an established and reputable community-based organization, we are much better prepared to address the needs of our students.”

Fifty percent of California community college students experience food insecurity, according to a recent survey of 57 colleges in the state. Local data mirrors this staggering statewide trend, according to the #RealCollege survey conducted by the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice at Temple University.

Cypress College President JoAnna Schilling has worked with Pathways of Hope since her arrival at the campus and has served as a leader on the Community College League of California’s Affordability, Food & Housing Access Taskforce, as well as the OC United Way Leadership Council on Homelessness.

“I am excited by the increased support that our partnership with Pathways of Hope delivers to our students. The expanded capacity in our food pantry provides both help and hope to students who are in extreme need,” she said.

Cypress College had more than 1,100 students participate in the #RealCollege survey; the results showed that 44.2 percent of participating students reported having experienced food insecurity, 55.5 percent experienced housing insecurity, and 13.7 percent experienced homelessness. At Fullerton College, 900 students participated in the survey. Fifty percent of respondents were food insecure in the prior 30 days; 61 percent of respondents were housing insecure in the previous year; and 17 percent of respondents were homeless in the previous year. At NOCE, results indicated that 45.5 percent of respondents experienced food insecurity, 68.5 percent experienced housing insecurity, and 15.3 percent experienced homelessness.

“We know that student hunger and homelessness have been a significant problem on our college campuses for some time. We believe utilizing our expertise in these areas to assist our students on college campuses helps improve stability, academic outcomes, and the quality of life for everyone. This is aligned with Pathways of Hope’s mission completely, and we look forward to expanding this partnership and adding other partnerships in the years to come,” said Pathways of Hope Executive Director David Gillanders, Jr.

In 2017-2018, the State Hunger-Free Campus initiative, backed by Senate Bill 85, created a funding stream and a regulatory avenue for community colleges to provide staffing and food banks for students. The District will utilize $197,800 in one-time funding to contract services with Pathways of Hope during the 2019-2020 academic year to provide services for the three schools.

The CEOs at each —Valentina Purtell at NOCE, JoAnna Schilling at Cypress, and Greg Schulz at Fullerton —campus agree on the value of this partnership stating:

“Our campus food banks and other on-campus, grassroots efforts have served our students to the best of our ability. But with such a tremendous need, we are thankful for the expertise brought by Pathways of Hope and what this means to our students at Cypress, Fullerton, and NOCE, whose ability to continue their education is so significantly undermined by their struggle to meet their daily needs.”

Gillanders, Jr. is equally eager to help students.

“For 44 years Pathways of Hope have been experts in assisting North Orange County community members experiencing hunger and homelessness. This targeted approach on college campuses allows us to zero in on a particular population that needs ongoing support to ensure academic success and stability,” said Gillanders, Jr.

For more information on Pathways of Hope, visit www.pohoc.orgor contact Development Manager Mychael Blinde at 714-680-3691 ext. 233 or mblinde@pohoc.org.

NOCCCD Background:

Two of the state’s premier colleges and most extensive continuing education program combine to provide the quality educational programming of the North Orange County Community College District (NOCCCD). Nearly 56,000 students enroll each term at Cypress College, Fullerton College, and North Orange Continuing Education. College students are able to shape their futures in programs leading to associate degrees, vocational certificates, and transfer opportunities. Life-long learning also is possible in continuing education programs that range from high school completion and basic skills mastery through an array of vocational training and self-development courses. The NOCCCD campuses serve an area of over one million diverse people –each pursuing their own, unique ambitions.

About Cypress College:

Cypress College’s 16,000 students and the highly qualified teaching faculty are proud of the many excellent academic and vocational programs. Cypress College offers 56 university-transfer majors, 176 career-certificate programs, and degrees in 73 areas of study. The college’s traditional semesters begin in January and August, while short-term courses start throughout the year. A Cypress College education costs $46 per unit — $138 for a typical, full-credit class — California’s lowest tuition. Financial aid and scholarships are also available to qualifying students.

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Note: View the release

City to Hold First-Ever Independence Day Celebration at Cypress College

The City of Cypress is holding its inaugural Salute to America Celebration here at Cypress College. The family-friendly event, which takes place Wednesday, July 3 from 4–9:30 p.m., features live music, vendor booths, food trucks, and a fireworks display that begins at 9 p.m.

Those in attendance can bring lawn chairs and picnic on the grounds. However, motor homes, outside alcohol, dogs, barbecues, and fireworks are not permitted at the event.

Please see below for a map of the event. Note that this may be subject to change.

We look forward to seeing you at this free event.

Retired Professor Co-Authors Philosophy and Religious Studies Article

Retired Philosophy and Religious Studies professor Robert G. Cavin has penned an article with Skyline College Professor Carlos A. Colombetti called “Assessing the Resurrection Hypothesis: Problems with Craig’s Inference to the Best Explanation.”

Regarding the article, Cavin states, “The hypothesis that God supernaturally raised Jesus from the dead is argued by William Lane Craig to be the best explanation for the empty tomb and postmortem appearances of Jesus because it satisfies seven criteria of adequacy better than rival naturalistic hypotheses. We identify problems with Craig’s criteria-based approach and show, most significantly, that the Resurrection hypothesis fails to fulfill any but the first of his criteria—especially explanatory scope and plausibility.”

The article is slated to come out on June 21, 2019 in The European Journal for Philosophy of Religion (EJPH) Vol. 11 No. 2.

To be part of this and similar conversations, take Introduction to Religious Studies here at Cypress College. Visit our class schedule page for more information.

NOCCCD Merit System Information

Learn about the merit system and election scheduled for summer 2019.

Pride Month Resources Available at Cypress College

Cypress College is a community that embraces diversity; fosters individuality; provides an accessible, supportive climate; and encourages a variety of perspectives and opinions. In celebration of that core value and Pride Month, we share the following resources for our LGBTQ+ community.

Queer-Straight Alliance (QSA) Club

The Queer-Straight Alliance (QSA)—formerly the LGBTQ+ Club—strives to be a fun and safe space for LGBTQ+ students and their allies to share their stories, learn about LGBTQ+ issues, support diversity and inclusion for all students, and make a positive impact on campus and in the community. The QSA participates in campus AS events, holds weekly club meetings, hosts National Coming Out Day (October), attends Pride Parades and Festivals (May/June), watches movies, has beach bonfires, goes out together, and more. The QSA meets every Thursday from 3–5 p.m.

Gender-Neutral Restrooms

Gender-neutral restrooms, labeled “unisex,” are available in the Technical Education 3 building on the first, second, and third floors. The two that are located on the first floor require a key to access them. Visit the CTE Division office for the key. The two on the second floor are located opposite the sliding door entrance. The two on the third floor are located near the public elevator. An additional gender-neutral restroom is located in the Art Gallery.

Links

If you would like to see additional resources, or if you have any questions or need information, contact the QSA Advisor, Jenelle Herman, at jherman@cypresscollege.edu.

Student Art Featured in CCAG Exhibition

This year our art students exhibited their self-selected best works for display in the student art show at the Cypress College Art Gallery. The exhibition ran from May 7–16.

Among the many featured were pieces by Juliana Montenegro, Phat Huynh, and Zimmo Mojica.

Montenegro submitted a photograph she took of Disneyland at night, which is part of a series she is doing for independent study. The series aims to show the theme park in a different light—revealing there is so much more to the park than the rides.

Artist: Juliana Montenegro

Huynh’s “Scoliosis” piece was his first-ever painting. He used acrylics to portray a personal aspect of himself.

Artist: Phat Huynh

Mojica’s anime artistry has been featured previously on campus. This time, he brought forth his favorite piece for the show.

Artist: Zimmo Mojica

Cypress College Art Gallery (CCAG) presents both professional and student exhibitions, workshops, lectures, and visiting artists’ projects. CCAG is located in the gateway area of the Cypress College campus. Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and by appointment.

Brandon Davis Selected as Outstanding Graduate for Class of 2019

Brandon Davis was a typical college student juggling school with work and a social life when he was faced with a difficult reality: the active 20-year-old was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma in the last few weeks of the fall 2017 semester.

“I went from being a normal, 20-year-old college student, to having cancer,” he said. “At the beginning, I went through really hard realities that kind of stick with me today, such as I didn’t know if I was going to make it to celebrate my 21st birthday.”

Though he was faced with contemplating his own mortality, Brandon maintained his positive, upbeat attitude and continued to be vigorously dedicated to his education, determined to continue working towards his goal of becoming a high school math teacher to share his love and passion for math with others. He credited the support he received from family, friends, and college faculty and staff with helping him to keep up with his studies while making it through his long months of treatment.

“I believe what makes Brandon so special is not only his amazingly positive attitude, courage, and character,” said Psychology Professor Brandy Young,” but also his utter dedication to pursuing his dream. He is someone who can inspire all of us — faculty, students, and staff — to be their best no matter what challenging conditions they may face.”

While undergoing 14 rounds of chemotherapy over eight-and-a-half months, along with 29 rounds of radiation over a span of six weeks, Brandon turned 21 in September 2018. At the beginning of 2019, he received his first negative scan since finishing his treatment.

Back taking a full load of classes at Cypress College in spring 2019, Brandon has earned a number of scholarships, including a 1 Million for Anna Foundation scholarship for Ewing’s Sarcoma survivors. He is transferring to California State University, Long Beach in the fall to pursue his bachelor’s degree.

“One bit of advice I would give to current and future students is to never take a day for granted. See the beauty in each day and know that each day presents an opportunity to smile or laugh, no matter how dark or cloudy it may seem.

First Presidential Scholars of Distinction Cohort Selected for Class of 2019

Cypress College has selected its first cohort of Presidential Scholars of Distinction, a new scholarship intended to recognize nine students who exemplify what it means to be a Cypress College student. The criteria include that each recipient must be in good academic standing and they must have illustrated perseverance in their achievement.

The Presidential Scholars of Distinction were nominated by the faculty in their specific academic major clusters, selected by the members of that academic pathway, and affirmed by President JoAnna Schilling.

Cypress College highlights eight meta majors and an exploratory pathway as part of its implementation of the California Guided Pathways Program — a philosophy intended to help students complete their studies in the most-efficient timeline possible. The pathways are: Business and Computer Information Systems; Career Technical Education; Fine Arts; Health Science; Kinesiology; Language Arts; Science, Engineering & Math; Social Sciences; and We Journey Together (“Exploratory” including Counseling and L/LRC).

Cypress College’s first Presidential Scholars of Distinction are:

Sagidah Karakra, Business/CIS
Jessica Button, Counseling
Claudia Espinoza, Career Techinical Education
Nhi Nguyen, Fine Arts
Evelyn Hernandez, Health Science
Jane Woodward, Kinesiology
Jene Viray, Language Arts
Selina Jaimes Davila, Science, Engineering, Math
Sandra Enriquez, Social Sciences

Sagidah Karakra

Cypress College’s appreciation and value for diversity, along with her older sister’s academic success at the college, motivated Sagidah Karakra to pursue higher education at Cypress College. Sagidah has been involved in a number of extra-curricular activities, including the Muslim Student Association and Business Club. She found her niche in accounting after participating in Accounting Career Day and this semester served as a supplemental instruction leader for Accounting 101.

Sagidah is graduating with an associate of science degree in business administration. She is transferring to Cal State Fullerton in the fall to pursue a bachelor’s degree in accounting. She one day hopes to become an accounting professor like the ones she’s had who have motivated her to work hard and never give up on her educational goals.

When asked what she is most passionate about, Sagidah said it’s “inspiring students to excel.”

“I want to make a positive impact on the success of my students,” she added. “I hope that I can continue to support and inspire accounting students to work hard and stay motivated when it comes to achieving their goals.”

Jessica Button

Jessica Button has said she’s come further than she ever thought realistic. A fun-loving girl with endless creativity, she chased many different opportunities that deferred her degree completion, but for a third time, she found herself registering for college classes at Cypress College.

Jessica is graduating with her associate of science degree for transfer in business administration and associate of science degree in marketing. She is transferring to Cal State Long Beach in the fall and is the first graduate from the leadership team of FITE (From Incarceration to Empowerment) Club, a new club that was started last fall.

“I am ecstatic to be graduating today as a role model to those who also thought they’d never get this far,” she said. “We can all graduate successfully and change our lives. We take this journey together!”

Claudia Espinoza

Claudia Espinoza was born in Santa Ana, but at the age of two, moved to Mexico where she grew up for 14 years. At 16, her family moved back to California where she spent long days going to school, completed homework in the afternoon in a language she barely understood, then attended ESL classes until 10 p.m. Through hard work and dedication, she started to speak and write in English within a year.

After high school, Claudia earned a medical assistant certificate from Santa Ana College and continued pursuing an associate degree until realizing that she was not passionate about the field. It wasn’t until she started working as an assistant manager at a restaurant that she discovered her love for hospitality.

Claudia is graduating with associate of arts degrees in hospitality management, and food and beverage management. She is transferring to Cal State Long Beach in the fall to pursue a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management and ultimately aspires to become a director of food and beverage at a full-service resort.

Nhi Nguyen

At the age of 19, Nhi Nguyen emigrated from Vietnam to the United States with her mother. In a completely new environment and having to cope in an unfamiliar language, Nhi initially intended to earn a degree in a health science field because she thought she would have a higher chance of finding a stable job; however, her first art professor helped her believe in her skills and abilities, and inspired her to pursue art instead.

Nhi is graduating with an associate of art degree for transfer in studio art. She is transferring to Cal State Fullerton to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in graphic and interactive design. She also hopes to pursue a master’s degree and dreams of becoming a successful graphic designer.

“No matter what language an artist speaks, I can understand what he is trying to represent and express through his art piece,” she said. “So, art seems to have a power of speaking in a universal language, which is why I’ve been interested in art.”

Evelyn Hernandez

A first-generation college student and single parent when she first started on her educational journey at Cypress College, Evelyn Hernandez said the college has been her home away from home since day one. She is a proud member of EOPS, a program she learned of by happenstance.

“I recall accidentally walking into some random office hoping they’d be able to help me, and it was the best mistake I ever made,” she said.

Evelyn is graduating with an associate of science degree in radiologic technology. After earning her American Registry of Radiologic Technologists credential, she hopes to work in computed tomography (CT) and possibly cross-train in a catheterization lab. She also hopes to attend Cal State Northridge in the future.

“I want to continue growing and set an example for my kids,” she said. “I want them to be proud of the person I worked so hard to become. I want them to know anything is possible with hard work and a little effort.”

Jane Woodward

Jane Woodward was a four-sport standout in high school, participating in varsity women’s volleyball, basketball, track, and tennis at Woodrow Wilson High school in her hometown of Portland, Oregon. After high school, Jane moved to Orange County on her own to attend Cypress College and play on the college’s volleyball and beach volleyball teams. She finished her career at Cypress with 321 career kills and 122 blocks, earning a 2018 all-Orange Empire Conference First Team selection and earning a spot on the 2018 All-State Tournament Team.

Jane is graduating with an associate of science degree in kinesiology. She is transferring to Cal Poly Pomona on a volleyball scholarship and will pursue a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology. She aspires to become a physical therapist and high school volleyball coach.

“I am most passionate about being the best version of myself that I can be,” she said. “Coming from a troubled background, losing my mother at a young age, I have an internal drive to succeed and make the most out of my life.”

Jene Viray

Born in the Philippines and raised in the United Arab Emirates, Jene Viray is an international student at Cypress College who is graduating with her associate of arts degree in communication studies. She hopes to transfer to Cal State Long Beach in fall 2020, and until then, will continue working in the college’s International Students Program to gain practical work experience.

In addition to working part-time in the International Students Program office, Jene was cast and has performed in the college’s dance productions, and was a member of the Cypress College Forensics Team. She aspires to earn a master’s degree in speech language pathology and become a certified speech therapist with the goal of helping children improve their speech and ability to communicate.

“I find joy in helping others in a way that can encourage their success and well-being,” she said. “Knowing that my actions and words have the power to impact other peoples’ lives positively is rewarding in itself.”

Selina Jaimes Davila

Selina Jaimes Davila has been a high-achieving student from a young age and worked hard to graduate with high honors from Huntington Park High School, only to be rejected admission by four Cal States. Uncertain of her next step, Selina ended up at Cypress College pursuing a diagnostic medical sonography certification until deciding that she wanted to pursue a degree. After changing her major three times, she discovered a passion for mechanical engineering.

Selina is graduating with associate of science degrees in mathematics, physics, liberal arts in math and science, and pre-engineering. She is transferring to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in the fall to pursue a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and later hopes to earn her master’s degree from UCLA. Passionate about helping others, Selina hopes to work in the prostheses industry and also aspires to become a STEM counselor for undocumented students.

“I have faced many challenges on my path to graduation: poverty, no transportation, lack of guidance, my undocumented status, coming from divorced parents, being a first-generation student, starting in the lowest math course, and not having a place to live at times,” she said. “No matter what, I overcame the barriers placed in front of me.”

Sandra Enriquez

Sandra Enriquez was still in high school when she had her first child. As a young mother who, admittedly, did not understand the reality of being a mother, she rebelled and found herself in an “extremely negative environment.” Pulling from her own experiences, Sandra said she is most passionate about helping others overcome obstacles, especially single parents, “because I know how difficult life can sometimes get.”

After years overcoming the difficulties in her life, Sandra has earned three certificates from Cypress College in family studies, addiction studies, and human services generalist. She is graduating with associate of arts degrees in human services and liberal arts with an emphasis in social and behavioral science. She is transferring in the fall to Cal State Fullerton.

“I am a living testimony that regardless of how deep you think you have dug yourself into a hole, you are not buried; you can get yourself out and, most importantly, ‘You deserve it’.”

Cypress College Foundation Awards More Than $260,000 in Scholarships

The Cypress College Foundation recognized nearly 250 exceptional students receiving more than 300 awards for a total of more than $260,000 in scholarships at the Annual Scholarship Awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 8. More than 400 family, friends, faculty, staff, and students attended the event held in Gateway Plaza in front of the campanile.

The Cypress College Foundation is a non-profit organization founded to raise money for the college through donors who care about our students. These funds are designated to assist students with scholarships and support other important college programs. Oversight of the Foundation comes from a group of dedicated volunteers serving as the Board of Directors, along with the leadership of the Cypress College president.

Cypress College Radiologic Technology graduate Crystal Neer started a scholarship to help deserving health science majors in the EOPS, CARE, and CalWORKS programs.

Thank you to our donors, faculty, staff, Cypress College President Dr. JoAnna Schilling — and, especially, our deserving students.

Fullerton 99s Visit Cypress College

The Aviation & Travel Careers Department hosted the monthly meeting on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 for the Fullerton Chapter of the Ninety-Nines, an organization of licensed women pilots from around the world. Students with an interest in aviation were invited to participate in the monthly meeting and enjoy pizza and drinks.

After the meeting, students and members moved to the Aircraft Simulation Lab and explored the features and possibilities of the equipment. The time in the simulator lab provided opportunities for students and members to work with one other, sharing knowledge and experiences across different age groups.

Fullerton 99s Member, Cypress Alum, and Pilot Kim Ernst

Students and members also had the opportunity for team building, by working together to solve navigation problems and by practicing crew resource management. The lab time also built confidence, by flying new types of aircraft, exploring aircraft systems, flying at sunset, and by practicing pilotage and navigation.

For more information about the Fullerton Chapter of the Ninety-Nines and scholarship opportunities, visit them on Facebook.

Anyone who is interested in Aviation, Travel Careers, Homeland Security, or UAV/UAS (drones) should attend the Aviation & Travel Careers Department’s Program Information Meeting on Friday, August 23, 2019 from 4:30–5:30 p.m.

Nearly 1,000 High School Seniors, Parents Attend Promise Events on Campus

Nearly 1,000 high school seniors and their parents attended promise-based events on campus last week in which they affirmed their intention to attend Cypress College in the fall.

In its second year, Pledge Night — focused on the Pledge program with Anaheim Union High School District — filled both the Campus Theater and the CCCPLX-216 lecture hall. The first-year Commit2Cypress event, which drew students from outside AUHSD for the newly expanded North Orange Promise, brought about 70 people to campus.

Students had access to programs and services during the events, held on back-to-back evenings on Wednesday and Thursday, May 1 and 2.

Health Information: Measles

In recent weeks, the spread of measles has become a topic of concern in the media. In light of a recent Orange County case, Cypress College is sharing information from the Orange County Health Care Agency. We do so to prevent an occurrence at the college and any further spread of this preventable, but highly contagious disease.

It is important to note that the following information is shared out of an abundance of caution. There are no known cases of the measles impacting Cypress College.

Anyone with concerns about potential exposure is asked to call their health care provider or the OC Health Care Agency Health Referral Line at (800) 564-8448. Additionally, information about measles can be found from the County of Orange Health Care Agency at ochealthinfo.com.

Students who need any form of care are always welcome to utilize the Health Center services; however, Cypress College does not have the measles vaccine, booster, or measles blood test available on-site. Those needs will be referred out to the county agency. The Health Center may be reached at (714) 484-7361.

Associated Students General Elections to Take Place May 13, 14

Associated Students is holding its general elections on May 13 and 14, from 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. at the Fine Arts Plaza. Students are invited to vote for the candidates of their choice. Below is a list of the candidates.

President

Presten Jimenez
Gricelda Weed

Executive Vice President

Tatiana Melendrez

Student Trustee

Ester Plavdjian

VP of Student Organizations

Summer Balistreri

VP of Campus Activities

Melani Hunt
Elise Cunanan

VP of Fiscal Affairs

Victor Chiang

VP of Internal & External Affairs

Kyla Salas

VP of Public Relations

Maraya Zavala

Senator

Mica Angeli A. Gandia
Ashley One
Jonathan Escobede

Activities Coordinator

Natalia Shcherbakova
Madi El Assadi
Alejandro Perez Patiño
Yejeong Jang

ATC Students Attend Women in Aviation Conference

Twenty students from the Aviation & Travel Careers Department volunteered and attended the 30th Annual International Women in Aviation Conference. The conference this year was held at the Long Beach Convention Center March 14–16, 2019. Students who attended had the opportunity to interview with employers and see what future job opportunities are available to them. Student volunteers assisted with media development, silent auction, merchandising, and more. Students also had the opportunity to attend education sessions on careers, general aviation, leadership, pilots, and technical operations. Two of our students have recently obtained jobs from attending the Women in Aviation Conference. One is now working for Dynamic Aviation as a pilot and the other is working for JetSuiteX as a flight attendant.

More than 4,500 people, from 33 countries, attended the conference. Present were 170 companies representing the aviation industry, including unmanned aircraft vehicles. This year, Women in Aviation International awarded 146 scholarships, worth a total of $875,065.

For more information about Women in Aviation International, visit their website at wai.org.

The next conference will be held at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, in Lake Buena Vista Florida.

Aviation Students Attend LAX AirEx Training

On April 10, 2019, 25 students from the Aviation & Travel Careers Department participated in the Los Angeles International Airport AirEx full-scale exercise plan. The exercise is held every three years to test the airport’s ability to respond to an accident at the Flight Path Museum, next to the airport on Imperial Highway. Students participated by acting as crew members and passengers with different injuries. Some of the students acting with fatal injuries were covered in fake blood. Participating in the event gave students the opportunity to see and experience emergency airport operations, walk onto restricted areas of the airport, get up close to commercial aircraft, and interact with first responders.

Pyrotechnics were used to start the event. First on the scene were the airport’s newly acquired Aircraft Rescue Firefighter (ARFF) rigs. This equipment has the ability to pierce the aircraft skin and spray water or foam directly into the cabin. Next on scene were Engine 51 and Rescue 51. These units are also located at the airport. Soon after, additional equipment arrived to begin triaging and treating victims. Crew members were also identified and isolated for safety, debriefing, and drug testing purposes. Responders said that passengers can sometimes become aggressive toward crew members, blaming them for the accident or injuries.

The simulation included volunteer victims and first responders.

The simulated event was that an Airbus A319 declared an emergency landing, due to the smell of fuel in the cabin. After the airplane landed, it was unable to stop and went off the runway, shearing off the left landing gear. When the aircraft finally stopped, a fire erupted on the right side of the aircraft.

In total there were about 150 victim volunteers, nearly 200 first responders, and approximately 300 observers.

+C Team Wins $2,000 Ideathon Prize, Trip to MIT

Cypress College teamed with ModoLabs to host the inaugural Ideathon™ on Saturday, April 13. Eleven teams qualified for the weekend’s competition, and vied for the grand prize of $2,000 and a trip to the 6th Annual Kurogo Mobile Conference at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, where they will have the chance to compete for a national prize of $10,000.

First-place winners, Team +C

The first-place team, +C, wanted “to make an app for the college students where they can post about the textbooks they want to sell. We have noticed it is very hard to access cheap books and sell your textbooks.”

Team Innovate took second place and a prize of $300.

Second-place winners, Team Innovate

“Many students are unaware of the plethora of educational resources found on campus,” the team stated. “For both incoming and previously enrolled students, it can get overwhelming to grasp a hold on everything. Our app targets incoming students and aims to inform them of the resources and assets that Cypress College has to offer. Our app addresses this challenge by providing an easy to use platform for students to be aware of particular office hours and available tutoring sessions. Our platform applies the use of an open forum that will allow students to communicate with each other, providing an educational and welcoming community feel for everyone.”

Third-place winners, Team STEM Cells

Placing third was team STEM Cells, whose app idea dealt with “how to establish good habits, to present resources and information on what a habit is, and how [to] effectively change [those] habits.”

For more information about the 2019 Digital Innovation & Ideathon Competition, visit our website here.

College to Welcome Prospective Students at Commit2Cypress

Cypress College will host hundreds of prospective students at its inaugural Commit2Cypress event on Wednesday, May 1. The event will feature a resource fair with food trucks; a Charger Experience welcome; and information sessions about admissions, counseling, and different student services and programs.

Commit2Cypress aims to introduce students to academic pathways of interest, inform them of resources at the college to help them succeed, and provide support even before day one of their educational journeys at the college.

Students will also learn about the North Orange County Community College District’s North Orange Promise, which will be expanded starting fall 2019 to offer all eligible first-time college students one year of free tuition.

Attendees will have an opportunity to be entered into a drawing for $250 book awards.Free parking will be available in Lot 4

Students and their families may RSVP to attend the resource fair and two information sessions here.

Questions? Contact Noor Altoma at naltoma@cypresscollege.edu or (714) 484-7000 ext. 48269.

11 Teams Proceed to First Ideathon Competition

Nineteen teams applied for the inaugural Ideathon™/Innovation competition, held in conjunction by Cypress College and ModoLabs, the company that created the Cypress Connect app. Of those 19 teams, 11 will proceed to this weekend’s competition.

These 11 teams will showcase their unique ideas with hopes of winning the inaugural Ideathon™. The qualifying teams, which will compete this weekend, are:

STEM Cells
‘+C
Ex=Change
Innovate
Shine/Project Brass Rotation
Make it Happen
Zesty Tanukis
Cypress ATC
Ez Clap
Data Girls
Motiv8

About the Competition

Ideathon™ is a weekend-long competition full of fun and innovation! This is where students take their ideas and build them into an app — no coding skills necessary. Students will have the opportunity to create digital solutions to challenges that arise on campus. This is the chance for students to make a change and win some prizes and recognition for dedicating themselves to making a difference for their college.

The competition was open to all enrolled Cypress College students. Each team was required to submit an idea based on one of the challenge themes, which included campus sustainability, college time management, disability on campus, food insecurity, freshmen retention, financial challenges, housing insecurity, life skills, mental health, and physical health.

Full Competition Schedule

Wednesday, April 10 — Business-building, Room 107

6 p.m.	Step-by-step training on how to build an app
9 p.m.	Students have 24 hours to work in a sandbox to get familiar with the platform

Friday, April 12

Noon-12:15 p.m.	Doors open/Registration
12:30-12:45 p.m.	Welcome address and video about Modo Ideathon™
12:45-3:30 p.m.	Students work in Production Environment
4-7 p.m.	Students continue work in the Production Environment
7-7:20 p.m.	Dinner
7:20-10 p.m.	Students continue work in the Production Environment
10 p.m.	Students can continue to work from home

Saturday, April 13

8 a.m.-1 p.m.	Future Innovation Hub, Business Building, Room 107
7:30 a.m.-7:40 p.m.	Doors open/ Registration
7:40-8 a.m.	Breakfast
8 a.m.-Noon.	Students Finalize Touches
Noon	Production Environment Closes
Noon-1 p.m.	Students prepare to present
1-6 p.m.	Ideathon™ Public Event, Cypress College Complex Lecture Hall 216
1 p.m.	Doors Open
1:45 p.m.	Projection Mapping Presentation
2-5 p.m.	Student presentations, judging and awards
5-6 p.m.	Pictures, videos, interviews, etc.

Cypress College Projection Mapping Project

Professor

Kati Angelov is a full-time professor in the Media Arts Design Department at Cypress College. She holds a master of Fine Arts in animation and digital arts from the School of Cinematic Arts at USC. Her employment history includes The Annenberg School of Communication, The Labyrinth Project, HUCK magazine UK, and the Walt Disney Company. She has been teaching over 15 years in different animation schools and is passionate about education. Her goal is to help her students to gain employable skills in the different areas of digital art. Kati’s particular area of interest is motion design and projection mapping. She developed the first projection mapping class ever offered in a community college in the U.S., helping Cypress College students to learn about this cutting-edge technology.

Students

Joshua Beltran, Film Major
At Cypress College, Joshua is pursuing the associate degree for transfer in film. His studies focus on film production and directing. He is a creative person who likes to create artistic things through different platforms and by expressing himself creatively through art.

Danielle (Danie) Gray, Studio Arts Major
Danie Gray is a returning student at Cypress College after taking a 15-year break. She is interested in graphic design, visual effects, and animation. She hopes to transfer to Cal State San Jose in fall 2020 and pursue a bachelor of fine arts in digital media. Her family consists of her husband, 9-year-old daughter, and 1-1/2-year-old son. She and her family stay in Orange County.

Ken Huynh, Motion Graphic Major
Ken Huynh has been a motion graphic student at Cypress College since fall 2018. He loves his projection mapping class and is planning to transfer to CSULB in spring 2020 to pursue his bachelor’s degree. Ken currently works in the Cypress College Office of Campus Communications as a student graphic designer.

Abdul Meelar, Graphic Design Major
Abdul Meelar is currently a graphic design major at Cypress College. He is interested in all aspects of graphic design, film, photography, and video editing. He aspires to one day either start his own media production company or work for a well-known, established company.

Antonio Mosqueda, Film and Motion Graphics Major
At Cypress College, Antonio Mosqueda is pursuing a certificate in motion graphics along with an associate’s degree in film, TV, & electronic media. His goals along the way are to be involved in more film productions and to be a cinematographer. Antonio also aspires to one day be able create a production company and expand it into different global markets.

Bilal Patel, Film and Motion Graphics Major
Bilal’s goal is to work in the film industry on either the production or the post production team.

Ahmed Riched, Graphic Design Major
Ahmed Riched is a graphic design student at Cypress College. He is most interested in motion design and photo manipulation, and aspires to own his own sports graphic/motion design company in the future.

Dinora Salcedo, Film Major
Dinora Salcedo is a film and television production major at Cypress College. She hopes to earn an associate degree for transfer then transfer to UCLA for a bachelor’s degree in the field. She is a director, film maker, and film photographer.

Kindra Tiedtke, 2D Animation Major
Kindra Tiedtke is currently a digital art student at Cypress College who focuses on illustrations and the development of characters. She aspires to become an animator and create more complex environments both visually and through the element of storytelling.

Vu Vuong, Motion Designer at PBS Socal
Vu Vuong is skilled in motion design, logo design, advertising, and video editing. He is currently pursuing a master’s of arts focused in motion media design from Savannah College of Art and Design. He is taking the projection mapping and live entertainment class at Cypress College to expand his skills in this cutting-edge technology.

Campus Executive Team Complete as 3 VPs Enter Roles

Cypress College’s executive leadership team is now complete with the addition of the third vice president. Alex Porter began his role as the vice president of Administrative Services today. He joins Dr. Carmen Cortez Dominguez and Dr. Paul de Dios, who moved into vice president roles earlier this semester.

Porter’s position replaces that of Karen Cant, who retired in 2017. The position has been filled intermittently since that time. Drs. Dominguez and de Dios are in newly created roles after the position of executive vice president as reevaluated when Dr. Santanu Bandyopadhyay was selected as president of Columbia College in northern California. The three vice presidents complete Dr. JoAnna Schilling’s president’s staff team at Cypress College. The group also includes: Howard Kummerman, executive director of the Foundation and Community Relations; Phil Dykstra, director of Institutional Research and Planning; Marc Posner, director of Campus Communications; and Christina Mix, Dr. Schilling’s executive assistant.

At Cypress College, Porter is responsible for fiscal resources, facilities, capital construction, information technology, and contracted services, including food services and the bookstore.

Porter brings 17 years of experience in higher education administration to Cypress College. He was most recently the vice president of Business and Administrative Services at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, CA. In that role, he was responsible for fiscal, human resources, facilities, capital construction, and bookstore operations. Before joining the California Community Colleges system, Porter worked in the California State University system from 2001-2017, starting at the Office of the Chancellor and finishing at California State University, Long Beach. In the CSU system, his roles included system-wide budget analysis and leading administrative operations in enrollment services and facilities/construction departments.

Porter earned his Bachelor of Science in Finance at California State University, Long Beach and is in the process of completing his master’s degree in Business Administration from St. Mary’s College of California in March 2020.

Psychology Students, Alumni Go to UCLA for Scientific Research Study

On March 15, a group of psychology students—David Su, Felicia Cleaver, Alejandra Lopez, and Jessica Rojas (shown left to right in the photo above)—from Psychology Club and Psi Beta took a field trip to UCLA to take part in a scientific research study, thanks to Cypress College alumnus Nadia Dellawar.

Dellawar also ensured students received a behind-the-scenes look at the UCLA Dish (Diet, stress, and health) lab and were able to have a personal Q&A session with current UCLA students, including Brooke Cullen, Dellawar, Maria Ocampo, Lauren Arriola-Sanchez, and Nick Pearson (also shown in the photo above) who had transferred from various community colleges.

Dual Enrollment Students, Instructor, Place First at Auto Tech Competition

Five Cypress College Dual Enrollment students took top prize at a county-wide automotive technology competition last Saturday, March 23, and earned their instructor an award, too. The Orange County Automobile Dealers Association 26^th Annual Technology Competition pitted 14 teams of high school students against each other in several categories at Hyundai Motor America in Fountain Valley, and offered thousands of dollars in prizes.

Five students from Western High School, who take Automotive Technology courses at Cypress College as part of the Dual Enrollment program, won First Place. Additionally, adjunct instructor David Endo, who worked and prepared the winning team, was granted the OCADA Teacher of the Year award.

The winning team, pictured with the car they get to bring back to the Cypress Auto Tech shop. Top row, left to right: Sergio Salgardo, David Endo, Andy Salgado. Bottom row: Jorge Torres, Andrew Campos, Salvador Ramos.

Prizes include more than $11,000 in Snap-On Tools and over $30,000 in scholarships, according to OCADA. The winning team also got to take a 2018 Hyundai back to their classroom shop for training purposes.

Auto Technology instructor Russel Bacarella taught the Western students in their Automotive Fundamentals class and was proud of their success.

“They’re competing with kids who have had as much as three, four years of experience,” Bacarella said. “They’ve had about a class and a half. They’ve done very well considering the time they’ve had to work with.”

The Dual Enrollment students competed against high schools such as Mission Viejo High School, Irvine High School, Loara High School, Katella High School, Buena Park High School, Rancho Alamitos High School, and those in Santiago Canyon, many of which have their own auto tech department, Bacarella says.

“It makes us feel like we are doing a pretty good job here, and hitting on the necessities,” Bacarella said. “There seems to be a gap between leaving high school and entering the workplace, and we’re doing the job of filling it in.”

Students were tested on theory and practical applications in several categories. Some of the tasks included electrical repairs, brake-related workstations, an online safety test, a suspension identification, and diagnosing engine mechanical failure. A STEM element asked competitors to construct and repair electrical circuits.

Cypress College instructors Dave Endo, Russ Bacarella, and Michael Klyde participated in planning meetings for the competition. In addition, Bacarella was the event chair; Endo was a team leader; Kelley and Klyde did separate two-hour seminars to help prepare the participants; and Beard and Klyde were event judges.

Cypress College’s own High School Auto Competition took place March 16 and included 14 teams of high school students putting their automotive technology education to the test. Tasks given to the two-person teams fell into six skills stations: tire rotation; brake rotor runout measurement; engine component measurement; scan tool operation; series circuits; and parallel circuits.

The top-place teams in the annual spring competition were:

Western High School Team 1/Dual Enrollment
Rancho Alamitos Team 1
Western High School Team 2/Dual Enrollment
Oxford/Kennedy All female team/Dual Enrollment

Other teams included Katella High School, Loara High School, Buena Park High School, and Santiago High School.

“What a great event! I’m so proud of our winners,” said Elizabeth Ovesen, adjunct counselor. She also extended “a special thank you to our wonderful instructors for their support and guidance.”

Prizes were donated by Mac Tools, Hedman Hedders, and K&N Performance Air Filters. The competition committee was made up of Russ Bacarella, Mike Beard, and Paul Kelly, and the support staff was Cypress College’s own automotive students.

Psychology Students, Faculty Attend ‘Dr. Phil Show’ Taping

On March 12, 2019, the Cypress College Psychology Department coordinated a field trip to a live taping of the “Dr. Phil Show.” Four faculty members, including Brandy Young, Randy Martinez, Angela deDios, and Carlos Sandoval, brought 34 students from their classes and clubs on this fun field trip.

California Community College #RealCollege Survey Identifies Need to Provide More Aid to Students

Cypress College is one of 57 colleges to participate in the #RealCollege Survey, which evaluated access to affordable food and housing in the California Community College system in the fall of 2018. The report, which is released today and will be detailed during a conference call this afternoon, identifies a need to provide students with additional aid.

According to this new report released by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice, seven in 10 students responding to the survey experienced food insecurity or housing insecurity or homelessness during the previous year.

Data specific to Cypress College show that 44.2 percent of participating students reported having experienced food insecurity, 55.5 percent experienced housing insecurity, and 13.7 percent experienced homelessness. Overall, the #RealCollege Survey finds stark variation across regions with food insecurity at California community colleges ranging from 38 percent to 59 percent while rates of homelessness vary by region from approximately 15 percent to 24 percent.

“Until now, we have lacked specific information about housing and food insecurity that would help us move beyond surface-level support for our students,” said Cypress College President Dr. JoAnna Schilling, who is also a member of the statewide Affordability, Food & Housing Access Taskforce focused on finding resolutions to these issues. “We knew a significant problem existed, and we did what we could to help. Dr. Sara Goldrick-Rab’s #RealCollegeCalifornia research provides actionable information about students on our campus, which will help us meet their needs.”

There are also sizable racial/ethnic disparities in basic needs insecurity among California community college students. The report highlights rates of food insecurity among students identifying as African American or Black, American Indian, or Alaska Native exceeding 60 percent — a rate 10 percentage points higher than rates for Hispanic or Latinx students, and almost 20 percentage points higher than rates for students identifying as White or Caucasian.

“California Community College trustees are committed to identifying multi-pronged, targeted approaches to the housing, food, and affordability challenges confronting our students,” said Jim Moreno, chair of the California Community College League Board and a trustee at Coast Community College District.

The #RealCollege Survey highlights the need for financial aid reform at the community college level, one of the recommendations put forward by the Community College League of California’s Affordability, Food & Housing Access Taskforce. The Taskforce is supporting Senate Bill 291 introduced by state Sen. Connie M. Levya (D-Chino), a bill sponsored by the California Community College Board of Governors and co-sponsored by the Community College League of California, which would establish a California Community College Student Financial Aid program that would base aid on the total cost of attendance, including housing, transportation, and textbooks.

A joint statement by Affordability, Food & Housing Access Taskforce chairs Pam Luster, president of San Diego Mesa College, and Keith Curry, president of Compton College, said, “We are proud to collaborate with college leaders statewide who are proactively engaged in discussions and interventions to alleviate the basic needs insecurities that affect our students. Our work is far from over, but as a coalition, we know we can find real solutions.”

During the briefing, the Affordability, Food & Housing Access Taskforce will also announce the launch of the #RealCollegeCalifornia network. The inaugural #RealCollegeCalifornia will serve as a coalition of colleges that share best practices focused on meeting students’ basic needs and will receive strategic planning support from The Hope Center.

Learn more about the work of the Community College League of California Affordability, Food & Housing Access Taskforce at www.ccleague.org/affordability-taskforce.

To read the full report visit: https://hope4college.com/reports/

LIVE WEBCAST DETAILS:
To learn more about the California Community College #RealCollege Survey, join a live webcast of the survey findings on Thursday, March 7. Survey findings will be presented by Sara Goldrick-Rab, founder of The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice.

Date: Thursday, March 7, 2019
Program starts at 12:10 p.m.

Webcast:
Phone One-Tap Dial: +16699006833,798401055# or +16468769923,798401055#
Link: https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/798401055

Join by Telephone:
(669) 900-6833 or (646) 876-9923

Meeting ID: 798 401 055

About Cypress College:

Cypress College’s 16,000 students and the highly qualified teaching faculty are proud of the many excellent academic and vocational programs. Cypress College offers 56 university-transfer majors, 176 career-certificate programs, and degrees in 73 areas of study. The college’s traditional semesters begin in January and August, while short-term courses start throughout the year. A Cypress College education costs $46 per unit — $138 for a typical, full-credit class — California’s lowest tuition. Financial aid and scholarships are also available to qualifying students.

Note: View the News Release

$1.4 Million Cybersecurity Grant Awarded to Cypress College for K-12 Dual Enrollment Pathway

A $1.43 million grant will facilitate a new K-12 dual enrollment pathway at Cypress College to educate high school students in the field of cybersecurity. Cypress College is one of six recipients — and the only one in Orange or Los Angeles counties — of the California College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) STEM Pathways Academy Program grant from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.

Cypress College will use the four-year grant to develop a cohort-based group of students from neighboring Magnolia High School enrolled in cybersecuity coursework at Cypress College. Students who complete the program will earn certifications qualifying them for entry-level career positions in the field and benefit from a preferred pathway partnership between Cypress College and Orange County’s two public universities — California State University, Fullerton, and the University of California, Irvine — along with other four-year institutions.

“The CCAP STEM Pathways Academy Grant provides unprecedented career opportunities to students in the field of cybersecurity and computer science — providing a pathway to prosperity for Anaheim Union High School District students in high-demand, high-paying jobs,” said Cypress College President JoAnna Schilling. “The grant facilitates a sequenced road map of coursework that provides unprecedented career and learning opportunities for participating students.”

According to the State of California’s Employment Development Department (EDD), the median wage in 2018 for network and computer systems administrators in California is $93,718 annually. At the same time, the number of jobs in network and computer systems administration is expected to increase in California by 4,000 — or 9.2 percent — between 2016 and 2026. More than 70 percent of AUHSD students come from economically challenged backgrounds.

The first group of 60 students will be admitted to Cypress College in fall 2020 when they begin their freshman year at Magnolia High School. In that first year, the students will pair high school computer coursework with a Cypress College counseling class. Subsequent college coursework provided as part of the grant includes Python programming, Cisco networking, network security, and anti-hacking security.

The CCAP grant is intended to prepare California students for high-skill jobs of the future in technology, manufacturing, or health care. This program design blends high school, community college, and workplace skills to provide the following five core benefits to students:

Education in grades 9-14 focused on the knowledge and skills students need for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers;
Workplace learning that includes ongoing mentoring by industry professionals in the chosen career sector, worksite visits, speakers, and internships;
Intensive, individualized academic support by both K-12 and college faculty within an extended academic year or school day that enables students to progress through the program at their own pace;
An opportunity to earn an associate of science degree, or an associate degree for transfer in a STEM field; and
A commitment to students who complete the program to be first in line for a job with the participating business partners following completion of the program.

About Cypress College:

Cypress College’s 16,000 students and the highly qualified teaching faculty are proud of the many excellent academic and vocational programs. Cypress College offers 56 university-transfer majors, 176 career-certificate programs, and degrees in 73 areas of study. The college’s traditional semesters begin in January and August, while short-term courses start throughout the year. A Cypress College education costs $46 per unit — $138 for a typical, full-credit class — California’s lowest tuition. Financial aid and scholarships are also available to qualifying students.

Now Offering On-Campus Child Care Services

In partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Cypress and Anaheim, and North Orange Continuing Education, Cypress College now offers free on-campus child care services for all enrolled students while accessing services on campus like counseling appointments, tutoring sessions, and studying in the L/LRC.

To assist students with school-age children, Boys and Girls Club offers services throughout the semester on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in NOCE (Bldg 18), Room 117 from 2 – 6 p.m. Children are offered help with their homework, or can engage in games, arts and crafts, literacy activities, and STEM activities.

For more information, please contact the Boys and Girls Club of Cypress at (714) 527-2697 Ext. 200 or email information@bgccypress.org.

Cypress College Foundation Recognizes Citizens, Woman of the Year at 44th Annual Americana Awards

On February 23, 2019, the Cypress College Foundation held its 44th Annual Americana Awards at the Disneyland Hotel Grand Ballroom, honoring and recognizing Citizens of the Year from the college’s eight surrounding communities and 2019 Woman of the Year Jill Bolton.

The Americana Awards is the Foundation’s signature event attracting roughly 600 guests. It is also the college’s major annual fundraiser with proceeds supporting the work of the Foundation, including funding student scholarships, providing student book loans and emergency assistance, offering faculty grants, developing the college’s endowment, and more.

Woman of the Year, Jill Bolton

Jill Bolton recently retired from a 24-year career at the Disneyland Resort where for the last 18 years she served as the executive overseeing all of the resort’s Corporate Citizenship efforts.

She joined the Public Affairs Division as manager of Disney Educational Programs in February, 1994 and was responsible for implementing numerous educational programs with Orange County school districts. She created an educational arts partnership program that provided teachers over $700,000 in grants to enhance the arts in their classrooms, offered cultural performance assemblies to over 100 schools annually and arts and entertainment workshops for teachers. She oversaw the Disneyland Band Concert Program serving 40,000 second graders annually, implemented the “Creativity Challenge,” a performance-based competition for middle and high school students and started a mentorship program.

She established strong relationships with school district superintendents, the Orange County School of the Arts, the Orange County Department of Education, supporting hundreds of teachers through their annual Teacher of the Year awards program, and with the California State Department of Education by hosting the California Distinguished School Awards at the Disneyland Resort.

In 1998, Jill’s responsibilities expanded to encompass all of Disneyland Resorts community relations efforts overseeing all donations to the community and a variety of outreach programs, including the annual Community Service Awards providing hundreds of thousands of grants to local nonprofit organizations, the Disney Wish Program, The Community Involvement Program, a ticket program for individuals with disabilities, The Disneyland Dreamers and Doers Program, which supports high school students who focus on efforts to improve the local community and the annual CHOC Walk, the largest fundraiser for Children’s Hospital Orange County. She also became responsible for overseeing the Disneyland Ambassador Program, a legacy initiative that was started back in 1965 during the 10-year anniversary of Disneyland.

On January 1, 2000, Jill was promoted to the executive level as director of Corporate Citizenship, overseeing all Disneyland Resort’s philanthropic giving, including all cash and in-kind giving valued between $17 and $20 million annually. In this role she created several new programs such as Show Your Character, the Disneyland scholarship program, and the Happiest Class on Earth – a ticket donation program to encourage sixth graders to complete a project to enhance their community. She was also instrumental in establishing the relationship with the nonprofit organization KaBOOM! to help build nine playgrounds throughout Orange County – each designed by neighborhood children to bring play to underserved communities. She also was the creator of a marketing effort, raising funds for Make a Wish called “Share Your Ears.” During her tenure, Jill also had the responsibility of placing leaders on community boards – such as Michael Cooper, Disneyland Director of Sourcing and Procurement, who serves on the Cypress College Foundation Board of Directors. Her role was further expanded in 2008 when she became responsible for the Ambassador program on a global level supporting Parks and Resorts in Florida, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, and Paris.

Jill’s interest in youth led her to be involved with numerous organizations that support the needs and development of the young. She launched a comprehensive school to career program for Anaheim High School students and partnered with the Anaheim Parks and Recreation Department to provide funding to build local skate parks and refurbish sports fields. She currently serves on the Festival of Children Foundation Board, having been involved with that organization since its inception more than a decade ago. From 2013 to 2017 she hosted the Carousel of Possible Dreams event at the Disneyland Resort, helping to raise over $1.2 million for local children’s charities. She served as a longtime board member of the Anaheim Family YMCA, 15 years on the board and serving as its chairman in 2013, and 2014 as vice chairman and secretary. She chaired the Governance Committee and served on the Executive and Personnel committees and led the effort to build a new YMCA facility, the Active Living Center at Ross Park, scheduled to open in 2019.

Born in San Diego, Jill was raised in Huntington Beach and graduated from Marina High School. She matriculated to the University of California, Irvine, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and an Education Administrative Credential in 1982. In 1985 she graduated with both a master’s degree in Counseling and a School Psychology Credential from California State University, Long Beach. She also earned a certificate in Corporate Community Involvement Management from Boston College. Prior to joining Disneyland, she was employed as a full-time school psychologist for Huntington Beach City Schools.

City of Anaheim, James and Lori Dinwiddie

James and Lori’s story began in 1983 when they first met in photography class at John F. Kennedy High School in La Palma. High school sweethearts, they have been married 26 years, live in Lori’s childhood home in Buena Park, and have devoted most of their volunteerism and community service to Anaheim.

The Dinwiddie’s dedication to community service began when their sons entered Luther Elementary School. Lori, a stay-at-home mom, quickly became involved with PTA and was “bitten” by the community volunteer bug. From there, Lori began serving in numerous capacities for the Cypress School District. Her involvement in education continued through her children’s middle and high school years.

In addition to her work in education, Lori has supported numerous organizations. Since 2016, she’s been an Anaheim Sister City Commissioner and has been chairman of the Government and Cultural Exchange program, which brings exchange students from Mito, Japan to Anaheim. She is also involved with the Anaheim 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, the Anaheim YMCA Good Friday Breakfast Committee, and the YMCA’s Art Auction Committee. She has been a director of the Anaheim Fall Festival Board and the coordinator for both the Anaheim Halloween Parade and Miss Anaheim Fall Festival Teen Ambassador program. For many years she was also a member of the Anaheim Arts Council Board of Directors.

Following high school, James attended California State University, Long Beach, where he earned his degree in electrical engineering with an emphasis in power design and controls. James is a registered professional engineer and the president & CEO of Power Design. James belongs to the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the National Society of Professional Engineers and the California Society of Professional Engineers.

While supporting his family and running his business, James was inspired to get involved with the Anaheim Family YMCA, and in particular its Indian Guides program. Indian Guides is the catalyst for James’ involvement in the community, as this program helped him grow with his children and give back to support the community. James served as the Indian Guides Nation Chief, and in 2002 he joined the Y’s board of directors and has co-chaired its annual support campaign.

James served as an Anaheim Sister City Commissioner from 2010 through 2016 and was the Government and Cultural Exchange Chairman for 2013-16. In this capacity, he was involved with the exchange program with Vitoria Gasteiz, Spain. James is also involved with Anaheim Cops4Kids and has devoted countless hours to helping the Anaheim community. Like Lori, James was also involved with the JFK Shamrock Regiment, where he served for 9 years. Within his role on the Board, he was both Ways and Means Chairman and the Board president.

Outside their various individual roles, James and Lori have grown to be heavily involved in the Anaheim community and participate together in a number of major community organizations including the Anaheim Flag Day Committee as well as the Nutcracker Christmas Tree Lighting Committee. One of their favorite activities is their participation as Mr. and Mrs. Claus, where each year nearly 1000 children visit with them and tell them what they want Santa to bring them for the holiday season. This has slowly evolved from assisting with the taking of photos nearly a decade ago to donning the Mr. and Mrs. Claus suits at Anaheim’s and other regional events.

City of Buena Park, Leslee Milch

Leslee Milch is a National Board Certified Teacher, Early Childhood Generalist, and has been a teacher and reading specialist in the Buena Park School District for 25 years.

Leslee was born in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. Her family moved frequently before settling in Garden Grove. After graduating from Rancho Alamitos High School, she became a waitress for Bob’s Big Boy restaurants, and at 21 a manager. Later, after her divorce and as a single mom she waitressed at Charley Browns restaurant and volunteered at her son’s school. Accepting a friend’s challenge to return to school, she earned both her bachelor’s degree and teaching credential from CSULB. In 2002, she earned a Master of Science degree and Reading Specialist credential from CSUF.

Besides being well-respected professionally, Leslee is intimately involved with the school community at Gilbert Elementary School as a kindergarten teacher. Over 20 years ago, she started a summer READ WITH ME! program, where she helps children overcome the summer lag by reading to them at Bellis Park.

Leslee says it all began when she was mentioning summer vacation to her class. One little boy asked, “Who’s going to read to us?” Her response was, “I’ll go to the park and read to you.” That first summer between 10 and 40 children would show up to hear her read, sing songs and nibble on pretzels that she brought. Over the years, the summer program grew and the Buena Park Library asked to partner with her. The library staff brought books in their own cars until procuring a ‘cool’ mobile van for community outreach. Leslee now reads to 100 or more children of all ages each Wednesday for a couple of hours, while the library staff checks out books to the children. For many of these children, who would not otherwise have transportation to the library, Leslee’s program is the only access to books or connection to school and learning during the summer months.

Leslee’s involvement in the community goes beyond her summer READ WITH ME! program. Each year the City of Buena Park has a student art show, and Leslee submits art work for every child in her class. Leslee financially supports Buena Park Goes to College, where high school students are provided with access to information to prepare themselves for college. She is also a founding member of the Buena Park School District Education Foundation and has written grants for over $40,000 to help students from the Buena Park School District attend outdoor science camp.

City of Cypress, Charles Williams

Charles Williams is fondly called “coach” by the hundreds of boys and girls who have played hockey, softball, baseball or football under his direction.

He first coached the South Coast Sabers, a hockey team for 15-16 year olds that he led to championships during his several years as coach when his daughter Amanda began playing softball, Charles coached her first team. When his son Nathan began playing baseball, Charles slid into coaching that team, while still supporting his daughter and leading her Y2K Softball Team to the West Coast Softball Championship.

Charles was born in San Pedro, but Cypress has been his home since 1968. He attended Cypress Elementary School, Morris Elementary, Oxford Junior High, and graduated from Cypress High School in 1979. He enrolled at California State University, Fullerton, where he was a bullpen catcher until he hurt his arm, an injury that ended his baseball career. He then focused on math and earned his bachelor’s degree in computer science at National University. He spent his career in the computer field, and with a friend in 1992, began National Creditors Connection, a business he still oversees.

A few years ago, Charles was approached by members of the Boys and Girls Club of Cypress who were seeking a reliable vehicle for the transportation of the Club’s kids. His response was, “What do you need, and how can I help?” From this meeting, he agreed to financially support the Boys & Girls Club in its efforts to purchase three, 14-passenger vans. This allowed the club to more than double the number of children attending the main branch after-school program.

Along with this gift, he continues his generosity through the “Change of Life” Scholarship program and the “Keeping Kids on Track” annual event. Charles and his family also sponsor a child every year to help low income and military families who can’t afford to pay the membership fees. His new focus is the Teen Center at the club. He and his wife donate monies to the program as well as coordinate golf tournaments to help raise needed funds.

For his community-wide efforts, Charles has twice been recognized by the Cypress School District and named Cypress Volunteer of the Year by Cypress Parks and Recreation. He has also received the Service Above Self Award from Cypress Rotary.

City of Garden Grove, A.G. and Kelly Anvari

When it comes to selecting caregivers for their agency, A. G. and Kelly Anvari promote “Character Counts.”

A.G. and Kelly, owners and operators of Visiting Angels, Living Assistance Services in Garden Grove, not only list “character counts” in their business brochure, but their own character counts in all they do in their community of Garden Grove.

A.G. was born and raised in Tehran, Iran, and at 15 he immigrated to the United States. He settled in Charlotte, where his sponsor, a professor at Gaston College, resided. A.G. attended two-year Gaston College before transferring to UNC.

A.G. and Kelly met while students at the University of North Carolina. Both were working their way through school by waiting tables at “Slugs” in Charlotte, a fine dining restaurant on the 30th floor of the 1st Union Bank Building. Kelly was a political science major and A.G. was a chemistry major. The couple married in 1984 in York, South Carolina, and later moved to Poconos, Pennsylvania, the state where Kelly spent some of her childhood before her family settled in Charlotte.

In 1997, A.G. and Kelly moved to Garden Grove where they got involved in the community, and in 2004 they began their Visiting Angels home care business. They also like working with baby boomers, whom they employ as caregivers. “We are always looking for exceptional caregivers, those with experience and compassion,” said A.G. Through their business they partner with many local organizations that serve the senior population

Kelly was a volunteer member of Friendly Visitors, taking care of one woman for a total of three years. For four years she was employed as a librarian at Peters Elementary School.

In 2004, Kelly and A.G. joined the Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce – Kelly the Women’s Division and A.G. the general organization. Kelly was a board member nearly six years, serving as president for two years. Both A.G. and Kelly have been honored by the Chamber’s Women’s Division with the group’s Silver Spoon Award for Volunteerism.

Kelly was also on the board for four years of Acacia Adult Day Care and has been a member of Assistance League Garden Grove for nearly six years. Although not a member, she supports the Veterans Program of the Women’s Civic Club of Garden Grove.

A.G. joined Rotary of Garden Grove in 2013, has been secretary since 2014, and continued in that role while serving as president from 2017-2018, and again February – June 2019. Through Rotary, he helps raise dollars for scholarships for sixth graders at the city’s schools. The scholarships are awarded during a lunch ceremony for the recipients and their families. Funds for the awards are raised through a dinner, opportunity drawings, and an event at the Gem Theater. A.G. helps fundraise so Rotary can donate $3,000 annually to Assistance League Garden Grove for its Operation School Bell program that provides clothes, shoes, and books for elementary school children whose parents need assistance. Other funds A.G. helps Rotary raise assist local centers such as Magnolia or Buena Clinton Center and international grants to support the needy in Vietnam and Mexico.

City of La Palma, Greg Goodyear

Greg Goodyear is the epitome of a man of integrity, honor, volunteerism, and dedication to his community and it is exemplified by his decades of service to all of our service organizations in La Palma, said La Palma City Councilman Peter Kim.

Greg was born in Adrian, Michigan and was raised in the same area. After graduating from Sand Creek High School, he attended Michigan State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting. In 1974, he earned his CPA License, also in Michigan, and his first career-path job as an accountant was with Alexander Grant and Company in Muskegon, Michigan, where he worked from June 1972 until December 1975. After moving to California, he went to work for Linford, Jensen & Bradford in Long Beach, and since August 1982, he has been a principal at “Goodrich & Goodyear, an Accountancy Corporation” in Long Beach.

Greg was initially invited by a friend to get involved with the Kiwanis Club of La Palma, and then saw that what others did helped make La Palma a “great city to live in.” His initial volunteer efforts soon evolved into a significant yearning to give back.

“I wanted to use talents I had developed to earn a living to use in the community,” said Greg, whose expertise as a certified public accountant has made him an important connection.

From his first involvement – with Christian Life Church in Long Beach in 1976 – Greg began taking on leadership roles elsewhere. He joined La Palma Kiwanis and La Palma Neighborhood Watch, both in 1988. Early into his Kiwanis membership, he became the program chair, a position he held for two years. He then followed that role with a term as president from 1990-1991. In 1995, he took on the duties of treasurer and has continued in that position ever since – a total of 24 years. He was also treasurer of the community’s Neighborhood Watch program from 1988 until 1991.

Seeing that there was a need for fundraising, Greg joined other community leaders in forming two foundations—in 1997, the John F Kennedy Scholarship Foundation and in 2004, the La Palma Kiwanis Foundation. Greg continues to support both groups as treasurer. Three years ago, in 2016, he was also one of the founding members of the La Palma Community Foundation, of which he is still treasurer.

City of Los Alamitos/Rossmoor, Emil Jorge

Emil Jorge has earned the respect of the Los Alamitos Community by his dynamic leadership and facilitation skills through his involvement in nonprofit, civic and business projects.

Emil was born and raised in Los Alamitos as his parents were original owners in Rossmoor. He only left the area to further his education at the University of California at Berkeley, where he earned a B.S. degree in geography. His original intent was to earn an MBA and to explore the classes offered at Berkeley from its “wonderful professors,” but the MBA curriculum didn’t allow for many electives outside of the core MBA classes.

Emil’s first involvement in Los Alamitos was with Casa Connection, a group made up of young professionals brought together by Karen Klabouch, whose goal was to raise money for Casa Youth Shelter. In the beginning, he helped this small group raise between $5,000 and $10,000 per year. He’s still involved, and they now raise over $20,000 annually, mostly through a “Poker Night” event with professional dealers. One of the primary reasons Emil first got involved with Casa Connection was for his kids.

“I wanted my kids to see me give back,” he said.

Emil’s volunteer efforts spread to other organizations. He became involved with the Los Alamitos Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Commission and is currently on the Los Alamitos Chamber of Commerce Board, serving in 2017 as chairman. He has also chaired the annual Wings, Wheels, Rotors and Expo event at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, and served on the committee to hire the current Los Alamitos police chief. Recently, he was asked to join the Los Alamitos Hospital Board of Governors

In 2007, Emil was named a World Leader Business Person, and was also the recipient of The Bizz Award as a Master in Business Leadership, both for being a successful leader.

City of Seal Beach, Greg and Gina Phillips

As individuals and as a couple, Greg and Gina Phillips have served the community of Seal Beach with distinction, doing much to improve the town and to help the less fortunate.

Greg was born in Long Beach and is a lifelong resident of Seal Beach, having attended local schools and graduating from Los Alamitos High School. Gina grew up in neighboring Anaheim, attending St. Anthony Claret Elementary, Sycamore Junior High and Anaheim Union High School.

Greg is a long time community servant and an active member of the Seal Beach Lions Club. For three years, he was a coordinator for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. His alma mater, as well as the entire Los Alamitos High School District, receives his support as he has been a sponsor of the Robotics Team, the Los Alamitos Education Foundation (LAEF) and the Science Technology Engineering, Art, Math (STEAM) program.

Greg’s most significant involvement in the community is as president of Run Seal Beach – a position he has held for the past four years. This single event is one of the largest in the city and produces more funds than any other community fund-raising event. Run Seal Beach contributes about $150,000 per year to local non-profits and organizations in and around Seal Beach.

Gina started her community involvement in 2012 as a volunteer with the Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce. This grew into her being named as the Chamber’s Director of Operations. She also served on the Chamber’s board of directors for two terms, 2009-2010 and again from 2015-2016.

An active member of the Seal Beach Lions Club since 2010, Gina recently represented the club at the organization’s international convention. She has chaired numerous events and has received recognitions such as: President’s Medal of Courage and the President’s Award, and the Lions Project for Canine Companions Abdul Fellowship Award.

The couple’s major commitment is to the Seal Beach Police Foundation, which was formed in 2014, due in large part, to their interest and dedication in supporting both the police department and the community. The Foundation is responsible for obtaining important tools for the department and helping with community engagement and community policing.

Besides the couple’s dedication to the Foundation, the Lions Club and to Los Alamitos High School, the couple regularly supports other organizations in the community through their donations, event attendance, and volunteerism. Seldom does an event in Seal Beach occur that the Phillips are not seen at, said Scott Newton, Seal Beach Lions Club member and Seal Beach Police Foundation Director. “In most everything the Phillips do as individuals, they are backed up with significant and unconditional support from their spouse. This ‘force multiplier’ is what makes their individual contributions so notable,” said Scott.

City of Stanton, Glenn McElroy

Glenn McElroy had an idea 43 years ago that would transform a typical American auto wrecking yard into an environmentally friendly and affordable community business. His idea soon gave birth to Pick Your Part Auto Wrecking (PYP), which opened its doors in the early 1970’s in Monrovia.

Glenn was born in Texas and grew up in the San Fernando Valley and Compton, graduating from Compton Union High School. In his 20s, he moved to Cypress where his family had settled, and then spent the next 40 years living in Huntington Beach before moving to Anaheim.

As a youth, Glenn went to work as a “lot boy” at his father’s car dealership, and in 1957 he moved up the ranks and became a car salesman. By 1960, Glenn had become the owner of three used car lots – two in Compton and one in Bellflower. It was while dealing with people shopping for used cars that Glenn got the idea of an auto wrecking business.

With Orange County being his home, Glenn has supported numerous nonprofit organizations in Stanton and Anaheim as well as in other cities since 1988. He is a founding member of Stanton’s Boys and Girls Club, supports local fire departments by donating vehicles for use in exercises using the Jaws of Life to rescue victims and extinguishing vehicular fires, and is a 60-year member of the al Malika Shrine in Los Angeles and a lifetime member of the Los Caballeros Horseback Riding Club.

What Glenn says is one the most rewarding things he does is supporting a few families in need during Christmas. Currently, Glenn and his longtime partner, Pamela Ball, provide Christmas gifts, clothing and food for four families. “I buy the junk food and Pamela buys the staples,” he said. One of the families is chosen from the elementary school where Pamela’s daughter Brooke teaches, two are from the Boys & Girls Club of Stanton, and one family is that of a former employee who is now deceased. It’s been 13 years since they’ve been Santa for this family.

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Announces Two Cypress College Students as Semifinalists

Cypress College students Madison Morris and Raymond Pi Oliver are semifinalists for the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation announced that the pair were selected from a pool of nearly 1,500 applicants representing 369 colleges across 45 states and the District of Columbia.

Morris, a Placentia resident, is preparing for a career in the medical field. Oliver, from the City of Cypress, is part of Cypress College’s (STEM)² Program.

“I think it speaks volumes to the quality of education I have received at Cypress College,” Morris said of her selection as a semifinalist. “Thanks to the instruction and support I have received here, I am now a contender for a highly competitive national scholarship. Thank you, Cypress College, for making this possible! I am incredibly excited, honored, and grateful for this opportunity to be considered by a national foundation such as the JKCF.”

Oliver has completed research at NASA’s Stenis Space Center in Mississippi as one of 319 community college students from across the United States and recently represented the (STEM)² Program as a speaker at the groundbreaking for Cypress College’s new Science, Engineering, and Math Building.

“I owe so much to Cypress College, the Science, Engineering, and Math Division, and the EOPS and Honors programs — and, in particular, the (STEM)² Program,” said Oliver, who dropped out of high school because of financial hardship. “Coming to Cypress College has absolutely changed my life. When I was still homeless during my first two semesters, I came to love Cypress College and regard our beautiful campus as a second home. I would be nothing without this college.”

The Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship recipients will be announced in April. Each selected scholar will be provided generous financial support for up to three years, college planning services, ongoing advising, and the opportunity to connect with a thriving community of fellow Cooke Scholars.

“Countless highly-talented and motivated students begin their college experience at community college, and our recent ‘Persistence’ report shows that they excel after they transfer,” said Seppy Basili, executive director of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. “We’re pleased to recognize this incredible cohort of semifinalists for their academic drive and achievement.”

A list of this year’s Cooke Transfer Scholar Semifinalists, their community colleges, and their hometowns is available at: https://www.jkcf.org/our-stories/2019-cooke-transfer-scholar-semifinalists.

About the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation:
Cooke Transfer Scholars are selected based on exceptional academic ability and achievement, financial need, persistence, service to others, and leadership. Students must be currently enrolled community college students residing in the United States.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is dedicated to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need. Since 2000, the Foundation has awarded $190 million in scholarships to nearly 2,500 students from 8th grade through graduate school, along with comprehensive counseling and other support services. The Foundation has also provided over $100 million in grants to organizations that serve such students. Information is available at www.jkcf.org.

About Cypress College:
Cypress College offers students a pathway to their future in an environment in which employees commit to joining students on their educational journey. The college’s half-million-plus alumni include actors, athletes, doctors, executives, mechanics, nurses, and teachers. For some, Cypress College is the ticket into their university of choice and for others it provides essential training for a prosperous career. Just one Cypress College class is often all it takes to provide cutting-edge skills that lead to a promotion or a new job.

Cypress College’s 16,000 students and the highly qualified teaching faculty are proud of the many excellent academic and vocational programs. Cypress College offers 56 university-transfer majors, 176 career-certificate programs, and degrees in 73 areas of study. The college’s traditional semesters begin in January and August, while short-term courses start throughout the year. A Cypress College education costs $46 per unit — $138 for a typical, full-credit class — California’s lowest tuition. Financial aid and scholarships are also available to qualifying students.

Cypress College is one of three campuses in the North Orange County Community College District and a member of the 115-campus California Community College System. The college primarily serves the cities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress, Garden Grove, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, and Stanton.

Note: View the News Release

Cypress College Congratulates Paul de Dios, New VP Student Services

Cypress College announced the selection of Dr. Paul de Dios as its new vice president of student services on February 4. De Dios has been the college’s dean of counseling, student development, and admissions & records since 2007 and previously served as dean of student affairs, director of special programs and services, and coordinator/counselor of CalWORKS at Barstow Community College over an eight-year period.

De Dios is a product of the California Community College system, having earned an associate degree in sociology from Cerritos College. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in sociology from University of California, Irvine, and his master’s and doctoral degrees in counseling and education specializing in community college leadership from California State University, Long Beach. He is now a part-time lecturer in the Student Development in Higher Education Counseling Program at CSULB.

Highly involved in the community, De Dios serves as the chair of the board for the Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce, and vice chair of Helping Others Prepare for Eternity (HOPE), an organization that assists abandoned and abused women and children in Garden Grove who may be experiencing food, housing, and resource insecurities. He has also been involved in various student success initiatives and projects on campus such as the Charger Experience and Pledge programs, online Counseling-Cranium Café, Holocaust Survivor Memorial Gallery, and, most recently, Connect2Cypress featuring Majors2Careers and Guided Pathways.

Congratulations to Paul de Dios on his new position at Cypress College.

Cypress College Welcomes Carmen Dominguez, New VP of Instruction

On January 17, Cypress College announced its selection of Dr. Carmen Dominguez, dean of visual and performing arts at College of the Canyons, as its new vice president of instruction.

Dominguez, an accomplished musician with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from San Diego State and a Ph.D. in conducting from Johns Hopkins University, was a music professor at Saddleback College for 16 years and also served as department chair and Academic Senate president. She was dean at College of the Canyons for eight years.

Dominguez currently leads the K-12 Education Outreach Consortium, in partnership with the Kennedy Center, which provides development for K-12 teachers to integrate art into their classrooms. The program serves more than 30,000 students in the Santa Clarita Valley. She has also served on multiple accreditation committees, as well as participated in her college’s self-study, has served on a vast array of committees such as program review, curriculum committee, grants committee, enrollment management, the college planning team, and many more.

Dominguez is deeply committed to serving and supporting students’ educational journeys, and has been a long-time volunteer for organizations that celebrate and advocate for diversity, including the Human Rights Campaign, Si Se Puede, Sisters Involved, and providing Safe Zone support to the LGBTQ students and staff she serves at College of the Canyons.

Cypress College is excited to welcome Carmen Dominguez to the campus community.

Cypress College Celebrates Groundbreaking for New SEM Building

A groundbreaking ceremony on Friday (February 8, 2019) marked the beginning of construction on Cypress College’s new Science, Engineering and Math Building.

The ceremony marks the first project funded from the $574 million Measure J bond, which was approved by voters in 2014 on behalf of the North Orange County Community College District (NOCCCD). Providing state-of-the-art facilities to support the sciences was a top priority for North Orange County voters.

Funds from Measure J will facilitate the construction of a 106,023 square foot facility for Cypress College that will incorporate the creation of a 100-seat immersive digital classroom, as well as the addition of new lab spaces and classrooms with design features that allow for future expansion. The brand-new SEM Building will be open for classes in 2021. When completed, the building will be the first new instructional space to open on the campus since 1976 and the first new building since 2007.

With current and future students — along with employees and community members — in attendance for the ceremony, Cypress College President JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D., shared a quote from Carl Sagan: “We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology.”

“It is our goal to ensure that everyone in Cypress and North Orange County will know about science and technology, and that our college will continue to be a point of pride in this community,” Dr. Schilling said. “We believe that the science of today leads to the technology of tomorrow. And with your support, the technology of tomorrow will be created by the students who pass through the halls of Cypress College and this state-of-the-art building.”

Two current STEM students, an alumnus of the program, and a faculty member also spoke during the ceremony, held on the site of the new building. North Orange County Community College District Chancellor, Dr. Cheryl Marshall, and SEM Dean Richard Fee also shared their comments about what the new building will mean to students and the community.

On Tuesday, January 22, 2019, the NOCCCD Board of Trustees awarded a construction bid to Sundt Companies, Inc. for the construction phase services of the project.

“Cypress College has served the North Orange County students and surrounding communities for over 52 years, and we are thrilled to start construction on this beautiful new addition to our college,” Dr. Schilling said following the Board decision. “We take pride in offering exemplary educational programs in science, engineering and math, and are proud to be contributing to the future careers of our students and the local businesses that employ our students.”

Cypress College’s SEM division contains 7 programs, including: Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Geology, Mathematics, Physical Science, and Physics. The division currently offers 289 course sections to 8,287 students.

The College invites families, staff, students and the community to celebrate the groundbreaking on February 8, starting at 9:30 a.m. Please park in Lot 1, located off the Valley View entrance to the campus. The ceremony will take place by the Pond in the center of campus.

Don Johnson — Charter Faculty Member and State’s All-Time Wins Leader — Passes at 88

By Wes McCurtis and Marc S. Posner

Update: A celebration of life in honor of Don Johnson will be held Sunday, March 10, 2019 at 2 p.m. at Cypress College in GYM II Don Johnson Court. Refreshments will be available at 1 p.m. Parking will be free in Lots 4 and 5 only. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent at GoFundMe.com/Don-Johnson-Memorial.

Suffice it to say Don Johnson was a legend.

Cypress College named its main basketball court in his honor in 2009 — a fitting tribute for an original faculty member and on-court leader who retired with more victories than any other California Community College basketball coach in state history — and later inducted him into the college’s Athletics Hall of Fame. Today, the campus is remembering this inspirational man following his passing at age 88.

As a player, Johnson was a consensus All-American and all-conference honoree as a senior under Coach John Wooden at UCLA in 1952. After graduating from UCLA, Johnson went into coaching and became the long-time head coach of the Chargers.

Coach Johnson started at Cypress College in 1966, the year the campus opened, and retired in 1994.

At Cypress, Coach Johnson guided the Chargers to two state titles, seven conference titles, and a record of 588-259. In addition to naming the court “Don Johnson Court” in recognition of his achievements, he is also an inductee in the Orange County Sports Hall of Fame. He retired as the all-time winningest coach in California Community College men’s basketball history, with a record of 588-259. He is now fourth on the CCCAA men’s basketball all-time wins list.

In retirement, Coach Johnson continued to frequent Cypress College basketball games and would meet with the team before each season to connect new players with the storied history of the Chargers basketball program.

Retired Coach Don Johnson speaks during the Legends of Hoops Night ceremony as his former players, Mark Eaton (left) and Swen Nater (right) look on. The event was held on Cypress College’s Don Johnson Court on Friday, February 21, 2014.

In 2014, Coach Johnson was recognized during the first Legends of Hoops Night. During the event, two of his star pupils, NBA stars Swen Nater and Mark Eaton, had their jersey numbers retired. In addition, Johnson’s photograph and motto — “tough, smart, unselfish” — were unveiled that evening on banners still hanging from the court’s press box.

Johnson, a Laguna Niguel resident, passed away this morning. He is survived by his wife, Colette, also a Cypress College retiree, and their three children. Information about services is pending.

Interview with legendary Coach Don Johnson, Coach Alhadeff, and Dr. Rick Rams on Don Johnson Court (8/12/15).

—

Wes McCurtis is Cypress College’s Sports Information/Marketing Representative

Buen Cypress Theme Resonates at Spring 2019 Opening Day

Buen Cypress! It’s a simple phrase—albeit sometimes confusing to those hearing it for the first time—that embodies the core of what Cypress College is about. It is the college’s way of building a culture that lets students know that each and every faculty and staff member cares about them, is there to support them, and is invested in their academic and life journeys.

“Phrases are empty if they’re just words, but I really believe that Buen Cypress is deeply ingrained in what we do here, and it’s just a way to call attention to the work that is already being done,” said Cypress College President Dr. JoAnna Schilling during spring 2019 Opening Day.

NOCCCD Chancellor Dr. Cheryl Marshall shared the sentiment of Buen Cypress when she spoke about a Gallup research study on student success, which found that “it boiled down to three basic things: hope about the future; a sense of engagement, which is connection and enthusiasm about the campus or school that they’re a part of; and a sense of well-being, physical, emotional, mental, all of that.

“It’s those three things,” she continued, “that ensure or help students get to the finish line. And so part of our work, and I think the work that we’ve been doing the past few years, is to really shape an environment where we can give students those three things.”

Keynote Speaker Heather Hackman reiterated the Buen Cypress theme during her presentation on “Developing and Utilizing an Equity Lens in Our Teaching.”

Dr. Schilling originally coined Buen Cypress during her first Opening Day at the start of the fall 2017 semester. It was inspired by the “Buen camino” greeting shared by travelers on Europe’s Camino de Santiago.

Continuing, she said, “Nothing really depicts Buen Cypress better than the next student that I’m going to introduce to you,” as she invited Brandon Davis, a math student who was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer in late fall 2017, to the stage.

Brandon was a typical college student juggling school with work and a social life when he was faced with a difficult reality: the active 20-year-old was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma in the last few weeks of the semester.

“At the beginning, I went through really hard realities that kind of stick with me today, such as I didn’t know if I was going to make it to celebrate my 21st birthday,” he said. While undergoing 14 rounds of chemotherapy over eight-and-a-half months, along with 29 rounds of radiation over a span of six weeks, Brandon turned 21 in September 2018. He recently received his first negative scan since finishing his treatment.

Though he was faced with contemplating his own mortality, Brandon continued to be vigorously dedicated to his education. He credited the support he received from family, friends, and college faculty and staff with helping him to keep up with his studies while making it through his long months of treatment.

“Without the amazing professors I had that were so understanding of my situation, there would have been no way that I would have been able to get my incompletes done during my treatment, no matter how much I wanted to,” he said. “The message that I wanted you guys to get from this is that students like me, we are aware and extremely grateful for all the effort and time you put into our education. I’m not special. There are lots of us in all of your classes. We are very quiet and shy, so you never hear from us, so I’ll take this opportunity on behalf of all students like me to say that we really do appreciate what you guys do.”

A&E’s ‘Storage Wars’ to Feature Mortuary Science on New Episode Tonight

UPDATE: Buyers Jarrod Schulz and Brandi Passante brought three items for McCament’s expert evaluation. He identified them as a ’20s/’30s-era dressing table, cosmetics airbrush system, and incomplete embalming machine set used to remove fluids from and inject preservative fluids into bodies. The scene was shot primarily in the Mortuary Science Department’s embalming room — a source of discomfort for Jarrod — and includes other visual elements of the campus.

The Mortuary Science Program — and retired Professor Dave McCament, specifically — will be featured on tonight’s first-run episode of the A&E Network’s “Storage Wars.” The episode, titled “Nowhere to Formaldehyde,” debuts at 10 p.m. (Wednesday, January 30, 2019).

The episode was filmed on campus on June 12, 2018. Specific details about the episode are embargoed until after the show makes its debut. Tune in tonight to be among the first to know why the “Storage Wars” crew made Cypress College part of the show.

Featured Class: Jewelry Design

Do you love jewelry? Have you ever wanted to learn how to design it? You’re in luck! Cypress College offers ART 174 Jewelry Design! This class shows you how to design and construct jewelry and small fabricated metal pieces.

ART 174 (CRN 22224), in conjunction with ART 175 (Metalsmithing, CRN 22225), meets Mondays and Wednesdays at 6–9:10 p.m. in Fine Arts 130. Register in myGateway today!

Featured Class: Swim for Fitness

Hey, Chargers! Swimming is a great way to get some exercise! Join our Swim for Fitness class today through myGateway (CRN 23379)! This class meets Mondays and Wednesdays from 8–9:25 a.m.

Featured Class: Introduction to Psychology

Interested in psychology? Cypress College is offering Psychology 101 Introduction to Psychology in the spring semester. In this course, students will look at the psychological foundations of behavior.

The following sections are available:

CRN 20360, MW, 7:30–8:55 a.m., Humanities 136
CRN 20361, TR, 7:30–8:55 a.m., Humanities 318
CRN 22415, MW, 3:25–4:50 p.m., Humanities 306

To enroll, please visit myGateway.

Love the Arts? Take Media Arts Design!

Are you artistic? Are you interested in learning more or fine-tuning your artistic skills? We encourage you to enroll in Media Arts Design-Mac (MAD 100, CRN 22555) or Media Arts Design-Win (MAD 101, CRN 22556).

Each class gives an overview of the many uses of electronic or digital; paint, drawing, digital imaging, video capture and output, animated gif’s, and page layout programs on the Macintosh or Windows, with an emphasis on traditional 2D design and digital publishing. Students create personal 2D images and video content for their portfolio.

Enroll today by visiting myGateway.

MAD 199 Open Lab Available to All Art Students

Are you looking for some extra units or to work on a special project? Did you know that the Art Computer Graphics Lab is open for use to all art students?

You can sign up for the MAD 199 open lab, CRN 20060 (1 unit), when you register for classes this semester. Enrollment is repeatable up to 10 units and you can use the lab anytime during lab hours. You do not need to be concurrently enrolled in any other class to enroll in MAD 199 Open Lab. You can use the lab equipment to develop and refine your portfolio. Instead of working at home, work in the lab and receive extra units. Develop a self-promotional website of your work. Use the lab and production equipment to work on current or self-assigned projects.

The lab offers the following software: entire Adobe CC (Photoshop, Illustrator, In Design, Premiere, Dreamweaver, Muse, etc), SketchUp, Final Cut Pro HD, Motion, CINEMA 4D, Adobe Acrobat, Corel Painter X, and Maya. The lab is PC and MAC Friendly.

The semester starts January 28. Register as soon as possible! If you have any difficulty registering, please contact Professor John Bilotta at jbilotta@cypresscollege.edu.

Enroll in Intro to Electronic Media Today

Interested in electronic media? Our Multimedia program is offering a class for you!

MM 100, Intro to Electronic media, introduces the history, structure, function, economics, content and evolution of radio, television, film, the internet, and new media, including traditional and mature formats. This is an online class that begins January 28. To register, please visit myGateway. CRN: 23480

Preproduction for Filmmakers Class Available

Interested in becoming a filmmaker? Our Media Arts Design program is offering a class for you!

MAD 183, Preproduction for TV, Video, and Film, prepares students to make a film by teaching the necessary steps leading up to shooting the film in production. Topics covered include script, proposal, treatment, casting, crew, locations, financing, personnel, permits, unions and talents. This is an online class that begins January 28. To register, please visit myGateway. CRN: 23136

Speech and Debate Students Place 1st, 2nd at Pacific Southwest Tournament

By Jennifer Page

On December 1 and 2, 2018, the Cypress College Speech and Debate Team took 18 students to the Pacific Southwest Collegiate Forensics Association’s Fall Championship Tournament held at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, CA. This year, 39 universities and community colleges attended both near and far, including the University of Utah, Northern Arizona University, Kansas City Community College, Cerritos College, Concordia University at Irvine, and Palomar College.

Our students did an amazing job representing Cypress College! We would like to recognize these students:

Nate Garcia
British Parliamentary Debate – Novice 1^st place
British Parliamentary Debate Speaker Award – 2^nd place
Novice Extemporaneous Speaking – 3^rd place
Novice Impromptu Speaking – 5^th place

Isaac Ramnani
British Parliamentary Debate – Novice 1^st place

Jolene Gazman
Novice Prose Interpretation – 4^th place

Christopher Piazza
Open Cultural Artifact – 1^st place

Prisma Ayala
Open Cultural Artifact – 2^nd place

Tatiana Burmeister
Open Cultural Artifact – 5^th place

Jessica Esparza
Open Cultural Artifact – 6^th place

Students Michael Clyburn, Itati Doradea, Maria Ayala, Mariem Rizk, Michelle Sandoval, Sierra Gohl, Justin Fernandez, Angelo Middleton, Ramon Avila – Ojina, Miranda Calhoun, and Peter Shamoun also competed.

In Memory of Colleague Jeri Hernandez

Cypress College employees are remembering colleague Jeri Hernandez, who was known for her kindness and friendliness. A cancer survivor, Hernandez spent the last dozen years of her life serving students in the Admissions and Records Office. She passed away unexpectedly on Saturday after a brief illness.

As a result of her dedication to students and her commitment to her job, Hernandez was twice a finalist for Cypress College’s Outstanding Classified Employee Award, with nominations in 2010 and 2012.

Since 2014, she served as an evaluator in the Records Office, a job in which she helped determine if students met graduation requirements. She joined the staff at Cypress College in 2006 as a member of the administrative support team in A&R. She was a member of the college’s Graduation Committee, helping plan the highlight event of each year.

In her new role, Hernandez “enjoyed learning aspects of student support services and spending time with her colleagues,” Registrar David Booze said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Jeri’s family during this difficult time. As they mourn her passing, we mourn with them. Jeri will be sorely missed.”

In addition to meeting her in the A&R Office, students might also recognize Hernandez from her frequent walks around the campus. She was part of a group who regularly walked for exercise during work breaks.

Information about funeral or memorial services is not yet available.

Art, Music Departments Release Interactive Sound Sculpture

As you approach the Fine Arts building, the automatic doors slide open. You can’t help noticing the giant wooden sculpture in the middle of the lobby. The rectangular box with the eye-shaped cutout appears oddly placed in an arts building, looking slightly like something that would beckon students on skateboards. However, it is right at home in this spot, serving as an interactive sound sculpture dubbed “The In-Between.”

The In-Between from Ed Giardina on Vimeo.

According to a post Art Professor Ed Giardina wrote on Vimeo, “Participants are invited to lie down inside and press the sound triggers to create their own sonic compositions. The sculpture is intended for group open-ended play, exploration, relaxation, and introspection.”

The project, which contains eight-note sound elements recorded on campus, is a joint venture between Giardina’s Art 149 Beginning Sculpture and Professor Marcus McMillan’s Music 124 Recording Studio 1, as well as Fine Arts Tech Kirk Pickler.

“Both the sculptural form and sound elements were created in response to coursework exploring ‘Freud’s Iceberg,’ a popular influence on both Dada and Surrealist music and art,” Giardina wrote. “The sculptural form presents a subsurface environment that allows participants to be both literally situated into a typical position for meditation and/or psychoanalysis activity as well as metaphorically below the surface of Freud’s notion of the conscious in the ‘iceberg’ model.”

The sound elements used in “The In-Between” were recorded by students who “capture[d] and manipulate[d] these ‘subsurface’ sounds (i.e. infrared door sensors, electromagnetic fields generated by a variety of electronic devices, WiFi traffic, etc.) that exist all around us, but are outside of our audible range,” according to Giardina.

The Cypress College community who have experienced “The In-Between” this semester are invited to share their thoughts and experiences in the comments.

Ed. – The students who were involved in the creation of this project are Dayonne Reid-Payton, Timothy Efseaff, Brandon Ramos, Moises Flores, Xitlalitl Gomez, Henrik Monfiero, Chanelle Tran, Maurice Morrell, Frank Ly, Frank Nguyen, Adri Perrucci, Ivan Norwood, Jules Cuevas, Jonathan Phan, Karen Franco, Skyler Pierce, Ashley Chunadi, Andrew Samaniego, Michelle Allen, Eliana Torres, Kris Damogo, Anthony Villalvazo , Connie Lopez, Elino Villegas, Patrick Ferrel, Peter Calvillo, and Paul Jimenez.

Media Arts Design Receives Approval for its First Associate Degree

The Cypress College Media Arts Design (MAD) department recently received state approval to offer an Associate in Science in Film, Television, and Electronic Media.

“While the MAD department has over ten skill certificates it offers students, this is our first two-year degree,” MAD Department Chair Ian Holmes said. “This means that now Cypress College and the MAD department have for the first time an official Film, Television, and Electronic Media major and degree.”

The AS-T degree, which took ten years from curriculum development through state approval, requires 18 units in the major, plus 30 units of general education courses, and transfers to universities. Students who have already taken as few as six classes in cinematography, single camera, motion picture, video editing, motion graphics, and other such classes, may already qualify to apply for this degree. Such students are encouraged to reach out to Fine Arts Counselors Renay Laguana-Ferinac or Renee Ssensalo.

For information regarding the degree, please click here.

Daniel Stephens Gallery Features Ceramics Student Emily Casares

Cypress College student Emily Casares is showcased this week in the Daniel Stephens Gallery, located in the Fine Arts building lobby.

The exhibit features ceramic work as well as paintings by Casares.

Be sure to check it out!

(STEM)2 Holds 7th Annual Fall Research Symposium

Science, Engineering, and Math Dean Richard Fee opened the Cypress College (STEM)2 program’s seventh annual Fall Research Symposium on Friday, November 16, at the Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach. Through personal stories, he emphasized how important it is to do something that makes you happy.

“If you start on a path, you don’t have to stay on that path if you don’t like the scenery. You are not stuck.”

Fee noted that one of his fears throughout his educational and career process was rejection.

“It wasn’t until I learned to hear ‘No’ and not take it personal… ‘No’ always hurts, but you keep going.”

The STEM scholars had to put aside their fear of hearing the word ‘No’ to apply for summer research projects, which were showcased at the event.

Student Summer Research Showcases

Forty-five students in the (STEM)2 program conducted undergraduate research over the summer. Seven of them — Surbhi Arora, Brendon Barrios, Evan Camarillo, Diana Costescu, Milagros Crisp, Selina Jaimes Davila, and Tareq Labeeb — served as panelists at the event, sharing what they experienced and encouraging other members of the program to apply for similar opportunities.

Brendon Barrios, Electrical Engineering, Summer Research at California State University Fullerton

Brendon’s first attempt at applying to a summer research program resulted in rejection.

“The first time that I applied for summer research, I didn’t get accepted, and I even waited a year to apply to Cal State Fullerton URE, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t make it the first time because that’s normal and a lot of the times they want to see you with more of a track record.”

Even though he heard the word ‘No,’ it didn’t stop him from seeking out opportunities. This past summer he was able to secure one such opportunity.

“I learned a lot. I did summer research that was very applicable to a lot of different technical and electrical — even medical — fields, which is really awesome. My project manager pushed me to apply to IEEE over at Cal Poly Pomona.”

Milagros Crisp, Mathematics, Summer Research at UCI

Research projects lead to a great additions to resumes and to fantastic experiences.

“One of the best highlights of our research was that I got to see embryos develop outside of the womb,” Crisp said of her research project.

Evan Camarillo, Biology, STARS Program at UC San Diego

Evan agreed with Dean Fee when it came to fear of rejection.

“I feel like this summer’s research experience has opened up a lot of opportunities for myself. I think one of the biggest barriers of applying to these types of programs is just having the confidence in yourself, knowing that you have the ability to do that. All the skills that I think I developed qualify me for going to another university on the east coast — pretty much anywhere in the U.S. I feel like I’m able to apply and go through another program somewhere else, somewhere far away from home, somewhere where things might be a little tougher so I can challenge myself a little bit more and ultimately develop some more skills,” he said.

That fear of rejection didn’t stop him, and some of the best highlights of his experience “were to meet other like-minded students. Meeting people that want to go in the same direction as you, people that are goal-oriented, people that overall have the same interests as you really benefited me in the sense that I was able to get their perspective on things and I was able to learn a lot of things… Some advice I would have for STEM scholars: if you don’t feel very confident, just put your future in perspective. I feel like during summer you’re probably going to be working. You might be taking summer classes and even when you’re at one of these research opportunities, I feel as though you’re able to do some online classes on the side of the research that you’re doing and I just think that if you want some change in your life, if you want to develop knowledge in a field that is interesting to you, the opportunity will be 100 percent worth it.”

Grace Lewis, Aerospace Engineering, Summer Research at Cal Poly Pomona for the UAV Lab

“The main highlights were definitely staying until 9 or 10 at night just to get code working and the getting up at 6:30 to do flight testing to make sure all of that was working and just cheering when all of it worked,” Lewis said.

And if the experience itself weren’t enough, Lewis also got a job at a flight simulation center immediately after her summer research.

“[The opportunity] was directly from research. It was learning everything I could about planes, everything I could about coding, simulation — all of that — and it led to a real job. That’s really amazing. I also ended up becoming friends with my team lead and she brought me out flying so I’m getting my private pilot’s license soon and UAV license and it’s going to be so cool. I’m so excited.”

Keynote Speaker Mandla Kayise

Mandla Kayise, founder and CEO of New World Education (NWE), carried himself with grace and spoke with STEM scholars about their projects before being introduced to take the stage.

“Look at yourself as the subject of your work. Ask: ‘What can I do with the subject matter?’”

Kayise shared with the college students that he was dismissed on academic probation from UCLA after three years. The engineering major eventually returned to the university four years later. His academic career prior to dismissal might not be described as organized or disciplined.

Like Kayise’s field, he told the students that they are in the fields that require the most organization and discipline, and he asked for a show of hands of who described themselves that way. Very few hands went up.

“For me,” Kayise said, “doing more made me get more organized — not doing less.”

Many STEM scholars were seen nodding their heads in agreement and appeared to be listening intently as Kayise spoke.

“When you start Cypress College, create a picture of how you want to look by the time you’re done. Think about the attitudes that go along with that image. We will always be successful if we know who we are, and we can start from there… You are what you bring to the table, and Cypress College, and what it has — that’s how you’re going to be successful.”

Flying Team Earns Top Two-Year Honors at Competition

Cypress College’s flying team earned top honors for two-year colleges at the National Intercollegiate Flying Association’s Region II Safecon competition held November 13-17, 2018 at Ernest A Love Field Airport, in Prescott, AZ. Cypress College placed first overall for two-year colleges for the first time since 1978.

Several Cypress students surpassed competitors from host university Embry-Riddle. Two aviation students — Noel Jacobs and Anond Thairatanakul — finished in the top 10 of the combined university and two-year standings. Cypress finished second in the combined flight events university/two-year standings, behind only Embry-Riddle, and fourth overall in the combined standings for all events.

Students compete in categories such as navigation, landing, instrument precision, and message drop. Thairatanakul finished second in the power-off landing competition. Jacobs earned bronze in the short-field landing competition. Full results are available at: https://nifa.aero/2018-region-ii-safecon-official-results/.

Cypress College’s fight-training program recently was the recipient of a $1 million donation, the largest individual in campus history. The donation, in part, was intended to revitalize the flying team and facilitate their participation in flight competitions such as Safecon.

Department Chair Ed Valdez is a professional pilot who has served as a first officer, captain, and line-check airman for various airlines, including United Airlines, Skywest Airlines, and Champion Air, as well as for FlightSafety International as a Gulfstream and International Procedures Instructor. He has type ratings in the Boeing 727, 737, 757/767, A319/A320, and Gulfstream’s G2, G3, G4, and G5 aircraft.

MAD Students Featured in Daniel Stephens Gallery

The Daniel Stephens Gallery — the small gallery in the Fine Arts lobby — features student artwork. For two weeks, the gallery featured Media Arts Design (MAD) students, including Zimmo Mojica.

Mojica’s work has been featured before on the campus’ marquee.

Give to Wildfire Victims

California wildfires have ravaged our state over the last few weeks, and many faculty, staff, and students have been affected by these natural disasters, especially those from Butte College, Moorpark College, and Ventura College.

Across the state, at least 30 of California’s 114 community colleges have experienced closures as a result of the fires or air quality.

The Foundation for California Community Colleges has established a giving site covering local and statewide opportunities to support the thousands of California Community College students, faculty, and staff have been affected by the devastating fires throughout California.

Retired Professor Publishes Book on Equestrian History of San Juan Capistrano

A love of horses combined with a knack for storytelling made Donna Friess’ most recent book a natural project.

Capistrano Trails: Ride for the Brand takes a look at the equestrian history of San Juan Capistrano through first-person narratives, and photography and illustrations.

“San Juan is often called the ‘Horse Capital of the West Coast’ or the ‘Horse Capital of Orange County,’” she wrote in a blog post dated August 28 on her personal website. “The community seems to have defied all odds and preserved its historic character and equestrian culture. How is that possible?”

She continued, “That’s when the idea struck me. If I hurried, I could gather up the lived experience of those involved with horses before their stories were lost. Perhaps, I could find the answer to the mystery as to how San Juan has remained a charming Western enclave while the rest of Southern California has succumbed to concrete, glass, and steel.”

Friess is a retired communication studies professor who taught at Cypress College for more than 40 years. She has published several other books, including her debut novel, The Unraveling of Shelby Forrest, in 2015, and 1993’s Cry the Darkness, which won the National Indie Excellence Award and has been published in seven languages.

For more information about Capistrano Trails and other books by Friess, visit her website at drdonnafriess.com.

NSA and DHS Designate Cypress College a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Two-Year Education

The National Security Agency and U.S. Department of Homeland Security designated Cypress College a National Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) in Cyber Defense Two-Year Education this past August. Cypress College was one of two community colleges in California to earn the designation, and one of 10 college or university programs in the Southwest region of the U.S., including California, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah.

The designation is valid through academic year 2023 and was given following a rigorous application process that required meeting stringent criteria and a campus visit.

“This is, indeed, a true honor for the college,” said Cypress College President JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D. “I thank the faculty and dean for their countless hours, days, weeks, and months of preparing our proposal and backing it up with a commitment to excellence and student success. Kudos to faculty members Ben Izadi, Mike Hannah, and Dean Henry Hua for their work qualifying for this prestigious designation.”

Official award of the designation will be made next month at a conference in Miami.

The strong push for education in cyber defense and cybersecurity in the U.S. reflects the country’s immediate priority and high demand for an experienced and qualified workforce full of innovative, critical thinkers. National CAE programs aim to address the country’s “critical shortage of professionals with these skills and highlights the importance of higher education as a solution to defending America’s cyberspace.”

Karen Leuschner, National CAE Cyber Defense Program director, continued in her designation letter to the college, “Your ability to meet the increasing demands of the program criteria will serve the nation well in contributing to the protection of the National Information Structure.”

In 2017, Cypress College started a Pathway to Advancement in Cybersecurity Education (PACE) program, which is modeled on Guided Pathways. PACE introduces students to dual enrollment courses from as early as the tenth grade and provides them with multiple opportunities to receive certifications and even an associate degree in cybersecurity.

“The results have been promising, as 216 middle and high school students have taken cybersecurity-related dual enrollment courses within the past year and successfully obtained 73 industry-recognized certificates,” said Ben Izadi, director of the college’s Cyber Defense Center and lead for the Cybersecurity Program.

He added that 14 high school students will be completing the cybersecurity certificate this fall, and three will also complete the cyber defense certificate.

In addition to PACE and providing area high school students with dual enrollment courses in cybersecurity, Cypress College has also worked in other ways to open cybersecurity education opportunities for K-12 Orange County students. For the past three years, current and former Cypress College students have mentored middle and high school students to compete in the CyberPatriots National Youth Cyber Defense Competition, a cybersecurity contest hosted by the non-profit Air Force Association.

Last year, one of the college’s middle school teams ranked tenth in the nation among 1,200 teams. This semester, more than 200 students participated in an on-campus training event, including more than 40 elementary school students, in a program that has seen tremendous growth since its inception in 2016.

Click here to learn more about the college’s cybersecurity program or how you can get involved.

$1 Million Donation to Aviation Program is Largest Individual Gift in Cypress College History

Cypress College has received its largest individual gift in the campus’ history, a $1 million donation to its aviation program. The commitment, made this semester by an anonymous donor, is being used to transform the program’s state-of-the-art flight-simulator lab into the region’s best public facility.

The simulator lab, which has already relocated to a larger space to accommodate upgraded equipment, will ultimately feature eight simulators, including a full-motion multi-engine turbo-prop simulator and one mirroring the recently released Boeing 737 Max. The donation is also intended to help the college acquire an airplane that can be flown from any one of four partner local airports. In addition, the donation will support the college’s flying team.

“We are inspired by the generosity and vision of our donor,” said JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D., president of Cypress College. “This donation was made to catapult our program to a level we only dreamed could be possible. At the same time, its immediate impact means that future pilots will already have unique learning opportunities at Cypress College.”

The donor — a retired businessman and investor — shared his two-question philosophy in seeking and identifying organizations to help: “What program can I invest in and have a great return? Is this a well-managed company that is operated with integrity?”

A pilot himself at a young age, the donor looked to Cypress College because of the work of Department Chair Ed Valdez — an Airline Transport Pilot with type ratings in the Boeing 727, 737, 757/767, A319/A320, and Gulfstream’s G2, G3, G4, and G5 aircraft — and the college’s physical location with proximity to Long Beach, John Wayne, and Fullerton airports.

“A huge advantage we have here is the Los Angeles airspace,” the donor said. “This is the most-complex airspace in the world. Pilots come from across the globe to train here.”

The existing philosophy of the Cypress College program — which uses simulators in a comprehensive fashion — also attracted the donor.

“We are creating pilots who know how to fly before they ever get into an airplane,” said Professor Valdez, who has served as a first officer, captain, and line-check airman for various airlines, including United Airlines, Skywest Airlines, and Champion Air, as well as for FlightSafety International as a Gulfstream and International Procedures Instructor. “Where we shine is that we build a very strong foundation.”

Said the donor: “Cypress College offers a great product at a great price. From a business standpoint, that’s the recipe for long-term success. Aerospace is a field where we can build an economic future, a way to address an eroding middle class. There is something bigger than I just like planes. This will make a difference.”

Note: View the News Release

Headed for the Stars: STEM Students are NASA Aerospace Scholars

STEM scholar Pi Raymond Oliver spent part of this month at NASA’s Stenis Space Center in Mississippi, where he completed the space agency’s NCAS Program. Oliver was at Stenis October 1-5 as one of 319 community college students from across the United States.

NCAS — NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars — incorporates a five-week online activity that culminates with a four-day on-site event at a NASA center. The program offers students the opportunity to interact with NASA engineers and others as they learn more about careers in science and engineering.

While at NASA’s Stenis Center, Oliver and the other students formed teams and established fictional companies interested in Mars exploration. Each team was responsible for developing and testing a prototype rover, forming a company infrastructure, managing a budget, and developing communications and outreach. The on-site experience at NASA included briefings by NASA subject-matter experts, information on how to apply for internships, and a tour of NASA’s unique facilities.

“[T]his is the most amazing opportunity I have ever embarked on. Hands down,” Oliver wrote in an email sent from Stenis on his first day there. “I am networking with the staff here already — and I am sure that I can promote this opportunity towards other Cypress students.”

Oliver participated as part of his enrollment in Cypress College’s (STEM)2 Program.

At an on-campus (STEM)2 presentation this month, student Dustin Nguyen spoke to 85 classmates about the program. Nguyen has completed two consecutive internships at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.

Three other current students also completed the program in recent semesters: Asma Karakra, Grace Lewis, and Michael Quezada.

The NASA program is partially funded by the Minority University Research and Education Program, or MUREP, which is committed to engaging underrepresented and underserved students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in authentic learning experiences to sustain a diverse workforce.

“NCAS not only inspires community college students to advance in STEM fields, but it also opens doors for future careers at NASA,” said Joeletta Patrick, Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) Manager. “NCAS has a legacy of alumni moving from NASA internships to and ultimately entering the NASA workforce.”

More information is available from (STEM)2 Program Director Yanet Garcia at yagarcia@cypresscollege.edu. Interested students can also visit ncas.aerospacescholars.org/ and nasa.gov/education/murep.

Forest Lawn Incorporates $100,000 Donation to Cypress College VRC at Patriots Chapel Dedication

Cypress College’s Veterans Resource Center received a second $100,000 contribution this month — this time as the centerpiece of a ceremony dedicating the new Patriots Chapel at Forest Lawn’s memorial park in Cypress.

A ceremonial check was presented to Cypress College President JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D. and representatives of the VRC by Forest Lawn President and CEO Darin Drabing during the Patriots Chapel dedication on October 11.

“We are deeply grateful for the generosity of Forest Lawn, CEO Darin Drabing, and Vice President Angie Ray for your support of our Veterans Resource Center.” Dr. Schilling said during the event. “Cypress College is committed to ensuring our Veterans Center will be a state of the art facility for our returning veterans, and our services will provide the support they so richly deserve.”

“Community outreach and involvement are an essential part of Forest Lawn,” said Drabing, who serves on the Cypress College Foundation Board of Directors in addition to his leadership role at Forest Lawn. “Our on-site events, such as our annual Easter Sunrise Service, Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and Dia de los Muertos programs, bring the community together for celebrations of life. The dedication of the Patriots Chapel at the Heritage Mausoleum as a new public space signifies the ways Forest Lawn helps communities thrive.”

Cypress College is set to break ground on a new Veterans Resource Center, which will facilitate expanded services for student veterans. In addition, the project will create a public space highlighting the role of military veterans in providing America’s freedom and the journeys these individuals take following their service.

Forest Lawn said “the donation will enhance the new brick-and-mortar facility on the Cypress College campus, which is set to break ground in 2019. It will also help establish programs and events, including educational and social services, which will create community and educate the general student population and administration about America’s military history and student veteran sacrifices and challenges.”

Forest Lawn’s contribution comes as the college is raising funds to ensure services at the VRC continue for generations. Earlier this month, Cypress College was named the recipient of a $100,000 competitive state grant intended to expand and bolster the VRC.

About Cypress College:

Cypress College has motivated the minds of students since 1966. For nearly a half-million people — including actors, athletes, doctors, executives, mechanics, nurses, and teachers — Cypress College has been a springboard to their dreams. For some, Cypress College is the ticket into their university of choice and for others it provides essential training for a rewarding career. Just one Cypress College class is often all it takes to provide cutting-edge skills that lead to a promotion or a new job.

Cypress College’s 16,000 students and the highly qualified teaching faculty are proud of the many excellent academic and vocational programs. Cypress College offers 56 university-transfer majors, 176 career-certificate programs, and degrees in 73 areas of study. The college’s traditional semesters begin in January and August, while short-term courses start throughout the year. A Cypress College education costs $46 per unit — $138 for a typical, full-credit class — California’s lowest tuition. Financial aid and scholarships are also available to qualifying students.

Cypress College is one of three campuses in the North Orange County Community College District and a member of the 114-campus California Community College System. The college primarily serves the cities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress, Garden Grove, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, and Stanton.

Cypress Earns $100,000 State Grant to Help Expand Veterans Resource Center, Service to Student Vets

Cypress College is the recipient of a $100,000 state grant intended to expand and bolster the campus Veterans Resource Center. Already known for its premier status, the Cypress College VRC is slated to move into a new, state-of-the-art facility adjacent to the pond. Groundbreaking is scheduled for this winter.

The competitive grant is part of an $8.5 million program to assist California’s veterans and active-duty personnel with resources, academic support, and out-of-classroom services, and facilities that will ease their transition from a military environment to an academic setting. Cypress College is one of 59 colleges receiving funding in either the current or following academic year.

“Cypress College is already respected in the state for its progressive and proactive approach to serving student veterans,” said Cypress College President JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D. “This grant will help sustain these students who have protected our freedom. The fact that this grant was a competitive award speaks to the quality of our VRC and the commitment of our staff who ensure its success.”

Students who use the Veterans Resource Center credit the program staff with facilitating their academic success. In addition, these veterans regularly comment that the camaraderie experienced in this safe haven, produces a purpose-driven approach to their studies.

The state grant comes as the college is raising funds to ensure services at the VRC continue for generations. Later this week, long-time college partner Forest Lawn will highlight the Cypress College VRC as it dedicates a new Patriots Chapel.

About Cypress College:

Cypress College’s 16,000 students and the highly qualified teaching faculty are proud of the many excellent academic and vocational programs. Cypress College offers 56 university-transfer majors, 176 career-certificate programs, and degrees in 73 areas of study. The college’s traditional semesters begin in January and August, while short-term courses start throughout the year. A Cypress College education costs $46 per unit — $138 for a typical, full-credit class — California’s lowest tuition. Financial aid and scholarships are also available to qualifying students.

National PR Organization Honors Cypress College Student

Art student Zimmo Mojica was recognized by District 6 of the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations with a gold Medallion award for a computer-generated image. His first-place submission was one of more than 300 in the category.

NCMPR is an affiliate of the American Association of Community Colleges and exclusively represents marketing and public relations professionals at community and technical colleges in the United States and Canada. The organization’s District 6 includes California, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands and Territory of Guam.

Mojica is a student employee in the Office of Campus Communications. His award-winning work was part of an ongoing series representing each academic division depicted in welcome slides for the campus marquee.

Cypress College Celebrates Disabilities Awareness Month

By Celeste Phelps, Director, Disability Support Services

Cypress College is celebrating Disabilities Awareness Month during the month of October! It’s a perfect time to learn about laws that protect people with disabilities, to improve attitudes and eliminate stereotypes, to separate people from their disabilities, and to appreciate the great and small contributions people with disabilities make.

In honor of Disabilities Awareness Month:

Show your support! Wear a purple ribbon!
Visit the DSS Open House!
- Thursday, October 25, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
- CCCPLX-100, Disability Support Services Office
Spend time reading the Disabilities Awareness Lawn Signs.
Visit the DSS Resource Table throughout October.
Attend the DSS Mini Workshop Series in November.
- Workshop #1: Caption This! Creating Captioned Videos
  - Date: Monday, November 5, 3:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
- Workshop #2: Managing Difficult Student Behavior in the College Classroom
  - Date: Wednesday, November 7, 3:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
- Workshop #3: What’s Kurzweil? Using Kurzweil to Support Universal Design Learning (UDL)
  - Date: Tuesday, November 13, 3:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m.

Disability History and DSS information

In 1971, Cypress College’s Roosevelt Center opened its doors to provide equal access to Cypress College students with disabilities. Shortly after, in 1973, the Rehabilitation Act was passed, and for the first time in history, civil rights of people with disabilities were protected by law. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) followed and was passed in 1990. It ensured the equal treatment and equal access of people with disabilities to employment opportunities and to public accommodations. In 2006, Cypress College’s Roosevelt Center joined the California Community College Chancellor’s Office by changing its name to Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSP&S). Finally, in 2015, Cypress College promoted students “first” language by transforming its program name from Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSP&S) to Disability Support Services (DSS).

DSS provides accommodations, adjustments, and services to students with disabilities to ensure equitable access to college programs and facilities. DSS is committed to providing student opportunities that will maximize their potential for success in achieving their individual, educational, and career goals.

2018 Annual Safety and Security Report Now Available

Cypress College’s 2018 Annual Safety and Security Report is now available. The report meets the requirements of the Jeanne Clery Disclosure Act — which is intended to provide students and the public with access to information critical to their safety.

The report can be viewed at: http://news.cypresscollege.edu/Documents/CC-2018-Clery-Report.pdf. Students are notified of the report’s availability via the campus website, the myGateway portal, and the College’s social media properties. If desired, paper copies of the report will be available through the Campus Safety Office.

If you see something, say something

The Clery Act

New Pledge Center Unveiled During Dedication Ceremony

Cypress College’s Pledge Center dedication took place September 19 to mark the opening of a new hub for counseling and academic support on the ground floor of the Student Center.

The ceremony welcomed the community to hear more about the Anaheim Union Education Pledge, also called the Pledge Program, which assists high school students on their paths into higher education. Members of legislative offices and leadership teams from the North Orange County Community College District and Anaheim Union High School District came out to mark the occasion as well.

Organizers took turns at the podium to thank supporters of the program, a partnership between higher education institutions, and the City of Anaheim to support students entering college. Cypress College President JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D., expressed gratitude and encouragement based on the success of the “historic collaboration.”

“There are 959 students in the inaugural class – great, engaged students,” Dr. Schilling said. “We want to keep them going in a focused manner, and expect this to grow bigger every year.”

She especially credited the initiative’s achievements to the “fabulous team” of Counseling Dean Dr. Paul de Dios and Interim Student Success & Support Programs Director Gisela Verduzco. Verduzco told the audience that the Pledge Program, part of the Charger Experience, creates opportunities for students in Cypress’ own backyard.

“We have to start with our own communities,” she said. “Students are being supported with their own place they can call home.”

NOCCCD Chancellor Dr. Cheryl Marshall took to the podium and called the opening of the Pledge Center a dream come true. Next, Dr. Schilling and Verduzco presented a baton to Mike Matsuda, superintendent of AUHSD, who called it symbolic of the meaningful partnership that created and supports the Pledge Program.

The ceremony also offered a chance to thank donors. Catherine Sorensen and the Disneyland Resort, represented by Elva Rubalcava, were recognized by Dr. Schilling for their generosity and given plaques to commemorate their participation.

Government officials in attendance included Cypress Mayor John Peat, Mayor Pro Tem Stacy Berry, Clayton Heard of U. S. Congressman Alan Lowenthal’s office, Stephanie Hu of State Senator Ling Ling Chang’s office, Christopher Aguilera of California Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva’s office, and Tim Whitacre of Orange County Supervisor Michelle Steel’s office.

Pledge Program students joined organizers in pulling the curtain for the big reveal of the center, located at the northern end of the Student Center’s first level. Attendees were invited to a reception following the event.

Instructor Tommy Mellana Honored as Hero in Response at Las Vegas Shooting

Adjunct instructor Tommy Mellana, whose primary employment is as a detective in the Cypress Police Department, received the California Peace Officer’s Association Award of Valor for his heroic response at last year’s Las Vegas shooting.

Detective Mellana, who teaches in Cypress College’s Administration of Justice Program, was honored in Sacramento on September 17 with Cypress Police Chief Rod Cox and Commander Steven Ramsey in attendance.

Although he is grateful for the recognition, Det. Mellana called the award “a tough pill to swallow” because of the significant loss of life — 58 people died in the October 1, 2017 shooting on the Las Vegas Strip and more than 1,100 rounds of ammunition were fired at attendees of the Route 91 Harvest music festival, held adjacent to Mandalay Bay.

“I was at the festival with family and friends when the mass shooting took place,” Det. Mellana said in an email. “I left the group I was with to assist in any way possible. That night I provided first aid to people that were wounded during the event.”

He noted that he was later reunited with everyone in his group and that all of them escaped injury. Many others he came across that night did not survive, including people he knew.

“However, I was able to save several victims that were shot by pulling them to cover and applying tourniquets and pressure to their wounds, which prevented them from bleeding to death,” Det. Mellana said. “After being in the venue for nearly one hour and helping dozens of people, I made it back to hotel and was reunited with my friends and family.”

While the circumstances are tragic, Cypress College President JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D. called Det. Mellana’s response “a true act of courage on his part.”

Adjunct instructor Tommy Mellana, a detective in the Cypress Police Department, received the California Peace Officer’s Association Award of Valor (above) for his heroic response at last year’s Las Vegas shooting. He attended the awards ceremony (top) with Cypress Police Chief Rod Cox (left) and Commander Steven Ramsey.

Magazine Spotlights Former Theater Student on Cover

Alex Alpharaoh has won the attention of theatergoers and critics with something he hid for years: his immigration status. The former Cypress College student’s effort to make sense of government policies around undocumented immigrants led to the creation of his autobiographical play, “WET: A DACAmented Journey,” and a spot on the cover of “American Theatre” magazine’s May/June 2018 issue.

Alpharaoh wrote the play to discuss his personal history as an undocumented resident growing up in Los Angeles. He came to the United States from Guatemala at the age of 3 months, when his 15-year-old mother crossed the border on foot. Alpharoah told the magazine his mother constantly reminded her son to protect the family secret that they lacked the proper paperwork. That memory stayed with him even as he grew up and went to college.

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“I denied myself the fullest extent of my growth as a student because I harbored a secret that I could not reveal and explore in my work,” Alpharaoh said, of his early days in the Cypress Theater Arts Department. “Mark [Majarian], never inquiring about anything that I wasn’t willing to share, said: ‘You never have to reveal anything that you feel would jeopardize you or someone else. The work is yours so long as you can do it independently and outside of the classroom.’”

Alpharaoh says Majarian’s advice led him to find ways around the issue without it interfering with his training. Although his theater education wasn’t compromised, the struggle to live as an immigrant without documentation continued and motivated him to develop and perform his play in 2017. Since then, he has performed “WET” at venues such as the Lincoln Center in New York City, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and the Los Angeles Theatre Center.

“Alex, from the beginning, brought fire, vulnerability, and a self-created resilience emanating from a challenged childhood,” Cypress College Professor Emeritus Majarian said. He taught Alpharoah when he studied theater at Cypress from 2007 to 2011.

“Alex acquired, through his own grit, the craft fundamentals of acting that would give voice to his own individual statement as an actor as well as servicing the plays and playwrights he was learning from.”

Alpharaoh will perform in more cities during his upcoming national tour this fall, including local dates. Find more information on where and when he will be performing by visiting DacamentedJourney.com.

Bistro Begins Regional Cuisine Trip and You’re Invited

This semester, students in Hotel, Restaurant & Culinary Arts again will take palates on a trip around the country by offering visitors a chance to sample a variety of regional dishes from the United States and beyond.

The Cypress Bistro opens for fall Thursday, September 13, with traditional New England cuisine. The menu includes:
Starter – New England Clam Chowder
Entrées – choice of Yankee Beef Pot Roast or Maine Lobster Roll
Desserts – choice of Sticky Toffee Pudding or Boston Cream Pie

New England Clam Chowder

A post shared by Cypress Bistro (@cypressbistro) on Feb 20, 2014 at 12:46pm PST

The rest of the semester’s menus feature food from: the South, September 20; Louisiana, September 27; Texas, October 4; the Southwest, October 11; an Oktoberfest celebration, October 25; California (vegan), November 1; the Pacific Rim, November 8; the Pacific Northwest, November 15; and Floribbean fare, November 29.

Visit the Bistro for lunch on Thursdays from 12:00 to 1:00 pm, at the NOCCCD Anaheim Campus. The three-course meals cost $13.00, and are for tables of four or fewer, dine-in only. You can make reservations, which are recommended, by emailing Chef Tracey Heine, theine@nocccd.edu.

Newly FAA-Certified Flight Instructors Credit Cypress with Test Prep

The Federal Aviation Administration’s Certified Flight Instructor – Airplane Single Engine test is, understandably, a difficult one. Two recently accredited instructors, however, say they felt prepared for the challenge, thanks to Cypress College.

Anond Thai and Eric Felix passed the FAA test after studying aviation under Capt. Ed Valdez at Cypress. Valdez confirms the exam’s difficulty.

“It’s no easy feat to pass the test,” Valdez said.

Long Beach native Felix’s instructing career took off after he passed the exam. He currently works for two flight schools as a flight instructor and describes his schedule as being hectic but rewarding.

“I enjoy instructing,” he said. “I love this career from the bottom of my heart.”

This job path fulfills Felix’s lifelong dream. He says he’s always been excited by planes and air travel but that flight training can be costly, running into the $80,000 to $100,000 range. Cypress allowed him to achieve his dreams within his means.

“If I didn’t do the program with Ed at Cypress, I wouldn’t have had the same results. I would have not accomplished the exams with the same amount of training — my training would have been much longer.”

Thai received his certificate in May and has been busy teaching as well, after passing the tough exam. The Thailand-born Orange County resident says he wishes “it was an easy test but it’s not,” and is grateful to Valdez for facilitating his success.

“Without Cypress, I wouldn’t be here,” he said. “I went from no flying knowledge at all to being a pilot in about two years. Cypress aviation program helped a lot. Got to give it credit.”

Thai originally attended Cal Poly Pomona; although he had high grades in high school, he says he entered the university having trouble with English. He eventually left after his GPA got too low and he was disqualified.

“I went to Cal Poly and didn’t know what college life was like,” Thai said. “Cypress College taught me a lot about college life.”

Thai will continue his college education at Cal State Dominquez Hills, to earn his bachelor’s degree in math. He will keep teaching while there; he currently has eight students, working with two to three students a day for about three hours each lesson.

Both Felix and Thai work out of the Long Beach and Santa Ana airports, where they share the lessons they’ve learned during their time at Cypress.

Storytelling, Adapting to Change are Themes of Fall Opening Day

Storytelling was the centerpiece of an Opening Day that highlighted the student experience and changes the college and its individual employees must make and adapt to in order to better serve students.

“We have to be fiercely devoted to allowing our students to have a voice, to allow them to tell us what we need to do to meet their needs,” said Cypress College President JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D., to more than 300 faculty and staff Friday, August 17.

Three Cypress students, who found purpose and connection through programs on campus, spoke of their personal journeys.

“Every step of the way, I have been extremely fortunate to have support of my professors, faculty, and peers,” said Selina Jaimes Davila, an undocumented, first-generation college student majoring in mechanical engineering. “These awesome individuals have encouraged me when I needed it the most, when I couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. Even in the most difficult moments, they saw a potential in me that I did not see in myself.”

Jaimes Davila was homeless for a time, living out of a car with her mother, and finding a path in higher education proved difficult. She lacked self-confidence and ended up changing her major three times; however, with guidance from EOPS, the Puente Program, and (STEM)², she finally found her passion.

“I was a timid little freshman when I started my educational journey at Cypress College,” Jaimes Davila said, “and now I am a fierce, empowered woman that knows what I want to accomplish in life and feel confident in my ability to accomplish my dreams.”

Kenyun Rone also grew up in difficult circumstances as a child in the foster care system. He was immediately kicked out of his foster home when he turned 18 and enrolled at Cypress College in 2008. Struggling without direction and a guiding hand while also taking care of his mother, he ended up dropping out of college.

“But I never quit thinking about, I need to do more with my life,” he said. “There has to be something more to my life.”

In 2017, Rone received a call from Legacy Program Director Regina Rhymes that lit a spark and motivated him to return to school. He is now a philosophy major planning to transfer to San Diego State University.

David Rodriguez’s parents had immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico and emphasized the importance of education in hopes that their children would not endure the same hardships they had. But Rodriguez wanted to pursue his passion for music and the arts, so he “totally put school on the backburner.”

Following his high school graduation, he started his studies at Cypress College, “but I didn’t have the right mindset,” he said.

“Over the next three years from 2012-2015, I felt very lost and just very unmotivated and unconnected from the campus,” he added. “So, in 2015, after being kicked out and readmitted, I dropped out with a GPA of 1.9 and I told myself that school wasn’t for me.”

After gaining some film experience working at the University of Southern California, Rodriguez decided to give higher education another chance. His older brother, a former Puente student, suggested that he speak with Puente Co-Coordinator Therese Mosqueda-Ponce. His involvement in the program led to other opportunities, including participation in a Puente leadership conference, as well as employment on campus working with the college’s Dual Enrollment and CyberPatriots programs.

“Throughout this journey, I realized, well, I wanted to be a musician, I wanted to be a filmmaker, I wanted to be a cartoonist,” Rodriguez said. “But now, I want to be a college graduate.”

Energized by the students’ powerful stories, Dr. Schilling said to the crowd, “We share these stories because…it all kind of fades away if we’re not actually reaching students.”

Disrupt or be Disrupted

Disrupt or be disrupted was a common thread throughout both Dr. Schilling and North Orange County Community College District Chancellor Dr. Cheryl Marshall’s presentations, delving further into the significant changes facing Cypress College, along with California’s 113 other community colleges.

Dr. Schilling described the six signs that your institution is being disrupted, indicating a need for re-examining the way things are done, and related that to the college’s turn to the Guided Pathways model.

“We are a pretty traditional education institution and that’s where we have the opportunity to make changes without actually changing what you do in the classroom, so reframing it from the principles of traditional education to Guided Pathways,” she said. “And Guided Pathways doesn’t have to be this thing that we do. It’s really reframing the student experience.”

Dr. Marshall echoed those sentiments and said, “One of the key ideas is that we can either be the disrupters or be disrupted. And so, there are days when we kind of feel like victims, but it also means we have the opportunity to be creative, to try new approaches, and be the instigators in higher ed’s new reality instead of just having things happen to us.”

In this pursuit of Guided Pathways and adapting to the realities of the times, Dr. Schilling suggested that students need four things from the college and its employees: 1) We must be relentless in improving our students’ experience at Cypress; 2) We must base our decisions on long-term student success, not short-term benefits; 3) We must lead by putting our core values into action; and 4) We must be an equity-minded institution.

One way Cypress College is working to better serve its students in an environment they are familiar with is through the launch of a new app, Cypress Connect. Cypress College Director of Academic Computing Technologies Peter Maharaj presented the app, currently in phase one of launch, emphasizing that the college needs to think digitally because that’s where students are.

Updates and Accomplishments

Opening Day is also an opportunity for the college to celebrate the start of a new semester. Dr. Schilling recognized new and recently promoted employees at the college, spoke of staff and faculty accomplishments from the past year, and presented the Diversity and Inclusiveness Award to retired Photography Professor Clifford Lester.

Lester has worked tirelessly to give voice to Holocaust survivors and ensure that their stories are not lost or forgotten. His work is featured in the Holocaust Memorial Gallery currently located in the second floor hall of the Student Center, and has also been presented during the college’s annual Yom HaShoah events.

Dr. Schilling and district representatives Dr. Marshall and NOCCCD Board of Trustees member Ryan Bent also awarded Cypress College (STEM)² Program Director Yanet Garcia and Career Planning Center Coordinator Deann Burch with the North Star Award. The award recognizes employees throughout the district for their outstanding contributions and work performance. Garcia and Burch had previously been honored at the June 26 Board of Trustees meeting.

Accreditation co-chairs Phil Dykstra, Cypress College director of institutional research and planning, and Liana Koeppel, English professor, provided employees with an update on the college’s next steps in the accreditation process and institutional set standards. The college’s accreditation follow-up report is due March 1, 2019 and is currently in the draft stage. An open forum will be held in mid-October to allow faculty and staff to provide feedback.

The day came to a close with a barbecue lunch by the Pond and division meetings held around campus as faculty and staff buzzed with excitement for the start of a new school year.

Civil Rights Activist Sylvia Mendez to Speak at Cypress College

In celebration of Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month, Cypress College’s Puente Program is hosting Civil Rights Activist and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom Sylvia Mendez.

In 1947, the Mendez vs. Westminster case became a historical decision in the desegregation of California schools, when the parents of Sylvia Mendez led the crusade and successfully won a class action suit against four Orange County school districts. This verdict was so historically significant that it helped argue the Brown vs. Board of Education case. Mendez was honored with the Presidential Medal Of Freedom in 2011 by President Obama. She is now retired and travels around giving guest lectures on her experiences on the forgotten civil rights movement of California.

She will be speaking at Cypress College on September 4, 2018 from 5–7 p.m. in Humanities 131. To attend, RSVP here.

Alumnus Trevor Hoffman Inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame

Alumnus Trevor Hoffman is now Hall of Fame Alumnus Trevor Hoffman.

One of Major League Baseball’s most-successful pitchers of all time, Hoffman was among six inducted to the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, and is one of 323 enshrined in Cooperstown. During his induction speech, Hoffman mentioned the importance of Cypress College on his career — and specifically the influence of long-time baseball coach Scott Pickler.

Hoffman was prolific on the mound — recording 601 saves in 18 Major League Baseball seasons, most of them in a San Diego Padres uniform, and being recognized seven times as an MLB all star. He was the first to reach the 500- and 600-save milestones. Likewise, his presence on campus lives large as a participant in athletic events (for example, he recently presented the Charger of the Week award) and as the American Awards Man of the Year recipient in 2013.

IT’S OFFICIAL! @THoffman51 is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame #CypCity #HOFfman ⚾@CypressCollege @CCCAASports @SportsOEC @OCRegSports @ocregister pic.twitter.com/Q9wgK9W3KE

— Cypress Chargers (@CYPRESSChargers) July 29, 2018

During the Hall of Fame festivities, Hoffman was asked about the Cypress College by campus Sports Information/Marketing Representative Wes McCurtis.

“Coach Pick is a legend. He just got inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He was instrumental in my growth as a baseball player and a person,” Hoffman told McCurtis. “If I didn’t have the community college to go to out of high school, I wasn’t very big when I graduated, and so it’s a great opportunity to continue playing [and it] allowed me go to the university of Arizona after that.”

McCurtis also captured Pickler’s thoughts on Hoffman’s induction.

Caught up with Coach Scott Pickler in Cooperstown to get his thoughts on Hall of Fame weekend! #CypCity #HOFfman

FULL VIDEO: https://t.co/bcxus768eQ @CypressCollege @YD_RedSox @CCCAASports @Official_CCBL @THoffman51 @SportsOEC @OCRegSports @OCSportsZone pic.twitter.com/YXAgTjzXT9

— Cypress Chargers (@CYPRESSChargers) July 30, 2018

The Hall of Fame speech from the Hall of Fame man. #HOFfman

Full video 👉 https://t.co/t77c5ep5Hu 🎥 pic.twitter.com/Q5iTYDqz8I

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 30, 2018

Check out all of McCurtis’ coverage for Cypress College on the Cypress College Athletics official site and on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Cypress College Offers Drone Photography Class

Did you know you could study drone photography here? We’re offering PHOT 235 in the fall semester! It will be held on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The CRN is 14368. For additional details, please check the class schedule.

Classes start the week of August 20. Enroll through myGateway today!

Aviation Student Could Set World Record for Youngest Pilot to Fly Solo

A Cypress College student’s aviation achievement last week could set a Guinness World Record.

Fourteen-year-old Mohd Shaikhsorab flew solo out of Langley Regional Airport in British Columbia, Canada, July 19, after having only 15.9 hours of flying experience. This makes him the youngest person to independently fly a plane with the least amount of training hours.

A representative from Guinness World Records confirmed that Shaikhsorab’s application is under review by the organization’s records management team. No one currently holds such a record, according to the representative.

Captain Edilberto Valdez taught both of Shaikhsorab’s aviation classes last year – Private Pilot and Flight Simulator Private Pilot – and described him as “very motivated and mature for his age.” He wasn’t surprised by the news that his student soon might hold a world record.

“We talked a lot about how our training was going to do just that: enable him to solo at the lowest amount of time,” Valdez said.

The 15-minute flight went well, despite slightly windy conditions. If Shaikhsorab felt nervous at all, his excitement overrode it.

“It was a kind of cool feeling because no one is on your left seat or right seat to tell you what to do,” he said. “I hopped on and the instructor said ‘Good luck.’ Kind of amazing feeling that I could finally solo on the airplane, by myself.”

Shaikhsorab credits his success with the instruction he received at Cypress.

“With 100% confidence, I can say that if it weren’t for Ed Valdez I wouldn’t have been able to achieve this,” he said. “The majority of the credit can go to my instructor.”

Shaikhsorab took classes beginning at age 13 and says he knew he could do something incredible with his youth as a factor. In June, he headed to flight school in Canada, where the minimum age for solo flying is 14; in the United States, it’s 16.

Processing the world record application can take up to 12 weeks. By that time, the young pilot will be attending fall semester classes, and Cypress College could have a Guinness World Record-holder on campus.

Make Up Pledge Day Set for AUHSD Students on July 17

Anaheim Pledge Students: save the date!

Cypress College is hosting a make up Pledge Day on July 17 for those AUHSD students who were unable to attend the May 2 Pledge Night.

8 a.m.-noon
Noon-4 p.m.
4-8 p.m.

For More Information email: pledge@cypresscollege.edu.

Cypress College Featured in NOCCCD Video

North Orange County Community College District recently highlighted Cypress College in a video posted to the district’s YouTube page. Created in partnership with the North Orange County Chamber, the video showcases Cypress College, Fullerton College, and North Orange Continuing Education in a segment of the two groups’ “Community Movies” series. Cypress College is cited as “among the best campuses for Career and Technical Education programs in California,” with over 50% of course offerings dedicated to career education and as one of California’s first community colleges to offer a bachelor’s degree.

For more information on Career and Technical Education at Cypress College, visit the CTE Programs page.

Governor Appoints Faculty Member Jolena Grande to California Community Colleges Board of Governors

Gov. Jerry Brown appointed Cypress College faculty member Jolena Grande to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors. She is a long-time leader on the campus, including in her program and on the Academic Senate, and was instrumental in the college’s efforts to offer baccalaureate degrees.

Grande has been a full-time instructor in the Mortuary Science Program since 1999 and was an adjunct faculty member in the program from 1995-1999. She is also an alumna of Cypress College. The Westminster resident completed her bachelor’s degree at the University of Central Oklahoma and two master’s degrees at National University.

“Jolena’s appointment to the Board of Governors is an exciting and well-deserved honor,” said JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D., president of Cypress College. “We are proud of her selection and know that she will represent community college students and employees well in this role.”

In addition to her work at Cypress College, she has been a licensed embalmer at Service Corporation International since 2009. Grande is a member of the National Association of Colleges of Mortuary Science and the American Board of Funeral Service Education.

The Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges sets policy and provides guidance for the 72 districts and 114 colleges, including Cypress College, which constitute the system. The 17-member board is appointed by the governor and formally interacts with state and federal officials and other state organizations. The California Community Colleges serve 2.1 million students annually.

About Cypress College:

Cypress College’s 16,000 students and the highly qualified teaching faculty are proud of the many excellent academic and vocational programs. Cypress College offers 56 university-transfer majors, 176 career-certificate programs, and degrees in 73 areas of study. The college’s traditional semesters begin in January and August, while short-term courses start throughout the year. A Cypress College education costs $46 per unit — $138 for a typical, full-credit class — California’s lowest tuition. Financial aid and scholarships are also available to qualifying students.

Student Activities, International Students Relocate During Construction

The construction of the new SEM building, new Veterans Resource Center, and the renovation of the Student Activities Center is scheduled to begin in December of 2018. As a result, the Student Activities Center and International Students Program have relocated to the second floor of Gym 2. Student Activities is in room 210 and International Students Program is in room 204. Please check back for updates.

First Award of Bachelor’s Degrees at Cypress College’s 51st Commencement on Friday

Friday’s graduation at Cypress College will feature the first cohort of baccalaureate-degree recipients and a record number of overall participants — nearly 600. The 51st commencement begins at 6 p.m. on May 25, 2018, in Gateway Plaza. A live video feed will be provided via Facebook Live and on the college website.

The Bachelor of Science in Funeral Service will be awarded to five students as part of a state-wide pilot program in which 15 California Community Colleges were selected for career-based baccalaureate-degree programs. Instruction in the program began in August. The degree candidates are: Stephen Crawford, Aimee-Lynne Gigel, Lisa Hang, Cassidy Johnston, and Jenna Moerk.

There are 1,002 students graduating from at least one of the college’s 73 degree programs. Combined, they are earning 1,228 associate degrees. Another 432 students are earning a combined 649 occupational certificates from one of the 176 career-certificate programs. The record of successful student completion helped Cypress College earn Niche, Inc.’s ranking as the top community college in California, several Star awards from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, and a number of other top-five national designations.

Abhiruchi Chaulagain is Cypress College’s Outstanding Graduate for 2018. Headed to UCI in the fall, Chaulagain (full bio below) moved to the United States in 2015 following a devastating earthquake in her native Nepal. The disaster inspired her to seek a career in emergency and disaster medicine.

Curtis Scheetz, a business owner, is the 2018 Outstanding Alumnus. Scheetz completed the college’s HVAC program and went on to work his way up in the heating and ventilation industry. He founded Total Environmental Management, Inc. to fill a void in the industry.

Farisa Morales, a NASA astrophysicist, will deliver the commencement keynote. Dr. Morales searches for new planets at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena and is a faculty member at California State University, Northridge and Moorpark College. A community college graduate, Dr. Morales also earned degrees at UCLA, CSUN, and USC.

More information about commencement is available at: https://www.cypresscollege.edu/commencement-central/.

Graduation Bios

Abhiruchi Chaulagain, 2018 Outstanding Graduate

Abhiruchi Chaulagain’s career goals became perfectly clear on the April 2015 day that a 7.8 earthquake struck her native Nepal. Nearly 9,000 people died, roughly 22,000 were injured, and 3.5 million people were left homeless. This experience motivated Chaulagain to move to the U.S. in pursuit of a medical career focused on emergency and disaster medicine.

“Enrolling myself in Cypress College was the first thing I did after moving to this country,” said Chaulagain, an Honors Program and (STEM)² student. “I was in desperate need of a fresh start, and when I visited the campus, I knew this was the right place to start my journey. I was highly attracted by the diverse crowd, welcoming atmosphere, and tremendous student resources.”

As she prepares to attend University of California, Irvine in the fall, she does so after significant academic achievement and campus involvement during her two years at Cypress College. She has also volunteered at St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach for more than 400 hours, assisting patients with eating, bathing, and walking.

“I will be forever grateful to Cypress for providing me with such wonderful opportunities, and helping me grow personally and academically,” Chaulagain said. “With a content heart, I can say that I am CYProud.”

Curtis Scheetz, 2018 Outstanding Alumnus

Curtis Scheetz is the founder and owner of Total Environmental Management, Inc., a leader in the HVAC industry for over 30 years providing temporary and emergency heating and cooling throughout California and the West. After obtaining his associate degree in heating, ventilation, and cooling from Cypress College, Curtis entered his profession on the ground floor working at Barber Colman in the stockroom and later as a controls application engineer. From there, he moved on to Western Air where he honed his skills in sales and then was promoted to service manager.

He re-entered the sales force at York and later moved on to Southland Industries where his sales skills and success led him to become the sales manager of their then-new division known as Sisco. He managed a sales team of nine professionals and helped to make Sisco a well-known and respected service contractor in the Southern California marketplace.

Curt’s passion for his industry, combined with an astute ability to think outside the box, led him to found TEM in 1985 as a way to provide emergency and temporary HVAC services lacking in the industry at that time. Starting as a part-time business with just one air handler, Curt tirelessly worked around the clock and today the company has the largest inventory of any HVAC rental company on the West Coast.

Always searching for new challenges, Curt is as passionate about community service and fundraising as he is about climate. Currently, he volunteers his time and efforts to help raise money for the Millers Children and Women’s Hospital, Long Beach and has also become involved in Serving People In Need, an organization that helps homeless individuals in Orange County. He is a strong advocate for Cypress College, his alma mater, where he helps with both fundraising and promoting of the school’s stellar HVAC program. He is also a regular blood and platelet donor, and supports many other charitable organizations through TEM.

Curt has been married to his wife, Jill, an interior designer, for 42 years and is the proud father of a son, Curtis, and daughter, Natalie, both of whom live with their families in the Southern California area.

Farisa Morales, 2018 Graduation Speaker

NASA’s Farisa Morales hunts planets for a living. In addition to her work as an active astrophysicist searching for unknown planets at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, she is a professor at California State University, Northridge and Moorpark College.

Her journey to the cosmos, though, is one Cypress College students can identify with. With a 3-year-old daughter and a 6-month-old baby, she began her college education at L.A. Mission College, where she majored in mathematics. As she completed her community college studies and transferred to UCLA, she participated in Caltech’s SURF internship program at NASA/ JPL. While working at JPL as an academic part-timer, and raising her kids, Morales graduated with a bachelor’s degree in astrophysics from UCLA. She continued to earn a master’s degree in physics from CSUN. Her work on planetary debris disks at JPL with the Spitzer Space Telescope evolved into her dissertation project, resulting in attainment of her doctorate in physics from USC.

Morales currently studies stars with planetary debris disks — the dusty, ring-like structures, home to colliding asteroids and sublimating comets, that circle stars like the sun, and hint at planet formation processes, their architecture, and composition. Morales also searches for the planetary companions stirring the dust around nearby stars. Her work is conducted using the Keck Observatory in Hawaii and the Hale Telescope in Palomar.

Born in the U.S., Morales was raised in Jalisco, Mexico, where she completed her primary education. As a teenager, she and her family migrated back to the U.S., where she completed high school in the Los Angeles County public school system. Morales married at 18 and began a family.

2017-2018 Faculty Award Winners

The Cypress College Academic Senate announced the recipients of this year’s Faculty Awards. Recipients were chosen by the Senate based on nominations from their colleagues.

Outstanding Full-Time Faculty of the Year: Cindy Shrout, Mathematics
Oustanding Adjunct Faculty of the Year: Wayne Chang, Biology
Charger Award: Regina Rhymes, Sociology

About Cypress College:

Cypress College’s 16,000 students and the highly qualified teaching faculty are proud of the many excellent academic and vocational programs. Cypress College offers 56 university-transfer majors, 176 career-certificate programs, and degrees in 73 areas of study. The college’s traditional semesters begin in January and August, while short-term courses start throughout the year. A Cypress College education costs $46 per unit — $138 for a typical, full-credit class — California’s lowest tuition. Financial aid and scholarships are also available to qualifying students.

View the full news release (PDF).

Cypress College Hosts Summer Dance Festival 2018

Cypress College is offering two Summer Dance Festival classes (DANC 140 and 145) open to all—high schools, students, staff—at any skill level. Placement auditions will be held on Monday, June 11, at 11:05 a.m. in GYM2-125. There will be two culminating performances in mid-July in the Cypress College Studio Theater.

To register, visit myGateway. For additional information, please contact Maha Afra at (714) 484-7207 or mafra@cypresscollege.edu.

Psychology Students to Present at CC2PhD Research Conference

Eleven Cypress College psychology students have been chosen to present research projects at the CC2PhD Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Conference at UCLA on Saturday, May 26. The conference is one of two held annually by the UCLA-based CC2PhD Association and strives to provide an accessible opportunity for community college and transfer students to engage in research and encourage pursuit of a graduate degree. It will feature presentations from more than 100 California community college and transfer students in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and STEM.

Ngoc Ngo, a Cypress College sophomore transferring to UCLA in the fall, pursued her project about the influence of language and culture on immigrant students’ relationships with their teachers as part of the 2017-2018 CC2PhD Scholars Program. Twenty-nine underrepresented community college students of color are chosen for this program every year to guide them through research and prepare them for earning a doctorate.

MURC presentations from Cypress College include:

Social Media and a New Means of Social Perception: The Number of Instagram Followers and Attractiveness by Ju Eun Shin;

Accuracy of Perception: Sexual Orientation by Madison Coryell, Faten Harb, and Nichole Graves;

Accuracy of Memory Recall and Reconstruction by Maribel Lopez and Yesenia Hernandez;

Sleep and The Impact It Has on College Student’s Ability to Learn and Retain Information by Michelle Lurence;

Parenting Style vs. Grit by Karyssa Eddy;

Ethnic differences in Generalized anxiety and depression levels: A study on African American, Asian, Hispanic, and White college students by Dianna Barahona Carrillo and Samantha Barron;

Do immigrant students’ English language proficiency and culture influence student-teacher relationships? by Ngoc Ngo.

Attendance at the conference is free and open to the public, though an RSVP is required.

Cypress College Offers Four-Week Summer Theater Workshop

Actors! Directors! Playwrights! Cypress College offers a four-week intensive course in creating theater!

This workshop will cover various aspects of performance: acting, movement, voice, improvisation, puppetry, mask-work, and scene-study. The course also covers directing, script analysis, dramaturgy, and the basics of playwriting.

The month-long workshop will culminate in a celebration of new plays by professional playwrights, presented in staged readings by student-actors and directors.

Doug Cooney is a nationally recognized theater artist. His work includes dramas, comedies, musical theater, solo performance, dance theater, experimental theater, and plays for young people. He has been produced and developed by the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center Institute, the Mark Taper Forum, Kirk Douglas Theater, South Coast Rep, and Sundance Theater Labs, among others. He has been honored by the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Performance Network, and the MacArthur Foundation. He received the Charlotte Chorpenning Cup from the American Alliance of Theater Educators for his body of work as a playwright. He was also recognized with an Emmy nomination for Disney’s “Sofia the First.”

THEA 236 C Summer Theater Workshop I

2 Units
Prerequisite: Audition
Transfer: UC/CSU
This performance laboratory will introduce students to the basic fundamental skills of developing new plays and innovative performance works.
Pass/No Pass/Letter Grade Option
30531, 001, 9:30 a.m.–2:40 p.m., Monday–Thursday, 6/11–7/16, Cooney, Douglas, TA-104
Last day to add: 06/13; Last day to drop without “W”: 06/13; Last day to drop with “W”: 07/05; Last day to drop for refund: 06/12

THEA 237 C Summer Theater Workshop II

2 Units
Prerequisite: Audition
Transfer: UC/CSU
This performance laboratory will invest students with the intermediate skills of developing new plays and innovative performance works.
Pass/No Pass/Letter Grade Option
30534, 001, 9:30 a.m.–2:40 p.m., Monday–Thursday, 6/11–7/16, Cooney, Douglas TA-104
Last day to add: 06/13; Last day to drop with “W”: 07/05; Last day to drop for refund: 06/12.

Enroll in the Summer Theater Workshop through myGateway.

President Schilling’s Board Report for May 22, 2018

The following is a report to members of the North Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees.
Presented by Cypress College President JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D.
on May 22, 2018

The college has been in thoroughly engaged in “end-of the-semester” events and we are enjoying seeing our students succeed and flourish. It’s a wonderful time of the year to acknowledge and celebrate their accomplishments!

College Events

Cypress College will be celebrating its 51^st Commencement this Friday, May 25 at 6 pm. We will be welcoming over 1000 graduates receiving more than 1200 degrees and 649 certificates, including our first ever BA graduates in Funeral Services. More than 400 students will participate in this year’s ceremony. Also being honored is Abhiruchi Chaulagin, our Outstanding Graduate of the Year; Curtis Sheets, Foundation Board Member and our Outstanding Alumnus of the Year; Regina Rhymes, our Charger Award winner; Cindy Shrout, our Faculty of the Year, and Wayne Chang, our Adjunct Faculty of the Year. Our Commencement Speaker will be NASA’s Farisa Morales, a former community college student who now searches for new planets with JPL. We are looking forward to an inspiring commencement and hope all our board members will be there!
Eleven Cypress College psychology students have been chosen to present research projects at the CC2PhD Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Conference at UCLAon Saturday, May 26. The conference is one of two held annually by the UCLA-based CC2PhD Association and strives to provide an accessible opportunity for community college and transfer students to engage in research and encourage pursuit of a graduate degree. It will feature presentations from more than 100 California community college and transfer students in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and STEM.
The Cypress College Men’s Golf Team, led by Coach Dana Bedard, won their first CCCAA State Championship round on Monday, May 14, capturing the first team state title in program history. Sophomores Matthew Rafter, Georgios Bris, and Andrew Thomson posted top-six scores, earning them All-State honors. Congratulations Chargers!
Congratulations to our Women’s Softball team who finished third in this season’s CCCAA State Championship Tournament! The Cypress College softball team fought a good fight in their state semi-final appearance against Palomar College, losing by just one run in the seventh inning.
Sophomore Alejandra Gomezbecame the most decorated women’s diver in Cypress College history with her performance at this year’s CCCAA State Swim & Dive Championships. Gomez repeated as the CCCAA State Champion on the 3-meter board and broke the state meet record on the 1-meter board to earn her third state title in two seasons. Awesome job, Alejandra!
Our Performing Arts students have been busy with their end of year concerts, including the Jazz Band Concert on May 7, MAD Film Festival on May 11, Jazz Choir on May 18, Concert Choir on May 19, and our Dance Concert on May 20.
In other graduation and scholarship news, our Language Arts Scholarship Awards were held on May 14, our Forensics Showcase was held on May 15, Honors scholarship celebration on May 17, as well as our DSS graduation, Puente graduation on May 15, and Human Services graduation on May 18.
Our Court Reporting Program is 40 years old! Faculty member Carolee Freer organized a wonderful breakfast which was attended by past and present students, instructors and alumni of the program. Carolee noted that when the program began “nobody drove on the 91 Fwy – can you believe that?”
The Cypress College Foundation awarded over 72 scholarships, to 250 students at our Scholarship Awards Ceremony on May 21. It was a wonderful event attended by proud students and parents, as well as our generous faculty, staff and donors.

Community Events

On May 9, Dr. Schilling and Dr. Hua attended the Cypress Chamber Golf Reception at the Navy Golf Course in Los Alamitos, to support the work of our local chamber and our partnership with this important business association.
On May 10, Dr. Schilling, Dr. De Dios, Dr. Bandyopadhyay, Kathleen Reiland, and Hospitality Management coordinator, Lisa Clark, presented to 20 hotel General Managers representing large hotel chains in Garden Grove, to discuss our Hospitality Management Program and the opportunities we provide for training.
Schilling attended the CSULB Spring Educational Leadership Forum on Monday May 14. CEOs, VPs, and Academic Senate Presidents from across the LA/OC area attended to discuss opportunities for transfer and building intersegmental courses across our institutions.
Schilling, Trustee Stephen Blount, and VP Emily Day attended the annual Cypress Police Appreciation Luncheon on May 15. It was a wonderful event and opportunity to honor our great partnership with our Cypress Police department, and to honor them for the heroic work they do on our behalf.
On May 17, Dr. Schilling had the honor of sharing lunch at the Cypress Bistro with City Council woman, Mariellen Yarc, and Cypress City Manager, Peter Grant. They were impressed with our amazing students and the culinary experience they share with their guests.
On Friday, May 18, the college community said goodbye to Don Bedard, “Mr. Cypress”, who was one of the first Cypress College employees in 1967. Dr. Bedard served the college for over 30 years as Vice President and Interim President (twice). He was beloved by the campus community and his service was filled with blue and gold well-wishers.

That’s the Board Report from Cypress College. Buen Cypress!

Fall 2018 Class Schedule Available

Cypress College’s class schedule for fall 2018 is now available online and is expected in print next week. Instruction for fall begins the week of August 20 and concluded by December 8. Registration begins on Monday, July 9.

The Schedule of Classes provides a complete listing of all courses offered during the fall term.

Fall 2018 Schedule of Classes

Fall 2018 Schedule of Classes (PDF 3.6 MB)

In addition, the following links may be useful:

Searchable class schedule — Select search criteria to find courses; results include valuable information (such as available seats and waitlist info) about the individual courses
Open Class List — All Cypress College courses that haven’t yet begun and still have space available
“Find Classes” — Tips on finding classes, a guide to the searchable schedule, FAQ, and definitions

For details and to view additional schedules and the catalog, visit our Schedule and Catalog page.

Cypress College Hosts Second Annual 5k Run/Walk

Cypress College hosted more than 150 participants during the Cypress College Veterans Organization’s 2nd Annual 5k Run/Walk on Friday, April 27. Students, veterans, faculty, staff, and other community members ran side by side through the college campus to help raise money to fund the Veterans Resource Center. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go toward assisting student veterans with scholarships, emergency grants, and camaraderie-building events. This year’s fastest Charger was Dr. Antonio Sanchez, with an awesome time of 19:31. Congratulations, Dr. Sanchez! And a big thank you to everyone who made this event such a huge success.

‘Mr. Cypress College’ Don Bedard Remembered by Colleagues

Dr. Don Bedard, former Cypress College president and one of the campus’ first employees, passed away this morning. He served two interim terms as the campus leader, was dean, a vice president, and maintained involvement at the college following his retirement. He was 91.

“Don Bedard is known as ‘Mr. Cypress College’ because of his significant role in the development and growth of our college,” said President JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D. “He was here from the beginning and continued creating a path to success for students well into his retirement. The affection for him is evident.”

Dr. Bedard, a long-time resident of Seal Beach, is known for his enthusiasm and love of Cypress College. A passage from the official Cypress College history, authored by Professor Emeritus Patricia Ganer, provides an anecdote: In 1966, The Los Angeles Times anticipated a rough start for the athletics teams in their inaugural year. In response, Dr. Bedard was quoted as saying “But the future is promising.”

The future always seemed promising to Dr. Bedard.

An Army veteran, Dr. Bedard came to Cypress College when the campus opened in 1966, following a K-12 career in which he served as a teacher, counselor, and vice principal at Orange High School, and principal at Laguna Beach High School. He retired from Cypress College in 1988.

He earned a bachelor’s in English from Loyola University, and both a master’s and doctorate in education administration from USC.

At Cypress College, he was beloved for his personality and commitment to the campus. His first stint as interim president came in 1977. His second was in 1998, a decade after his retirement from the campus. He also later served as a part-time executive director of the Cypress College Foundation from 1990-1995. And, still, his association continued. He participated in subsequent campus anniversaries, chairing the 40th anniversary celebration planning committee in 2006. He also served regularly on the Foundation Golf Classic planning committee and outstanding alumni selection committee. He also taught part-time at the college and at Cal State Long Beach after his retirement.

The Donald J. Bedard Leadership Award is presented annually to a student who attained top leadership at the college through an extracurricular effort. Not only does this student maintain a commendable G.P.A., but they have contributed to the excellence involved in campus government.

Dr. Bedard was interviewed in an abandoned duplex left on the Cypress College property before construction began. Hired as the dean of Student Personnel Services, he was one of the first employees, perhaps number two or three, on the payroll.

Among his impacts at Cypress College, Dr. Bedard served on the committee that implemented Title IX, federal legislation passed in 1972 to ensure gender equity in higher education. As part of the college’s 20th anniversary celebration in 1986, Dr. Bedard was one of 10 people honored for making a significant contribution to the college. In 2012, the Cypress College Foundation made him the second recipient of the The President’s Distinguished Service Award — the most prestigious recognition the Cypress College Foundation bestows.

“Everything we do at the College, and at the Foundation, we do standing on his shoulders,” Dr. Michael Kasler, Cypress College president from 2007-2012, said in making the presentation. “I am honored to present the President’s Distinguished Service Award to ‘Mr. Cypress College,’ Don Bedard.”

Bedard is the father of Dana Bedard, a current member of the counseling faculty at Cypress College. Born in Argyle, MN, Dr. Bedard was the father of six children: Laurie, Renee, Michael, Dana, Carig, and Annette. Services are pending.

One of Cypress College’s founders, Dr. Don Bedard (second from left) served two terms as president. Here, he poses with Cypress College Presidents during the 50th anniversary celebration in April 2017. From left: Dr. Bob Simpson (2012-2017), Dr. Don Bedard (1977-1978 and 1998-1999), Dr. Michael Kasler (2007-2012), Dr. Margie Lewis (1999-2007), and Dr. Jack Scott (1978-1987).

View the full news release (PDF).

President Schilling’s Board Report for May 8, 2018

Presented by Cypress College President JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D.
on May 8, 2018

College Events

Our inaugural Pledge Night, held on both the Cypress and Fullerton campuses on May 2, was a fabulous success. At 4:30 when our registration began, there were lines around the building as eager students and parents came to enjoy our program tables, free food, and to get ready for the Pledge kickoff. We hosted over 800 students and their parents, opening an additional overflow room to accommodate everyone. Thanks to Dr. Marshall. Superintendent Mike Matsuda, Vice Chancellor Cherry Li-Bugg, and attendees from UCI AUHSD, and CSUF for supporting and attending this event.
Thank you to Our CSEA colleagues who sponsored the annual CSEA Chapter Breakfast on May 8. Cypress College’s Melisa Barrios received an award acknowledging her outstanding service to the College and District. Congratulations, Melisa!
Cypress College faculty members Ann Sheridan-Solis and Adel Rajab are being honored at the University of California, Irvine’s 13th Annual Educator Recognition Dinner and Awards Ceremony on May 22. Solis, Rajab, and other honorees were chosen by UCI’s most academically successful transfer students who identified the faculty member or counselor from their community college who played a critical role in their successful transfer to the university. Congratulations Ann and Adel!
The Cypress Auto Technology Program added another acknowledgement to its growing list of accolades. Schools.com ranked our Auto Technology Program as the #4 program in the United States.! Congratulations to Dean Kathleen Reiland and her excellent faculty.
On May 8 from 1-3 pm, the Transfer Center is hosting its annual Transfer Celebration to celebrate and recognize students who will be transferring to a four-year college or university in the fall. There will be food, certificates, and breakout sessions with local university representatives.
Please join us on Friday, May 11 from 6-10 pm as the Media Arts Design Department presents its annual Cypress College Film Festival featuring student-submitted works.
Our Veterans 5K on Friday, April 27 raised over $5,000 for our veterans and another $3,000 from the Cypress Women’s Assistance League who held their own fundraiser on Saturday, April 28 in support of our veterans. We appreciate the efforts of Mariellen Yarc, Cypress city councilwoman and Chair of our VRC capital campaign, for her support!
On April 25, the college planted its fourth Peace Pole next to the Theatre Arts Building. This project, spearheaded by English faculty member, Ambika Talwar, is designed to promote peace, and proper ecologic stewardship of our environment. The peace poles are a wonderful way to promote our core values of collegiality and inclusiveness on campus.
The Cypress College End-of-The-Year Luau was held on campus Thursday, May 3. Our retirees and colleagues celebrating their 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 year anniversaries with the District were honored.
The Cypress College Women’s Softball Team started off the playoffs with two quick wins against Southwestern College 8-2 and 6-4. The Chargers enter the next round this Friday at 2 pm against Bakersfield. Go Chargers!
On May 10, we will host the annual International Students Dinner as we both honor our students’ accomplishments and wish our graduating students well as they continue their academic journey.

Community Events

Schilling and Foundation Director, Gail Taylor, attended Service Night at Los Alamitos, celebrating and honoring our veterans.
Schilling, Dr. Hua and our academic deans will be attending the Cypress Chamber Golf Tournament reception on May 9 at the Navy Golf Course in Los Alamitos. We have appreciated the Cypress Chamber on our campus since January and support their efforts in our community.
Also on May 9, Dr. Schilling will be attending the annual Soroptimist Scholarship Awards presentation, honoring five of our EOPS students. We are grateful for the work this excellent organization does in support of our students.

That’s the Board Report from Cypress College. Buen Cypress!

Congratulations and Thank You For Your Service, Retirees!

Cypress College thanks the following employees for their commitment to students and offer them our best wishes in retirement.

Jane Boyce

Jane Boyce has been a registered nurse and instructor at Cypress College in the Psychiatric Technology program for the past 39 years. Jane has been an integral part of the program, searching out new clinical rotations for students, and teaching about clinical depression and bipolar illness as well as mental illness in children and the elderly. She has taken students on field trips that include visiting prisons, jails, and the homeless, exposing them to all aspects of mental health and illness while instilling in them the compassion to work with severely mentally ill individuals. Jane has been active throughout the campus, was a Puente mentor, and attends both the PT program and college graduations each year. Students would say that Jane “knows her stuff,” is a “no-nonsense” individual, and supports and cares deeply for the patients she serves and the students she teaches.

Robert Greg Cavin

Robert Cavin has been teaching philosophy and religious studies at Cypress College since 1996.

Cherie Dickey

Cherie Dickey began teaching full time in the English/Reading Department in 2000. An excellent instructor, Cherie’s dedication to student success was most recently exemplified in her teaching Fast-Track classes, giving English 57 students an opportunity to progress to English 60 in just one semester. Other direct and broader contributions to student success came through her service as Title V Grant coordinator, helping to establish and develop the math and English success centers, and her service as the Basic Skills Initiative co-coordinator. Indeed, Cherie has shouldered many important responsibilities that have been integral to the success of the college, the most notable perhaps being her roles as Curriculum Committee chair, Academic Senate president, and College Accreditation chair. Years ago, during her tenure review, one student wrote, “Keep up the good work on teaching us, Mrs. Dickey. You are a keeper in my book.” If possible, her colleagues would like to keep her, but apparently so do her husband and family. We will miss her.

Darlene Fishman

Darlene “Dee” Fishman has been at this campus for 40 years! It is difficult to summarize her accomplishments—she has contributed to the college in so many ways—but here are a few of the highlights: Darlene began at Cypress as an educator in the Vocational Nursing program. The program did not stay at Cypress, but she did! She taught numerous students as a professor of nursing with a focus on teaching fundamentals, and obstetrics and maternal care. Darlene has been the director of the Registered Nursing program working to ensure that the program continues to receive accolades and a superb reputation in the nursing community. She has authored many grants and innovations to improve the college’s nursing program. She was also the faculty advisor for the college’s California Student Nursing Association chapter for over 20 years, mentoring and encouraging student leadership. Darlene received her NLN Nurse Educator certification in 2009. As if that weren’t enough, Darlene received her doctor of education in 2013. What will she do next? Whatever she does with her newfound freedom, one thing is for sure, she will be missed! Thank you, Darlene. We will continue the work!

Mary Forman

At the onset of her teaching career at Cypress College in 1997, Mary Forman co-coordinated the Puente Program, which at the time was in its beginning, formative phase. After this experience, she went on to create and lead her own cohort, the University Transfer Achievement Program, as well as coordinate Peer-Assisted Learning, a precursor to Supplemental Instruction. Mary was also active in numerous committees, and one would not have to guess too hard as to which one was her favorite: Study Abroad. Not only did she lead a number of study abroad programs in Europe, she was keen on arranging scholarship assistance for students struggling financially to have this experience. Mary also wanted to ensure that students were aware of this wonderful opportunity. A permanent reminder of this is the display at the entrance of the Language Arts Division Office that she arranged to be funded and personally designed. Mary’s deep-seated motivation to help students was greatly appreciated; one student wrote, “I will never forget her.” Neither will her colleagues.

Joseph Franks

Joe Franks is a psychiatric technician and registered nurse with an instructor credential in health and related technologies and a master’s degree in Spanish. He has been an instructor at Cypress College in the Psychiatric Technology program for the past 36 years, teaching first mental disabilities and then nursing. His campus involvement includes senate representative for the Health Science Division, Puente mentor, and being actively involved in student activities around campus. Joe was actively involved in recruiting clinical sites and is a member of the California Association of Psychiatric Technician Educators (CAPTE), where, notably, many of his former students are now educators in the PT Program. Joe Franks has been a popular instructor with students.

Sally Frumkin

Sally Frumkin is retiring from the Registered Nursing program after 11 years of teaching. She has spent her teaching career educating first-semester students in the medical-surgical environment. She has been committed to ensuring that our students have a solid foundation in nursing fundamentals. She is dedicated to her students in the clinical setting, encouraging them to provide a high level of care to their patients. In her free time, Sally enjoys hiking, exploring nature, and traveling with friends. She is looking forward to more time to explore, read, and enjoy her home. We thank her for her service and wish her the best.

Betty Germanero

Betty Germanero started at Cypress as a student in the Court Reporting program in the ’80s. After working as an hourly employee at the college in different offices, including in the SEM Division, where new-student testing and orientations took place, she became the secretary in the Counseling Department from 1989 until 1993. A coworker, Lovice MacKay, urged her to apply for her current position in the Facilities Use and Rentals Office, where she has been for 25 years. Betty has no immediate plans in retirement except to get her house in order, start having fun, and maybe do a little traveling; however, she may move to Texas, where she hears everything is bigger (maybe even her paycheck).

Farid Gesri

Farid Gesri has been working in the district since 2005.

David Gill

David Gill has been teaching biology at Cypress College since 1999.

Jackie Ha

Jackie Ha has been a member of Cypress College since September 1980. She began her journey as a work-study student, moving on to part-time staff one year later, and finally becoming a full-time staff member on September 1, 1982. Jackie has seen many changes during her time at Cypress College, from the implementation of Banner to the modernization of the financial aid process, and now working under her sixth director of financial aid. Throughout it all, she has maintained a positive, upbeat attitude that has been enjoyed for over 35 years by students and her fellow coworkers.

Sabah Hermiz

Sabah Hermiz has been working in the district since 2001.

Astiphan Jajo

Astiphan Jajo has been working in the district since 1990.

Christina Johannsen

Tina Johannsen is a psychiatric technician with a master’s degree in counseling. She has taught mental disabilities, leadership, supervision and ethics, and behavior modification courses for the past 11 years at Cypress College in the Psychiatric Technology program. Tina’s previous 30-year IT/business background helped her write a comprehensive State Board Review course to bring state examination rates up. Active on many leadership committees, Tina believes in “paying it forward.” She served as the curriculum representative for the Health Science Division for six years, resigning when elected as president of the United Faculty. An active member of UF, Tina also previously held elected positions of vice president and grievance representative. She served as treasurer of the California Association of Psychiatric Technician Educators (CAPTE) for nine years, on the Academic Senate for four years, on the State Senate Standards and Practices Committee, and supported OC Pathways promoting the Psychiatric Technology program by presenting at local schools. Students would say that Tina “knew a lot and told great stories” and was a “tough, but fair teacher” who taught them how to market themselves to achieve the success they desired.

Susan Johnson

Susan Johnson has been teaching psychology at Cypress College since 1996. She was introduced to the sexuality field 40 years ago in North Carolina with Dr. Paul Fleming, a gynecologist and sex therapist. With him, she had the opportunity to do individual, couple, and group counseling; community education; and professional training all over the country. She later moved to California and graduated from Pepperdine University-Orange County with a master’s degree in clinical psychology. She taught at Pepperdine-OC for 21 years as an adjunct faculty member. “Teaching is my passion and I have been thrilled to be part of Cypress College,” she said. “The highlight of my career here, of course, has been introducing and continuing SEX Day: Celebrating Love, Sexuality and Diversity. The umbrella goal was to contribute to a campus culture promoting greater comfort around personal responsibility for sexual, physical, and psychological health; integrity; and embracing diversity.” Outside of academia, Susan enjoys being at the beach with her dogs and dancing. She does some biking, loves nature, and also enjoys hockey and college basketball. “I was born in North Carolina,” she said. “Loving college basketball is state mandated!”

Barbara Kashi

In Barbara Kashi’s first evaluation in fall 2000, “effervescent persona” were the words used to describe how she was valued by both her peers and Learning Center staff. “Warm,” “energetic,” “vivacious,” “disarming,” “and ebullient” were just a few of the other adjectives used to describe her in following years. “Empathetic” was probably the best one to describe how she impacted students in developmental English courses; she would share her own struggles in the past and then impress upon students her high hopes for their success. Her steady pursuit of professional development resulted in her becoming the English/Reading Department’s magician of metacognition, employing a variety of creative techniques to convince students of their ability to succeed. And it worked! In tracking student success, the Institutional Research Office discovered that her metacognitive teaching magic resulted in her students having incredibly high persistence rates. Barbara also pioneered and excelled in the use of instructional technology, a model for her peers. Beyond instruction, she was an active contributor to campus committees. Overall, she exemplifies why Cypress is one of the best colleges in California.

Daniel Kawahara

Dan Kawahara started his career here at Cypress College as an electrician in March 1989. Within a few years, he became the college’s communications electrician and has never looked back.

Susan Klein

Since the time she was hired in 1999, Susan Klein’s impact on her colleagues is best described in this sentence, written in her second year: “Her dynamic leadership serves as a cohesive force within the department.” These descriptive words captured her efforts then and later as she served as a long-term department coordinator and developed new innovative curriculum throughout her career: open entry/exit, workshops, crossing disciplines, and acceleration were the pathways she explored and led. With new ideas come new best practices, and she worked hard to give opportunities to faculty to further excel in the classroom, such as the Active Collaborative Engagement Strategies film series she produced. Her “cohesive force” extended beyond her department as best teaching practices were shared across disciplines. Another way she added to the cohesion of Cypress College was her long-standing hard work in screening Foundation scholarship applications. Beyond being a great asset to Cypress College, Susan forged wonderful relationships with many Chargers, who now wish her the very best in her retirement.

Kathleen Kruse

Katie Kruse is happy to announce her retirement from our nursing faculty after 27 years of teaching. She taught in most of our medical-surgical nursing courses over the years. She is dedicated to patient safety and always encouraged her students to practice with safety and caring in mind. She was a leader in implementing our newest curriculum focused on safety and quality in nursing education. Her main passion is for geriatrics. In developing and teaching our geriatric nursing class, Katie hoped to pass this passion on to future nurses. Taking load bank this spring, she has already begun to embrace retirement. Always the life of the party, she is out and about enjoying her new free time traveling and enjoying Broadway shows, food, and pools with her daughter; looking forward to the birth of her first grandchild with her son and his wife; and making plans to relax with her husband, Jim. We wish her the best as she moves into this next phase of life.

Donna Landis

Donna Landis has been with Cypress College for about 28 years. She started as an hourly employee while attending the Court Reporting program and later progressed to a part-time classified position in the Production Office. Realizing she didn’t care much for court reporting, she went on to working full-time with Staff Development, as a DOM in the Health Science Division, and the majority of time as the catalog and schedule coordinator.

Maureen Leopold

Maureen Leopold, or Mo as she is better known, started at Cypress College in the Bursar’s Office as an hourly February 1979. She became a full-time staff member in the office July 1983 and stayed there for the duration of her career while raising three young kids and earning her associate degree at the college. The campus accounting manager at the time designed a position just for Mo because the Bursar’s Office was taking on more and more job duties—and so was Mo—who eventually assumed the title of accounting specialist. While her family grew exponentially, her three kids grew into six, so did the tug at her heart to retire.Mo retired to new adventures with her mom, husband, kids, and grandkids who simply adore her. She has said, “Cypress College and my family there will always be a part of my heart.”

Clifford Lester

After 25 years running an advertising photography studio, Cliff Lester started teaching at Cypress College as a full-time instructor in 2002. “My experiences here have been incredibly rewarding,” he said. “As I leave Cypress, I have much to be grateful for including my wonderful colleagues and my hard-working students who have put so much into their class projects. Many have gone on to amazing careers in photography. Together we have produced hundreds of pro-bono photos which have truly made a difference for community organizations. Perhaps I am most proud of being involved in our Yom HaShoah event for the last three years, as well as leaving behind a photo gallery of Holocaust survivors in the Student Center, which I plan to keep updated with new images as I continue to photograph survivors. I look forward to spending time with my loved ones, traveling, gardening, cooking gourmet meals for my wife, and perhaps playing a little golf.”

Angela Lippolt-Rios

Angie Lippolt-Rios started her career with the NOCCCD in June 1976 as a groundskeeper. She has held many positions, from groundskeeper to equipment operator, and has been the college’s landscape coordinator for many years. Angie worked out of the La Habra Plant, Fullerton College and ultimately made her home away from home here at Cypress College since 1986.

Rodney Lusch

Rod Lusch started his career with the NOCCCD at the La Habra plant in 1980 as the district welder/sheet metal mechanic. Rod then went to Fullerton College for a few years and finally came home to Cypress College and has been here since 2005. Most of us know him as our very own in-house CSEA Local Chapter #167 president extraordinaire.

Mark Majarian

For 37 years, Mark Majarian has given selflessly of himself serving as the Theater Department chair and, more recently, the chair of the Curriculum Committee. He is passionate about his students, many of whom have gone on to enjoy successful careers. Mark swears that when he leaves Cypress College, he is not really retiring, but rather joining the French Foreign Legion for a completely different career. A short story from Mark: “The Circle in the Square Theater in NYC was producing Chekov’s ‘Uncle Vanya’ during the summer of 1973 with sold-out performances. Mike Nichols had directed the play with an all-star cast: Lillian Gish, George C. Scott, Nicol Williamson, and Julie Christie. Julie Christie had already won the Academy Award for best actress in Pasternak’s ‘Doctor Zhivago.’ I was 22 and studying at the Circle in the Square conservatory that summer. I witnessed her perform the role of Yelena in the play onstage one night. Students at Circle were encouraged to meet the actors backstage after performances if they had questions. I was directed to her dressing room. I stumbled through her door and her back was to me. She was alone, petite, and arranging herself in front of a mirror. She spun around to greet me and asked me what I thought of the performance. Strange, furtive, incoherent sounds emanated from my mouth. She smiled and said, ‘That’s wonderful love. Well, I have to be leaving…’ as she dropped over and shot back up flipping her hair back over her shoulders. I bolted out of her dressing room holding my breath until I hit West 50th Street.”

Jose Martinez

Jose Martinez started his career at Cypress College in December 1984 as a maintenance assistant and has been an HVAC mechanic since the early ’90s.

David McCament

David McCament began teaching the embalming components of Cypress College’s Mortuary Science program in 2006, coming to the college after almost four decades in funeral service. He is a 1978 graduate of Cypress and was a member of the first class transitioning from the California College of Mortuary Science to Cypress College in 1977. Since joining the faculty, David has migrated from teaching embalming to practicing restorative art. He has served as the Heath Science Division representative on the campus Student Learning Outcomes Committee and more recently as a senator to the Academic Senate.

Richard McKnight

Richard McKnight earned his electrical engineering degree from Cal State Long Beach. After graduation, he married and entered the U.S. Army, and received his officers commission teaching at the U.S. Army Artillery and Missile School. After leaving the Army, he worked several years as a systems engineer for IBM before earning his master’s degree in business from Chapman University to prepare for a career teaching in higher education. In his first year of teaching, he was a part-time instructor at Cypress College, El Camino College, and Rio Hondo College. A year later, he was offered a full-time position at Cypress and started the Computer Information Systems Department as its first full-time instructor. He created and designed the CIS111 Computer Information Systems and CIS211 Introduction to Programming classes along with several other courses leading students to credential and transfer programs. “My most rewarding achievement is having taught for over 43 years and to 20,000 students, helping them achieve their dreams as I had been helped in achieving mine,” he said.

Alex Mintzer

Alex Mintzer has been teaching biology at Cypress College since 1999.

Albert Miranda

Albert Miranda started his career in adult education here at Cypress College in August 1976 as an hourly employee. Since then, he has held many positions, most notably as the college’s director of physical plant/facilities. In 2017, he was awarded the NOCCCD’s North Star Award for his extensive contributions to the college and district.

Hoang Nguyen

Hoang Nguyen has been working in the district since 1979.

Daniel Ortega

Public Safety Officer Daniel Ortega started his career with Cypress College in January 2002. His on-the-job skills, dedication, and professional conduct has contributed enormously to the safety of our campus community, and he is well-respected by his peers. Officer Ortega is assigned to the California State Military Reserves and is responsible for training and working with National Guard units. He also serves on the State Honor Guard unit and serves the community. His military unit has volunteered for color guard during graduations at Cypress. The Campus Safety Department thanks Officer Ortega for his service to the campus, helping to provide a safe academic environment. He will be deeply missed.

Joyce Patti

Joyce Patti is leaving behind a large legacy of students who have successfully transferred, received degrees in art, and are working professionally in the illustration or fine arts fields. She was the Art Department chair for 12 years and an inspiration to her colleagues. She championed for the faculty and especially the students. She will be missed deeply.

Patricia Pelachik

Patty Pelachik has been teaching in the Business Division at Cypress College since 1991.

Mark Peterson

Mark Peterson has served as the accompanist for both the Music and Dance departments for 16 years. In addition, he has tutored numerous music students in theory and performance. Mark has a particular passion for opera and has written a number of them himself. We wish him the best of luck as he sets off on new adventures. Hopefully, Mark will now have the time to focus on composing another new opera!

Brad Pickler

In 31 seasons as the Cypress College head softball coach, Brad Pickler has earned over 1,300 career wins while leading the college to a record nine CCCAA State Softball Championships. Brad also led the Chargers to 26 state finals appearances and helped Cypress earn 23 Orange Empire Conference titles. In 2017, his team completed the first-ever undefeated State Championship run in CCCAA softball history, finishing the season 48-0 and earning his staff the NFCA Cal JC National Coaching Staff of the Year Award. In 2018, his team extended their win streak to 62 games, which is believed to be an all-time collegiate record for consecutive victories. Brad has also served as fitness lab coordinator for the Kinesiology Division and helped ensure improvements to our facilities in his role as a discipline instructor.

Robert Riffle

Bob Riffle started his career at Fullerton College as a student hourly in the cafeteria in 1981, later attaining permanent status as a custodial helper in January 1984. Bob worked at the La Habra Plant, Fullerton College, and Cypress College and has held many positions throughout his career with the NOCCCD. Here at Cypress, Bob had been the interim maintenance and operations manager in 2003, and then again permanently since July 2014.

Luis Rivas

Luis Rivas has been working in the district since 2001.

Terry John Roberson

John Roberson started his career as a painter at Fullerton College in 1988 and then came to his true home away from home, Cypress College, in 1991.

Rebecca Rojas

Becky Rojas started at Cypress College in December 2001 after a friend mentioned the Student Activities Center job to her, noting she would likely be a good fit. “I am so grateful she did,” Becky said. “This was the best move I could have made.” Becky has been on several committees at Cypress, including Senior Day, KinderCaminata, and Graduation. She was awarded Woman of the Year twice and said she has enjoyed working with so many students over the years. “I am blessed to have been working with all the students that come in the Student Activities Center. When I started, for some reason they started calling me Miss Becky, and it has stayed the entire time I have been here. I am happy and look forward to hearing about their future endeavors.”

Ramon Sanchez

Ramon Sanchez has been working in the district since 2007.

Laura Stephens

Laura Stephens has been working in the Cypress College Foundation Office since 2005.

Mariye K. Takahashi

Mariye Takahashi was hired in 1991 to teach Japanese, but much more than this, she developed a whole program, which for many years was unique and singular among community colleges in giving students more opportunities to gain fluency. She took pride in preparing students for future success in universities and for obtaining passing scores on Japanese government-sponsored proficiency exams. She was also a pioneer in developing curriculum that centered on students gaining more experiences with Japanese art and culture through manga, anime, and general film mediums; her curriculum was copied by neighboring CSUs. On campus she advised the Anime Club, and off campus she encouraged students to study Japanese martial arts (being an expert herself) and take advantage of local cultural opportunities. Every summer, she led a group of students on an affordable trip to Japan, made possible by an alliance she forged with Kyushu Sangyo University. Mariye’s dedication to the Japanese Program was evident in her successful grant applications from the Japan Foundation and her leadership of Teachers of Japanese in Southern California. She certainly deserves our great respect and gratitude for what she has done for Cypress College students.

Pablo Trinidad

Pablo Trinidad started at Cypress College as a graveyard-shift custodian in October 1990 and within three years, became a daytime groundskeeper/field maintenance worker. He has been a campus equipment operator since June 2004.

Wendy Valencia

After 18 years of service to the Registered Nursing Department, Wendy Valencia has retired. Wendy taught all levels of students in the medical-surgical environment as well as pharmacology; however, as a geriatric nursing practitioner, geriatrics is her real passion. Together with fellow retiree Katie Kruse, she helped design and implement a dedicated geriatric nursing course imparting her passion to the next generation of nurses. On load bank this semester, Wendy is already enjoying her retirement with her husband and family, including five grandchildren, her most treasured things in life.

Rick Van Beynen

Rick Van Beynen started his career at the La Habra Plant as a maintenance assistant in July 1983. A year later, he was promoted to plumber and then worked at Fullerton College. Since 1997, Rick has been Cypress College’s go-to plumber.

Donna Woo

Donna Woo has been teaching in the Business Division at Cypress College since 1984.

Cypress College Years of Service

We recognize the following employees for their years of dedicated service to the college.

5 Years
Garet Hill; Janelle Salinas; Samantha Simmons; Ratha Thong; Hoa Tran; and Ed Valdez.

10 Years
Nancy Corrales; Lisa Gaetje; Vanessa Gonzales; George Isaac; DaJuan Jackson; Jason Luna; Nishad Marathe; Elizabeth Pacheco; Rosemary Penesa; Aaron Pilkey; Parwinder Sidhu; Stephen Tom; Carlos Urquidi; and Lynette Young.

15 Years
Michael Beard; Alex Bernal; and Alan Reza.

20 Years
Michael Brydges; Armando Mendoza; Margaret Mohr; Marty Orozco; Kevin Peery; Bill Pinkham; Jessica Puma; Adel Rajab; Lili Stroud; and Federico Vazquez.

25 Years
Deidre Porter and Kathy Wada.

30 Years
Lynn Mitts and John Roberson.

35 Years
Albert Miranda and Rick Van Beynen.

40 Years
Darlene Fishman.

Inaugural AUHSD Pledge Night Draws 800 New Chargers and Parents

Wednesday’s inaugural Pledge Night — which welcomed the first cohort of incoming AUHSD Anaheim Union Educational Pledge students to Cypress College — was a night to remember and the crowning moment for an initiative to streamline the educational path to higher education. More than 800 students and their families packed the Campus Theater and a nearby lecture hall for the event.

The Pledge program is a collaborative, comprehensive partnership with higher education institutions and the City of Anaheim designed to ensure that students have the support they need for college, career, and life readiness and success. Nearly four years in the making, the Anaheim Union Educational Pledge includes Cypress and Fullerton colleges; California State University, Fullerton; the University of California, Irvine; and the city, in partnership with the Anaheim Union High School District to ensure that AUHSD graduates achieve their post-secondary goals.

Cypress College President JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D. said that seeing this effort come to fruition is “indeed the reason we got into this line of work.” Both she and NOCCCD Chancellor Dr. Cheryl Marshall thanked the team of employees across the district and community who made the Pledge a reality.

“Tonight was one of those nights I’ve dreamed of as an educator,” said Dr. Marshall. “Walking into rooms filled (in fact, overflowing) with Pledge students and their parents was exhilarating.”

In addition to the welcome and college overview, to ensure a smooth start to their collegiate experience, students had the opportunity to meet with support staff in programs such as Counseling, EOPS, Disability Support Services, and Financial Aid.

During the event, there was a symbolic passing of the baton between AUHSD Superintendent Michael Matsuda to Dr. Schilling and to Dr. Marshall.

In response to receiving care of the students, Dr. Schilling promised the cohort that their educational journey at Cypress College is one shared with all employees, who are invested in their success and who walk the path with the students.

Cypress College’s Pledge event was organized by Gisela Verduzco under the additional leadership of Dean Dr. Paul de Dios. Deans Dr. Richard Rams and Henry Hua, along with Stephanie Teer of the Dual Enrollment Program, also added significant contributions.

Two Cypress Faculty Members Honored at UCI Educator Recognition Dinner

Cypress College faculty members Ann Sheridan-Solis and Adel Rajab are being honored at the University of California, Irvine’s 13th Annual Educator Recognition Dinner and Awards Ceremony on May 22. Solis, Rajab, and other honorees were chosen by UCI’s most academically successful transfer students who identified the faculty member or counselor from their community college who played a critical role in their successful transfer to the university.

Solis, an accounting professor in the college’s Business/CIS Division since 2003, was chosen by Phong Le, a spring 2017 business administration graduate.

“One of my most favorite professors is Professor Ann Solis, who has had an impact on my business interest today,” wrote Phong Le in his #CYProud student profile. “I truly love participating in accounting and finance events with her. She has really helped expand my knowledge and networking skills.”

Rajab, a biology professor in the college’s Science, Engineering, and Math Division since 1998, was chosen by Matt Tran and Myra Ali.

Six Cypress College Faculty Granted Tenure

Cypress College is pleased to congratulate six full-time faculty members from four divisions for completing the tenure process. They were recognized by the North Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees at its April 24 meeting.

ANDREW ALHADEFF

Andrew Alhadeff has been the head coach of the Cypress College Men’s Basketball Program and a full-time faculty member in the Kinesiology Division since fall 2014. In his first three seasons, Alhadeff led the program to back-to-back CCCAA post-season appearances after a 20-year drought and coached the 2015-16 season team to 22 wins, the most at Cypress since the 1992-93 season. Nine Chargers have also moved on to play at four-year universities under his leadership.

Prior to Cypress, Alhadeff spent eight seasons as the associate head coach at Irvine Valley College. While there, the Lasers compiled a record of 169-73 (0.698), which included back-to-back trips to the State “Elite 8.”

At Cypress College, Alhadeff is part of the Student Learning Outcomes Committee and is club coordinator for the Student Athlete Advisory Committee.
Alhadeff played for the University of Redlands where he was a four-year starter and captain of the most prolific scoring team in basketball history. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology at Redlands in 2005 and his master’s degree in physical education from Azusa Pacific University in 2009.

JULIA CHERNEY

Julia Cherney began teaching at Cypress College as an adjunct faculty member in the Dental Hygiene Program in 2010, becoming a full-time faculty member in 2014. She had previously taught in the Dental Assisting Program for a year in the mid-1990s.

Cherney has worked in the dental field for nearly 30 years, starting out as a dental assistant, then moving up to dental hygienist. She also taught at the Huntington College of Dental Technology and Concorde Career Institute.

At Cypress, Cherney is on the Safety Committee and the Radiologic Technology and Diagnostic Medical Sonography Scholarship Committee. She is also the radiation safety officer for the dental departments.

Cherney earned her bachelor’s degree in psychobiology in 1994 from the University of California, Riverside. She later received her certificate in dental hygiene from Cypress College in 2005, then went on to receive a master’s degree in higher education teaching and learning from Kaplan University in 2011. She also has a number of professional certifications, licenses, and affiliations.

EVA PALOMARES

Eva Palomares began at Cypress College as an adjunct counselor and was hired as a full-time faculty member for Extended Opportunity Programs & Services (EOPS) in 2014. Prior to joining the college, she was an adjunct counselor and classified employee at Santa Ana College.

Palomares earned her bachelor’s degree in human development from University of California, San Diego and her master’s degree in counseling from University of La Verne; however, she started her college journey at Rio Hondo College where she joined the EOPS Program and the seed was planted for one day becoming an EOPS counselor.

Palomares said, “It is a dream come true to be a counselor for a program that made such a difference in my life as a first-generation college student.”

At Cypress College, Palomares has been a mentor in the Puente Program and a counselor for CARE, a program for single parents attending college. Some of the highlights of her time at Cypress have been participation in implementing numerous university trips as well as last year’s residential Transfer Leadership Opportunity Program at the University of California, Irvine.

ALAN REZA

Alan Reza started at Cypress College as a full-time financial aid specialist in 2003 and became an adjunct counselor in 2006. He received his full-time faculty position in 2014. Prior to working at Cypress College, he worked for the NOCCCD’s North Orange Continuing Education (then School of Continuing Education) as a 40% instructional assistant and part-time substitute teacher for the Fullerton Unified School District.

At Cypress College, he has been a member of several committees over the years. He is currently a member of the EOPS, CARE/CalWORKs, and Guardian Scholars Advisory; High School Senior Day; and Dual Enrollment committees. He is also a mentor for students in the Cypress College Puente and Legacy programs. In the past, he has served on the President’s Advisory, Accreditation Standard IIB, and Student Services Master Plan committees.

Reza earned his associate degree in liberal arts from Fullerton College, bachelor’s degree in Mexican American studies from San Diego State University, and his master’s degree in educational counseling from National University.

SUSAN SMITH

Susan Smith started teaching at Cypress College in the Registered Nursing Program in fall 2014 as a full-time faculty member. Prior to Cypress, she practiced as a registered nurse at Loma Linda University Medical Center and Auto Club Speedway in emergency nursing for nearly 20 years.

Smith has taught most of the classes in the college’s Registered Nursing Program during her tenure at Cypress. She also taught many courses for the Emergency Nurses Association while an emergency nurse.

In her first year at the college, Smith wrote a strategic fund allocation to assist nursing students struggling in the clinical portions of their courses to facilitate student success. She is the skills lab coordinator for the Health Science Division, which aims to enhance students’ clinical skills and understanding of theory, as well as provide other assistance as necessary. Smith has also been an advisor for the Cypress Nursing Student Association for more than three years.

Smith earned her associate degree in nursing from Pasadena City College in 1989. She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2010 and master’s degree in nursing and healthcare education in 2012 from University of Phoenix.

KATHLEEN TROY

Kathleen C. Troy, J.D., began teaching at Cypress College as an adjunct professor in 1988 and was hired as a full-time faculty member in the Business Division in 2014. She is the department coordinator for management and marketing, and serves on numerous committees.

“I think I am the luckiest person I know,” she said. “Every day, I am with talented, hardworking students and dedicated faculty. I am very proud to be a part of this community.”

Troy earned her juris doctor degree from Western State University, College of Law. Among many endeavors, she was the director of education and development for the Los Angeles Archdiocese. Additionally, she trains service dogs and owns a design business, winery, and boutique children’s publishing company.

Cypress College Installs Fourth Peace Pole

On April 24, 2018, students, faculty, and staff gathered near the Theater Arts building for the installation of our fourth peace pole on campus. The first peace pole was installed in April 2011.

Cypress College President JoAnna Schilling and Language Arts Dean Eldon Young shared inspiring messages of interconnectedness and the protection of our environment, which were themes of this event. Professor Samantha Simmons also spoke, encouraging those present to recycle and protect our waters.

“[P]rotecting our environs and allowing for beauty to flourish is a path to peace,” Professor Ambika Talwar, who put together the event, wrote in an email.

About 30 students, faculty, and staff attended the installation.

3rd Annual Yom HaShoah Ceremony Honors Survivors, WWII Vets

Stories of survival were recounted, heartfelt thanks to American liberators given, and songs of faith and hope shared at Cypress College’s 3rd Annual Yom HaShoah Holocaust Day of Remembrance event on Tuesday, April 17.

“Before I give you a glimpse of what transpired when a 10-year-old kid goes through hell, I just want you to be aware that you live in a land of plenty, that you enjoy the freedoms, and you should cherish every minute of them,” said Holocaust survivor Sam Silberberg during the event. “When I look at this diverse crowd, I just enjoy seeing the diversity and the love that you inspire all around you.”

Survivors Silberberg, Gerda Seifer, Piri Katz, Dr. Jacob Eisenbach, and Harry Lester, were available for a meet-and-greet prior to the event. They were joined on stage during the ceremony by World War II veteran Dr. Henry Nahoum, who was recognized for his service and involvement in liberating the death camps. Joseph Germanero, father of Cypress College employee Betty Germanero, was also recognized posthumously.

Nahoum’s daughter, Bonita Nahoum Jaros, performed several songs from the ghettos and camps. She was joined by dancers from the Cypress College Dance Department and visual effects from Media Arts Design Professor Kati Anguelov.

During the lighting of memorial candles, second-generation survivor and Cypress College staff member Rick van Beynan joined the five survivors on stage.

The emotional event was held in the Cypress College Theater. Livestreams were available on the Cypress College UStream and Facebook pages. Both continue to be available for view online. In addition, the edited full-event video is available on the campus YouTube channel.

Photos Courtesy of Cristina Gutierrez Omoir Photography

Students Present Research at ART+POLITICS

Cypress College art students presented scholarly research at ART+POLITICS, the 2nd Annual Community College Art History Conference that took place at the UC Riverside ARTSblock on Saturday, April 14.

Pondering the question “what is beauty,” art history major Sandra Alvarado presented “White Westernized Walls,” an incisive and moving presentation on the work of artist Thien Nuygen and the enduring personal and political legacies of colonialism.

Presenting “Get Out: An Evocative Symbol of the Marginalization of People of Color in America,” film studies major Randy Cruz quoted both the movie sound track and director Jordan Peele when she concluded, “The sunken place is the system that silences the voices of women, minorities, and other people…Racism is not dead, it is hidden in plain sight. Stay woke.”

ART + POLITICS is organized by Cypress College, Fullerton College, and Cerritos College faculty and students, as well as regional university students. The conference aims to provide community college students with the opportunity to present their first scholarly work in a university setting.

With a Heavy Heart, We Remember Char Felos

It is with great sadness that we bid farewell to Charlene “Char” Felos, retired Cypress College ceramics professor, who had worked so tirelessly for Cypress College, the education of students, and the fine arts community.

Char died at her home in Huntington Beach on April 15 at the age of 75. She began her career at Cypress College in 1969 and became art department chair in 1987. She retired in 2003 after 34 years of service with the district. Char was named Cypress College Outstanding Faculty Member in 1987-88.

Char Felos (center), pictured with retired art faculty members Les Johnson (left) and Roger Mendes (right).

Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be sent to The Global Sticky Network at 1954 Placentia Avenue #108, Costa Mesa, CA 92627. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to helping people experience health and wholeness physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Char will be laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Cypress during a private service. Her celebration of life will also be a private family gathering.

Summer Class Schedule Available

Cypress College’s class schedule for summer 2018 is now available online and is expected in print this week. Instruction for summer begins the week of June 11 and concluded by August 2. Registration begins Tuesday, May 1.

Summer 2018 Schedule of Classes

Summer 2018 Schedule of Classes (PDF 7.4 MB)

The Schedule of Classes provides a complete listing of all courses offered during any individual term. In addition to this digital schedule, the following links may be useful:

Searchable class schedule — Select search criteria to find courses; results include valuable information (such as available seats and waitlist info) about the individual courses
Open Class List — All Cypress College courses that haven’t yet begun and still have space available
“Find Classes” — Tips on finding classes, a guide to the searchable schedule, FAQ, and definitions

For details and to view additional schedules and the catalog, visit our Schedule and Catalog page.

Cypress College Highly Decorated as Model for Putting Students into Lucrative Careers

Cypress College’s workforce-development programs were highly decorated in the state’s new California Community Colleges Strong Workforce Stars program — receiving 20 total awards, including a top honor for the college’s Dental Hygiene program. A full 100% of Cypress College Dental Hygiene students earned employment in their field of study. In addition to a Gold Star for the Dental Hygiene Program, Cypress College earned two Silver Stars, and 17 Bronze Stars — an impressive 20 awards for programs that help students move into lucrative careers. “The success of our programs in the Strong Workforce Stars program is extremely impressive,” said JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D, president of Cypress College. “We have always known our programs are successful; still, we are proud of our students, faculty, and deans for their work to reach this level of success. Cypress College is known for top-quality career programs that provide an opportunity for our students to attain economic prosperity.” Approximately half of Cypress College’s enrollment is generated by students in the campus’ innovative career-education programs. GOLD STARS (attained threshold outcomes on all three metrics) Award recognition is based on recent LaunchBoard data (2015-2016). Gold Star criteria are drawn from across three key employment and earnings indicators

At least 70% of students attained regional living wage
Students experienced an increase in income of 50% or more, and/or
At least 90% of students secured employment in their field of study

Cypress College’s outcomes in Dental Hygiene far outpace the baseline metrics for the highest Gold Star honors:

Percent of students attaining regional living wage: 83%
Percent of increase in student income: 648%
Percent of students securing employment in their field of study: 100%

SILVER STARS (attained threshold outcomes on two metrics)

Diagnostic Medical Sonography: 322% increase in earnings and 89% of students attained the regional living wage
Psychiatric Technology: 203% increase in earnings and 100% of students are employed in a job similar to their field of study

BRONZE STARS (attained threshold outcomes on one metric)

Automotive Technology: 89% increase in earnings
Automotive Collision Repair: 58% increase in earnings
Accounting: 60% increase in earnings
Business Management: 58% increase in earnings
Mortuary Science: 175% increase in earnings
Environmental Control Technology: 73% of students attained the regional living wage
Health Information Technology: 51% increase in earnings
Radiologic Technology: 60% increase in earnings
Dental Assistant: 419% increase in earnings
Alcohol and Controlled Substances: 62% increase in earnings
Computer Graphics and Digital Imagery: 94% increase in earnings
Computer Networking: 100% of students are employed in a job similar to their field of study
Culinary Arts: 101% increase in earnings
Hospitality: 106% increase in earnings
Flight Attendant: 104% increase in earnings
Technical Theater: 84% increase in earnings
Human Services: 53% increase in earnings

Launched in 2017, the Stars program is an annual recognition of successful career education programs, also known as career technical education, whose students show significant gains in factors important for advancing social mobility — a substantial increase in earnings, attainment of a living wage, and a job closely matched with the field of study. Newly introduced this year, college programs may receive recognition at one of three levels: Bronze Stars, Silver Stars, and Gold Stars, depending on how many of three outcomes thresholds they meet. The 2018 Strong Workforce Stars were awarded to career education programs in 12 industry sectors, based on earnings gains, living wage attainment, and employment in field of study.

About Cypress College:

Cypress College has motivated the minds of students since 1966. For nearly a half-million people — including actors, athletes, doctors, executives, mechanics, nurses and teachers — Cypress College has been a springboard to their dreams. For some, Cypress College is the ticket into their university of choice and for others it provides essential training for a rewarding career. Just one Cypress College class is often all it takes to provide cutting-edge skills that lead to a promotion or a new job. Cypress College’s 16,000 students and the highly qualified teaching faculty are proud of the many excellent academic and vocational programs. Cypress College offers 50 university-transfer majors, 137 career-certificate programs, and degrees in 61 areas of study. The college’s traditional semesters begin in January and August, while short-term courses start throughout the year. A Cypress College education costs $46 per unit — $138 for a typical, full-credit class — California’s lowest tuition. Financial aid and scholarships also are available to qualifying students. Cypress College is one of three campuses in the North Orange County Community College District and a member of the 110-campus California Community College System. The college primarily serves the cities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress, Garden Grove, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach and Stanton. Located at 9200 Valley View Street in Cypress, the college is easily accessible from several Southern California freeways, including the 5, 91, 605, 22 and 405. The campus is just a stone’s-throw from Downtown Disney and Knott’s Berry Farm.

Hundreds Participate in March 14 #NationalSchoolWalkout

More than 200 Cypress College students, faculty, and staff came together at the Pond to honor the 17 lives lost at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL and stand in solidarity with students across the nation for the #NationalSchoolWalkout. The Associated Students organized the March 14 event, setting up 17 empty desks and chairs on the Bridge to symbolize the Parkland victims.

“This event is to show support to those who will no longer risk their lives waiting for someone else to take action,” Associated Students President Maria Alvarez said. “The Associated Students hope to promote activism, awareness, and show that students are ready to take control of the world around them. Therefore, we aspire to help students find their voice, build confidence, and stay on the path to be engaged citizens.”

A.S. members wearing white ribbons of remembrance read aloud the victims’ names, then called for 17 minutes of silence, one minute in honor of each life lost. Following that, students read aloud short biographies and quotes from friends and family of the victims reported by the news media.

After the event, Claudia Cristales, a second-semester Cypress College student, said of the event, “It wasn’t about gun control or anything like that. It was just for the students, nothing political, to bring attention to the students’ lives that were lost.”

“That could have been our school, so I sympathize with them, the families and friends who lost someone,” added Vanessa Moran, a third-year Cypress College student. “It’s nice that our school has directions for what to do when there’s an active shooter on campus. It gives us instructions and it’s throughout the whole school.

“It’s things like that, they help,” she said.

Opening Day Conversation: Providing All Students With a Path to Completion

Guided Pathways — a California Community Colleges initiative to foster student achievement — provided a focal point for Cypress College’s Opening Day activities. Because it followed the investiture of JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D. as the campus’ 12th president, spring Opening Day featured only the introduction of new and newly promoted employees, a short presentation of former Cypress College president Dr. Bob Simpson’s president emeritus status, and the two-part pathways presentation.

Dr. Schilling opened the presentation by illustrating how pathways tie strongly to our core values.

“Many of you have asked me this past semester what my vision for Cypress College is,” said Dr. Schilling, who began her service as president in July 2017. “I have struggled with that question. Not because I don’t have a vision, but because my vision, is our vision together, and it has been important this past semester to listen and learn and understand what makes this college unique. What makes you unique. And how I can support and serve who and what Cypress is. It is clear to me that our vision is solidly based on our shared core values of excellence, integrity, inclusiveness, and collegiality. We lead together and each of us must be committed to these values in order for us to build and grow upon the strong foundation already in place.”

As the state appears headed to performance-based funding for community colleges, Dr. Schilling noted that the CCCCO Scorecard data already indicate the college’s excellence. These metrics were included in the Niche, Inc. analysis that designated Cypress College as the top community college in California. Cypress College out performs the state by more than 5% on the Scorecard.

While a college education is the pathway to a better life for our students, rates of success vary by various populations of students. She shared that addressing this situation is imperative. By more-clearly defining options for students, Guided Pathways is a strategy focused on helping those student who don’t persist to completion.

Dr. Schilling closed this portion of Opening Day with a video describing Cypress College’s philosophy of helping students.

“Buen Cypress, my friends, my colleagues. Education matters, You matter, our students matter. We Take This Journey Together.”

The Guided Pathways presentation was followed by Dr. Veronica Neal’s “Cultural Humility as a Path to Equity.” Dr. Neal currently advises the Office of Equity, Social Justice, and Multicultural Education at De Anza College, and she also teaches at San Francisco State University. She is regarded as an expert trainer and educator in the field of diversity and social justice.

“I spoke earlier about the critical role addressing gaps in our completion rates and the intersection of that with student equity. It is against that backdrop that we invited Dr. Neal to work with us today,” Dr. Schilling said. “Her focus on developing cultural humility is an important component of the work ahead for Cypress College and our colleague institutions as we address change needed to bring about true equity.”

Dr. Schilling Accepts Presidential Charge During Investiture

Dr. JoAnna Schilling accepted the presidential charge from Chancellor Dr. Cheryl Marshall and Board of Trustees President Jaqueline Rodarte during the investiture ceremony held as part of Opening Day activities on Friday, January 26, 2018.

In addition to members of the campus community, participation came from across Southern California. California State Senator Josh Newman and Assembly Member Sharon Quirk-Silva were among the elected officials in attendance. Presentations came from three of Dr. Schilling’s former colleagues: Dr. Manuel Baca, a trustee at Mt. San Antonie College and a former Board of Governors member; Julio Flores, a former student and current faculty at Rio Hondo College; and Sue Parsons, a retired faculty and management colleague at Cerritos College.

The investiture was emceed by Academic Senate President Bryan Seiling. “You have an ability to inspire and motivate that I find amazing,” he said to Dr. Schilling.

In her remarks, North Orange County Community College District Chancellor Dr. Cheryl Marshall praised Dr. Schilling.

“I believe you will take Cypress College to even higher levels of greatness,” Dr. Marshall said.

Parsons noted that in her earlier roles, Dr. Schilling forged relationships and partnerships that have resulted in a number of programs and educational opportunities. “Dr. Schilling is your royal flush,” Parsons told the audience.

As you continue to take on these priorities, I can’t think of anyone else better to lead Cypress College than Dr. JoAnna Schilling, said former colleague Dr. Manuel Baca.

Flores, a former student of Dr. Schilling, recalled a time when Dr. Schilling went out of her way to help a lost student on the first day of class at Rio Hondo College, remarking on her passion and interest in helping students succeed.

After accepting the charge of office as Cypress College’s 12th president, Dr. Schilling thanked the college’s many supporters. She then shared a takeaway from a recent trip she took with her husband to the Middle East.

On a school door she happened upon was a sign that said Education is the movement from darkness to light. She said, “Education opens our eyes to all the possibilities, not the limitations…”

“I am proud to work at a community college,” she said, continuing, there is no other type of institution in the world. “Our doors are open to all, we are a beacon of hope and allow people to go further than their birth may dictate.”

She closed, “May Cypress College long be a shining light to the students and communities we serve.”

Cypress College Earns Reaffirmed Accreditation from ACCJC

At its January 10-12, 2018 meeting, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, reaffirmed the accreditation status of Cypress College. The commission established the accreditation status “for 18 months and require a follow-up report, on the basis of a comprehensive evaluation.”

The ruling affirms the work conducted by a team of higher-education professionals from peer institutions who visited Cypress College during the fall semester. During the team’s report to the college at the end of the visit, Chair Pamela Luster, president at San Diego Mesa College, commended Cypress College for its “esprit de corps” — echoing verbatim the observation of the previous site visit team earlier this decade. Luster continued her praise, saying the team had a “remarkable experience” and the college “really set a tone for us.”

ACCJC commission members retained the five college recommendations and nine commendations shared by the site-visit team. There were also three recommendations and three commendations for the North Orange County Community College District.

The following documents detail the ACCJC action:

Additional accreditation documents, including the 2017 Institutional Self-Evaluation Report, appear in the accreditation section of the website.

Registration for Spring 2018 Classes Resumes January 2

Registration for Cypress College’s spring 2018 semester resumes on January 2, 2018 when the campus re-opens and when the annual myGateway maintenance is completed. Classes begin January 29. The complete schedule and catalog are available here.

(STEM)2 Fall Research Symposium Showcases Student Research, Astrophysicist

Cypress College’s (STEM)² program hosted its sixth annual Fall Research Symposium on Friday, November 17. The event, which was held at the Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach, featured a student summer research showcase and guest speaker Dr. Farisa Morales, an astrophysicist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena.

Farisa Morales, Ph.D., Astrophysicist, CSUN/Moorpark College Professor

A professor at UCLA asked his physics class if anyone was interested in applying for a summer internship at JPL. Then-student-turned Jet Propulsion Laboratory astrophysicist Farisa Morales raised her hand. “What is JPL,” she asked.

Her question answered, the math major thought the physics internship sounded interesting, and applied. Once hired, she worked on the Rover mission and was later offered a part-time job checking coordinates. The experience led her to change her major to astrophysics, and she ended up receiving a masters in physics and then a Ph.D. Her experiences – and the professors and employers along the way – shaped her path to becoming a full-time employee working on robotics space exploration at JPL and a professor at California State University, Northridge and Moorpark College.

“You don’t do this by yourself,” she told the (STEM)²students. “There’s always people around you helping you along the way.”

Morales advised of the importance of having more than one mentor and of not giving up. The hardest moment in her academic career, she said, was when she failed her Ph.D. candidacy attempt. Though devastated that she had invested so much, she decided to study what she failed and take the exam again. As it turned out, none of what she studied was on the exam the second time around, but she was triumphant.

Morales said she enjoyed every step of her education from community college through USC and advised the (STEM)²students to do the same.

Student Summer Research Showcases

Eight (STEM)²students enthusiastically spoke on a panel at the symposium during which they discussed their research experiences. They all clearly enjoyed their education and experiences, and were pleased to share their knowledge with fellow STEM students. Here are some highlights.

Luis Ramirez, Mechanical Engineering

Ramirez conducted his summer research at University of California, San Diego as part of the university’s Summer Training Academy for Research Success (STARS). Under the supervision of Professor Michael T. Tolley, Ramirez worked in the Bioinspired Robotics and Design Lab, where he was “involved in creating a soft robotic fish.

“I was specifically responsible for using computer-aided design programs to design semi-rigid, flexible, 3D-printed spinal columns that we would attach artificial muscles to in order to replicate natural movements in specific marine life,” he said.

Of the experience, Ramirez added that he became “a more rounded student who knows exactly what field of engineering I want to apply myself to. Additionally, I now have a stronger resume that makes me a more competitive applicant for future research opportunities in well-renowned universities as well as internships in the field of industry.”

Brooke Blandino, Environmental Science

Blandino studied fertility rates of the parasitoid Tamarixia radiata and the potential biological significance in reducing Huanglongbing (greening citrus disease) at Cal Poly Pomona. For her, the summer research opportunity “created connections with staff at Cal Poly Pomona, enhanced my experience in the entomology/environmental science field as an undergraduate student, and motivated me to continue my education with an environmental science major.”

She added, “This created a positive impact because I am now applying to research experiences for this coming summer and will be transferring with completed research experience.”

Bryan Igboke, Civil Engineering

Like Ramirez, Igboke was also part of the STARS program. Igboke’s research involved identifying the components aiding in the bioluminescence of organisms — such as jellyfish, bacteria, and fungi — that are used in a wide set of practical applications today, from biomarkers to bioluminescent imaging to locate tumors.

Igboke admitted that being offered a summer research program that was not related to his major was a “little bit of a shock.” He assumed he would get engineering. When he learned he got biology, he was at first “salty”; however, after going through the program, he says it was worth the time and he would do it again.

Dei Gomez, Applied Mathematics

At California State University, Fullerton, Gomez “examined the Van der Pol (VDP) equation and its applications to biological oscillations.

“We used the VDP equation to model the left and right ventricle action potential duration (APD) and the action recovery intervals (ARI) of the heart from previously published experimental findings,” she said. “The computational analysis was accomplished by examining both the linear and nonlinear cases of the VDP equation. Analyzing the linear case allowed us to predict the behavior of the solutions based off different initial conditions and parameters. The nonlinear analysis was used to fit more realistic changes in the dynamics of the APD oscillation amplitude. We found that the APD and ARI ventricular oscillations were approximately modeled with the VDP equation.”

Ricky Kim, Computer Science

Kim went to Cal Poly Pomona for his summer research. It was there that he studied facial privacy and the function of blurring upon face recognition from smartphones using IoT technology such as Hexiware.

For Kim, taking on this research was scary. He was worried that others would see he didn’t know what he was doing, he said during the panel session. However, he enjoyed the experience and wishes it had been longer.

Aliyah Clayton, Computer Science

Clayton, who was also part of the STARS program, worked on a project there called Gut Instinct: Discovering Scientists for Accelerating Microbiome Research. The research looked at the role of microbial communities in our bodies and how they influence our health. Similarly to Igboke, Clayton’s research program was not directly related to her major.

“Although I’m a computer science major, my internship consisted of me making tutorial videos to improve public engagement with scientific websites… Besides making three different tutorial videos for Gut Instinct, I also had the opportunity to design my personal webpage, learned how to construct a scientific abstract, and received insight on how graduate school is like at UC San Diego.”

Clayton added that the experience was not without its challenges.

“The most challenging aspect I faced during my time there was figuring out exactly how to create these videos and design my webpage without guidance. Even though I was assigned to Professor Scott Klemmer as my PI, I worked every day with third-year Ph.D. student Vineet Pandey. Vineet provided guidance only when I asked, leaving me to explore whatever pathway I wanted to attain the desired product, which proved to be a refreshing challenge.”

Despite the challenges, Clayton felt that “this was an amazing first summer internship experience.”

She continued, “The thing I am most appreciative of is how this opportunity broadened my perspective. I have been so tunnel-visioned on the classes I need to take at Cypress and which UC campuses I want to apply to that I never thought about graduate school and never bothered being very social, making a change at Cypress’s campus and other opportunities around me. This internship made me realize just how big the world is. I met people I never thought I would meet from places I never recognized, such as a woman from Howard University, another from William and Mary College, and a gentleman from Rwanda, Africa. In all, the people and the relationships I established with those people are what made the internship experience worthwhile.”

The (STEM)²program at Cypress College provides numerous opportunities to students interested in and committed to studying in the STEM fields. The program has grown to more than 300 students under the direction of Program Director Yanet Garcia. For more information, please visit the (STEM)²website.

Campus Safety Forum Takeaways

On Wednesday, November 29, the college held a Campus Safety Forum with representatives from the Cypress Police Department and Cypress College Campus Safety to inform the campus community and answer questions about an active shooter scenario, crime, and other safety-related concerns on and near campus. Cypress Police Department Chief Rod Cox and his team detailed the necessary steps they take for a swift, comprehensive response to incidents. Campus Safety and Maintenance and Operations officials discussed the campus’ response and lockdown capabilities should an incident occur on campus.

We present this FAQ with some tips and other information garnered from the forum to help the community prepare in the event of an incident on campus.

1. I know the basic premise of run, hide, fight, but what do you do if you know there’s an active shooter on campus, but don’t know where that person is? If you run, you might run into the shooter.

There isn’t an answer to that question. In this world, we like to have concrete answers, but these events are so fluid that you can’t address that with any real certainty. You can only do what you think is best for you at the time. At least do something. The only wrong thing you could do that day is nothing.

Also. take deep breaths so panic doesn’t set in, and prepare your mind to think about what you should do. Know that your mental preparation starts now. Start planning what your response would be in different scenarios, and be aware of your surroundings.

2. What’s an example of something you might have in an office that you can use as a weapon?

Stapler, pen, your car keys, chair, computer, laptop. If you have the ability to distract or momentarily incapacitate a suspect, that may give you an opportunity to escape. Don’t limit yourself to what we might traditionally think of as a weapon.

3. Since the active shooters have become more prevalent, we’ve had some conversation about an armed response here on campus. Could you please talk a little bit about pro/con about that and what you see; is that a good thing or a bad thing?

I can’t stand up here and tell you what’s right and wrong. What’s right for your campus might not be right for another campus. This is where you work and where you live; our opinion really makes no difference. We’re coming and we’re coming fully prepared and you understand what our job is when we get here. What you’re safe and comfortable with here, only you all can make those decisions through the district and your in-house administration.

This campus is extremely blessed. The police department is so close. You essentially have an armed response in your backyard.

The other thing you have to think about with guns—we think about it all the time—every contact that we have, every confrontation that we have is an armed confrontation for us because I bring a gun. I have to worry about my gun getting into somebody else’s hands. If you bring that onto campus—not that it’s a good or bad thing—you have to be prepared for all the things that go along with it. And those are the big decisions that have to be made when you talk about armed or not armed.

4. If someone were to call 911 on campus, how does that work with getting in touch with Campus Safety, even if there’s an active shooter on campus? How is information about a major incident communicated on campus?

At the college, there are campus-wide speakers that can be utilized, phone alert systems and phone trees, a text system for emergency messages to be communicated to anyone with a cellphone signed up in myGateway, and marquee access to let people off campus know there’s something happening and to stay away.

Don’t call 911 unless you have actual information to share. With major incidents, many will be calling in and tying up the phone lines. It’s best to not call if you don’t have specific information to share.

5. I want to ask about prevention. Most people know “if you see something, say something,” but what does that really mean? What should people be reporting and what shouldn’t they be reporting? And if they see something, who do they tell?

Master normal so abnormal sticks out. If people take the time to sit and watch human behavior on campus, the abnormal will stick out like a sore thumb if you’re paying attention. That abnormal thing, however slight, that you think is odd, should be reported. It’s better to call and let the authorities make a determination than to ignore something you think might be unusual.

If there’s a crime being committed, call 911. If it’s somebody acting suspiciously and you don’t know what to do, call Campus Safety and they will make contact with the individual.

6. Managers and some offices have radios on campus. What’s the protocol for radio use during a major incident?

Stay off the radio unless you have something urgent and very important to communicate and need to do so quickly. Just use it to listen. You’ll be able to get a lot more information from it than you will be able to give to Campus Safety.

7. Can you provide some tips about how we can provide helpful identifying information about a suspect?

Top to bottom, outside in. Give height, weight, skin tone, and facial hair, if any. Start at the top, then work your way down.

Request from Maintenance and Operations: If your hardware for doors is malfunctioning, etc. please let Physical Plant know so fixes can be scheduled and completed. We must ensure every part of the campus can be properly secured in the event of an emergency.

A Heartfelt Letter of Thanks

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving and take stock of all we are thankful for, we would like to share a note to the campus community from Sandra O’Connell, the human services student at Cypress College who lost everything she owned in a fire on campus earlier this semester.

To the Staff and Students of Cypress College:

My name is Sandra O’Connell. I needed to take a minute to express to you what an impact you all made in my life. Recently, I lost the most important person in my life, the woman who taught me about family and the importance of being a part of something bigger than myself, my Mother. All of you gave me the pleasure of remembering her lesson and so much more. You gave not only my home back, but also made me feel a part of a family.

Everybody who did whatever they could to ease my loss, I thank you. I will not ever forget your generosity. The kindness and love I received from you was so overwhelmingly amazing, somehow thank you is not enough. I also want to extend a thank you to your families. I know that there were gifts given on behalf of some of you. The RV I purchased with the donations is the one parked in front of the school. Please feel free to stop by and say hello, and allow me to formally introduce myself.

Thank you,

Sandra J. O’Connell
Cypress College student

President Schilling Presents Annual Board Report

JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D., made her first annual presentation to the NOCCCD Board of Trustees and Chancellor on Tuesday, November 14. The report to the Trustees of the North Orange County Community College District covered the 2016-2017 Institutional Effectiveness Report and the 2016-2017 Annual Report. The documents provide an overview of the recently completed academic year.

Telling the college’s story primarily through the experiences of four new alumni and one who has since completed her bachelor’s degree, Dr. Schilling shared the successes in data, images, and a video. She opened the presentation by thanking the Board for the opportunity to brag about the “wonderful things happening at Cypress College.”

Dr. Schilling shared the stories of:

Aldo Martinez, a recent graduate of the Toyota T-TEN program who is now employed at Puente Hills Toyota. During the 2016-2017 academic year, students earned 214 Automotive Technology certificates. In all, 1,006 certificates were granted across the Cypress College curriculum.
Anna Rodriguez, a history major who represented Cypress College at the Honors Transfer Council of California’s 18th Annual Student Research for California Community Colleges and participated in the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars program. Now attending the University of California, Berkeley, Rodriguez is one of 119 Cypress College students who transferred into the UC system at the end of last academic year. Another 800 Cypress College students transferred to a Cal State campus — that number is a 5-year high.
Junnior Rodriguez, a first-generation college student who grew up with a strong interest in automobiles. He completed Cypress College’s (STEM)2 program with Associate Degrees for Transfer in math and physics, and is now attending California Poly, San Luis Obispo where he is studying mechanical engineering. In total, Cypress College awarded 1,144 degrees in 2016-2017, slightly below the 5-year high. More than 500 of these degrees were associate degrees for transfer.
Jennifer Franco shared that she “might be dead” if she hadn’t come to Cypress College. Now a USC graduate, she credits much of her success to theater arts professor Mark Majarian. Franco, who started attending Cypress in her late 20s and was the 2012 graduate of the year, is now working as a stage manager at Downtown Los Angeles’ Tony Award-winning Mark Taper Forum following a stint as a stage management intern at South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa. The associations she made in the theater program at Cypress College continue to shape her opportunities today.
Phong Le lived in his native Vietnam and didn’t speak a word of English just 4 years ago. He came to America with aspirations of becoming a Certified Public Accountant, earning a master’s degree, and building his own practice. He initially took ESL courses at what was then the NOCCCD School of Continuing Education (now North Orange Continuing Education) and then continued his ESL and major-related education at Cypress College. A member of the EOPS program, Le graduated in May and transferred to UC, Irvine. “Phong is an example of what this District means to our students. He also represents the importance of the pathways we help create,” Dr. Schilling said.

Dr. Schilling also highlighted the college’s Dual Enrollment Program, which provides an early college experience to high school students, discussed the leadership transition that resulted from several retirements at the end of the 2016-2017 academic year, and offered her vision for the current academic year and beyond.

2016-2017 Annual Report

2016-2017 Institutional Effectiveness Report

‘Buen Cypress’ Video

‘Esprit de Corps’ and ‘Charger Spirit’ Highlight Accreditation Visit

Cypress College’s Charger Spirit was on full display this week as the Accreditation Site Visit Team spent four days on campus to validate the self-evaluation report and compile commendations and recommendations to share with the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC).

During the team’s Thursday exit report to the college, Team Chair Pamela Luster, president at San Diego Mesa College, commended Cypress College for its “esprit de corps” — echoing verbatim the observation of the previous site visit team earlier this decade. Luster continued her praise, saying the team had a “remarkable experience” and the college “really set a tone for us.”

The exit report is not an official or final report, but is intended to provide a brief, overall update to the campus. The team will deliver a preliminary report to the college for factual corrections, then submit the final report to ACCJC. The Commission will then evaluate and announce the college’s accreditation status after a January meeting.

Luster noted the impressive attendance at the two open forums on campus, which “informed on the quality of life here at the college.” Dozens of faculty, staff, and students filled the forums to champion programs and services from across campus.

In an employee-wide email, Cypress College President JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D., thanked the “entire campus community for your hospitality and participation this week.”

The Site Visit Team was on campus Monday, October 9 through Thursday, October 12. They participated in 33 meetings and interviewed 73 members of the campus community. They also attended a number of committee meetings.

The team noted nine commendations, four recommendations for improvement, and one compliance recommendation. In addition, they offered three district commendations and three district recommendations for improvement during the exit report.

In this instance, commendations are for programs that are exceptionally innovative, successful, and unique, Luster said. The team said more programs than those listed below could have been included, but the following stood out in particular:

• The Institutional Research and Planning Office for its role in the college’s data-based decision-making;
• The clean, safe, and beautiful campus at the college and its enhancement of the student learning experience;
• The college’s esprit de corps, collegiality, and hugely apparent Charger Spirit;
• Innovation and collaboration in the Counseling Division, and implementation of the Cranium Café online video counseling platform;
• The Financial Aid Office for its work reducing loan default rates;
• Student Services for its focus on outcomes and moving from “one stop” to “non-stop”;
• The (STEM)2 Program for supporting students and increasing access to the STEM fields for under-represented students;
• The college’s strong, comprehensive Career Technical Education programs emphasizing workforce development and implementation of a baccalaureate program; and
• The college’s clear, innovative 2017 Technology Plan.

The compliance recommendation regarding student learning outcome (SLO) assessments indicates an issue where the college does not meet the standard, which must be promptly addressed.

Overall, the Site Visit Team’s exit report was very positive and they noted it had been “an absolute pleasure to be here with you at Cypress College.”

To close the event, Dr. Schilling told the campus community, “I am so proud. You really did rock the house.”

Former Cypress College President, Wife Donate Bus Shelter

Former Cypress College President Dr. Bob Simpson and his wife, Denise Simpson, who works for the NOCCCD’s North Orange Continuing Education (formerly School of Continuing Education), donated a bus shelter for student and staff use on the Cypress College campus.

The shelter, located off of Parking Lot 4, was completed with planning and support from the Maintenance and Operations Department.

Cypress College extends its sincere appreciation to Dr. and Mrs. Simpson for their generous donation sure to be used by students and employees for many years to come.

In Light of the Tragedy in Las Vegas…

The Cypress College Health Center is holding drop-in group counseling on Thursday, October 5 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in CCCPLX-414 to help the campus community cope with the tragic event in Las Vegas. Many have been directly and indirectly impacted, so if you or someone you know is feeling overwhelmed, distressed, or just in need of a safe, comfortable atmosphere, please come by. All are welcome.

The Cypress College community has been deeply impacted by the event. Andrea Castilla, a former dental assisting student, was killed in the Sunday night shooting. She completed her certificate in 2012 and continued her studies at the college working on a degree through Fall 2015. The OC Register reported that she was in Las Vegas to celebrate her 28th birthday.

Among the public posts on her Facebook page, Andrea shared this photo from 2012:

Melissa Pope, a photography student who also attended the college as Melissa Coffey, was injured in the shooting. She is well known in our Photography Department and has taken many courses in the program, although she is not enrolled this semester. She was released from the hospital late Monday afternoon and is recovering from her injuries.

Please keep in your thoughts all who have and are continuing to suffer after this devastating event.

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Student in Need Following RV Fire

Cypress College Human Services student Sandra O’Connell lost everything she owns when her RV was destroyed in a fire in Lot 9 Monday, October 2. Sandra escaped the fire and was briefly hospitalized. The college is working to help connect her to services and additional help; as you can imagine, her needs are tremendous at this time.

The college has established a GoFundMe page to assist Sandra. The Cypress College Foundation will be overseeing this account, or you can also contribute in person at our Foundation Office on the 3rd floor of the CCCPLX building.

Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Accreditation Site Visit Begins Monday, October 9

A 13-member Site Visit Team from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges will be on campus October 9-12, 2017. During the visit, the team will validate Cypress College’s Institutional Self-Evaluation Report.

In advance of the visit, a brief brochure is being shared with the campus community. The Schedule of Events and Introduction to the Team provides an overview of open meeting opportunities and brief bios and portraits of each member.

Schedule of Open Events

Following is a list of open events during the 2017 Accreditation Site Visit:

Monday, October 9

Meet and Greet 1:30-2:30 p.m. CCCPLX-414
Come and meet the members of the Visiting Team and welcome them to our campus. Light refreshments will be provided.
Open Forum #1 5:30-6:30 p.m. CCCPLX-414
The Open Forums are an opportunity for us to highlight our successful programs as well as inform the Team of any issues we are concerned about.

Tuesday, October 10

Open Forum #2 12:30-1:30 p.m. CCCPLX-414
The Open Forums are an opportunity for us to highlight our successful programs as well as inform the Team of any issues we are concerned about.

Thursday, October 12

Exit Report 10:00-11:00 a.m. FA-304 Recital Hall
The Exit Report is the time to hear the commendations and recommendations the Visiting Team will forward to ACCJC for their final decision. Come and hear from the Team, first hand, and show them how committed we are to our success. Remember this will not be the final decision. The visiting team only makes a suggested recommendation on final status, the Accrediting Commission will make the final decision at its meeting in January 2018.

We hope that you are able to join us for as many Accreditation Activities as your schedule permits.

Visit the Accreditation section of our website for all the details, including the full Institutional Self-Evaluation Report (ISER).

2017 Annual Safety and Security Report Now Available

Cypress College’s 2017 Annual Safety and Security Report is now available. The report meets the requirements of the Jeanne Clery Disclosure Act — which is intended to provide students and the public with access to information critical to their safety.

The report can be viewed at: http://news.cypresscollege.edu/Documents/CC-2017-Clery-Report.pdf. Students are notified of the report’s availability via the campus website, the myGateway portal, and the College’s social media properties. If desired, paper copies of the report will be available through the Campus Safety Office.

If you see something, say something

The Clery Act

Cypress College Ranked #1 Community College in California

We’re #1!

Cypress College has been named the top community college in California in the 2018 Best Community Colleges ranking.

Compiled and administered by Niche, the ranking is based on a rigorous analysis of academic, financial, and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education, as well as millions of reviews from students and alumni.

These metrics account for both student success, in areas such as completion and university transfer, as well as student perceptions of the campus and the college’s faculty.

Cypress College also ranked #3 of 228 mid-size community colleges nationally, and #27 of all community colleges nationally.

In an email to college faculty and staff, Cypress College President JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D., said, “This result is a reflection of the integrity and commitment each of you has made in support of our mission. The work you do on behalf of our students makes a difference each and every day, and I cannot thank you enough for your efforts.”

Dr. Schilling noted that this recognition is one of a series of recent accolades — including Cypress College’s placement at #6 in California and #94 nationally on the same list last year.

While the recognition is gratifying, she contextualized the true reward of the news: “Please take a moment to enjoy the knowledge that we are the lucky ones who have the opportunity to make a difference in our world and in the lives of the students we serve.”

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Campus Community Remembering Colleague Nancy Pound