The community poured into the 14th Annual President’s Breakfast yesterday morning from 7:00 a.m. at the South San Francisco Conference Center.  The breakfast, hosted by Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud, President and the Skyline College President’s Council, is the primary fundraising event for the President’s Innovation Fund.  This fundraising event provides the community the opportunity to learn about the exceptional education offered at Skyline College and how the President’s Innovation Fund awards faculty and staff with seed money for creative programs and services.

Entrants were welcomed into the center by the Skyline College Men’s baseball players, Vince Lozano, Dabian Canales, Lance Montano, Ismael Orozco, Joey Carney, Nic Bongi, Aldo Severson, Mike Franco and the head Baseball coach, Dino Nomicos.   Once inside, attendees enjoyed coffee that was provided by City Toyota of Daly City.  ASSC President Kayla Razavi provided some inspiring welcoming remarks, indicating the continued support by the ASSC for the President’s Innovation Fund.  Event Co-chairs Theresa Proaño and Kirsten Pinochi set the stage for a baseball themed event.  Donning the Skyline College baseball jerseys, Kirsten and Theresa acknowledged the Spring Musical Performers, Skyline College students – past and present, faculty, staff, Past Presidents, the College Council, Deans, and administrators for their commitment and dedication.  LaMontè Bishop representing State Senator Mark Leno and Leslie Guevarra and Marc Hershman representing Senator Jerry Hill were acknowledged.  Assemblymember Kevin Mullin and his staff Virginia Kroger and Mario Rendon were thanked for their attendance.  Rober Chua attended representing Assemblymember Phil Ting.

SMCCCD Board members in attendance were President Karen Schwartz, David Mandlekern, Richard Holober, and Tom Mohr.  Several cities were represented including Councilmember Cliff Lentz from Brisbane, Daly City Mayor David Canepa and Councilmembers Ray Buenaventura and Mike Guigona, Colma Vice Mayor Rae Gonzalez, Pacifica Mayor pro tem Karen Ervin and Councilmember Sue Digre, Redwood City Mayor Jeff Gee, San Bruno Mayor Jim Ruane and Vice Mayor Ken Ibarra, and Carol Bonner, San Bruno City Clerk, South San Francisco Council member Pradeep Gupta.  Surrounding School board and Harbor and Water Districts including President Maurice Goodman and Vice President Judy Bush, of the South San Francisco Unified School District; Anne Campbell, Superintendent for the San Mateo County Board of Education; Katherine Zarate Dulany – trustee for the Jefferson Union High School District; Eric Ruchames trustee from the Pacifica School district; Pietro Parravano of the San Mateo County Harbor District; and Katherine Slater-Carter – from the Montara Water and Sanitary District

The purpose of this annual breakfast is to showcase the President’s Innovation Fund programs that have funding from our community partners and to highlight a few.  We also took the opportunity to acknowledge donors who make these programs possible.

Special mention goes to our Innovation Patrons at the $2,500 level: Bank of the West, City of Brisbane, and Kaiser Permanente.  We are fortunate to have the Associated Students of Skyline College continue their support at the Innovation Patron $5,000 level. Our on-going partner, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, hosts this year’s breakfast at the “Dream out Loud” $7,500 level. Finally we continue to have to come up with new ways to describe this last sponsor who has hit a grand slam this year!  We are so pleased to announce our $35,000 Premiere Presenting Sponsor – The San Mateo County Community College District Auxiliary Services & Enterprise Operations under the leadership of Vice Chancellor Tom Bauer!  The entire list of PIF investors can be viewed here.

Vice Chancellor Tom Bauer provided inspirational remarks explaining why he and his team are so supportive of the effort.  He announced the successful textbook rental program at Skyline College that has now resulted in saving students close to a million dollars since its inception a few years ago.  Quoting Trustee Tom Mohr, he said that he was committed to closing the economic and opportunity divide between middle class students and so many community college students.

President Stanback Stroud joined Vice Chancellor Bauer on stage to receive the giant replica of the $35,000 check.  Dr. Stroud extended sincere expressions of gratitude to everyone, while acknowledging the executive administrators in attendance, Dr. Sarah Perkins and Eloisa Briones along with the esteemed faculty, staff, students and administrators of Skyline College.  Special thanks and acknowledgement was given to Chancellor Ron Galatolo and the SMCCCD team members, Vice Chancellors Nuñez, Keller, Blackwood and Bauer. Both presidents of Cañada College and College of San Mateo were in attendance and were thanked for their continued support – One team indeed.

Current recipients of PIF funds were introduced including:

• Dr. Hui Pate of the Asian Studies Center
• Kwame Thomas of the Brothers and Sisters Conference
• Christine Roumbanis, Linda Witten, Don Carlson and Dr. William Watson, Business Technology Speaker Series
• Nate Nevado, Center for Innovative Practices through Hip Hop Education and Research
• Jessie Raskin, Center for Paralegal Studies
• Amory Cariadus, College Lecture Series
• Christine Roumbanis and Soledad McCarthy Enactus Student Chapter
• Dr. John Mosby, KinderCaminata
• Levinia Zanassi and Alexander Jones, Literacy Intervention  Community Program
• Jessica Lopez, Middle School Outreach
• Shari Bookstaff and Chip Chandler, Science and Rehabilitation Colaboration using Interactive Metronome Technology
• Dr. Jude Nevari, Dr. Zachary Bruno, Amber Steele, and Alan Ceccarelli, Spring Musical
• Jennifer Mair, Step Up
• Pcyeta Stroud, Youth Entrepreneurship Program

The lights were then dimmed for a touching video created by Brian Kingston of Kingston Media, featuring the PIF Programs.  The student speaker in the video, Carolyne Cornett, described her journey and the impact the SparkPoint Center has had on her life.  As she finished telling her story from homelessness to hope, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.  She made it apparent that the donations really do make a difference in the lives of the students.

Each year a speaker is selected to serve as spokespersons who will reflect on the impact that the PIF program has had on them.  This year we heard from Pcyeta Stroud.  Mrs. Stroud is a mentor in the African Diaspora Program and the Program Services Coordinator of the Youth Entrepreneurship Program, founded by the Center for International Trade and Development, now located in the newly formed Global Learning Programs and Services Division.  Pcyeta says that her job is to serve students in a way that enables them bring their creative ideas to life in the form of newly created businesses, furthering their own professional development or furthering their education.  She told her story, her journey and how PIF not only changed the lives of the students in the YEP program but her life as well.  Two student speakers followed her with statements of their journey and the ways YEP has changed their lives.  Both students, Sam Uce Veu and Nancy Peng entered and won the YEP Business Plan Competition.

The event culminated in the most creative and fun ask ever…..the cast of Avenue Q, students and puppets sang “Gimme your money!” in a way that roused the audience and inspired giving.  President Stanback Stroud closed the event by announcing the winers of the baseball themed basket centerpieces that were created by Kirsten Pinochi and the Recology team.

Initial tallies of the receipts are at approximately $118,000 – shy of the $150,000 goal but an impressive increase over last year’s receipts.  If you are interested in making a donation to the President’s Innovation Fund you may still do so at the Foundation Donation Page. (*Please note “President’s Innovation Fund” in the comments box to direct your donation to the PIF.)

Special thanks go to Susan Brissenden-Smith, Theresa Tentes and all of the Skyline College staff and administrators that worked behind the scenes to pull off a flawless effort.

Article by Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud | Photos by Raul Guerra

Looking for a special gift for Mother’s Day? Why settle for the old standard of flowers and chocolate when you can treat Mom to a day-long pampering session at the Salon & Spa at Skyline College? Just in time for Mother’s Day, the Cosmetology, Esthetics and Fashion Merchandising departments will join forces for a special occasion: a decades-themed photo shoot. Most busy moms have spent some time in sweats and a ponytail feeling decidedly unglamorous. Now they can enjoy a two-part special sure to remind them of their natural beauty.

Part one: Photo Shoot. On April 18th moms will meet with a hair and makeup team to transform them into a 1920’s flapper, 1950’s bombshell, 1960’s mod, 1970’s glamazon or 1980’s alpha female. A professional photographer will help each “mommy model” strike the poses best suited to her new retro look with appropriate accessories and backgrounds.

Part two: Spa Package. On May 10th, just before Mother’s Day, the spa is open for business and ready to pamper each mom that walks through the door. Three levels of spa packages all include two complimentary 8×10 photos and a CD of images from the photo shoot, as well as a combination of luxurious spa treatments. Mom could spend her day getting a facial, mani/pedi, makeup application, blowout or all of these services. She is sure to feel the love from her family with such a deal!

Contact the Salon & Spa at Skyline College at (650) 738-4164 to book a Mother’s Day package. Limited quantities available!

 

Article by Lynsey Hemstreet

Funded by the President’s Innovation Fund and in collaboration with the President’s Council and Parkway Heights Middle School in South San Francisco, the Middle School Outreach Project (MSOP) was founded two years ago with the goal of exposing middle school students to college and careers at a young age.  In addition, the project serves to provide information about college and financial aid to parents in order to foster and support their development as educational advocates for their child.

In December 2013, during MSOP’s Welcome Day at Parkway Heights Middle School, the Middle School Outreach Team along with President Council Member, Teresa Proaño, interacted for the first time with the forty middle school 8^th grade participants that comprised this year’s MSOPs cohort. During Welcome Day, the MSOP team also had an opportunity to meet and interact with our participants’ parents.  Welcome Day served to acquaint both students and parents about the project as well as to answer any questions they had.

Between January through March, 2014, Skyline College counselors facilitated a series of bi-weekly educational and career-related workshop at Parkway Heights Middle School.  Students learned about Goal Setting, Motivation, Career Planning, and College Preparedness.  During these workshops, the middle schoolers were highly engaged and very inquisitive!

In an effort to engage the parents throughout the project, the team hosted Parent Night at Parkway Heights Middle School on Wednesday, March 19, 2014. Parents received important information about high school requirements, the various systems of higher education in California, as well as financial aid and the process to apply for it.  Parents learned that it is never too early to begin talking to their child about college.

Lastly, on Tuesday, March 25, 2014, the project team hosted MSOPs Student Conference at Skyline College for forty participating middle school students and Parkway Heights Middle School staff.  During the conference, students toured the campus and visited various CTE labs,including Respiratory Therapy, Surgical Technology, and Automotive Technology.  In addition, they visited the track and had the opportunity to speak with Skyline College student athletes about their experiences playingsports and being a college student.  Furthermore, middle schoolers had the opportunity to experience a college class firsthand and got their very own MSOP Student ID!

In partnership with the Center for Innovative Practices through Hip Hop Education and Research (CIPHER), the student conference concluded with a dynamic college and career panel comprised of professionals from various industries, including education, law, and psychology.  These professionals answered students’ questions eagerly and shared their personal experiences in attaining their education and reaching their career goals, while fostering a successful career in the Hip Hop Industry, as DJs, Rappers, and Emcees at the same time.

The Middle School Outreach Project was a tremendous success, which served to instill motivation and the desire to attend college among participants.  In their own words:

• “I enjoyed this program.  It helped me increase my understanding of college.” T.A.

• “Education is really important for your future.” D.A.

• “College can be fun.” J.C.

The MSOP would like to thank Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud, Dr. Joi Blake, Dr. Angelica Garcia, the President’s Council, especially Mrs. Teresa Proaño and Mr. Steve Martinez, our partners at Parkway Heights Middle School, and the Middle School Outreach Team—Nate Nevado, Lorraine DeMello, Lavinia Zanassi, Suzanne Poma, Kent Gomez, Jocelyn Vila, and Lucy Perez for their support.

In addition, the MSOP would like to thank Skyline College Faculty and the various CTE Labs for welcoming the middle school students into classrooms and labs. Thank you to Mrs. Marta Bookbinder and Mr. Maurice Goodman for your participation in MSOPs Student Conference.  Many thanks to the TRiO students, Outreach Ambassadors, and Transfer Ambassadors for all your help during the event.

Thank you to the Skyline College Bookstore, CIPHER, the Office of Financial Aid, and the Center for Student Life and Leadership Development for their kind donations.

Article by Jessica Lopez

News and Updates
The Transfer Center would like to announce and welcome our newest addition to our Transfer Center team. Vanessa Aragon, Skyline College student, has recently been hired to represent the Transfer Center as one of our Transfer Ambassadors. She joins our team with a drive to support her fellow Skyline College students by providing them access and information to transfer. Vanessa believes that an organized team of people with a shared vision is critical to making sure students have all the information they need to be successful. And after working as a TRiO Ambassador and Outreach Ambassador, she is looking forward to working with the Transfer Center to help make transfer happen for Skyline College students! Welcome to the team, Vanessa!

CSU East Bay College Tour!
The Transfer Center recently visited CSU East Bay on Friday, March 21 with Skyline College students. Unlike UC Davis this was a private tour set up specifically for our Skyline College students, which offered a personal and private look into CSU East Bay and all the opportunities they have to offer. The tour started with a short visit to the Admissions and Records office and the Student Union building where Student ID cards and financial needs are addressed and met. This was followed by a presentation from Marc Strong, the CSU East Bay University Academics Counselor/ Recruiter and a student panel. Skyline College students learned about the various opportunities and support services CSU East Bay offers such as fully online majors, work study opportunities both on and off campus, flexible public transportation to and from campus, the health center is supplied with a full pharmacy, online, in person tutoring services and much much more!

CSU East Bay, for the first time and in conjunction with the Transfer Center, was also able to provide students with a free lunch to their international buffet, which was for some students a highlight. Following lunch we were given private tours of various campus facilities such as the pool, their state of the art gym, student housing, and library. Students expressed their excitement and appreciation for March Strong, who they felt was warm, friendly, and very approachable. Overall students found the tour to be very helpful and many expressed their enthusiasm saying, “I never heard of CSU East Bay, but now I love it. I can’t wait to apply.”
Special thanks to the Transfer Center Staff for helping to organize the event and the CSU East Bay University Representative, Marc Strong for helping to make our visit memorable and educational.

Article and photos by Michele Haggar

At the invitation of partner Napa Valley College Small Business Development Center, Allison Mello of Skyline College’s Center for International Trade Development addressed Specialty Food companies that are exploring export opportunities for their products. The seminar took place on March 10, 2014 in Napa, California. The audience was comprised of organic granola manufacturers, chocolatiers, an organic bakery, and nutritional supplement companies among others. Topics of the presentation included identifying your product’s Schedule B classification code(s); free trade agreements; INCO terms; and international logistics. In addition, Certified Global Business Professional® Allison Mello advised the audience of the vast array of resources available to exporters in their sector such as the Western United States Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA) and the CalAgX educational program.

For additional information, please contact Ms. Allison Mello at melloa@smccd.edu.

Article by Allison Mello

“There was no way I could have prepared for the experiences I’ve had while studying abroad. I’ve heard the stories and quotes about how important it is to your education to see the corners of the world first-hand, but when you’re in the thick of it, when you’re stuck in the center of a city you’ve never seen before and listening to a language foreign and unfamiliar, everything changes. The way you see people, the way you walk, the way you dress, the figure in the mirror even becomes something magically different. To learn about politics or art or life in another country is one thing, but to feel the anger in the voice of a protester in a different language, to be able to touch the marble of a statue older than America itself, to be draped in the fabrics of a foreign culture, life flips upside down. And you find yourself smiling in wonder, loving every second of it.”

“I’ve learned more here in three months than I think I have in the past year. Taking an Italian Renaissance Art class in the middle of the city where the Renaissance was born, to see centuries-old art literally on every street corner, inspires an admiration impossible to imitate in any classroom or textbook anywhere. I’ve heard people on the street reference long-dead Italian theorists and revolutionaries I’d only learned just the day before in my politics course. I’ve sat, awe-struck, through a production of an Italian opera over 100 years old.”

“I used to spout out about how I wanted to change the world one day. Coming here, taking this one small step into the future, has shown me how incredibly big a task that will be, but also how possible it will be.” – Nick Major

Find out more info on studying abroad

Article by Nick Major

The 2014-2015 President’s Innovation Fund Applications are available. The applications are due to Theresa Tentes in the President’s Office Monday, April 7, 2014 by 5:00 p.m. Don’t miss this opportunity to realize your vision for these special programs, services and events! To download the application, please visit President’s Innovation Fund.

The American Institute of Building Design, California Society, is pleased to announce the 54th Annual AIBD California Society Conference: “Building Design + Building Science,” to be held on the Skyline College campus from April 2 – 4, 2014.

It is the goal of the conference to increase the working knowledge of attendees in the categories of building performance, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, building materials, construction methods, design practice skills and design business media.

For those who work in the residential construction industry as a building designer, contractor, consultant, student or educator, this conference is not to be missed.

It is the first conference of its kind addressing building design while operating hands-on devices, bridging the gap between design and science.

This year the conference will be 3 days filled with speakers, presentations, demonstrations, education, and networking. There will be sessions featuring the new Building Science Lab, a full-scale two-story portion of a house, to demonstrate and learn the dynamics of home performance with actual measuring instruments. During each day there will be two educational tracks, Building Science and Design Practice, where attendees may choose to bounce from one track to the other. With each day building upon the educational sessions, it will conclude with a keynote presentation, for a total of three keynote addresses during the entire conference.

Keynote Speakers Include:

Rick Chitwood, author of Measured Home Performance, mechanical engineer, mechanical contractor, educator and expert on optimizing residential home performance.

Ann Edminster, author of Energy Free, Homes for a Small Planet, primary author of LEED for Homes, educator and expert on Zero Net Energy homes.

Dan Perunko and Gavin Healy, owners of Balance Point Home Performance, an HVAC and insulation contracting company, educators and building science experts in the practical applications of home performance.

Additional information, session descriptions and registration can be found at AIBD CA Conference 2014. We hope you will join us for this special opportunity to engage with building designers, contractors, trades people, consultants and students. For more information regarding this event, please contact:

Clay Johnson
AIBD Conference Committee Chair
707-677-3684, claycj@gmail.com

Peter Waring
Skyline College Instructor, AIBD Conference Manager
415-717-5697, peter@healthierdwelling.com

Article by Peter Waring and Clay Johnson

YEP’s Spring 2014 Business Plan Competition is currently underway! The Youth Entrepreneurship Program at Skyline College (YEP), has officially kicked off this semester’s bi-annual competition with a series of exciting orientations and workshops.

On March 11th, YEP held its second Orientation & Workshop for the Business Plan Competition.
The orientation was designed to give the students an in-depth view of the competition and an opportunity to ask questions. The orientation will be followed by a public speaking workshop led by renowned public speaking expert and local business owner, Mike Neuendorff. All students enrolled any other the District’s three colleges are welcomed to participate.
Students participating in the competition are eligible to receive one-on-one coaching and mentoring from business owners, CITD representatives and faculty to refine and perfect their business plans. Cash prizes will be awarded to three winning business plans to help support their start-up business ideas.

The competition will culminate in a Final’s Round. Students will have the opportunity to present or “pitch” their business plans to a panel of industry judges from various business backgrounds, and a chance to receive immediate feedback and suggestions to include in their plans. All plans that advance on to the finals round will be in the running for cash prizes totaling $3500!

We would like to invite all faculty, students and staff to attend the Finals Round & Awards Ceremony.

Please come out and support the students!
Date: May 7th, 2014 
Time: 5:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Location: Building 6, Room 6204

For more information on the Business Plan Competition or on how to be involved in YEP, please contact Pcyeta Stroud: stroudp@smccd.edu.

Article by Pcyeta Stroud

Inside Skyline College is a newly developed website that will serve as a resource for faculty, staff & administration of the college. This site takes the place of the former Faculty/Staff site. The goal of the page was to shift internally-focused information from the public website into an easy to use portal format. Much of the information on the site contains quick links to easily access information of interest.

The site is still a work in progress, so feedback about what would be helpful for you and your department to see/be able to access from this portal is welcome. Please contact Cherie Colin with any feedback

Thank you to Liz Gaudet, Web Programmer Analyst who worked diligently in conceptualizing and implementing the site.

Article by Cherie Colin with help from Liz Gaudet.