Please join the GLPS Division on Monday, Nov 24 from 1pm-4pm in Building 6 Room 6202 as the Bécalos students celebrate Thanksgiving!  The students will be sharing their thoughts on the American holiday and their experiences so far at Skyline College.

A special “Thank you” to the Classified Senate and the MCPR department for their kind donations and support in making this event happen.

For more information about the Bécalos Program, please contact Pcyeta Stroud at stroudp@smccd.edu.

Image created by GLPS Intern, Melida Sandoval

The 2015-2016 Skyline College Scholarship Application is now open and will be due on February 12, 2015 by 11:59 p.m.  New, continuing and transfer students are eligible to submit an application.  For more information and a link to the online application, please visit:  www.skylinecollege.edu/financialaid/scholarships.php.  If students need help, they can attend a Financial Aid Application Lab held:

• Every Tuesday from 1:30-2:30 p.m. in Room 2117-B
• Every Wednesday from 4:00-5:30 p.m. in Room 2117-B

Financial Aid Staff and Ambassadors will be there to assist students with their scholarship application.  Also, if you would like the Scholarship Coordinator, Jenny Yang to present to one of your classes regarding scholarship opportunities, please contact Jenny at yangj@smccd.edu. Thank you for encouraging your students to pursue scholarship opportunities.

Article by Jocelyn Vila

Last Saturday, the Center for Innovative Practices through Hip Hop Education and Research (CIPHER) hosted an evening with Ensemble Mik Nawooj (EMN), a Hip Hop Orchestra led by the direction of composer Joowan Kim.  Over 225 people attended the event and were graced with an amazing performance by EMN that blended Western European Classical compositional techniques with the lyrical realism and grittiness of Hip Hop.  They performed classic Hip Hop songs from the Wu-Tang Clan and Snoop Dogg as well as their original tracks from their album.

The evening opened with a magnificent set by Professor Kymberly Jackson and a crowd-pleasing and dynamic vocal percussion performance by U.S. Beatboxing Champion Frisco Beats.  The audience also was able to watch the promotional video for our upcoming event Rock The School Bells 8 that is scheduled for March 7, 2015.  One of the many highlights was a community welcome to all of our Bécalos Program students who were in attendance.  Also, in between each performance set, Professor Mustafa Popal and the Advanced Placement Crew kept the positive energy going as our CIPHER House DJ.  The evening was certainly filled with musical artistry and great energy.

In addition, many of Skyline College’s Bécalos students from Mexico were in attendance. Many of these students are talented musicians, dancers, artists, and singers and the opportunity to witness a unique blend of musical genres was a special experience for the visiting students.

Proceeds from this event will be used to provide educational scholarships through the Rock The School Bells Scholarship Fund intended for students pursuing majors such as art, music, graphic design, and film.

This event was funded in part by the President’s Innovation Fund and would not have been possible without the assistance of all of the learning communities and programs such as CIPHER, Kababayan, ASTEP, Puente, FYE, Honors Transfer, Career Advancement Academies, and Rock The School Bells.  A special thanks to the President’s Council; CIPHER and Rock The School Bells Advisory Board; Marketing, Communications, and Public Relations; Josh Harris and his Theater Staff; and Graphic Arts and Production for all of the preproduction support that they have provided to ensure a hugely successful event.

For more information about CIPHER, please contact Nate Nevado at nevadon@smccd.edu.

Article by Nate Nevado | Photos by Rocky Branch

The ASTEP Learning Community and the Skyline College BSU attended Western Region Counsel on Black American Affairs’ Career Institute on November 14 & 15 at El Camino College in Compton, CA. The students were joined by Dr. Regina Standback Stroud, Dr. John Mosby, and Professor Kwame Thomas. The conference focused on encouraging students and other faculty to pursue careers in higher education, especially in the community college setting. Students participated in the following workshops:

1. Strategies to Ensure Upward Mobility in Higher Education: Employability and Careers
2. What Hiring Managers Won’t Tell You and What You Need to Know
3. Review Rework and Revise: Resumes and Cover Letters
4. What Elements in YOU are Needed for Success and Why
5. Mock Interviews
6. Putting the Students’ Voice in Your Student Equity Plan

Overall the students had an amazing time. They felt the conference was empowering and inspirational. The workshops taught them how to be professional and the network opportunities were priceless.

“You are always interviewing”- Dr. Stroud.

Photo and article by Kwame Thomas

October 1 kicked off the CSU Application season and the first CSU Application drop-in assistance days. Skyline College students again proved themselves not to be procrastinators. The first drop-in day had students ready to start before the 9:00 a.m. start time.

Application season is now in full swing and the Transfer Center’s Drop-in Hours and workshops to assist students applying to CSUs continue to be extremely well attended. Over 100 students have received CSU application assistance either through the Transfer Center drop-in hours, or through a CSU workshop offered through the Transfer Center. Several counselors have helped out during these hours, as well as our SFSU superstar Representative Doris Fendt.

The last workshop this season was on Tuesday November 11^th, but students can come in to the Transfer Center during any of our scheduled hours to work on their application. The deadline for the CSU and UC is November 30^th. Please keep spreading the word to help us ensure every eligible student applies and has the greatest chance for success!

Article and photo by Michelle Hagar

Last month, Dr. Rod Daus-Magbual of the Kababayan Learning Community was sworn in as a Commissioner of the Daly City Library Board of Trustees.  Rod is one of our talented adjunct faculty member who has taught courses such as Sociology 142: Filipino Community Issues and History 235: Ethnic Groups in the United States.  As we celebrated Filipino-American History Month in October, we were honored by Rod’s achievements and accomplishments within the Filipino American community.

Rod is also the Director of Program Development of the Pin@y Educational Partnerships (PEP) in San Francisco, which is a service learning program that has created a partnership triangle between public schools, universities, and the community to develop a counter-pipeline that produces critical educators and curriculum at all levels of education and in the community.

The Kababayan Learning Community is proud to congratulate Rod in his most recent accomplishment as he serves in his role as a Commissioner of the Daly City Library Board of Trustees.  He is definitely another example of why Skyline College truly shines.

Article and photo by Nate Nevado

The Transfer Center is partnering with the CTTL, Learning Center and faculty and staff to work towards the goal of reviewing as many UC applicant personal statements as possible. Traditionally, that means around 200 students! To reach this goal, the Transfer Center partnered with the CTTL on Tuesday, October 28 to host a workshop on reviewing personal statements. Our UC Davis representative Mayra Escobar and English Professor Karen Wong gave an in-depth overview of what the UC is looking for and tips on supporting students’ writing process for the personal statement.  Eighteen faculty and staff from various disciplines and departments attended the workshop and several have since signed up to volunteer during designated UC personal statement review drop-in hours provided through the Transfer Center.

The first drop in day was on Wednesday, November 12 and it was widely attended!

The Transfer Center coordinated its efforts this year with the Learning Center by having a Personal Statement Workshop hosted one week prior to each drop-in day. This way students can get an overview of the process, start brainstorming and have time to come in with a draft. The faculty and staff working with students will provide feedback primarily on the content of the essay and Writing Center staff and tutors will continue their efforts to support students with the mechanics of their statements.

If you are interested in joining Skyline College’s efforts to support our UC applicants, please contact Suzanne Poma at pomas@smccd.edu.

Article by Suzanne Poma | Photo by Michele Haggar

With friends and family in attendance, 100 Skyline College students, 40 Cañada College students, and 30 CSM students were inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society for the fall 2014 semester. SMCCCD Trustee Tom Mohr attended the induction.

On November 14, Beta Theta Omicron hosted the Induction Ceremony for new members at Skyline College. It is the tradition of these three chapters to rotate hosting the induction. Howard Cannon, NASA Flight Director, gave the keynote address to introduce the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Study Topic, Frontiers and the Spirit of Exploration, to new members. Mr. Cannon talked about the nature of exploration and his lunar landing project. Professor and Phi Theta Kappa advisor, Paul Spakowski, called each inductee to the stage to sign the roster. Beta Theta Omicron President and 2014 International Distinguished Officer Jaimelynn Alvarez, swore in the 2014-15 officers for each chapter.

Did you know:*

• A Phi Theta Kappa member is four times more likely to complete college than an average student.
• A member is 44% more likely to complete when compared to students with similar GPAs (3.5 or higher).

*Data from National Center for Education Statistics Completion Survey for the Integrated Post and Secondary Education Surveys and National Student Clearinghouse Degree Completion/Transfer Verification.

Article by Christine Case | Photo by BΘO vice president Naing Min

On Wednesday, November 12, 2014 the Financial Aid Office kicked off National Scholarship Month with a Scholarship Social. Students who completed a scholarship quiz received freshly popped kettle corn by Peter’s Kettle Corn (www.peterskettlecorn.com).  Students also received information about the 2015-2016 Skyline College Scholarship Season.

Thanks to the Associated Students of Skyline College (ASSC) for sponsoring this event.  Also, thank you to the Financial Aid Office, Financial Aid Ambassadors, Leitu Takapu and Michael Mark, Outreach Coordinator, Florentino Ubungen, Outreach Ambassadors Amelia Uluave and Jordan Baligad and Media Services for helping make this event a success.

Article and photos by Jocelyn Vila

The Global Learning Programs and Services Division was pleased to host International Education Week from November 17-20. Each day of the week focused on a different cultural component to bring awareness to the Skyline College campus.

Tuesday, November 18 was highlighted by celebrating Mexican Cultural Day. The Bécalos program took the lead in presenting various aspects of their culture to the Skyline College community. Featured events included Bécalos student presentations on Mexican clothing, demonstrations and historical explanations of various dance forms, Día de los Muertos makeup tutorials, live music and singing and a celebration of Mexican cuisine.

The Skyline College community was fortunate to have the Bécalos students available to share with the campus their own personal stories and histories as Mexican citizens. Skyline College students, faculty and staff were able to benefit from a first-hand account of cultural traditions while engaging in intercultural dialogue.

For more information about the Bécalos Program, please contact Pcyeta Stroud at stroudp@smccd.edu.

Article and photos by Alessandra Zanassi