Come out and support our students at the Business Plan Competition Final’s & Awards Ceremony! This year’s competition will be held on May 13, 2015 at 5pm in the Multicultural Center/Hosting Gallery in Building 4.  Students will be presenting or “pitching” their business plans to a panel of industry judges from various business backgrounds,

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.

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

Please come out and support the students!

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 | Media by Keisha Ford

The 2015 Skyline Shines Award Nominations are now open! The purpose of the awards is to recognize individuals or groups who help Skyline College to shine in terms of its quality of programs and services and its reputation for quality. Two awards will be made annually, one to a member or group of Skyline College employees and one to a member or group from the community. Please submit your nomination(s) by Friday, May 15 at 4 p.m. to the President’s Office. Download the application here.

The Study Abroad Program, part of the Global Learning Programs and Services (GLPS) Division at Skyline College, has ramped up its outreach efforts to as many students as possible regarding the exciting programs available this year: Havana, Cuba in the summer, a faculty-led program by Professor John Ulloa, and Barcelona, Spain in the fall which is part of the Northern California Study Abroad Consortium in which the District participates. Last week, GLPS staff presented in the Life and Career Planning (CRER 137) class at Cañada College about program details, how to apply, and the vast benefits study abroad will have for their resumes, transfer applications, and personal development. This week, the team presented in two sections of the CRER 137 course offered at Skyline College.

Next week, GLPS will hold three information sessions across the District at Skyline College (Tuesday, May 5 from 6:30-7:30 PM, Room 4-301), Cañada College (Wednesday, May 6 from 5:30-6:30, Room 9-154), and College of San Mateo (Thursday, May 7, 6:30-7:30 PM, Room 10-192). Professor Ilana Crispi, from Skyline College, will teach Art History, Drawing, and Life and Culture classes in Barcelona, Spain in Fall 2015, and will be at the information sessions to answer additional questions. Questions about the Study Abroad Program can be addressed to studyabroad@smccd.edu .

Article by Alina Din | Photo by Zaid Ghori

ESL Registration Day, a twice-annual event held by the English Language Institute, is the highlight of the semester for the ESOL department and the ELI.  Fifty-two students, at least fifteen of them currently attending high school, poured into the Learning Center on Saturday, April 25 to learn about the educational opportunities at Skyline College.

In one day, ESL Registration Day lets new students apply, get a G-number, take the placement test, attend orientation, make an appointment to see a counselor, and learn about financial aid.  The ELI then provides intensive follow-up to get every single student in to counseling appointments in the following week.

Kenny Gonzalez and Daryan Chan were the dynamic duo of counselors, tag-teaming orientations and providing triage counseling to students during the entire event; 32 students attended orientation on this day.  Jacky Ip led the Assessment Center team in providing 46 assessments; all went smoothly due to the attentions of Jairo Barreto, who readied the computers in the Language Lab for the job.

ESOL faculty Leigh Anne Shaw and Garry Nicol guided the applications process, coordinating student workers in helping people fill out the complicated applications and move through the steps.  ELI staff Selena Wu and Maria Somarriba were indispensable with translation, guidance, and facilitation of every step of the way.  Minerva Velasquez processed G-numbers for every attendee going through the matriculation process and lent her A&R expertise to many during the process. Charene Quan from Financial Aid explained the FAFSA process to students.

ESL Registration Day could not have been successful without Chris Gibson and Jonathan Paver of CSI, David Reed of the Learning Center, and the many deans who lent their support: Angelica Garcia, Mary Gutierrez, and William Minnich.

Article and photos by Leigh Anne Shaw

Eighteen students from Jefferson Adult School’s ESL program toured Skyline College on Thursday, April 30, 2015.  They were received in true Skyline College style and given welcoming rock-star treatment by all who crossed their path.

Perhaps the highlight of the day was when Jefferson professor Francisca Wentworth ran into her former student Jai Lu.  Lu originally began at Jefferson in her ESL class before moving on to Skyline College ESOL.  He will be transferring to UC Berkeley in the Fall, and professor Wentworth could not have been prouder. This achievement perfectly exemplifies the work that is being done between Jefferson Adult School and Skyline College ESOL in securing clear pathways for student success.

Special thanks go out to Mustafa Popal and Ellen Craigie who graciously opened their classes for observations so that these students could get a glimpse of the pace, content, and rigor of college courses.  The students continuously commented on the beauty of the campus as they toured the major buildings, quad, and sports complex. At the ELI, students got an overview of financial aid by ambassador Charene Quan and an introduction to Sparkpoint by Heather Smith.

Article by Leigh Anne Shaw

On a chilly afternoon with a mixture of sun, fog and clouds, the Skyline College Baseball team defeated the DeAnza College Dons by a score of 3-1 to advance in the California Community College Athletic Association Baseball Playoffs. The game was tense affair and wasn’t decided until after a thirty minute delay in the ninth inning for a rule clarification.

Skyline College was paced defensively with an outstanding pitching effort by sophomore Aldo Severson. Severson, an Aragon High School product, pitched eight and two-thirds innings allowing just one run, while scattering six hits and striking out eight. Freshman Matt Seubert, a Carlmont High School product, got the save, his fourth of the season, by throwing just one pitch to record the last out of the ball game.

Offensively, Skyline College received contributions from Seubert with two hits and a run batted in and from sophomores Phil Caufield (Burlingame High School) and Ismael Orozco (Riordan High School) who chipped in with a run batted in each. The Trojans jumped ahead in the third inning on a Mike Franco (Burlingame High School) double and a Caulfield single. DeAnza tied the game in the top of the fourth inning but Skyline College answered in the bottom of the sixth inning on a Suebert single and an Orozco run scoring double. In the eighth inning, the Trojans added a critical insurance run on a Caufield single and a Suebert triple.

With the win, the Trojans will travel this weekend to Fresno to play the second seeded Fresno City College Rams in a best of three series. The first game will take place on Friday, May 1 with the first pitch scheduled at 2 p.m. The second, and potential third game, will take place on Saturday, May 2 with the first game starting at 11 a.m.

Article by Anthony Brunicardi | Photo by Kevin Corsiglia

On April 28, 2015, CITD Global Logistics Program, participated in The CTE Leadership Group to conduct regional strategic planning. The CITD at Skyline College progresses to improve the CTE curriculum with neighboring community colleges by scrutinizing and uncovering the underlying employer needs of today’s industries; regionally and internationally. The discoveries and ideas accumulated from the well-informed discussions can serve to shed some light on sectors which deserve more attention.

The CTE Leadership Group is comprised of the CEOs, CIOs, CTE deans and CTE faculty from each of the 28 Bay Region colleges.  During the meeting the group continued to discuss the progress of the roll-out of the CTE Enhancement Fund, including the most recent CTE Consultation Council decisions around allocating the 40% regional share ($4.3M).  Engagement around the group’s collective agreement, in addition to funding all 28 colleges at the highest level of the CTE Employment Outcomes Survey, drove the discussions.  The CTE Enhancement Funds shall be provided on a one-time basis to create greater incentive for California Community Colleges to develop, enhance, retool, and expand quality CTE offerings that build upon existing community college regional capacity to respond to regional labor market needs. Collaborations and discussions will continue at future Regional BACCC meetings and webinars and Sub-regional meetings.

The Bay Area CITD and BACCC has collaborated on the following events and initiatives:

Workshop on March 18, Global Trade & Logistics (GTL) Curricula and Career Pathway Programs, hosted and facilitated by Yvonne Reid.

Health IT Conference on April 17, 2015, Bay Area CITD assisted in exploring the possibility of developing an Associate of Science degree or Certificate program in Health Information Technology.

Town Hall Meeting at Microsoft on March 10, 2015 Business partners discussed “Job Creation and a Strong Economy”.

For more information on the CITD Global Trade and Logistics Program, please contact Yvonne Reid at reidy@smccd.edu .

Article by Yvonne Reid

The Western Region Council on Black American Affairs (WRCBAA) is an official regional body of the National Council on Black American Affairs, which is an affiliate of the American Association of Community Colleges. At the WRCBAA’s fall regional conference in November 2014, Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud received an achievement award for her years of visionary guidance, dedication, undaunted leadership and service in the community college system.

Dr. Stroud is the first recipient of this achievement award and the WRCBAA has now established the Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud Achievement award in her honor. Because of Dr. Stroud’s outstanding work in education, equity and social justice, this award will be given on an annual basis to a visionary leader whose work makes a difference to so many students’ lives.

The award states the following: “In grateful appreciation, for your superior leadership and dedication to liberate, strengthen and educate and your commitment to excellence and social justice.” The Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud Award, along with the Sankofa Award which is given for service, is the highest achievement award that an individual can receive from the Western Region Council on Black American Affairs.

Article by Ron Galatolo

Each year, the California Community College Classified Senate (4CS) awards three to five Classified Senates in the state of California with the “Model Senate Award.” This year the Skyline College Classified Senate was nominated, and won!

A model senate, as defined by 4CS, “exercise[s] their role in shared governance with autonomy and professionalism” and “assist[s] other colleges in developing their local senates or councils.”  We had to provide evidence that we had met with the criteria, including items such as being recognized by the college administration in college governance, a cooperative relationship with collective bargaining agents (CSEA), having an up-to-date website, and more.

This past academic year, the Skyline College and Canada College Classified Senate leadership joined with staff members from the College of San Mateo to work on a plan to re-build a Classified Senate on our sister campus, to provide proper representation of the classified staff. Once an interview with the Classified Senate President Alana Utsumi had been conducted, our nomination moved forward to the 4CS board, where a vote placed us among the winners.

An award of this nature is only possible because of the direct participation and engagement of our classified staff who attend meetings, provide feedback, and help plan events and activities, along with backing from Skyline College administration.  A special thanks goes to President Regina Stanback Stroud for her strong support and guidance, and for placing value on the decisions and opinions of the classified staff at Skyline College.

The Classified Senate will be officially presented with their award at the June 2015 Classified Leadership Institute, at which Skyline College will be represented by six staff members.

To find out more about the Model Senate Award process and requirements, you can visit the 4CS website at http://www.ccccs.org/activities/awards/model_senate_award/modelsenateaward.html.

Congratulations, Skyline College Classified Senate!

Article by Alana Utsumi | Photo by Raul Guerra

On April 23, 2015 Skyline College MCPR (Marketing, Communications and Public Relations) was awarded Second Place for the College Annual Report at the CCPRO (Community College Public Relations Organization) Annual Conference in San Diego. This is the third year in a row the annual report has been recognized for excellence in design, writing and communications.

The annual CCPRO awards recognize outstanding work by California’s community college marketing and public relations professionals statewide. Its primary purpose as a professional development and service organization is to promote excellence in California’s community college public relations and related professions. The organization serves as a central resource of information and provides counsel and assistance relating to the advancement of community colleges statewide and the professional growth of its members.

Please join me in congratulating Keisha Ford for design/layout/graphics, Connor Fitzpatrick and Dr. Gina Rosabal for writing/editing/research and Raul Guerra for support and photo research. Each of you are appreciated for your myriad talents and unyielding dedication!

Article by Cherie Colin