Two Skyline College students were honored at a Community College League luncheon in Sacramento. President Stanback Stroud attended the luncheon, which honored the All-California Academic Team. Skyline College students Wafa Zeidan and Emily Colby ranked among the top 60 California community college students to earn this honor. There are 20 students on each of three teams.

First team member Wafa Zeidan is studying Biology with the desire to continue on with her education and earn a Medical Degree, while continuing to do research throughout her career. She plans to transfer to a four-year university in Fall 2015 to complete her undergraduate studies. During her time at Skyline College, she conducted independent research along with her mentor, Dr. Christine Case to test the effects of a plant extract on various microorganism, thus proving that the extract is effective in killing and inhibiting various bacteria. She went on to present her research at the annual SACNAS conference in October 2014 and still plans to continue and further the scope of her research. In addition to doing research, she is also an active volunteer in her community, both volunteering with children at the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital and also volunteering with her Phi Theta Kappa chapter’s Computer Literacy and Internet Competency for Seniors program.

Second-team member Emily Colby lives in Millbrae with her parents and her dog and cat. She hopes to transfer to a four-year university to study International Relations. At school she stays involved through participation in the Honors Club and Skyline College Model United Nations. She also works at her school’s Student Life and Leadership office. Emily is proud to be a member of Phi Theta Kappa and an honor student. Someday Emily plans to pursue international diplomacy and or law. She is passionate about travel, art, culture and learning. She is thankful to her family and friends who encourage her to try her best while taking care of herself.

Article by Dr. Christine Case

Every year, the Academic Senate selects one or more recipients of the Meyer Excellence in Teaching Award. This award was established by former Science/Math/Technology faculty Phil Meyer to honor the contributions of faculty in their first five years of hiring who demonstrate excellence in teaching, on/off campus activities, and overall collegiality. Last year’s joint recipients were Chris Gibson and Amber Steele.

Nominations may be made by faculty, staff, or administrators. Multiple nominations for the same people or multiple people will be accepted. Nominations are due by April 29, 2015. The Academic Senate will select a winner of the award at its meeting on May 14 and will announce the winner at the May 15 End of Year Celebration.

The following faculty members are eligible for the 2015 Meyer Excellence in Teaching Award:

Year Hired	Name
2010	Stephen Fredericks
2010	Tina Watts
2011	Amber Steele
2011	Carmen Velez de Jesus
2011	Christopher Gibson
2011	David Hasson
2011	Edmund Yee
2011	Zachary Bruno
2012	Jessica Lopez Jimenez
2012	Melissa Matthews
2012	Sarita Santos
2012	Nathan Jones
2012	Jesse Raskin
2013	Carina Antilla-Suarez
2013	Amir Esfahani
2013	Paul Bridenbaugh
2013	Julia Johnson
2013	Kym Jackson
2013	Tammy Calderon
2013	Carmen Richardson
2013	Bruce Greenstein
2013	Paula Silva
2013	Robert Williams
2013	Serena Chu-Mraz
2013	Younga Choi
2013	Phillip Williams
2013	Michelle Hawkins
2013	Adam Windham
2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014	Ijaz Ahmed Michael Cross Carla Grandy Jessica Hurless Ruben Parra Mustafa Popal Danielle Powell John Ulloa Ronda Wimmer Hellen Zhang

Nominations may be made by filling out the nominations form, which will appear in all faculty e-mail inboxes.

Please send all nomination forms and letters of recommendation to Leigh Anne Shaw at shawl@smccd.edu or Nick Kapp at Kapp@smccd.edu. Thank you for acknowledging the hard work that our new hires do.

Article by Leigh Anne Shaw

Funded by the President’s Innovation Fund and in collaboration with the President’s Council, Parkway Heights Middle School, and South San Francisco High School, the Middle School Outreach Project was founded in 2012 with the goal of exposing middle school students to college, careers, and financial aid at a young age. Additionally, the program seeks to offer information about college and the financial aid process to parents in an effort to support their development as educational advocates for their child.

On April 1, 2015 the San Mateo County School Boards Association (SMCSBA), the San Mateo Community College District, and the San Mateo County Office of Education announced that the Middle School Outreach Project is one of sixteen programs in San Mateo County to receive the 2015 J. Russell Kent Award.

The J. Russell Kent Award is awarded to innovative programs in San Mateo County that promote success in or out of the classroom. Programs are evaluated and selected based on the following criteria:

1. Program Goals
2. Program Description
3. Evidence of Student Success
4. Program Assessment
5. Innovation
6. Transferability, and
7. Communication

There will be an Award Celebration Ceremony to recognize all J. Russell Kent Award recipients on Monday, May 11, 2015 in Foster City, California.

I would like to express my deepest appreciation to Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud, Mr. Carsbia Anderson, Dr. Angelica Garcia, the President’s Council, especially Mrs. Teresa Proaño and Mr. Steve Martinez, our partners at Parkway Heights Middle School and South San Francisco High School, and the Middle School Outreach Project Team—Nate Nevado, Lorraine DeMello, Lavinia Zanassi, Suzanne Poma, Kent Gomez, Jocelyn Vila, and Gretel Barreto for their support. I am humbled by the opportunity to work with a great team of passionate educators, administrators, and community leaders!

Article by Jessica Lopez | Photo by Claudia Paz

The Skyline College Library staff invite you to drop by the Library (Building 5, 2^nd floor) to enjoy complimentary cake and coffee at 11 a.m. on April 15, 2015 (and yes, you can eat it IN the Library).

In celebration of National Poetry Month, you’ll also see displays of original poetry by fellow students. Find some inspiration browsing the Library’s poetry collection or try your hand at our Poetry Scavenger Hunt for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to World Cup Coffee & Tea (see the Reference Librarian for details on the Hunt).

Don’t forget to check out other Skyline College campus poetry events this week, including Talisman-Meet the Editors of Skyline College’s Literary Magazine, starting at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 14 and the Dead-Beat Writers Club Meet & Greet & Write a Poem also beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 16 on the Skyline College Quad.

Article by Jessica Silver-Sharp

Join the Skyline College Health Center for a candid look at sexual assault prevention with presenter Robert Hackenson next Thursday, April 16th from 11:10 a.m. – 1:45 p.m.

Not Anymore: A Candid Look at Sexual Assault Prevention
Presenter Robert Hackenson
Thursday, April 16, 2015
11:10 a.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Building 4, 3rd Floor, Room 4301

• Social norms of alcohol & sex
• Alcohol & consent
• Steps to ensure your safety
• Why bystanders often do not act
• Spotting a potential risky situation & safe ways to intervene

For more information, contact the Skyline College Health Center in Building 2, Room 2209 or at (650) 738-4270.

Please encourage students to join us for Skyline College’s Paralegal Career Night, on Thursday, April 16, 2015, from 5:00-9:00 p.m.

We will explore how students can get a head start to employment and a clear path for college transfer with a series of panels including: Pathways to Law School, Getting Started as a Paralegal, and Career Options for Paralegals. There will be additional opportunities for students to engage with legal professionals, have their resume reviewed, and network.

Please RSVP at: skylineparalegal@my.smccd.edu or contact Lezra Chenportillo, Employment & Internships Coordinator, Career Services Center, chenportillol@smccd.edu if you need additional information. Hope to see you there!

The 2015-2016 President’s Innovation Fund Applications are available. The applications are due to Theresa Tentes in the President’s Office Friday, May 1, 2015 by 4:00 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.

Article by Theresa Tentes

Julia Johnson, Professor of Automotive Technology set up and organized an automotive student internship program and hiring day on Wednesday, April 8, 2015. The event featured 16 premier automotive employers who participated in a job fair where they met and interviewed 25 Skyline College students. The employers represented car dealers like BMW, Lexus, Toyota, Ford and Honda. Also represented were independent repair owners such as San Bruno Auto Repair and chain stores like Firestone and Midas just to name a few.

Professor Johnson ensures all of the prospective students are prepared with instruction on what to expect from an employer, how to act and behave, as well as putting them all through mock interviews both in person and over the phone. These are soft skills that often get overlooked. Some of these employers are hiring Skyline College students as interns and offering pay well over 25% to 35% of what most entry-level automotive students would normally be offered.

Due to the retirement of baby boomers in the automotive profession, quality automotive students are in high demand. The Skyline College automotive program excels at meeting these demands, not only in turning out skilled knowledgeable students but also helping to mold mature, responsible and productive members of society. When students graduate after they have spent 3 years of their life with Skyline College getting their education, they are now part of our extended family.

Article & Photos by Thomas G. Broxholm

 

 

The philosophy of EOPS (Extended Opportunity Program and Services) is to go “Over and Above” when serving its students. True to this statement, Skyline College’s EOPS was able to offer its students a three day trip to visit several Southern California Universities during spring break.

One student commented, “It’s not easy for us to visit Southern California Universities, so it is very nice to see other universities and open more options for us to decide which campus is ideal for us.”

Among these universities were the University of California, Los Angeles; University of California, Irvine; University of California, San Diego; California State University, Los Angeles; California State University, Fullerton; San Diego State University, and the University of Southern California (USC). EOPS students met with students/representatives to discuss important issues such as transfer admissions, financial aid and support services for transferring students. As an added bonus, EOPS students were treated to a stroll through Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.

By taking students who have been historically underrepresented and underserved on this tour, EOPS has contributed to Skyline College’s Transfer Initiative which empowers students to imagine the possibilities and to take their dreams higher!

Article by Guillermo Alonzo and Jeff Acidera | Photos by EOPS Student Mu Aung

 The Bay Region Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism (RHT) Initiative, housed at Skyline College, hosted a 4-Day Retail Management Leadership Academy at Skyline College, which took place from March 16th to 19th. Recruitment for this Retail Leadership Academy spanned across all San Mateo Community Colleges: Skyline College, College of San Mateo, and Canada College. Nine Skyline College students participated in this pilot academy, led by two trainers from Gap Inc. for Community Colleges. This training was made possible through an exciting partnership forged by Andrea Vizenor, Deputy Sector Navigator for Bay Region Community Colleges Retail, Hospitality and Tourism Programs and Gap Inc. for Community Colleges, which is a part of the White House initiative “Skills for America’s Future.”

The Gap Inc. for Community Colleges program prepares students for long-term success by helping them develop skills for entry-level management positions and general career advancement. Trainers included: Jonathan Searle, Flagship Human Resources Manager for Banana Republic in San Francisco and Allison Bower, General Manager for Athleta in Emeryville. Each day, students were taught two modules that not only consisted of retail and fashion related concepts but also integrated soft skills training that can be utilized in most career pathways. An overview of of the modules taught include: Effective Time Management, Communication Skills, Problem Solving, Conflict Resolution, Dress for Success and Job Search to Job Offer.

On Wednesday, March 18th, students had the opportunity to experience a behind the scenes tour of the Banana Republic Flagship Store located on Grant Avenue in downtown San Francisco. Students were able to participate in multiple departmental roles some of which include: human relations and management, merchandising inventory control, the visual and art department, shipping and receiving, and even the loss prevention operations. Students learned the many different ways GAP Inc. and Banana Republic are creating innovative shopping experiences for their guests through introducing concierge services, “buy online and pick up in store” option, and personal styling services.

On Thursday March 19th, seven different leaders from the GAP Inc brands participated in a Manager’s Networking Event and Question and Answer Panel. Students had the opportunity to ask about various career opportunities in Retail, gain advice on educational pathways, and learn more specifics about the skills and attributes necessary to be successful in leadership. Additionally, students had the opportunity to participate in a mock interview with a GAP brand Manager and receive skill-based feedback on their interview and resumes to better prepare them for future job opportunities. On the final day, an awards ceremony was held to congratulate students participating in this Retail Leadership Academy. By successfully completing this Retail Leadership Academy, students have the opportunity to participate in a paid internship experience at the Flagship Banana Republic store in SF for seven weeks beginning in mid-April.

This training experience is on one of many activities that will take place to explore the opportunity of building a Retail Management Certificate Program at Skyline College that is endorsed by leading employers such as GAP Inc.

The Bay Region RHT Initiative will also be hosting one-day Retail Leadership Workshops in the coming months that will build on the partnerships with leaders in the many exciting brands under Gap Inc. For students interested in participating in a future Retail Leadership Academy, please contact Andrea Vizenor at vizenora@smccd.edu.

Article by Nicole Ruggiero | Photos by Elizabeth Tablan