The Skyline College Women’s Basketball team won the Consolation Championship in last weekend’s Mission College Tournament.  After an opening night loss, the Trojans bounced back to win their next two games, including the Consolation Championship game over Lassen College.  Skyline College featured a spread scoring attack that saw every player contribute.  Sophomore Stephanie Allen and freshman Arianna Sheehy were named to the All-Tournament Team.  The Trojans’ next game is Tuesday, November 17 at Monterey Peninsula College.

Article by Christopher Watters

Kathy Blackwood, Executive Vice Chancellor for the District, was honored on October 26 with the Walter Star Robie Award. The award is presented annually to professionals in California community college business administration who have demonstrated outstanding career achievements and provided exemplary service as Chief Business Officials in their respective districts and the state of California.

The award has honored 34 individuals since its inception in 1988.

Kathy’s colleague and nominator, Tom Burke said some truly kind words about Kathy in the award brochure:

“Kathy exemplifies the meaning of this award. She is one of the hardest working and most gifted CBO’s in the system. She openly and freely shares her background and experiences with all of the systems CBO’s and truly makes the system better for it. One of her greatest strengths is the ability to analyze and synthesize complex business and financial issues and explain them in a very simplified manner.

…During my term as President I found her advice and counsel invaluable in helping me lead the organization. It is abundantly clear San Mateo CCD and the system have been and continue to be greatly enhanced by her leadership.

…if you’ve ever been in a meeting with Kathy, you’ll notice that she knits in all her meetings, so every meeting is very productive.”

Congratulations Kathy on a job well done.

Compiled by Connor Fitzpatrick

At the Society for the Advancement of Native Americans and Chicanos in Science (SACNAS) Conference on October 29-31, five Skyline College students presented their original scientific research alongside students from University of Texas, Princeton University, Yale University, University of California, University of Vermont, Stanford University, and many other universities. The conference theme was Interdisciplinary Collaboration: The Role of Diversity in STEM Innovation. The conference was held in Washington, D.C. and sponsored by the CIA, the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, and the USDA.

Papers were selected for the conference in a competitive judging from abstracts submitted in June. About half of the submitted abstracts are accepted for the conference.

Skyline’s students worked with their mentor, Christine Case. They began their research last spring in BIOL 230 and continued through the summer in BIOL 695. Stephen Fredricks worked with the students to register and prepare them for presenting at a national conference. Chris and Stephen reported that the students were knowledgeable and professional, and represented Skyline College well.

You can see the students and their posters at http://accounts.smccd.edu/case/biol690/students15.html. All of these students now have their first publication:

• “Impacts of Invasive Plants on Microbial Metabolism in Coastal Sand Dunes,” Ai Tran
• “Performance Comparisons of Co-Occurring Native Baccharis and Invasive Delairea,” Sam Reveles
• “Indoor Microbial Air Quality of a 42-Year-Old Elementary School,” Lillian Sturmer and Nichole Palmer
• “Evaluating Rhodiola rosea for Controlling Food Spoilage and Foodborne Illness,” Wafa Zeidan

Article by Christine Case

As a result of the District-sponsored professional development trip to the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, the three sister colleges and the District were inspired to host a screening of the short film, “Facing Fear” at all three campuses, beginning at Skyline College on October 14.

In the film, “worlds collide when a former neo-Nazi skinhead and the gay victim of his hate crime attack meet by chance 25 years after the incident that dramatically shaped both of their lives. Together, they embark on a journey of forgiveness that challenges both to grapple with their beliefs and fears, eventually leading to an improbable collaboration…and friendship.”

Each of the colleges were honored to host Mr. Jason Cohen, Director and Producer, Mr. Matthew Boger and Mr. Timothy Zaal, both subjects of the film, who sparked some truly insightful discussions.

After each documentary screening, the audience was invited to participate in an interactive discussion.  The audience was particularly interested with Boger’s forgiveness and how he moved on with his life, thus many questions gravitated toward whether Zaal’s actions were due to his own past violent encounters and whether Boger truly forgave him.  Both Boger’s and Zaal’s heartfelt answers inspired and moved the audience.  Repeatedly, the audience was prompted to adopt an attitude of courage: courage to learn and understand differences, courage to forgive those who mistreat you, courage to be forgiven, and courage to redeem yourself.

Cohen’s phenomenal film, “Facing Fear,” along with Cohen’s, Boger’s, and Zaal’s presence for the live interactive discussion tied closely with Skyline College’s reputation in promoting equality and social justice. This event provided the audience an opportunity to explore the roots of hatred and the power to effect change within oneself that unconsciously lead to significant transformations on personal and social levels.

For more information about the film, please visit www.facingfearmovie.com.

Article by Belinda Chan

On Thursday, October 29, 2015, 30 guests attended Skyline College’s inaugural Allied Health Panel.  The event, held in the multicultural center in building four, featured seven Allied Health current and former student panelists from Surgical Technology, Respiratory Care, Emergency Medical Technician, and Nursing programs. Two panelists, Alfredo Raxon and Mylene Magallanes are former Skyline College Career Advancement Academy Allied Health students who are currently working in their respective Allied Health fields and pursuing additional education. Alfredo is a licensed, practicing EMT completing his prerequisites for transfer at Skyline College, and Mylene is a registered nurse completing her bachelor’s degree in nursing at San Francisco State University.

Our other exceptional panelists included: Josh Blair and Aurore Etienne, from Skyline College’s Surgical Technologist program, Reina Wong and Danae Du Plessis, currently in Skyline College’s Respiratory Care Program, and Matthew Hodges, a former Skyline College student currently enrolled in the College of San Mateo’s Nursing Program. The guest panelists offered practical advice and key insights on being a student and working in the health field with the aim of helping students achieve their goals of entering into higher level allied health programs and allied health careers.

The panelists each shared words of wisdom and counsel for current and future allied health students.

Mylene Magallanes shared her insights with students saying, “never give up no matter how challenging. You can do it! There is always an abundance of resources and support along the way. You just have to reach out. Stay focused and positive and you will get there.”

Aurore Ettienne advised students interested in the medical field to volunteer in the field in which they are interested. By volunteering, they will develop a sense of what that field entails, and they will further understand their decision before making a commitment to a lengthy, rigorous program.

This event was made possible by Skyline College’s support for innovative events and programming and by the hard work and dedication of the CAA team including: Jeremy Evangelista, Monique Hernandez, Troy Barros, Paul Rueckhaus, Courtney Mogg, Alina Varona, and others who helped plan, organize, and support the event.

The event received generous support from The Center for Workforce Development’s Career Advancement Academy. To learn more about careers in Allied Health and the Allied Health Career Advancement Academy please visit: http://www.skylinecollege.edu/caa/alliedhealth.php  or email skycaa@smccd.edu

Article by Alina Varona | Photos by Jeremy Evangelista

The Skyline College Veterans Club, in partnership with the Associated Students of Skyline College and the Veterans Resource Center, will be hosting a Veterans Day Ceremony on Wednesday, November 11 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in the Quad and an Open House at the Veterans Resource Center from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. The entire campus community is invited to participate.

Help show your support and give thanks to Skyline College Veterans. Other events for Veterans are taking place throughout the week in the Veterans Resource Center and include speakers, and community support agencies. Look for flyers advertising the events in the campus announcement emails, on the TV screens and across campus. We hope to see you next week!

Article by Gina Ciardella

Next Saturday, November 14, the Music, Drama and Dance Programs will collaborate on their seventh annual Performing Arts Showcase. Please join us to celebrate the variety of talented student musicians, singers, dancers and actors who will display the many performing arts classes that Skyline College offers!

This year’s theme is the 1960’s!

Please invite your friends and families to see our Skyline College performing arts students get totally groovy, baby!

$5 in advance, $10 at the door — Online Tickets now available through the Bookstore website.

Article by Amber Steele

Middle College at Skyline College students Arisbe Benavides, Stephanie DeAlba, Josue Guardado, Paolo Jimeno, Jasleen Kaur, Patricia Martinez, and Sarah Rosario volunteered 10 hours of community service at the St. Anthony’s Padua Dining Room in Redwood City as part of their Nutrition 310 course.  St. Anthony’s Padua Dining Room is the largest soup kitchen between San Francisco and San Jose and the only organization serving on average 500 meals daily throughout the year. The Dining Room tackles food shortages impacting the residents of surrounding local communities of Redwood City, East Palo Alto, and East Menlo Park.  The Dining Room provides hot, nourishing meals Monday to Saturday year-round to all who come seeking meal and a safe place to eat. It serves all without regard to age, sex, race, religious beliefs, national origin, or disabilities.

The students had the opportunity to serve a wholesome lunch of pasta, chicken, vegetables, eggs, bread, salad, milk, juice, and fruit dessert.  Other students sorted basic foodstuffs, fresh fruits, i.e., persimmons, tomatoes, strawberries, and fresh vegetables, i.e., avocados, mushrooms, carrots, along with a variety of bread products that the patrons selected to supplement their meals at home.  A tour of the surrounding communities gave the students a visceral experience of the socioeconomic disparity and social justice issues confronting those families and individuals being served at the Dining Room.

One student remarked “less than a quarter mile away you have $10 million dollar homes fenced off from the people coming to the Dining Room, many of whom are homeless and mentally challenged.”

Another student said “I plan to return with my cousin to volunteer, it was an awesome experience.”

A goal of the Middle College at Skyline College is to have students participate in internship/community service experiences that address social justice issues in their communities.

Article by Raymond Jones

On Thursday, October 29, 2015, 20 Skyline College Business Program students were initiated into The Alpha Beta Chi Chapter of Kappa Beta Delta Business Honor Society. The initiates were invited to join The Kappa Beta Delta Business Honor Society based off their overall academic excellence and achievement in their business and business-related majors. The event was hosted by Professor Linda Whitten and Co-Presidents Monina Ubungen and Michael Wong. Refreshments were provided.

Kappa Beta Delta is the International Honor Society for Associate Degree Business Programs Accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. For more information on the Kappa Beta Delta Business Honor Society and how to join, please visit the KBD Website.

Fall 2015 Initiates

• Siraj Ibrahim Ageel
• Ibrahim Abed Amas
• Zachary Weiss Asis
• Michael Bautista
• Kevin Chak
• Margo Feldman
• Vitoria Goncalves
• Dawnee Hahn
• Richard Hua
• Kendra McIntyre-Linton
• Phuong Thi Nguyen
• Emily Nunez-Rosario
• Sarah Pape
• Adrian Lester Lazaro Perez
• Albert Ramos
• Anthony Spotti
• Donway Dioceldo Sy
• Jenell C. Velarde
• Michanne Widjaja
• Edmond Yu

Article by Monina Ubungen | Photos by Hellen Zhang

A group of three faculty leaders from College of the Redwoods in Eureka, CA visited The Learning Center on Thursday, October 29, 2015 to learn more about the Skyline College Supplemental Instruction (SI) program. TLC Manager David Reed and SI Coordinator Mike Urquidez introduced the group to Skyline College and provided them with a tour of The Learning Center, as well as the SI program classroom and office in Pacific Heights.

The group consisted of Tina Vaughan, Academic Support Center Specialist, Erin Wall, Dean of Humanities, and Paul Chow from their Institutional Research Department. College of the Redwoods is currently getting their program started with a handful of classes this spring semester.

In a follow up email, Ms. Vaughan mentioned how the tour “helped me a lot to visualize some workspace areas for our program.”

SI Coordinator, Mike Urquidez had previously been in contact College of the Redwoods during the summer, at which time he was able to share some resources and best practices that Skyline College currently uses for its own SI program.

SI, a peer led program that places successful students in historically difficult courses, seeks to support students with collaborative study sessions tailored for that particular course and instructor. Here at Skyline College, SI is currently supporting courses in Math, English, ESOL, Chemistry, Biology, and Psychology.

We wish College of the Redwoods the best of luck in establishing their new SI program. For more information about the Skyline College SI program, please visit us on the web.

Article by David Reed and Mike Urquidez