Monthly Archives: October 2016

Sonia Nazario Speaks at Skyline College

sonya nizarioSkyline College welcomed award-winning journalist Sonia Nazario last week on Monday, October 10th, 2016 in the Theater. Sonia spoke about the stories from her book Enrique’s Journey a true story about the journey of a Honduran boy who risks everything, including his life, to reunite with his mother in the United States. Sonia explained that every year thousands of children make this deadly journey in attempt to escape from the poverty and terror they experience in their home country. She shared her experiences atop the “trains of death” in Mexico as she followed a group of these children in order to accurately depict their story and bring awareness about these intractable problems. Afterwards, students were able to ask questions and get Sonia’s perspective on how we can tackle these problems and better advocate for refugees.

For more information about Sonia Nazario and her book Enrique’s Journey visit her website at www.enriquesjourney.com.

This event was sponsored by the Associated Students of Skyline College, Center for Student Life and Leadership Development, the Office of Student Equity and Support Programs and the Puente Program.

Article by Margo Feldman

Student Leaders Collaborate with Fil-am Organizations to Open Filipino-American History Month

philipino historyThis year, the Associated Students of Skyline College, the Filipino Student Union and Kababayan Learning Community hosted the first Filipino-American History Month celebration in Skyline College. The kick-off event for the month of October started with the “Sari-Sari” (Variety) Bazaar which took place in the Fireside Dining Room on October 4 and 5.

Several Filipino American organizations and entrepreneurs from around the Bay Area celebrated with the Skyline College community to promote their advocacies, future events, and original Filipino merchandise such as: Philippine American Writers and Artists, Laya: Migrant Youth for Change and Action, Migrante, Filipino Advocates for Justice, Bindlestiff, Jeepsilog, and many more. The children from ECE PreSchool also came to have fun with the students as they participated in artworks, dances, and games such as “Pabitin”, the Filipino version of piñata where they jump to reach for their prizes. Students and faculty packed the Fireside Dining Room as special performances from artists showcased their talent on stage through poetry, rap, songs, and dances. The Kababayan and Cipher Advisors, Grace Burns and Kim Davalos, contributed awe-inspiring poems that captivated the hearts of the audience.

The Bayanihan Spirit, which translates to unity and cooperation between the community, was truly evident at this event because of the collaboration and hard work of everyone. Sari-Sari Bazaar was made possible through the community’s participation and the students’ passion to showcase Filipino talent and culture to everyone in Skyline College. The student organizers and advisors hope to continue this tradition for the rest of the years to come.

Article by Virginia Salazar Noval

The Skyline View Wins Big at Regional Journalism Conference

JACC NorCal

Caption: Skyline journalism students show off the awards that staff won in the Journalism Association of Community College NorCal Conference held Oct. 15 at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, CA. The event draws nearly 200 community college journalists from the region. From left to right, front row: Brian Silverman, Erin O’Toole, Sarah Marasigan, Nataly Gutierrez, Vanessa Fitzpatrick, and Daphne Pineda. Left to right, back row: Adviser Nancy Kaplan-Biegel, Shamal Prasad, Jordan Sweidan, Kevin Perez, Matt Pacelli and Will Nacouzi.

The Skyline View clinched general excellence awards both for print and online journalism at the Journalism Association of Community Colleges NorCal Conference on Saturday, October 15.

The publication’s staff also won multiple first-place awards: Clayborne Go won first place for editorial cartoon; Dave Newlands took first-place for student-designed ad; Will Nacouzi, Brian Silverman and Maria Hom earned first place for online photo story/essay; and Abigayle Haguisan secured a first-place win in webcast/broadcast journalism. Andrew Avilla took home third place for photo illustration, Will Nacouzi received an honorable mention for inside page layout and the staff took third place for column writing.

Skyline View Adviser Nancy Kaplan-Biegel and 18 Skyline College students from all levels of the journalism program attended the day-long event at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, CA, where media professionals and educators gave a variety of workshops. Award-winning investigative journalist Karen de Sa, the keynote speaker, told the community college journalists that they were well positioned to diversify the newsrooms and the narratives that come from those newsrooms.

Written by Nancy Kaplan-Biegel

 

 

Students Shine at National Science Meeting

sacnas 16

Top: Students describing their work to participants. Stephen Situ and Ben Liu (left). Janah May Ocalman (right) Bottom: The 2016 Skyline College research team. From left: Pauline, Janah, Stephen, Griselda, Ben, Sophia, Sachin, Abigail, Akayi, Aaron, and Pinkal.

At the Society for the Advancement of Native Americans and Chicanos in Science (SACNAS) Conference on October 13-15, eleven Skyline College students presented their original scientific research to more than 4,200 participants. Skyline College students presented alongside 900 students from University of Texas, Harvard University, Yale University, University of California, University of Vermont, Stanford University, CSUs, and many other universities. The conference theme was STEM Diversity and Public Understanding. The conference was held in Long Beach 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 College’s students worked with their mentor, Christine Case and 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.

All of these students now have their first publication:

  • Evaluation of Juglone as an Antimicrobic against Salmonella enterica. Janah May Oclaman.
  • Antimicrobial Activity of Ribes menziesii and Its Efficacy as a Food Preservative. Akayi Thein and Griselda Erazo.
  • The Effect of Cortaderia selloana on the Soil Microbiome. Abigail Mende and Aaron Tun.
  • Evaluating the Antimicrobial Activity of Rhamnus californica. Pauline Maccay and Pinkal Tandel.
  • Comparison of the Phylloplane Microbiota of Invasive Delairea and Native Plants. Ben Liu and Stephen Situ.
  • Antibacterial Activity of Sequoia sempervirens against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Sachin Sharma.
  • Antimicrobial Properties of Rubus parviflorus (Thimbleberry). Fnu (Sophia) Yunanda.

Article by Dr. Christine Case

 

 

International Student Program Hosts a Campus Tour to UC Berkeley

ISP StudentsOn October 7, the International Student Program (ISP) and the International Affairs Student Club (IASC) hosted a trip to UC Berkeley for a campus tour. A total of 24 international students participated in the tour. Those students included new and continuing students from different countries such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan, South Africa, Malaysia and Nepal. The day started from Skyline College where the students travelled to UCB together and were then taken on a campus tour by a current UCB student. Along with the interesting history of UCB, the group also had the opportunity to learn a wide range of information about the classes, student life, campus and degree programs, and they were also able to ask any questions they had.

Following the campus tour, the group had a chance to meet some current UCB students who transferred from Skyline College which made the event even more of a success. The Skyline College alumni provided valuable information and transfer advice to the students who aspired to attend UCB. UCB is one of the most prestigious universities in the world and a dream school for many international students. We hope that those who participated in the tour will see UCB as an option in the future!

ISP will continue to provide international and cultural programs and events for Skyline College students, faculty and staff members and the greater Skyline College community. Please check future events on the ISP website.

Article by Sujaya Chandran & Chikako Walker | Photo by Chikako Walker

Learn from 7 Top Silicon Valley Entrepreneurs at the Action Summit

BAEC SummitAttend the hottest networking event in town on Thursday, October 27, 2016 from 5:30PM – 8:30PM at The Bay Area Entrepreneur Center (BAEC), located at 458 San Mateo Ave in San Bruno.

Come experience entrepreneurship at its finest as BAEC hosts some of the most successful entrepreneurs in the Bay Area at the Action Summit.

The summit will center on a panel of guest speakers who will share their motivational stories followed by a session for Q&A for audience members. There will also be networking, sponsor giveaways, and refreshments. The Bay Area Entrepreneur Center will highlight its amazing services to help businesses and entrepreneurs across the board at the event as well.

Guest Speaker Panel:

  • Cache Merrill – CEO, Zibtek, a US managed offshore business development compmany
  • Phillip Fabian – Business Strategist, food and beer industry
  • Nataliia Karpenko – CEO, Livzo, a corporate wellness and health management platform
  • Ryan Nichols – Business Strategist, works for Tony Robbins as a Consultant
  • Christa Mekki – Founder, Magnetic Magnificent Events and an Executive Director at Legal Shield
  • Mikal Mekki – Author, “Running with finishers” and Regional Vice President of Northern California Legal Shield
  • Neda Blocho – Partner, Pear VC, venture capitals firms and was former Vice President of Programs at StartX

Learn from successful entrepreneurs and get the chance to ask your most pressing questions. Networking is key, so make sure you bring your business cards!

Please register to attend at: https://baecactionsummit.eventbrite.com.

Article by Terri Wade | Graphic by Isaac Reed

ENCLAVE: New Exhibition at Skyline College Art Gallery

daily cityNext week the gallery presents its next exhibit: Enclave – an exhibition of photography, video, audio recordings, books and other ephemera by Jeremy Keith Villaluz.

Enclave explores the social and cultural aspects of the Filipino Community in Daly City, and will be on view from October 24 through December 2.

The Art Gallery will host a reception next week on Wednesday, October 26 from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. in the Gallery.

Attendance is free and light snacks and beverages will be served.

The gallery is open daily, and is located on the ground floor of Building 1.

For more information, including hours, please visit the gallery website and facebook page.

Article by Paul Bridenbaugh

Hospitality SUCCESS 2016 Brings Leaders Together

hospitality success 2016The Bay Region Hospitality SUCCESS three-day professional development forum for faculty and high school teachers was held on October 6 at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill. This event was hosted by the Bay Region Retail, Hospitality and Tourism Deputy Sector Navigator Andrea Vizenor. Andrea brought together leaders in industry to train faculty and teachers on the latest innovations and skills essential for the Hospitality, Culinary and Tourism Industry. This event was filled with cutting-edge and engaging training sessions that truly kept attendees wanting more!

Nearly 60 participants were in attendance, including a variety of teachers and faculty from throughout the state, and local culinary teachers from Jefferson High School, Sequoia High School, Peninsula High School, and Mountain View High School. It was a wonderful opportunity to build even greater connections with the newly developed Hospitality and Tourism Management program at Skyline College.

Attendees had the opportunity to learn and identify the latest trends in technology and corporate event planning from Carlee Duncan, Meeting and Event Manager at Autodesk, along with Service Principles Essential for Hospitality Professionals and True Colors workshops delivered by Emily Ellis, Principal Consultant, Education and Training Concepts and Disney contract trainer.

The line-up also included a presentation on technology tools and marketing strategies for Career Technical Education (CTE) programs by Alex Kramer, Deputy Sector Navigator, Small Business; a wine and food pairing training by Wente Vineyards; a TEDtalk-style address called “The Science of Customer Interactions in Today’s Retail Climate” by Jonathan Searle, Flagship Human Resources Manager, Banana Republic; a conversation with Michel C. West, Director of Human Resources, The Ritz-Carlton; and a culinary techniques training by Claudia Sandoval, MasterChef Winner Season 6.

The Bay Region Retail, Hospitality and Tourism “Learn and Earn” grant housed at Skyline College, has provided a platform to build the Hospitality and Tourism Management Program with extensive industry involvement, incredible student value, and the latest competencies and skills which are integrated into the program’s curriculum.

Article by Elizabeth Tablan and Claudia Paz | Photos by Claudia Paz

Fall 2016 Transfer Conference – Making Access Happen!

students at transfer conferenceThe 5th annual Transfer Conference held on Saturday, September 24 was amazing. Over 130 students registered for the event and over 100 students were in attendance.

The Transfer Center offers this conference to provide students with access to critical resources and support services that support their transfer. It is the Transfer Center’s goal to ensure all students have the necessary information about the transfer process. Through a series of workshops presented by Financial Aid, the Career Center, and the Transfer Center, students were able to learn about financial aid for transfer students, how to take their majors and transition them into careers, and how to have a successful transfer process.

Students started their day with a hot breakfast to get their brains working so that they could participate in breakout sessions with former Skyline College students who have completed their transfer journey from Skyline College to a 4-year university. A total of seven Skyline College alums  shared with students the “do’s and don’ts” when considering transfer and important information about making connections with resources on campus to help make their transfer journey less complicated and stressful!

Students who participated in the event said, “it was an awesome way to spend a Saturday,” and that “Skyline College has a lot of resources to support our transfer.”

Additionally, students found the Financial Aid workshops very beneficial to them as they also learned about scholarships, financial aid tips, and how to access financial aid for transfer. Some expressed that the conference overall was “extremely informative and helpful.”

Overall the event was a success and some students who entered into our giveaway were able to walk away with college gear! One student, Celine Dear, won a tablet that our Skyline College Bookstore manager Kevin Chak generously donated for the event.

This event was ultimately a success thanks to all the supportive volunteers, faculty, and staff who helped set up and participate overall in the event. We extend a heartfelt thank you to all those who participated this past weekend.

Article and Photo by Michele Haggar

Family Night: Stars in ASTEP

ASTEP Family Night 2016-3The ASTEP Learning Community had its annual Family Night Event on Wednesday, October 5, 2016.  Family Night is ASTEP’s annual fall mixer where administrators, faculty, families and students all come to mingle and learn more about how the Skyline College community supports its ASTEP students.

Once again to assist with ambiance for the evening festivities, DJ Jorge, a former ASTEP student provided a smooth backdrop of jazzy musical selections to create a sensation to warm the atmosphere for our community.

This year’s event had special significance, because ASTEP launched its newly developed Mentor Program, and mentees from ASTEP were introduced and paired with their selected mentors.

The capstone portion of Family Night was the community acknowledgement of our first year ASTEP Scholarship recipients.  Scholarship awardees were lauded and celebrated by the donors Mr. and Mrs. Russell who worked graciously with Dr. Irene St. Roseman and Nathan Jones, to provide financial assistance for our ASTEP students.

Article and photos by Nathan Jones