Regina Stanback Stroud, Ed.D, president of Skyline College, received a standing ovation after keynoting at the Inaugural Women’s Leadership Conference presented by the County of San Mateo’s Commission on the Status of Women.This timely and sold-out conference attracted dynamic speakers to appeal to diverse groups of women in San Mateo County and was on the same day as the national March for Our Lives.

The Commission on the Status of Women of San Mateo County launched its Inaugural Women’s Leadership Conference with the theme “Breaking Out” Empowering & Encouraging Women Leaders” on March 26, 2018.

The objective of this event was to empower, lead, and recognize women with their accomplishments who have impacted San Mateo County.  The day covered topics on:

• Capitalizing on Women’s Leadership/Creating a pipeline for powerful women leaders
• Powerhouse female legislators/Government & Community Engagement
• Mentoring & Networking

The Women’s Leadership Conference took place last Saturday, March 24, 2018 9:00 am – 3:00 pm at the Grove, at Cañada College in Redwood City.  Over 200 women from diverse backgrounds were in attendance.  The conference was followed by the Women’s Hall of Fame with a networking reception that started at 3:00 pm and Awards presentation at 4:00 pm.

This conference offered participants a unique perspective on women’s leadership—rather than asking women to change themselves to “better fit” the current culture, the speakers spoke about how they can drive systemic change in corporate culture, policy, compensation, and government representation to empower women and encourage their leadership style.

Regina Stanback Stroud, Ed.D, the featured keynote during lunch, is the president of Skyline College.  Stroud has been an educator in the California Community Colleges for more than thirty years.  Stroud presented real stories of young women who overcame adversity.  The purpose of sharing these stories was to “humanize” issues that she advocates for as a leader.  During Stroud’s talk, she stated, “You do not have the luxury of mediocrity.  You need to get comfortable with power.”  Stroud received a standing ovation after an interesting Q & A that opened up after her talk. Women from all backgrounds, stood in solidarity to ask Stroud questions pointing to issues that leaders face. “The Women’s Leadership Conference, and the Commission on the Status of Women, provided the platform we need right now to lift up female leaders in our own community and ensure empowered women are embracing their strength and can lead the charge for gender equality on a global scale.” —Regina Stanback Stroud, Ed.D.

Michelle Droz, Senior Partner and VP of Woodruff Sawyer, was the emcee for the conference. “It was an honor to emcee the Inaugural Women’s Leadership Conference that attracted women from diverse backgrounds. It was wonderful seeing so many young women from Skyline College attend the conference.  The energy level was high and these women were engaging with each other and the speakers. This event came at a perfect time and was on the same day as the March for Our Lives Walk! Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud, our keynote, created a brave space for these women to ask difficult questions that they face in their leadership roles.  Stroud provided such wisdom and grace in her answers to the questions asked which earned the standing ovation she received after speaking.  San Mateo County has amazing women and it is exciting to see other women empower and inspire each other.”

Other featured speakers include Cañada College President, Dr. Jamillah Moore, Brigid O’Farrell, author of Eleanor Roosevelt’s white papers, Leah Weiss (teaches Compassionate Leadership at Stanford and recently launched her book “How we work: Reclaim your sanity”), Jaemi Serene (founder of SheLeadsHer), and Patty White (co-founder of the company ReBoot Accel).

San Mateo County Board Supervisor, Carole Groom, moderated the government panel and served as the emcee for the Women’s Hall of Fame. Government panelists included Shara Watkins, San Mateo-Foster City School Board Trustee and Davina Hurt, Vice Mayor for the City of Belmont. “This conference introduced women leaders from business, education and politics- allowing the opportunity to network and hear first-hand, their stories.” –Carole Groom

“This was an opportunity for women to learn about local government and how to engage with the community which will increase our pipeline of women leaders.  Women coming together to empower one another to bring about needed change is inspiring.  The response to this conference has been overwhelming as it has been a long time coming for both young women and those re-entering the work force.”  –Linda Koelling, President of the Commission on the Status of Women

This year’s honorees recognized at the Women’s Hall of Fame were Erin Tormey (founder of the Coastside Farmer’s Market) and Naomi Patridge (first Asian-American to be elected for public office in San Mateo County). Both ladies are from Half Moon Bay.  The third honoree, Kalimah Saluddan, is from Daly City and currently serves as a Trustee for the Jefferson Union High School District Board of Education.

County of San Mateo was the presenting sponsor for this Women’s Leadership Conference and Hall of Fame. Other sponsors included Skyline College, Gilead Sciences, Inc., Cañada College, Woodruff Sawyer, Chajinel Home Care Services, Warner Pacific, Cigna Healthcare, Swinerton Management & Consulting, Kaiser Permanente, and event organizer Circle Communications. In-kind sponsors that contributed to the conference included Crystal Springs Catering, Foster City Chamber (wine), Ailli Ice Designs (Florists), Mazetti’s Bakery, Scott Buschman Photography, Bagicha Garden & Floral Designs, Hal Kataoka M.A. (Inspirant Photographer), Aaron & Matt Alvarado (A+ Photo & Videography), ICF professional coaching. “It was wonderful to work with these generous sponsors like Gilead Sciences and Kaiser Permanente who donated back their tickets so women on our waiting list could attend this invaluable conference.  There were also a group of individuals who purchased tickets to go towards this scholarship fund so those who did not have the financial means were able to attend. We also had many volunteers that donated their time and talent before and during the event to make it successful.  This conference was definitely a community effort!”—Leila Perreras, Circle Communications.

About County of San Mateo’s Commission on the Status of Women

The Commission on the Status of Women, an advisory body to the Board of Supervisors, seeks to improve the quality of life for women of all ages in San Mateo County. Through strategic partnerships and collaboration, the commission identifies women’s needs, advises the board of supervisors, and educates the community on matters concerning women.

For any questions or suggestions regarding the Commission, or interest to serve as a commissioner, contact 650-363-4467 or tbeat@smcgov.org.  A copy of the conference program is available at http://smcwomenlead.org.

 

 

One of Skyline College’s international students, Franck Yao from Côte d’Ivoire, flew his country’s flag high as one of the esteemed guests at the recent United Nations Youth Council. The event was held from March 9 to March 11 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. The program was an initiative by the United Nations to promote youth involvement in dealing with issues plaguing the world and to encourage young people to take responsibility for their communities.

Yao has had a long history of taking remarkable leadership roles. In high school, he nurtured his leadership skills to create youth development initiatives, one of which was recognized by the Côte d’Ivoire minister of education. This led him on a journey to becoming a national youth representative for his country, even standing for Côte d’Ivoire at the World Summit on Climate Change that was held in Paris in 2015. He stated that the struggles that he and other people in his community experienced motivated him to make positive change and drove him to develop his leadership abilities.

He is grateful for the opportunity to attend the United Nations Youth Council, because he was able to network with a lot of other like-minded people.

“Since I was a kid, I always identified myself as a proud African driven by passion and commitment to bring about opportunities in social development,” Yao said.  He wants to make a difference not only in Côte d’Ivoire, but all around the world. It is obvious that his dreams and ambitions are coming to fruition and we look forward to seeing what the future has in store for this bright student.

Article and Photo by Naledi Mthembu

On March 24, 2018, the Skyline College Athletic Hall of Fame enshrined 12 new inductees. This distinguished group of female athletes included:

• Dorene Bauuino; Women’s Volleyball, 1984-1986
• Kristen Gracia; Women’s Cross Country and Softball, 1995-1997
• Stephanie Cheung; Women’s Badminton, 2003-2005
• Marie Colón-Perez; Women’s Basketball, 2006-2008
• Jan Fosberg; Student-Athlete and Coach, 1980 – Present
• Graiela “Gina” Gomez; Women’s Badminton, 2003-2005
• Veronica Hodge; Women’s Track and Field, 1987-1991
• Kelly Huey; Women’s Basketball, 2010-2012
• Tricia Sanford; Women’s Badminton, Softball and Volleyball, 1999-2003
• Midori Sims; Women’s Soccer, 2009-2011
• Catherine Stelling; Women’s Softball, 1989-1992
• Marie Torres; Women’s Soccer, 2008-2010

The Skyline College Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1985 and, with this class of inductees, has 125 members.

The Hall of Fame is physically located on the bottom floor of Building 3. The criteria for induction into the Skyline College Hall of Fame are the recommendation of a current or former staff member, distinctive athletic achievement, distinctive academic achievement and exemplary representation of Skyline College. For staff members, the requirements are the recommendation of a current or former staff member, distinctive achievement, meritorious service to the athletic program and exemplary representation of Skyline College.

With over 150 family and community members in attendance, each inductee was recognized, awarded a plaque and spoke about their experiences and opportunities at Skyline College. It was an outstanding group of inductees and an evening they will long remember.

For a full listing of Skyline College Athletic Hall of Fame inductees, please visit the Skyline Athletic Website.

Article by Joe Morello | Photo by Kevin Perez

The California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) handed out their top student-athlete awards for the past year on March 28, 2018. Arianna Sheehy, a Women’s Basketball player from Skyline College, was recognized as a member of the 2017 Honor Roll.

Honor Roll nominees were recommended by each conference with one male and one female athlete nominated per conference. The criteria for nomination of a student-athlete were a minimum GPA of 3.5, outstanding leadership as an athlete, student, or in other college and community activities and participation in at least two seasons of sport at a California community college.

Sheehy was a two year starter at Skyline College, team captain and all-conference player who was certainly deserving of this recognition. She earned a scholarship to La Sierra College, is studying Criminology and is a member of their Women’s Basketball team. To learn more about the recognition received by Sheehy, please visit CCCAA.

Article by Joe Morello | Photo by Kevin Corsiglia

To kick off Skyline College’s celebration of Earth Month, the Social Justice and Sustainability Community of Practice welcomed Gary White on Thursday, April 5, 2018 to talk with members of the campus community about climate change.

Over 100 students, faculty, and staff listened to Mr. White’s presentation highlighting the effects of and solutions to climate change. The audience included students from Sociology, Philosophy, English, and Geology classes, reinforcing the fact that sustainability is truly relevant to a variety of academic disciplines.

Mr. White became a climate activist through former U.S. Vice President Al Gore’s Climate Reality Leadership Corps and now educates Bay Area communities about the implications of climate change. He is also a dedicated member of the Citizen’s Climate Lobby of San Mateo.

For more information visit the Climate Reality Project  and Citizen’s Climate Lobby.

Article and picture by Mary Thomasmeyer

We’d like to thank the campus for their participation in our survey efforts this semester. We have a 37% response rate for the Employee Voice Survey, and five winners were awarded $20 gift cards to the Bookstore. One winner said, “Thanks, I’ve been wanting a new Skyline sweatshirt!”

The Chronicle of Higher Education Survey is open for one more week, and so far we have a 30% response rate. If you receive the survey, please fill it out. We have an opportunity to become one of the Chronicle’s 100 Great Colleges to Work For!  The survey closes at the end of next week, so make sure to answer and show why Skyline College is such a great place to work to see if we can be awarded this prestigious designation.

We will share the survey results across the campus in the coming months!

Article by Jacqueline Honda, Ed.D.

Kapatiran students from South San Francisco High School and Westmoor High School were able to take a field trip to Skyline College to attend “Discover Kababayan” on Friday, March 16, 2018.

Kapatiran is a high school to college pipeline program focused on Filipin@ /Filipin@-American curriculum that incorporates themes of identity, culture, history, and college success. This class is available to high school students who want to learn about Filipin@/Filipin@-American history and culture while gaining skills and knowledge to succeed in higher education. There is a distinction between Filipin@ and Filipin@-American because each has their own unique history and different experiences. Kapatiran students learn both and are challenged to unpack and analyze their own experiences to better understand their past, present, and future.

The Kababayan Learning Community was established Fall 2003 by Liza Erpelo through funding for the President’s Innovation Fund. Kapatiran is a part of the greater Kababayan community but they never had a joint field trip to Skyline College. Kapatiran students come from two high school sites; South San Francisco (SSF) HS and Westmoor HS. They come from various cultural, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds. These are two high schools located in two different districts which rarely get a chance to see each other.

Students were welcomed by the Outreach team in the morning with breakfast, snacks, and as well as an introduction to Skyline College. From there, students were taught a college style lesson plan by Cypher/Kababayan instructor Roderick Daus-Magbual about “Intergenerational Trauma”. Shortly after they participated in a “High School vs College” activity led by The Learning Center’s own Raymon Gutierrez. Students were given lunch vouchers provided by Lauren Ford from Outreach so that they can experience eating at the Sky Café. It was a working lunch because students were tasked to go on a resources scavenger hunt to visit and speak with different programs/resources on campus. The programs/resources involved were EOPS, Financial Aid, The Learning Center, The Disability Resource Center, SparkPoint, The Transfer Center, TRiO, and Counseling.

After students reported back on their resources, we had a student panel who spoke about their transition from high school to college and any knowledge they would like to share.

We concluded the field trip by playing “Sing It” where students were in mixed teams and had to sing as many songs with the word “love” in it. It got very intense and competitive but at the end of the day, we were all family.

This experience has left an impact on the Kapatiran students. They had fun making friends, learning about Skyline College, and creating connections with Kababayan staff and students.

Thank you to all who were involved.

Article by Alvin Gubatina | Photo by Jenny Yang

Skyline College Students Karen Mei Ling Lai and Thanh Nguyen, were selected for the All California Academic Team. These students were honored at the California Community College League Award Luncheon on April 2nd. In addition to the All-California Team, Karen was also selected for the Coca-Cola Gold scholarship. Dean Ray Hernandez accompanied Lai and Nguyen to the Community College League Awards Luncheon.

Karen Mei Ling Lai (All California First Team) is a Respiratory Care major at Skyline College. She is in the Honors Transfer Program and served as President for her Phi Theta Kappa chapter and Respiratory Care Club Senator, where she creates and leads programs for the betterment of her college and community. Karen started and led a project creating videos in eight languages to educate the public about proper usage of metered-dose inhalers. She is involved in various organizations that assist community members. She works at a lung-health organization and volunteers at senior centers, STEM and health fairs, and food banks. Karen aspires to be a Respiratory Care Practitioner and an Asthma Educator to serve patients and their families, especially the pediatric population. She plans to earn a Doctorate in Education to become a Respiratory Care Educator. Karen wants to inspire individuals to aim high, believe in their capabilities and work toward their dreams.

Thanh Nguyen (All California Second Team) is currently studying Business Administration at Skyline College. She is Co- President of the Beta Theta Omicron Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa and is in the Honors Transfer Program and the Alpha Beta Chi Chapter of the Kappa Beta Delta business honor society. Thanh is a Supplemental Instructor Leader for Statistics and Calculus and Peer Mentor at Skyline College. Through Phi Theta Kappa, Thanh has volunteered at senior centers and middle schools. She developed and implemented Leadership Development Workshops at Skyline College. Thanh plans to transfer to San Francisco State University in the Fall of 2018. She aims to work in the Human Resources Department of a hi-tech company. Thanh wants to inspire her classmates and colleagues to aim high and work diligently to achieve their goals.

Article by Case Christine

Students from the Automotive Department were treated to a tour at the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) bus maintenance and repair facility in South San Francisco on March 16, 2018.

SamTrans provided transportation, lunch and a tour of the facility.  Students got to talk to the in house trainer, managers and technicians during the tour, as they were able to see all the inner workings of what it would be like to work for SamTrans.

During the tour I met the in house trainer Andrew McCambridge who was a graduate of the Skyline College Automotive program close to 30 years ago.  I was also reunited with Tony and Eddy who also graduated from Skyline College Automotive Program and are former students of mine.  All the students were very excited and impressed upon departure and that is all they could talk about for the next few days.  I know of several student who have submitted application since the tour.  This was a fabulous opportunity and exciting visit for our students and we look forward to working with SamTrans in the future.

Article by Thomas G. Broxholm

Skyline College Automotive Department supported students and local employers by hosting a hiring day on March 13, 2018.

The students go through a rigorous entry level job skills training course which includes soft skills, resumes and mock interviews. 25 employers filled Building 11 as the students moved from one employer to the next as if they were speed dating. Some employers worth noting this hiring day are; Subaru, Toyota, Menlo Park Fire department, City of San Francisco, Tesla, Marine Service, Luscious Garage (Hybrid Specialist), Japanese A+ Auto Repair, Sears and many more.

Professor Julia Johnson is the mastermind and architect behind our very successful internship program with a database of over 400 Bay Area employers. This year the 25 spots sold out within 10 minutes of the invitation.

As in the past we expect every student to retain employment within two weeks, and many of these students will have multiple job offers.

Article & Photo by Tom Broxholm