Over the course of Fall semester, the Skyline College community has seen the construction of the new Environmental Science building progress tremendously. Having an interest in Project Management, a Civil Engineering student in Skyline College’s Engineering and Technology Scholars Program, Melanie Trujillo, spent her winter break shadowing Pam Welty. Pam is the Senior Construction Project Manager of Swinerton Builders, who is currently overseeing the new Environmental Science building construction project.

For two weeks, Melanie learned the ins and outs of construction management. This was a rewarding opportunity for Melanie to see aspects of civil engineering being applied in real-time and gain valuable skills. She assisted Pam while she managed the communication among the entire construction team and supervised the progress of the project to make sure all components of the projects were coming together seamlessly. One of the activities that Melanie appreciated the most was seeing her engineering courses being applied on the job through learning to reading construction plans.

This short trip became a crucial experience for her to see her education come alive and served to strengthen her confidence and decision in pursuing a degree in civil engineering. Seeing how these experiences have enriched her, Melanie aims to continually serve as a mentor for local youth. Last Spring semester, Melanie facilitated a workshop on the applications of electronics and engineering during the Expanding Your Horizons Conference and strives to continue engaging young women to pursue STEM.

Article By Melanie Trujillo, Maryam Khan & Jenny Le

On Thursday, January 24, 2019, Skyline College’s Global Learning Programs and Services (GLPS) Division gathered with community members at Fiddler’s Green—a traditional Irish Pub and Restaurant in Millbrae—to share in memories of their travels in Ireland last summer with the SMCCCD Community Travel Program. Russell Waldon, Dean of GLPS, Sonya Pope, Division Assistant for GLPS and Stephanie Wells, Program Service Coordinator for Study Abroad, joined with 11 members of the community to reminisce of their time on the Emerald Isle while enjoying tasty Irish fare and singing along to traditional Irish songs.

Community Travel participant Sherry Lynes brought her guitar and sheets of lyrics—including an original she wrote about their time in Ireland—and the group sang together, as they had last summer. During the gathering, all were joyfully surprised by a phone call from their tour director, Mr. Brendan Heneghan, who called from Ireland to say hello. To the group’s delight, he said that he now plays Lynes’ song on every tour he leads and that it is always a hit.

The SMCCCD Community Travel Program is a curated, small-group travel experience for lifelong learners. With the Community Travel Program, members of our community have the opportunity to travel around the world with an SMCCCD representative and local tour director as they enjoy local food, special attractions and guided sightseeing. Upcoming Community Travel Programs for 2019 include Cuba, South Africa, Ireland, Italy and Japan.

The Community Travel Program was created as a way for Skyline College to connect with the larger community of San Mateo County as well as a way to help our students live and learn in other countries. For many college students, studying abroad is a special goal of their undergraduate years. However, financially, the experience is often out of reach. With Community Travel, $500 (tax-deductible) of the registration fee goes directly into the SMCCCD Foundation for Study Abroad Scholarship Fund, helping to make transformative global opportunities more accessible for all of our students.

The Community Travel Program is part of the SMCCCD Study Abroad Program—a district-wide study abroad program housed in the Global Learning Programs and Services Division at Skyline College. For more information about studying or interning abroad, faculty teach abroad opportunities, travel for lifelong learners, visiting international faculty presenters and student scholarship opportunities, please contact Zaid Ghori at (650) 738-7088 or ghoriz@smccd.edu. You can also learn more by visiting the SMCCD Study Abroad Facebook page or Instagram page @smcccd_study_abroad.

Article by Stephanie Wells | Photo by Sonya Pope