Monthly Archives: March 2019

Legacy Celebration in Honor of Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud

Please join the Skyline College community as we honor and acknowledge President Regina Stanback Stroud’s invaluable contributions and extraordinary achievements at Skyline College!

As we celebrate Dr. Stanback Stroud’s retirement, we’ll also be raising funds for the Promise Scholars Program and the Equity Institute!

Details:

Thursday, April 25, 2019

3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Mariott SFO, San Mateo

Please register online to attend this event. We hope to see you there!

The Learning Commons Launches Proctoring Services

The Learning Commons is now providing Proctoring Services! Proctoring services are available by appointment for individual make-up exams at the following times:

  • Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  • Fridays, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Proctoring requests must be made by the instructor. To request test proctoring services for individual make-up exams, faculty can submit a Test Proctoring Request Form.

For more information, please go to skylinecollege.edu/proctoringservices/index.php.  Questions?  Please contact Sherri Wyatt or call (650) 738-4478.

Article by Sherri Wyatt

Twelfth Rock the School Bells Welcomes over 400 Participants

Rock the School BellsSkyline College hosted the 12th Annual Rock the School Bells (RTSB) Hip-Hop Conference for over 400 youth and educator’s this March. This year’s theme, Heart and Soul, highlighted workshops that support participants in fostering holistic health, healing and well-being.

For the first time in its 12 year history, RTSB held separate conferences for youth and educator’s. On March 9, 2019, over 100 educators gathered to discuss Hip-Hop education and best practices for utilizing hip-hop pedagogy in their educational spaces. Educator’s participated in workshops such as:

  • Self-Care Through Hip-Hop
  • Love, Light, and Lyrics
  • Using Hip-Hop Therapy Techniques with Youth through a Social Justice Counseling Framework
  • Time’s a Wastin; Finding Harmony in Culturally Responsive Hip-Hop Education

Educators also participated in a recess session to tend to their physical and mental health as well as nurture connections with others. Recess sessions included yoga, dance, kickboxing, therapy coloring and a Heart to Heart conversation. Over $3,000 was raised through the educator’s conference to help support scholarships for RTSB and the CIPHER learning community. On March 23rd, RTSB hosted over 300 youth from K-12, colleges/universities, and non-profit organizations. Participants attended workshops in:

  • Connecting the Dots with your Art Form
  • Soup for the Soul: Healing through Food & Performance
  • Turning the Tables on Toxic Masculinity
  • Freestyle Therapy Cypher

Rock the School Bells 12: Heart and Soul was also highlighted by amazing keynote speakers: Allyson Tintiangco (Heart) and Colin Ehara (Soul) who motivated our educators and Uce Veu (Heart) and Anthony (Ynot) Denaro (Soul) who captivated our youth. Through their words they inspired us to continue creating spaces for artistic expression, take risks and build around love and community. The youth conference was capped off with a special MC Battle and All-Style Dance Battle that showcased their creative talents.

Thank you to our Skyline College Community and Leadership for their continued support throughout the years and especially through these exciting changes for Rock the School Bells! A heartfelt Thank You and Congratulations to the Leadership team who dedicated countless volunteer hours to put together RTSB 12: Heart and Soul.

Since 2007, RTSB has been a space for youth and educators to build community around hip-hop education and under new leadership that vision continues. If you would like to learn more about the RTSB Leadership team or how to get involved in future events, please visit: rocktheschoolbells.com.

Article by Ivan Silva

Skyline College Students on All-California Academic Team

All California Academic TeamTwo Skyline College students, Michelle Huang and Yuele (Nora) Zhang, were selected for the All-California Academic Team first team. These students were honored at the California Community College League Award Luncheon in March. In addition to the All-California Team, Michelle was also selected for the Coca-Cola Gold Academic Team. Dean Ray Hernandez accompanied Nora and Michelle to the Community College League Luncheon to receive their awards.

Michelle Huang is a Business Administration major at Skyline College. She is President of the Beta Theta Omicron Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa and is in the Honors Transfers Program. Michelle previously served as Student Organization and Club Council Liaison for the Associated Students and as Secretary for the Skyline College Chapter of Kappa Beta Delta Business Honor Society. Michelle has a passion for learning and for serving. She presented her research on tax amnesty at the Bay Area Honors Research Symposium. She is a Peer Tutor for Economics, Accounting, and Statistics and a Peer Mentor. Through Phi Theta Kappa, Michelle volunteers at senior centers and middle schools and did a fog-use study for the College. Michelle aspires to work in finance then give back to the community by becoming a college professor. Michelle wants to inspire individuals to aim high, believe in their capabilities, and act toward their dreams.

Yuele (Nora) Zhang is a Biochemistry major at Skyline College. She is in the Honors Transfer Program and serves as Vice President of Records for the Skyline College chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. Nora has a passion for learning and promoting education for everyone. During Spring 2018, she organized science labs to encourage young women to pursue STEM. She currently works in the College Learning Center as a chemistry tutor and volunteers for coastal cleanups, which help strengthen people’s awareness about the environment. Nora volunteers at a senior center to help elders with technology. Nora plans to transfer to UC Berkeley. Her long-term goal is to be a pharmaceutical researcher and contribute to medicine development.

Photo, from left: Michelle, Chapter Vice President of Communications Michael Wong, Nora Zhang.

Article and Photo by Christine Case

Spotlight on Cambodia!

CambodiaThe Skyline College International Student Program (ISP) and the International Student Club (ISC) were proud to showcase Cambodian culture for the first time ever on March 26, 2019. Our Cambodian students were excited to share their culture and educate the campus community.

Students gathered at the Fireside Dining Room and were introduced to traditional Cambodian clothes, food, language and a game. The crowd was invited to learn how Cambodians wore traditional scarves and encouraged to take photos after dressing up in the scarves. They were also treated to a taste of Cambodia in the form of charbroiled beef with peanut sauce,cucumber salad and black sticky rice with fresh mango. These delicacies were definitely a crowd favorite!

As a take-home souvenir, one could have their names written in Cambodian or Khmer, the official language of Cambodia. The intriguing script piqued the interest of the crowd and many were interested in getting their names written in the ancient language.

The event also showcased a traditional Cambodian boardgame, Klah Klok. People were invited to guess which images would appear on dice and win delicious South East Asian candy in return.

The event was well-attended, and everyone went away with a little bit of Cambodian culture with them in the form of their names in Khmer, photos, candy or food in their belly!

ISP’s next event, Global Extravaganza, will be held on April 30, 2019 in the Quad. Look out for Taiko drummers and the opportunity to learn more about the various international cultures that are represented here at Skyline College!

Article and Photo by Clair Yeo-Sugajski

Skyline College Students Elected to Regional Positions

Regional OfficersOn March 23, 2019, Beta Theta Omicron members were elected to 2019-2020 leadership positions in the Phi Theta Kappa Nevada-California Region.

Thanh Nguyen was elected Regional President and Sophie Huang was elected Northwest Vice President. Each candidate gave a speech on the honors study topic, Transformations: Acknowledging, Assessing, and Achieving Change.

Officers were elected by a voting delegate from each chapter in the Region. Faculty advisors from the Region said that Thanh’s and Sophie’s speeches were excellent. The President presides over the Regional Leadership Conference and the Regional Convention and directs regional activities and projects. The NW District Vice President must hold two District Summits for the colleges in NW California. Additionally, Skyline College students Michelle Huang, Michael Wong, and Yuele Zhang were elected to the Regional Alumni Association Board.

Article and Photo by Christine Case

Legacy Celebration in Honor of Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud

Please join the Skyline College community as we honor and acknowledge President Regina Stanback Stroud’s invaluable contributions and extraordinary achievements at Skyline College!

As we celebrate Dr. Stanback Stroud’s retirement, we’ll also be raising funds for the Promise Scholars Program and the Equity Institute!

Details:

Thursday, April 25, 2019

3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Mariott SFO, San Mateo

Please register online to attend this event. We hope to see you there!

Skyline College’s Education and Child Development Program Hosts “Career’s with Children”

Career with ChildrenOn Tuesday, March 12, 2019, Skyline College’s Education and Child Development Program hosted its Spring 2019 “Career’s With Children” event. This event was being offered once a year in the evenings during the Fall semester and had such a great turn out that we decided to do it once a semester instead.

Over 72 students attended and spoke with employers from South City School District, Community Gate Path, Child Care Careers, Happy Hall Preschool, Bright Horizons and 10 other programs. Students also spoke with representatives from SFSU’s Education Path Program and USF’s School of Education.

This event came about due to the increasing shortage of qualified staff to work with children in the Bay Area. If you missed this event and would like information on becoming a teacher or working with children, youth or families, contact EDU/CD Program Services Coordinator Kristina Browner at brower@smccd.edu or stop by the EPICenter in Building 8, Room 8-317 and her office next door.

Article by Kristina Brower

Nearly 1,200 Girls Expand Their Horizons in Science and Math at Skyline College

EYHOn Saturday, March 16, 2019, nearly 1,200 middle school and high school girls from San Mateo, San Francisco, Alameda and Santa Clara counties attended Expanding Your Horizons at Skyline College. EYH is a conference geared toward increasing girls’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) careers through hands-on workshops.

Skyline College hosted its 39th annual Expanding Your Horizons in Science and Mathematics. Volunteers from Skyline College and North San Mateo County Soroptimist planned the conference. Soroptimist of North San Mateo County provided scholarships and school buses for north county girls.

Girls came from over 164 schools in San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Alameda counties. 84% of the girls are in middle schools. Over 100 scientists volunteered to present workshops. Additionally, Skyline College students and Skyline College alumnae who have completed their baccalaureates degrees presented workshops. Skyline College faculty and staff who presented workshops and/or mentored students developing workshops include Yancy Aquino, Alice Erskine, Mary McKay, Nick Kapp, Chris Case, Jing Folsom, Elsa Jimenez-Samayoa, Safiyyah Forbes, Nancy Ruis, Jennifer Merrill, Ray Hernandez, Maryam Khan, Kylin Johnson, Emilie Hein, Susan Wu, Jeremy Evangelista-Ramos and Eric Torres.

The program is available at skylinecollege.edu/eyh. Another 70 Skyline College students volunteered to be go’fers at the conference to help usher girls between their sessions.

Vice President Jennifer Taylor-Mendoza started the day by welcoming the girls and introducing keynote speaker Zoe Zappitell, who gave an inspiring talk, encouraging the girls that they can do anything they want. Ms, Zappitell is a tech entrepreneur, formerly with Zynga.

In their workshops, girls designed a secret code, collected forensic evidence at the “murder in the produce aisle,” made lip balm as “cosmetic chemists,” “scrubbed in for surgery,” and learned the chemistry of magic tricks. There were 36 concurrent workshops for girls. Each girl participated in three workshops during the day.

Expanding Your Horizons aims to encourage girls to participate in high school math and science courses, provide role models for young women who are interested in math and science and provide support for and promote interaction between people employed by industry and education.

Planning committee members include AJ Bates, Shari Bookstaff, Chris Case, Kevin Chak, Gary Cheung, Stephen Fredricks, Jon Freedman, Mousa Ghanma, Ana Gutierrez-Gamez, Ray Hernandez, Kylin Johnson, Nadia Tariq, Kim Touneh, Alana Utsumi, and Marco Wehrfritz. Community members on the planning committee include Arlene Chang, Barbara Irli, Becky Lennon, Judy Lewis and Allison Takata.

Article by Christine L. Case | Photos by Andrea Caesar and Megan Scott

ESL Connect Open House

ESL ConnectOn March 25. 2019, the English Language Institute will be renamed ESL Connect to effectively illustrate the community and support the program provides for ESOL students.

The ESL Connect team consists of the Program Services Coordinator Mylene Foo, ESOL Counselors Kenny Gonzalez and Virginia Rosales, international student counselors, ESOL faculty and multi-lingual student assistants. ESL Connect serves over 400 students each year and provides exemplary support for students in the ESOL program at Skyline College as well as ELD students from local high schools as they transition to Skyline College. ESL Connect also works with local adult schools and high schools for intentional outreach to immigrant communities in North San Mateo County.

Twice each academic year, staff and faculty hold ESL registration day to help new students go through application, placement, orientation and registration in one day. Staff connects ESL students to a wide-variety of campus resources, including the Learning Center, DREAM Center, SparkPoint, Financial Aid and counseling to ensure that college remains financially accessible to all.

In coordination with the Learning Center, ESL Connect staff connects students to academic support with ESOL tutoring as well as grammar and conversation workshops. The staff and faculty of ESL Connect exemplify what it means for a college to be student-ready. Please join us in celebrating the transition from the English Language Institute to ESL Connect on March 25, 2019 and March 26, 2019 from 11:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.

Article by Chris Gibson | Photo by Thet Aung