Skyline College pride was busting out on Thursday November 7th when the Honors Program held an Alumni panel presentation specifically designed to inform and inspire current Skyline College students. Six Skyline College Honors Alums sat on the panel, generously sharing useful information and strategies for success based on their own experiences as transfer students.
The six panelists have all graduated from four year universities and are pursuing their dreams: Frances Bright graduated from UCB with a BA in Anthropology and MA in Folklore and Archeology; Derrick Hau from UCB in Molecular & Cell Biology; Raydan al Hubashi from UCSC in Politics; Jonathan Madison from Howard University in Political Science; Melba Madrigal from Cornell in Labor and Industrial Relations; and Leo Szeto from UCLA in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
Frances is currently teaching a special course for transfer students at Berkeley. Derrick is working for a software company and enrolled in a MA program in biotechnology. Raydan is on his way to teach in China. Jonathan worked for three years in Congress and is currently enrolled in law school. Melba is working in finances for a software firm and developing a website for community college transfer students. Leo is working for Disney as an Imagineer and he will be moving to China to design rollercoasters for the upcoming Shanghai Disneyland.
The Skyline College students in the audience received the Alumni panelists’ remarks with great enthusiasm. The evening was full of interaction, connection and useful information. A mentor contact list was created on the spot, and one of the panelists, Derrick Hau, started a Facebook group for alums and current honors students.
The panel presentation was video taped by Ira Lau of Skyline College’s Media Center and will be available on the HTP web access site as well as through the HTP website, so students who could not attend on 11/7 can benefit from the presentation. Life After Transfer was designed by a focus group of current honors students and organized by Katharine Harer, former HTP Coordinator, and Priscilla Schwartz, Skyline Honors Alum Extraordinaire.
Article by Katharine Harer, Photos by Raul Guerra.
