Winter/Spring 2009 PASADENA CITY COLLEGE www.pasadena.edu CAMPUS REPORT Boots to Books PCC offers course to help veterans transition from military to civilian life. President s Message Pasadena Area Community College District Board of Trustees Geoffrey L. Baum Member, Area 1 William E. Thomson Member, Area 4 Dr. Jeanette Mann Vice President, Area 2 Dr. Consuelo Rey Castro Member, Area 3 Dr. Hilary Bradbury-Huang Board Clerk, Area 5 Beth Wells-Miller Member, Area 7 John H. Martin President, Area 6 John Campo Student Trustee Trustee Baum Appointed To California Community Colleges Board of Governors Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has appointed Geoffrey L. Baum, Pasadena Area Community College District Board of Trustees member, to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors. I am honored that Governor Schwarzenegger has given me this opportunity to work with interim Chancellor Diane Woodruff and incoming Chancellor Jack Scott on behalf of the more than two million community college students statewide, Baum said. By providing affordable, quality education and retraining students of all ages for new careers, California s community colleges will play a critical role helping our state and nation meet the many challenges we face in the years ahead. Baum has been a PACCD trustee since 2001 representing Area 1, which covers La Caada Flintridge, west Pasadena, and Altadena. He joins the 17-member Board, which formally interacts with state and federal officials and other state organizations. The California Community Colleges Board of Governors sets policy and provides guidance for the 72 districts and 110 colleges that constitute the system. The Board of Governors also selects a chancellor for the system. Since 2001, Baum has served as the assistant dean for public affairs and special events at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California. He worked for C-SPAN as executive producer from 1999 to 2000 and as a senior producer from 1989 to 1993. From 1994 to 1999, he served as the assistant vice president of marketing and public relations at Claremont McKenna College. Baum, 45, served as the acting senior editor for National Public Radio s Marketplace in 1994 and was an editorial assistant for the Army, Navy, and Air Force Times from 1986 to 1987. He was a substitute English teacher for the Huntington Beach High School District in 1989. Board of Trustees Member Geoffrey L. Baum cuts into his congratulatory cake as his daughter, Amy, looks on. At an Oct. 15 regular meeting, the board presented Baum with the cake after announcing his appointment to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors. Pasadena City College Partners with the Community As the year draws to a close, it brings many exciting prospects and difficult challenges to Pasadena City College and our community. The news from Sacramento is daunting. The current budget crisis in California threatens to affect the ability of community colleges to fulfill their mission of providing quality higher education to all who seek it. Thanks to a fiscally conservative approach, PCC is in a much better position to withstand deep budget cuts in the short-term than other institutions. Yet, if the proposed decrease in funds for community colleges comes to pass, PCC will certainly feel the pinch. One way to partially offset these cuts is with the help of the community through the PCC Foundation. One of the highest profile activities taking place in the PCC community in 2009 will be the $3.5 million Center for the Arts campaign. This critically important effort, which will be led by the PCC Foundation Board of Directors, is currently in its quiet phase, and will soon be seeking community-wide support. You will be hearing much more about the campaign in the coming months. The campaign will fund three essential add-ons to plans approved by voters with the passage of Measure P in 2002. The magnificent Center for the Arts building will transform the campus with its modern yet compatible design, making it possible for students to learn and showcase their talent. This issue of the Campus Report includes a Measure P report to the community that outlines the progress of PCC s facilities master plan. Recently, I had the honor of presenting the inaugural Building the Spirit of a Vibrant Community award to a strong supporter of community colleges and PCC. State Sen. Jack Scott was the recipient of the award, sponsored by our PCC Foundation, for his years of leadership, vision, service, and involvement in PCC and our community. Dr. Scott, the Chancellor-elect of California s community college system, served as PCC president from 1987 to 1995, during which time he launched the college s first major campus construction project in more than 15 years. A member of the State Legislature since 1997, Scott authored key bills important to community colleges. Truly, Senator Scott, PCC s first President Emeritus, has made an exceptional contribution and commitment to the advancement of our community. With the help of Dr. Scott, the dedicated staff and faculty of our institution, and, of course, you in the community, I know PCC will get through these tough fiscal times and continue to be a beacon of opportunity to the San Gabriel Valley and beyond. Dr. Paulette J. Perfumo President Books to Boots PC offers course to hlep veterans transition from military to civilian life. Jos Soto always knew he wanted to be in the military. Eric Bardallis didn t. But both current Pasadena City College students made the commitment to serve their country in the armed services. Soto and Bardallis are just two of the 13 PCC students enrolled in Counseling 12: Personal Growth & Development for Returning Veterans. There are a lot of times I still wish I was in the military. It s a different type of lifestyle, civilian life. It s a lifestyle I m not accustomed to, said Soto, 28, a former staff sergeant who served eight years with the Special Forces in Korea, Afghanistan, and the Philippines. I never saw myself as joining the military. I always thought I was going to go to college, but the more I looked into it, the more it seemed right for me, said Bardallis, 22, who achieved the rank of corporal while serving four years in the 3rd Battalion of the 7th Marine Regiment. September marked the beginning of PCC s inaugural course geared toward veterans and their friends and families, the second such community college class in the nation designed to help deployed, post-deployed, and veteran students make a positive transition from military to civilian life. Roughly 700 students at PCC are military veterans. I was aware of the need for this more tailored, customized version of a self-development course, said Dr. Harold Martin, Vietnam veteran and course instructor. The class examines military transitional issues such as combat grief, substance abuse, self-esteem, battle mind, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and suicide. The class has helped Dylan Lange get his life back on track. Lange, 30, has sought help for substance abuse since being discharged in 2001 after four years of service in the Navy. This course has allowed me a lot of introspection, Lange said. It has given me guidance in life. I have a sense of direction. Lange now aspires to become a middle-school science teacher, and hopes to transfer to California State University, Los Angeles next year. According to the November 2007 State of the California Community College System address, 16,000 of 21,000 California veterans attend community college. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has reported 440,000 service members currently attend about 6,800 institutions, from vocational schools to graduate programs. While working for an outreach program at Los Angeles City College in January 2007, Manuel Martinez, a Vietnam veteran and counseling therapist at the East Los Angeles Vet Center, was shocked to learn how many veterans were on campus. He presented his cause to Citrus College, and the administration there expressed a strong willingness to make this class happen, Martinez said. Martinez taught the first course in Fall 2007. Martin encountered a similar receptive environment at PCC. [The PCC administration] was so supportive. There was no question whatsoever about the importance of such a class, he said. Students contend that Martin makes the class special. When he talks about veterans topics, his passion comes through, Bardallis said. Martin, who served 18 years with the Army National Guard s 25th Division, hopes to draw from his own experiences to help teach the course. After Vietnam, Martin spent time in a VA hospital for PTSD. I had no idea what the instructor was going to be like going into the class, but after finding out that he had experience in the service& it brought me a lot of comfort. I feel I can share more knowing that he went through something similar, Soto said. Apart from dealing with readjustment issues, the class includes in-depth tours of the career center, testing, assessments, and referrals to the Employment Development Department. The course, which satisfies CSU General Education requirements, counts toward a bachelor s degree. The curriculum incorporates a scholastic awareness that prepares students for future courses at PCC. Retention rates of students who have served in the military has been low, as a Department of Defense study conducted from 1995 to 2001 found that only 3 percent of veteran-students who attended four-year schools graduated. We ve tried to make the class as hassle-free as possible by accepting late applicants and cutting through the red tape that would have impaired their registration, Martin said. The course was made especially with veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan in mind, though it is open ideally to all veterans and their families. The class targets the veteran population, but they may not be ready to take a class like this, Martin said. There is a big push for relatives, spouses, girlfriends and boyfriends to take the class. Often they are at a loss [in terms of] how to deal with veterans, and the class comes up with strategies to guide them in the right direction. For the veterans and their classmates, Martin s class has been a valuable experience. All my other classes like political science and math have these objective answers and terms, but this class is different. I m the one presenting the material. It s very subjective, Bardallis said. I m glad it s available to me. PCC Offers AA and AS Degrees You can earn a two-year Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degree while taking courses in any of PCC s 60 academic program areas. College Transfer At PCC, students can complete the lower-division requirement for almost any major offered by a four-year institution. PCC is noted for its exceptionally high student transfer rate to juniorlevel status at local and national public and private four-year colleges. Call the Degree and Transfer Center at (626) 585-7287 for more information. Scholars Program Motivated PCC students can take a challenging course-enrichment option to complete this program and be guaranteed priority transfer admission to seven top local colleges and universities. Call (626) 585-7428 for more information. Career and Technical Education Day and evening certificate programs in more than 70 one- and two-year Career and Technical Education curricula are available for students who seek a career in a CTE field. Call the Career and Technical Education Office at (626) 585-7301. Online Courses PCC offers a number of classes each semester in which part or all of the time ordinarily spent in a classroom with other students is spent accessing the course via the Internet. For more information, see the Online Class website at online.pasadena.edu. Telecourses/Distance Learning PCC offers a number of transfer credit telecourses each semester as an alternative to classes in a traditional on-campus setting. For more information, call (626) 585-7575. Courses at Local High Schools Can t take the class you need on campus? A number of sections of regular PCC full-credit course offerings are held at local high schools. These classes are open to both PCC students and high school students. See the Schedule of Classes online at www.pasadena.edu/schedule for more information or call (626) 585-7575. Study Abroad Programs Full-credit, study/travel programs are offered in Guadalajara, Mexico; Oxford, England; and Florence, Italy. In addition, PCC offers summer trips to Madrid, Spain, and Germany/Austria. Other travel programs include Theater in London and Theater in Ashland (Oregon). For more information, call the Study Abroad Office at (626) 585-7203 or visit the C Building, Room 223. Community Education Center The CEC offers a wide variety of credit and noncredit learning opportunities in general education, CTE, developmental, remedial, and recreational courses and programs. The Community Education Center (CEC) is located at 3035 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107. For more information, call (626) 585-3000. Fee-Based Programs A wide variety of classroom and online courses are offered for self-interest (not for credit or grade). Youth classes are also available. For more information, call the Extended Learning Center at (626) 585-7608 or visit www.pasadena.edu/extendedlearning. Child Development Center Located adjacent to the campus at 1324 E. Green St., the CDC provides quality child care and an enriched educational program for children of PCC and CEC students, as well as for children of faculty and staff and community families. For more information, call (626) 585-3180. SPRING 2009 CONTINUING STUDENT REGISTRATION BEGINS 12/06/08 NEW & RETURNING STUDENT REGISTRATION BEGINS 01/17/09 OPEN REGISTRATION BEGINS 01/27/09 SEMESTER BEGINS 02/23/09 WINTER 2008 OPEN REGISTRATION BEGINS 11/29/08 INTERSESSION BEGINS 01/12/09 Admissions and Records, Room L113 (626) 585-7395 If you did not attend PCC in Fall 2008, you must apply for admission for Winter and/or Spring 2009. You may apply online at www.pasadena.edu. Counseling Services, Room L104 (626) 585-7251 See a counselor for help with choosing classes and getting an orientation to the college. Also provided are counseling for personal problems and specialized counseling for re-entry students, economically disadvantaged students, and students with disabilities. Testing/Assessment, Room D205 (626) 585-7272 Check with the Assessment Office to find out if some of your classes require an assessment test before you can register. Registration, Room L113 (626) 585-7575 Register and pay your fees on the website or by phone at your assigned time. To register online, go to www.pasadena.edu. Schedule of Classes You can purchase a schedule at the PCC Campus Bookstore for $2, or by mail by sending $4.25 (check or money order) to: Pasadena City College Bookstore, 1580 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, or Vroman s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena. The schedule is also available on the web at www.pasadena.edu/schedule. Cost of Attending PCC California residents: $20 per unit Out-of-state tuition: additional $181 per unit (Winter/Spring) International student tuition*: additional $190 per unit (Winter/Spring) All students pay a health fee: $10 (Winter); $13 (Spring) *includes capital outlay fee For help with enrollment fees and other costs of attending PCC, contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid at (626) 585-7401. PCC General Information: (626) 585-7123 PCC on the Internet: www.pasadena.edu [ ]Winter/Spring 2009 Semester Info Enroll NOW! Classes Dates to Fill Quickly! Bridget McDonald, a PCC freshman environmental sciences major, was named to the 2009 Tournament of Roses Royal Court. The Royal Court embodies all that Pasadena stands for. You re an ambassador to the city, said McDonald, one of seven Princesses selected from more than 1,000 applicants. McDonald, 18, will attend the University of Southern California next year. Measure P Update Citizen s Oversight Committee Annual Report to the Community About Measure P: In March 2002, the voters in the Pasadena Area Community College District (PACCD) approved Measure P, a $150,000,000 General Obligation Bond measure to fund facilities replacement, reconstruction, and modernization of existing campus facilities. These facilities needs are identified in the Pasadena City College Facilities Master Plan 2010. This 10-year facilities master plan specifically identifies the projects funded by Measure P. Work is continuing at a feverish pace to complete some major projects on the Pasadena City College campus. Meanwhile, planning for the next series of projects is moving ahead in a similarly rapid manner so the PCC community can expect the construction activity to continue for several more years. The remodeling of the Campus Center has undergone twists and turns something that always happens anytime an existing building gets a completed redo all the way down to the structural components. Despite the surprises, the project is still expected to be completed on time and close to onbudget. Each time something else crops up, extra dollars are spent; however, a line-item was set aside just for such eventualities, so most or all of these expenses were covered. In the end, the building, now 45 years old, will be brought into the 21st century so that students for decades to come will enjoy its services. A completely new food service/dining area will highlight the renovation, along with a student lounge featuring high-speed Wi-Fi access. Two new buildings are now well into the construction phase. The new Bookstore building, which will be home to the PCC Police and Safety Services station and Student Business Services in addition to Bookstore, is also expected to open on time and on-budget. The steel superstructure has been completed for several months, so the focus now is on installing the walls and floors. Many of the electrical, mechanical, and plumbing tasks have been roughed in, and the project is progressing satisfactorily. The Industrial Technologies Building has taken shape as the exterior walls have been framed, the roof and top floor have been poured, and the first-floor concrete pouring is now complete. The magnitude of the building now can be realized; it will be an imposing addition to the western campus and Hill Avenue. The Electrical, Electronics, Drafting, Building Construction, Automotive, Welding, and Machine Shops will all find their new homes in the Industrial Technologies Building. The campus-wide Technology Infrastructure Upgrade project is within a few months of completion. The new telephone system has been activated, and the last of the new phones are being installed. The next phase will finish some of the important details of the telephone system, concentrating on transferring the computer networks into a state-of-the-art platform that can handle the demands of a large college. With the new Center for the Arts designs drawn, the plans went to the Division of the State Architect at the end of October. DSA is the agency responsible for checking and approving the plans prior to construction bidding. The building will house the Visual Arts and Media Studies division and Performing and Communication Arts division. With the full input from all the faculty and staff who will work in the building, the Center for the Arts will be the capstone of Facilities Master Plan 2010. The design pays tribute to the best features of existing campus buildings, while also drawing on strong artistic themes to express that PCC s Center for the Arts is a hub of creativity. The project will be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified. Of course, there are dozens of smaller projects that are being designed and completed. New elevators will be installed where needed; existing elevators that have become functionally obsolete will be completely rebuilt. A wheelchair lift is being designed for the front of the C Building, the main administration facility. A previous ramp design ultimately had to be discarded due to logistical problems that could not be resolved reasonably. During the last weeks of the summer break, when classes are at a minimum, 25 classrooms were refurbished to bring them up to par for modern instruction. There is one ray of sunshine that is peeking through the dark economic clouds: construction costs have softened. With the global economic downturn, particularly with the near-standstill in both residential and commercial construction, both labor and materials have become more plentiful, thereby lowering costs. Hopes are high that when the construction contract for the Center for the Arts is put to public bid next Spring, costs will fit comfortably within available funds. Bond Expenditure Update The accountancy firm of Vavrinek, Trine, and Day conducted an independent audit of the Measure P Bond fund for the year 2007-2008. The auditors tested internal controls, disbursement of bond funds, and reviewed compliance and expenditure allowances under the Measure P initiative and projects list. The auditors tested expenditures charged to the Measure P bond funds. No exceptions were noted. MEASURE P PROJECTSBUDGETAMOUNT EXPENDED As of June 30, 2008 Parking Structure Completed $23,361,600$22,911,856 Industrial Technologies $24,309,200$6,844,789 Bookstore/Campus Center $27,359,600$11,482,327 Center for the Arts $46,598,200$941,214 Reconstruction/Upgrades $24,241,000$4,305,373 Construction Management $3,970,400$2,042,995 Environmental Impact Report Completed $160,000$154,944 TOTAL $150,000,000$48,683,548 As of June 30, 2008 INCOME $33,000,000Series A $65,000,000Series B $7,300,000Series C $28,350Series B U.S. Bank Reimbursement $5,712Series C U.S. Bank Reimbursement $8,798,755Interest Income $191,445Local Revenue TOTAL INCOME$114,324,262 EXPENDITURES$1,335,054 2002/2003$14,996,7252003/2004 $8,118,6882004/2005 $1,672,5992005/2006 $2,706,2432006/2007 $19,854,2392007/2008 TOTAL EXPENDITURES$48,683,548 BALANCE AVAILABLE$65,640,714 An artist s rendering of the Center for the Arts, which will be situated in the heart of the campus and house the Visual Arts and Media Studies division and Performing and Communication Arts division. Construction, modernization, and expansion of the Campus Center and clock tower is expected to be completed by summer of 2009. Measure P was approved by the voters under the legal requirements of Proposition 39, the Strict Accountability in Local School Construction Bonds Act, with a majority of 69.84 percent. As a condition of voter approval of the measure by 55 percent or more, Proposition 39 requires the appointment of an independent committee of citizens to oversee the expenditure of voter-approved bond funds. The PCC Citizen s Oversight Committee includes not only the statutorily required minimum membership of five prescribed positions, but an additional seven citizens nominated/appointed by the PACCD Board of Trustees. The Committee includes a representative from students, senior citizen s organizations, taxpayer groups, business and industry, an active member from either PCC s PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Association) or the Foundation, in addition to the seven trustee nominations/appointments. The Citizen s Oversight Committee began meeting on Oct. 30, 2002, and has been meeting quarterly since. The committee s charge is to ensure the prudent use of taxpayers dollars and that the expenditure of Measure P funds is only for those projects identified in PCC s Facilities Master Plan 2010 and the Measure P Projects List approved by the voters. Measure P Citizen s Oversight Committee Warren Weber Taxpayer s Organization, Committee Chairman John Campo PCC Students Rita Elshout Area #4 Representative George Fasching Area #7 Representative Larry Fugal Area #2 Representative David Jacobs Local Business Organization Jay Lammers Area #6 Representative Angie Mont-O Brien Senior Citizens Organization Roberta Moon Active in PTSA or PCC Foundation Laura Olhasso Area #1 Representative Annie Yu Song Area # 5 Representative Note: Area #3 Representative to be determined A southwest view of the Industrial Technologies Building. The yellow exterior on the facility serves as a moisture barrier, which allows interior work to continue during the rainy season. Message From the Committee Chairman On behalf of the community members who serve on the Citizens Oversight Committee for Measure P Bond Funds, I am pleased to present our annual progress report. Our current construction is centered on the west side of the campus adjacent to Hill Street. These structures are the Campus Center, Bookstore, Police Offices, and the Engineering and Technologies buildings. They are progressing well on or ahead of schedule with minimal change orders. The PCC administration team has again shown its skill and commitment to delivering these projects on time and within budget. No small task in an era of ever-increasing construction costs. Each year we have an independent audit to verify the appropriate allocation and expenditure of our bond funds. We are charged to oversee these projects, and to report to the community on the status of these bond-funded projects. It is my hope that this report shows the progress we have made. Warren Weber Almuni/Foundation Update Honoring Senator Jack Scott The ballroom of the Westin Pasadena was sold out for the Pasadena City College Foundation s inaugural Building the Spirit of a Vibrant Community award luncheon honoring State Sen. Jack Scott on Oct. 28. PCC President Paulette J. Perfumo presented the award to Scott, the Chancellor-elect of California s community college system and former PCC president. Through the support of committed, involved individuals like Senator Scott& we can continue to help students reach their education goals and foster student success, Perfumo said. The award was designed to honor an individual, organization, or business that has made an exceptional contribution and commitment to the advancement of the community. Honorees will have made a significant contribution to areas served by the Pasadena Area Community College District; will have displayed a commitment to education, leadership and vision, service and involvement; and will have exhibited creativity and innovation. While serving as PCC president from 1987 to 1995, Scott launched the first major campus construction project in more than 15 years, initiating a $100 million Master Plan. During his tenure, PCC completed a new, state-of-the-art library, the Community Education Center, the Child Development Center, a new athletics complex, and the Sculpture Garden. Scott also played an integral part in initiating PCC Foundation efforts to raise scholarship funds and pursue grants for education programs, as well as facilitated the Foundation s first capital campaign to build PCC s award-winning library. The luncheon was emceed by Pasadena Mayor William Bogaard, and featured speeches by Board of Trustees President John Martin, State Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, and State Sen. Gloria Romero. Portantino and Romero also jointly presented resolutions commending Scott s service to his community. A member of the State Legislature since 1997, Scott was elected to the State Senate representing the 21st District in 2000. He has authored key bills, 47 of which have been signed into law, including several important to community colleges. A video presentation about the history and advancement of PCC and a video tribute to Scott chronicling his accomplishments were shown at the event. Interviews with friends and colleagues The Pasadena City College Foundation holds its inaugural Building the Spirit of a Vibrant Community luncheon. PCC President Paulette J. Perfumo pins a boutonniere on State Sen. Jack Scott s lapel at an event honoring the Chancellor-elect of California s community college system and former PCC president. were interspersed with photos of Scott from his time at PCC and clips of him on the State Senate floor. Walter Burch of the Woodland Hills Church of Christ, a college friend of Scott, led the invocation and later spoke of his experience with Scott at Abilene Christian University. Scott has also been honored as the first President Emeritus of PCC. Campaign Launched! This fall, the PCC Foundation launched the quiet phase of a $3.5 million campaign to support the soon-to-be constructed $63 million Center for the Arts. Funds raised through this campaign will make it possible for the 62,000 square-foot building to include three significant and important specialty features: The Recital Hall, The Art Gallery, and The Black Box Theater. Scheduled to open in mid-2011, the Center for the Arts will serve the community as a valuable resource for generations to come. The unique structure will become the magnificent home of PCC s Visual Arts and Media Studies division and Performing and Communication Arts division, and will showcase student creativity and learning. If you are interested in learning more about the Center for the Arts campaign or would like to become a part of this exciting opportunity, please call the PCC Foundation office at (626) 585-7051. Join the President s Circle Alumni and friends who contribute an annual gift of $1,000 or more to the President s Circle help to ensure the success of the college s mission and future. The generosity of our President s Circle members provides funding for a broad range of needs like laboratory and classroom equipment, books, software, and other resources to assist our students. Won t you join us by becoming a President s Circle member today? Your gift will be recognized in the Summer/Fall 2009 issue of the Campus Report. And if you join now, you will also be included in a special membersonly reception with PCC President Paulette J. Perfumo to be held in March 2009. For more information, contact Irene Aguilera in the PCC Foundation at (626) 585-7468. Alumni News & Notes PCC Nursing Alumni Reunion The Nursing Alumni Chapter will host its annual meeting and reunion at the Altadena Town and Country Club on May 2, 2009. For more information, contact the PCC Alumni Office at (626) 585-7468 or email alumni@pasadena.edu. PCC s Swim Chapter is planning to gather again for the Spring 2009 Swim Invitational at PCC. Any and all past swimmers at PCC are invited to participate in the reunion. For more information, contact jace760@yahoo.com. " Congratulations to alumna Ruth Arviso, recipient of the 2008 Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Scholarship. Ruth is attending the New School in New York City pursuing her doctorate in social psychology. An honors student at Pitzer College, where she majored in organizational studies and political psychology, she plans to return to her community of northwest Pasadena to work with social service agencies helping those who struggle with poverty and clinical depression. " Erin Cooper, a former student at PCC and daughter of Margaret Ramey, associate dean of Admissions and Records, will travel to Germany this year to teach English on a Fulbright Scholarship. Cooper, who just graduated from UC Berkeley with a double-major in English and Economics and a minor in German, was always fascinated with researching and comparing education systems in different countries. The Fulbright Program will provide Cooper with a context to better understand foreign views and values through international group efforts. " Alexander Woodman (PCC 2008) will transfer in Spring 2009 to the University of San Francisco, where he will be pursing his Bachelor of Nursing degree. Alexander says he enjoyed his PCC education and is impressed with the diversity of the student body and excellent professors. He is a permanent member of Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society (AGS). " Karen Koch (PCC 1993) served as Associated Students president and vice president, and was an active member of AGS while at PCC. She also helped reinstate the Circle K club. Karen is so thankful to her teachers who made an impact on her life, in particular, Yoshi Yamato, Janis Dwyer, Mary Blowers, and former Vice President of Student and Learning Services Ernestine Moore. She said she had been so afraid to start school that initially she took only one class at a time but with encouragement, she was able to take a full load and complete her degree. She transferred to USC and later worked for the City of Temple City as volunteer coordinator. Two years ago, she suffered a disabling accident and is now retired. She and her husband, Gunter, are enjoying their retirement years together after 40 years of marriage. They have four grown daughters and four grandchildren who are the light of their lives. [ ]Athletics Update In community college sports, a good coach is a motivator, a recruiter, and the figure of authority, besides a teacher of the fundamentals to student-athletes. In just her second season at Pasadena City College, women s volleyball coach Tammy Silva has displayed these qualities, and has brought an energetic approach that has helped turned the program around. Silva s Lancers transformed from an 11-11 team last year following a two-win 2006 season prior to her arrival to one that went 14-6 and ranked No. 20 in the state poll going into this season s final weeks. PCC is back on the map of quality volleyball teams, a goal that Silva reached in a very short period of time. We have a great group of young women with a lot more talent than we had the year before, Silva said. We want to make the playoffs and that s something this school hasn t done since 2001. It s exciting to see the players buy into our coaching and gel into a real unit. In a November match, PCC showed just how far it has come with a dominating four-game win over then-state No. 11 Mt. San Antonio College. Leading PCC this year is the sophomore All-South Coast Conference tandem of outside hitter Candice Price and opposite Ashley Marshman. The Lancers have mixed in a top libero in freshman Marissa Rangel, and are anchored by the middle-blocking twin-sister duo of Galia and Fiorella Sotomayor. Transfer sophomore setter Vanessa Amran completes a talented starting lineup. We have good height up front with most of our players 5-10 or 5-9, Silva said. Rangel gives us great defense, and we re getting strong play by our sophomores. We have good hitting with Galia, Candice, and Ashley. We ve already come back to win matches twice down 2-0, so the team exhibits resiliency as well. As the sweeper on the Pasadena City College men s soccer team, sophomore Malcolm Linton s job is to keep the opposition from scoring, and to clear out the play in front of PCC s goalie. But Linton isn t just a top defender for the Lancers. He s the secret weapon on the South Coast Conference first-place Lancers explosive offense. An expert on the art of the throw-in, Linton has sparked PCC by setting a school record for most assists in a season. After 17 matches, Linton compiled an impressive 15 assists, most off of set-play throw-ins. Linton, who had six assists in his 2007 freshman season, also broke the PCC record for most assists for a career with 21 (as of press time of this publication). It s funny, when I was a little kid, my sister Alyssa was great at throw-ins and I hated that she always threw the ball farther than I could, Linton said. Now, Linton has honed his skills to the point that he s able to heave two-handed overhand throws as far as 40 yards through the air. Linton played baseball as an outfielder at La Salle High School, but a shoulder injury limited his throwing strength at both sports. He said he s worked his way back to full strength this year. I can probably hit the target four out of every five times now, Linton said. I ve gotten better, but that s also because we have more aggressive players on offense this season. I get a hand signal or eye contact with a player, and they go to the spot and I try to just place it for them. Jose Cortez, Gilbert Pogosyan, Sargis Agaronian, Albrik Tahmasian, Gilbert Chavarria, and Ando Ghevandyan are just some of the players who have scored header goals, benefitting from Linton s set-ups on throws. Center midfielder James Hernandez, team leader in goals, and goalie Jorge Sainz have also been helped by Linton s kicking and foot-passing abilities. Malcolm is able to serve very long balls that have pace into the attacking zone with great accuracy, PCC Director of Soccer Cherif Zein said. He s improved so much from last year that he s able to hit any target on a wide or narrow field. The throw-in play is one that is used more and more by the top pro teams throughout the world. It s a tactic we have used to our advantage. Linton was an All-CIF Division IV player at La Salle High School and a Pasadena Star-News All- Area Team selection as a senior prior to attending PCC. He prides himself on his defense, but is pleased with the offensive numbers. Setting the assists record is something special, he said. I have to thank my teammates because they are the ones finishing the goals. One of the reasons we have been successful as a team this year is that we all hang out together as friends outside of the field. We have a good camaraderie. Trying to win the conference, make the playoffs, and maybe go to the state tournament are things that we think about in the back of our minds. For Linton, success is just a stone s throw away. Sweeper Malcolm Linton winds up for a throw-in, a trademark for the sophomore soccer player. Candice Price (11) hits the ball against Mt. SAC as teammates Irene Ng (6) and Vanessa Amran (5) look on. Did you know? The magazine Popular Hot Rodding recently recognized the hard work and dedication of Ed Willis, a Pasadena City College Automotive Technology student. Since March 2006, the 39-year-old Willis has been restoring a LeMans Blue 1969 Chevy Camaro, for which he rebuilt the engine and reworked the transmission and suspension. Calendar of Events Winter / Spring 2009 DEC-JAN December 5 & 6 Dance Concert 8 p.m. Sexson Auditorium Dec. 5, 6, 11, 12 & 13 Theater Production Season s Greetings by Alan Ayckbourn 8 p.m. & 2 p.m. matinee 12/6 & 13 Little Theater (C106) December 6 Vocal Jazz Ensemble 4 p.m. Harbeson Hall December 7 Classical Guitar Concert 3 p.m. Harbeson Hall December 11 Chamber Ensembles Concert 7:30 p.m. Harbeson Hall December 12 Jazz & Blues Ensembles 8 p.m. K100 December 13 Holiday Music Concert 8 p.m. Sexson Auditorium December 14 Jazz Band 2 p.m. Sexson Auditorium December 15 African Drumming/Dancing Concert 8 p.m. Harbeson Hall December 4 January 24 Juried Student Exhibition PCC Gallery (Gallery closed December 21 January 5) FEB PCC Cinema Showcase Film & Video by PCC Students Dates and times TBA MAR March 13 May 2 23rd Artist in Residence Exhibition: Simply Because You re Near Me by artist Eileen Cowin March 13 May 2 March 23 27 Eileen Cowin, Artist in Residence Multiple events TBA MAY May 28 June13 Annual Scholarship-Winning Students Show PCC Gallery ART IS TIMELESS In October, a special water color art exhibit took place at the Regency Fair Oaks senior living center in Pasadena. Residents of the center, many of whom are disabled, are students in a weekly class that is offered in partnership with the Pasadena City College Community Education Center. Regency resident and student Evelyn Porter (above) stands proudly with her paintings during the exhibit. Most of the Regency residents had never before taken any art classes. The non-credit class is one of 24 such classes (taught by PCC instructors) offered through the CEC at sites throughout the district for disabled adults and seniors. Campus Report Pasadena City College " Public Relations Office 1570 East Colorado Boulevard Pasadena, California 91106-2003 (626) 585-7315 Director of Public Relations Juan Gutierrez Publications Supervisor Gilbert Rivera Sports Information Robert Lewis Contributing Writers Irene Aguilera Morgan Brief Richard van Pelt Ashley Zeldin Photography Richshell Allen Richard Quinton Graphic Artist Carissa Encarnacion Pasadena Area Community College District Board of Trustees John H. Martin, President Dr. Jeanette Mann, Vice President Dr. Hilary Bradbury-Huang, Clerk Geoffrey L. Baum, Member Dr. Consuelo Rey Castro, Member William E. Thomson, Member Beth Wells-Miller, Member John Campo, Student Trustee Non Profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Pasadena, CA