Faculty Member Given Prestigious W.H.O. Award

Mt. SAC is pleased to announce the California Teachers Association (CTA) has chosen faculty member Carolyn Inmon as the recipient for the 2008 We Honor Ours (W.H.O.) higher education award for 2008.

The CTA W.H.O. award is a service award given each year to one person from the Community College Association (CCA), California Faculty Association (CFA), Independent California Colleges and Universities Faculty Association (ICCUFA), or the Student California Teachers Association (SCTA). In her career, Carolyn has won the W.H.O. award in all three available levels, including CCA State, CTA State and local. The recipients are nominated and then voted on by select committee. In California, there are more than 75 chapters that have leaders who are eligible for the award.

A long time CTA and CCA member, Carolyn has been at Mt. SAC for 16 years as a Communication professor. During her time here, she's served as the College Faculty Association President, Assistant Director of Forensics, Honors Director, and Department Chair. She was also just named as one of Mt. SAC's 2008 Outstanding Educators (see next article).

Congratulations Carolyn!

2008 Educators of Distinction

The Mt. SAC Associated Students is proud to announce the winners of the 2008 Educators of Distinction award: Ronald Brown, Art Professor; Mary Chabot, Mathematics & Computer Sciences Professor; Alina Hernandez, Counselor; Anita Lopez, Associated Students Secretary (Student Life); Martin Sydney Mason, Physics & Engineering Professor; Jimmy Tamayo, Mathematics & Computer Sciences Professor.

The Educators of Distinction are nominated by students and the award recognizes faculty who have provided outstanding service to the College. They were honored with ceremony and dinner in May.

Health Students Win Medals at State HOSA Competition

Health career students recently won a gold medal, 11 silver medals, and two bronze medals at the Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) state competition in Santa Clara. More than 800 secondary and post-secondary students competed at the state tournament.

Chijioke Egboluche won a gold medal in the nutrition competition, a silver medal in creative problem solving, and was a finalist in the Kaiser health care issues competition. Chotinan Mahapiti won silver medals in creative problem solving and the health care concepts competition, and Chaona Malunga won silver medals in the biomedical debate and nutrition.

Randy Luttrell won a silver medal in the biomedical debate, a bronze medal in medical math, and was a finalist in the Kaiser health care issues exam. Crissy Burroughs won a silver medal in prepared speaking, and Afoma Ekedolum was a silver medalist in the biomedical debate. Holly Sanders won a silver medal and Defina Osby won a bronze medal in the extemporaneous speaking competition.

Laura Espinoza won a silver medal in the biomedical debate and was a fourth-place finalist in the pathophysiology competition. Angelita Pedraja won a silver medal in creative problem solving and was a fifth-place finalist in pathophysiology. Nnenna Emeruwa was a fourth-place finalist in the medical spelling competition and was a finalist in Kaiser health care issues.

All 11 Mt. SAC students will advance to the national HOSA competition in Dallas, Texas, in June.

HOSA, established in 1976 by the U.S. Department of Education, is the national organization for secondary and post-secondary health career students. The organization provides students in 40 states with skills, leadership development, and career development.

Summer Bridge Program Celebrates 10 Years

The Summer Bridge Program, which has helped hundreds of students make the sometimes intimidating transition from high school to college, recently marked 10 years of success with a special celebration in Founders Hall.

The event, which had a feel of a family reunion, featured dinner, music by Bridge alumni, testimonials by past and present Bridge students, and a video that featured just a handful of the program's many success stories.

Among those who shared their stories were sisters Romina and Melina Yepiz who are now college graduates and human services professionals. Romina was a member of the first Bridge cohort in 1998.

Also sharing his experience was alumnus Michael Ngo, who is also a college grad and has worked at Mt. SAC in various capacities, including his current position as an ESL counselor. He shared his mission to "give back" to students in the same way that the faculty and staff gave to him through Bridge.

The celebration also recognized faculty and staff who have participated in the program since its inception. Honored for 10 years of continued service to the Summer Bridge program were faculty members Silver Calzada, Carol Norton and Paul Russell. Jim Smith, the program's first coordinator and longtime counselor, also was honored as was 10-year veteran Phil Maynard, who missed the ceremony, because he had to teach a class.

Summer Bridge founder Audrey Yamagata-Noji, vice president of Student Services, received special recognition for her role in the program's formation and continued achievements. She noted how the Bridge concept exemplifies effective collaboration between Instruction and Student Services.

The program will now welcome its 11th class in a few weeks, consisting of nearly 350 students — the most ever.

New Associated Student Officers Chosen

The winners of the Associated Student elections were announced recently. The following students will serve for the 2008-09 school year:

Congratulations to next year's student leaders!

Passion Pays Off for Interior Design Student

Arcel Punsalang wants everyone to know he is passionate about interior design, and one of the best places to study it is at Mt. San Antonio College.

Punsalang's enthusiasm paid off recently when the Philippines native won a student competition sponsored by the International Interior Design Association. "I have never been so proud of myself," said Punsalang, a 37-year-old former civil engineer. "It was a nerve-wracking experience, but I was able to beat out bigger schools and get some recognition for Mt. SAC." Punsalang competed against students from Cal State University Northridge and the Design Institute of San Diego. For his win, he received a $4,000 scholarship.

Punsalang, a father of three from Walnut, began his studies at Mt. SAC in 2005 focusing on computer science. He had always dreamed of becoming an architect, but back in his native country, that was too lofty a goal because of the expense. Instead, once here, he followed his creative impulses and enrolled in the interior design program.

Fast forward a few years and Punsalang found himself as the lead designer working on the newly renovated Founders Hall building on campus. As part of the Founders Hall revamp, Punsalang and his team decided to soften the all-white space by adding color through rugs, window treatments, and art. Since his win, he has been approached by two design firms and is setting his sights on attending Cal State Long Beach in the fall.