Faculty Program Gets Exemplary Award

Mt. SAC's Developmental Education Faculty Certification Program has received the Exemplary Program Award from the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges for 2008. The award was presented to the co-directors of the program, Mt. SAC professors Rick Stepp-Bolling and Lori Walker, at the January meeting of the California Community College Board of Governors in Sacramento.

Created in 2002, Mt. SAC's Developmental Education Faculty Certification Program focuses on professional development to educate and inform Mt. SAC faculty about the developmental education needs of students on campus. Since its inception, 74 full-time faculty members and six adjunct faculty members have taken part in the program.

"The Certification Program promotes cognitive, social, emotional and professional growth of all individuals, at all levels, and is sensitive to individual differences and special needs that characterize each of us as 'developing' learners," said Mt. SAC's Academic Senate President, Michelle Grimes-Hillman.

The Exemplary Program Awards were established in 1991 by the Board of Governors to recognize outstanding community college programs. As many as two California Community College programs receive cash awards of $4,000 and up to four programs receive honorable mention plaques. The awards are sponsored by the Foundation for California Community Colleges and provide an excellent opportunity for colleges to showcase exceptional programs.

Mt. SAC “Mows Down” Competition in National Turfgrass Contest

Students in Mt. SAC's Turfgrass Science Program literally "mowed down" the competition by garnering first-place honors at the recent annual conference of the National Sports Turf Managers Association in San Jose.

In a highly competitive field of college and university teams from across the country, Mt. SAC sent two teams – one taking home the first-place trophy and a $4,000 cash award and the other team placing third. The prize money will be used to purchase necessary lab equipment.

First-place team members were: Pat Escalera, Geoff Miller, Chaz Perea, Hector Ramirez, and Noe Cardenas (alternate). Third-place winners were: Ricardo Guerrero, Giovanni Murillo, Ryan Rosebeary, Ed Schmachtenberger, and Tom Skelton. During the past three years, Mt. SAC students have achieved two first-place finishes and two third-place rankings. Prior to the contest, students spent more than five months in intense study and preparation. Topics ranged from pest recognition and disease identification to water management and drainage.

"It's very satisfying to do as well as we did," said horticulture professor Brian Scott, who served as coach along with professor Steve Dugas. "The competition just shows us where we stand in relationship to the top-notch turf programs in the country. This is an extremely difficult test, and all of our prep work paid off."

Demand for turf management specialists is increasing, according to Scott. "Opportunities for students in this industry are tremendous," he said, noting that Mt. SAC is among the few local colleges offering such a program.

"Coop" Views the Hoops at Mt. SAC!

Laker legend and Los Angeles Sparks Head Coach Michael Cooper showed up at a recent Mt. SAC women's basketball game specifically to surprise Head Coach Laura Beeman and her team. Beeman, who enters her 14th year over the state-championship Mountie women's basketball program, moonlights as an assistant coach for Cooper and the Sparks WNBA team.

"It sure was a pleasant surprise to have Michael show up and boost the spirits of our team," said Beeman. The inspiration evidently paid off, as the Mounties went on to clobber El Camino 65-35.

Beeman has led the Mounties to four state championships in the last five seasons, including a three-peat in the past three seasons. For more information about this and other atheltic programs, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.594.5611 ext. 4629 or visit the Mt. SAC Athletics web site at http://athletics.mtsac.edu.

Voters Approve Measure RR Campus Improvement Bond by 70%

East San Gabriel Valley voters resoundingly approved a $353-million bond extension yesterday to continue campus improvements at Mt. SAC. Of the 194,780 ballots cast, 136,253 (69.95%) were in support of Measure RR.

"We are thrilled that the community has shown its solid support of our mission to educate and train the region's workforce for decades to come," said Dr. John S. Nixon, president of the state's largest single-campus community college district. Nixon noted that Measure RR's passage was largely attributed to broad-based community support, including the valley's chambers of commerce, city, county and state leaders, Mt. SAC students and many dedicated volunteers.

Measure RR is an extension of Measure R, a $221-million bond that was passed by local voters in 2001. It merely extends the Measure R assessments of property owners for nine years, without an increase in the tax rate. The passage of Measure RR qualifies Mt. SAC to receive state matching funds totaling as much as $132 million to complete the planned projects.

Among these projects, Measure RR will finance the renovation and modernization of aging facilities, improvement of handicap accessibility across campus, and completion of earthquake retrofits. New construction will add needed classrooms and labs, establish a new fire training academy, and add a much-needed parking structure, as well as a new business and computer technology complex, library and learning resources center, gymnasium, student union/campus center and a child development center.

For detailed news release, click here.

Volleyball Star Named Player of the Month

Mt. SAC Women's Volleyball Sophomore Kelsey Duling was named the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Female Athlete of the Month (all sports), for the month of September.

Duling has led Mt. SAC's Team to one of the best starts in college history, with a regular game record of 6-3 and a tournament victory at the Santa Ana Volleyball Tournament over powerhouses Cypress and Orange Coast College. In 43 games during the month of September, Duling had 135 kills, 32 blocks, 154 digs and 18 aces, leading the team in nearly every statistical category. She has been dominating opponents with her kills, not only on the front, but also from the back row. Duling is a scholar athlete, maintaining a 3.72 GPA at Mt. SAC.

For more information please visit the CCCAA Website at http://www.coasports.org/althlete-month.asp or contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at (909) 594-5611 ext. 4022.

Summer Bridge Has Record Year

Celebrating 10 years of student achievement in 2008, Mt. SAC's Summer Bridge Program enjoyed its most successful year to date with a 93% program pass rate. Particularly impressive was the English 68 class, which had a retention rate of 100% — meaning every student who signed up for the class finished it with a passing grade.

All together, 263 students graduated from the program and began their fall semester at Mt. SAC with a well-earned sense of accomplishment.

The Summer Bridge Program helps incoming freshmen make a smooth transition into college. The program helps remove the "fear factor" and instill confidence, especially in those high school grads who are the first in their families to attend college.