6/13/2002 • Issue #72
News & Views
Commencement Marks Student Milestones
BCC students of diverse backgrounds
and ages will mark a significant goal in their educational careers during
the 2001-02 commencement ceremony tomorrow at 7 p.m. in the BCC gymnasium.
The college will award approximately 1,670 degrees and certificates to
a record-breaking number of BCC graduates, many of whom will go on to
four-year institutions or begin new careers. First Lady of Washington
State Mona Lee Locke will deliver the keynote speech. Faculty member Art
Goss and student Rebecca Capistrano will also address the class of 2002.
A separate ceremony coordinated by BCC’s Volunteer Tutor Program will
recognize the accomplishments of nearly 75 graduates of Adult Basic Education
and English-as-a-Second Language programs tonight in the Carlson Theatre.
Faculty members participating in Friday’s commencement ceremony should
meet in the L Building lobby by 6:45 p.m. Volunteers are still needed
to assist with set-up for the ceremony. For more details, contact Liz
Buse in Student Programs at 564-6149 or via campus e-mail.
BCC Recognized for Local Economic
Contributions
BCC was honored with the Eastside Economic Leadership Award from
the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce at an awards luncheon last month. The
award recognizes an organization with a 20-year history of revenue growth
and contribution to the creation or development of employment opportunities
on the Eastside. During the 2000-01 academic year, the college employed
over 1,500 instructors and staff, and also added to the Eastside economy
by spending a significant portion of the budget on goods and services
from Eastside businesses. BCC programs noted for key contributions to
the Eastside economy include: Information Technology and Health Science
programs; Contract Training; Worker Retraining; Small Business Development
Center and the National Workforce Center for Emerging Technologies.
President Names
Outstanding Campus Contributors
During her annual year-end speech last
week, President Floten named the recipients of the 2002 ‘One in a Million’
awards. Congratulations to the following individuals and departments for
their extraordinary accomplishments this year: Bob Southard and Food Services
staff, Betty Kaczynksi and Early Learning, Family and Childcare Center
staff ; BCC Teaching Institute (new faculty orientation and resource development
coordinated by Helen Taylor and Suzy Lepeintre); Instructional Division
Chairs; Art Goss and the General Education Task Force.
Banner Year for
Baseball Team
It’s been an exciting baseball season
for the BCC men’s team – the team had a 26-4 record, which was the best
league finish since 1974, and finished with a first place ranking in the
coaches’ final poll, a first for the BCC men’s baseball team. The team
also set a new Northwest Athletic Association of Community College (NWAACC)
record for 20 consecutive entries into the NWAACC conference championships,
where the BCC team won the North Region title and finished second overall.
The season was especially exciting for a few star players. Pitcher Blake
Hawksworth signed a $1.47 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals
baseball team. BCC relief pitcher Russ Petrick and center fielder Tino
Psaradelis, who will both return to play for BCC next year, will have
an option to sign with the Baltimore Orioles at the end of next season.
Congratulations to Coach Mark Yoshino and the entire men’s baseball team!
New Leaders for
a New Year
With the end of the year comes the
election of new staff, faculty and student leaders for the 2002-03 academic
year. Marcia Wilson will take the helm as the new president of the classified
staff association, while Glen Davis and Melissa Sitzenstock serve as presidents-elect.
Jim Ellinger will continue as president of the faculty association and
Frank Lee will serve as vice president. Kennedy James is the new student
government association president. Farooq Khan will serve as the new vice
president for finance and communications, and Kennedy Symekher takes over
as the new vice president for student affairs. Officers begin their terms
on July 1.
Construction on
the Horizon This Summer
The Campus Operations staff will be
busy with several upgrade and new construction projects during the next
few months. A new espresso bar will be constructed in the R Building lobby
just in time to fuel the caffeine needs of students, faculty and staff
for fall quarter. Renovation will continue on the B Building, with completion
scheduled for mid-August. An upgrade of the courtyard lighting and improvements
to lighting and the floors in the gym will also take place. The City of
Bellevue’s reconfiguration of the college entrance at 148th
Avenue SE and Landerholm Circle will also take place this summer, with
completion scheduled for mid-September. For more details, please contact
Capital Projects Manager Don Bloom at 564-2491 or via campus e-mail.
Join the Liberal
Arts Center Learning Community
Faculty and staff are invited to join
a learning community for BCC’s first-ever “Scholar in Residence” program
when Nawang Dorjee, a renowned Tibetan educator and Director of
the Tibetan Children’s Village in Dharamsala, India, joins the BCC community
for the 2002-03 academic year. Dorjee and Center for Liberal Arts Executive
Director Diane Douglas will gather with interested faculty and staff members
2-3 hours per week to study texts and discuss topics of mutual interest
such as Tibetan history and culture, Buddhism, ethnic and identity studies,
and comparative education. The group will meet at 1:30 p.m. every Friday
during fall quarter. Contact Diane Douglas at 564-2550 or via campus e-mail
to learn more or to register for the learning community.
Connecting to
Alumni
Institutional Advancement and the members
of ASBCC student government invite you to the first-annual Alumni Reception
and Dinner. This event will provide an opportunity for former ASBCC officers
and BCC students to visit the campus, learn about BCC’s accomplishments
during the last decade and mingle with current students, faculty and staff.
If you’d like to attend this free event, please call BCC Student Programs
at 564-6150. For more details, visit the Alumni
website.
Faculty Encourage Young Scientists
BCC science instructors shared their knowledge
and passion for science with students at Stevenson Elementary School in
Bellevue on May 23. The annual “Young Scientists Celebration” featured
an all-school assembly, group projects and hands-on chemistry, earth science
and biology demonstrations from 10 BCC faculty members. For the first
time, BCC students took part in teaching the elementary
school children. Kudos to the science faculty members for producing a
memorable, entertaining and educational event to encourage young scientists!
Movers & Shakers
Congratulations to faculty, staff and
students on these recent accomplishments:
- NWCET executive director Neil Evans will discuss “The Knowledge Worker of the Future” when he delivers the keynote speech to the 2002 graduating class for University of Phoenix online students. He will address over 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students during commencement ceremonies in Phoenix, Arizona on June 29.
- Sonoko Chambers, administrative specialist in the Career Center and Women’s Center, was selected as the “Employee of the Month” for May by the classified staff association. Co-workers praised her dedication, hard work and winning smile. One colleague noted, “She is a cherished team member with remarkable focus and concentration. Her work ethic is as impeccable as is her strength of character.”
- Artists in the BCC community are making waves this summer! Art instructor Pat DeCaro received a “Sustaining Artist Award” from the Seattle Arts Commission. Her work will be included in the upcoming exhibit “A Decade of Contemporary American Figure Drawing” at the Frye Art Museum in Seattle, and she’s also working on a mural commission for a new restaurant in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood. Art instructor Dale Lindman has been awarded a residency in painting this summer at the Morris Graves Foundation in Northern California. Kit Taylor, economics instructor, is the featured artist this month at the collective Visions Gallery in Bremerton. You can see some of his photos on display at http://www.collectivevisions.com/Kit_Gallery/index.htm.
- Continuing Education’s Director of Computer Programs Jeff Johnson was recently named to the board of directors of the Global Wireless Education Consortium (GWEC), a collaboration of wireless and telecommunications companies and higher education. The goal of GWEC, which includes companies such as Verizon Wireless, Motorola, AT & T Wireless and Nokia, is to expand wireless technology curriculum in two-year and four-year institutions throughout the nation and the world. Jeff, who is the only representative from a community college, will serve a two-year term on the board.
- Anthropology instructor Nancy Gonlin gave a presentation to sixth-grade students at Crestwood Elementary School in Kent last week. She was invited to speak to the students about her experience and knowledge in Mesoamerican archaeology.
- Congratulations to science faculty member Rob Viens, who was just elected as the vice president of the National Association of Geology Teachers Northwest, an organization that coordinates an annual conference and several educational field trips that are open to the public.
- In addition to focusing on academics, students in the Career Education Options (CEO) program recently volunteered in two community service projects. They worked with members of the Giving Tree organization to make hand-crafted wooden toys that would later be distributed to young mothers participating in the Eastside Healthy Start program. The students also provided clerical assistance for Seattle’s annual Folklife Festival. Many of the students were so inspired by their volunteer experience that they signed up to volunteer with the Giving Tree and other community organizations over the summer.
- Student Martin Mahre was recently named the winner of the 2002 Colleen DeMaris Writing Scholarship. The scholarship, which covers full tuition for three quarters, is awarded every other year by the English Department in honor of former BCC English instructor Colleen DeMaris.
Coming Attractions
Mark your calendars!
- CEABCC Luncheon – The CEABCC classified staff association will host a “Garden Party” luncheon for members from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. on Monday, June 17 in the cafeteria. Enjoy lunch, door prizes and the chance to chat with co-workers at the summer luncheon! For more details, contact Terri Halsey at 564-2377 or via campus e-mail.
- Factoria Open House – Join the staff members of KBCS and the Finance department for a tour of their home at BCC’s Factoria site. Staff of KBCS 91.3 FM radio station moved to the Factoria building a few weeks ago. Visit their new site, which is also home to BCC’s Finance department, during an open house on Thursday, June 20 from 1 – 5 p.m. For more details, contact KBCS General Manager Steve Ramsey at 564-2418 or via campus e-mail.
* * Summer Hours begin Monday, June 24 and end Friday, August 30. * *
Welcome
& Farewell
Welcome to new BCC staff and faculty:
- Robert Spinks, Director, Campus Security
- Van Amorasin, Maintenance Custodian I, Campus Operations
- Sam Praseutsinh, Maintenance Custodian I, Campus Operations
- Feng-Yun Fan, Early Childhood Teacher, Childcare Center
Congratulations on recent promotions or changes:
- Sandra Cameron, Early Childhood Program Specialist, Childcare Center
- Rodger Harrison, IT System Specialist II, Campus Operations
A fond farewell to departing BCC employees:
- Leonardo Cantu, Maintenance Custodian I, Campus Operations
- Mark Cassel, Head Start Teacher, Childcare Center
- Frank Poole, Coordinator, Cont. Ed. Applications
- Cherie Glahn, Coordinator, Cont. Ed. Travel & Study Aboard
Off
the Vine
Be sure to pick up a copy of
Arnazella, BCC’s
literary arts publication, in the next few weeks in the BCC Bookstore
and in Eastside-area bookstores. The publication, which sells for $6,
features essays, short stories, poetry and art from artists and writers
across the Northwest.
Campus Calendar
Now – Sept. 30 BCC Student Art Show, Library Gallery
June 13 ESL/ABE Graduation, Carlson Theatre
June 14 Spring Quarter Ends
Commencement, 7 p.m., Gymnasium
June 17 CEABCC Luncheon, 11:30 a.m., Cafeteria
June 20 Factoria Open House, 1 – 5 p.m.
June 24 Summer Quarter Begins
Summer Hours Begin
July 4 Holiday – Campus Closed