2009-2010 BC Reads!
Listening Is an Act of Love

The BCC Reads! Selection Committee has selected for 2009-10: Listening Is an Act of Love: A Celebration of American Life from the StoryCorps Project (edited) by David Isay, Penguin (2007) as our common book. The Center for Liberal Arts invites you to read the book and join college-wide conversations about its themes. Instructors wishing to adopt the book, in whole or part, in courses should contact the Center for Liberal Arts.

Committee members commented on the book’s readability, range, immediacy, quality, as well as diversity of stories as powerful oral histories. Teaching and learning, and community building possibilities include campus screening and discussion of documentary films engaging diverse cultural and affinity groups and collaborating with KBCS 91.3 FM to collect local oral stories (StoryCorps) from the college and surrounding community.

Please contact myself, Myra Van Vactor, or Wilma Dougherty if you would like to develop and work on BC Reads! campus events next year. Given the severity of budget constraints, we are uncertain about BC Reads! future administrative home and welcome support by faculty, staff, and students to generate ideas for its on-going support and coordination, should the campus community continue with the co-curricular aspects of the program.

Thank you to the Selection Committee for its work, and Chair, Wilma Dougherty for coordinating the effort. Membership: Lucinda Taylor; Lee Buxton; Rachel Gootherts; Emily MacPherson; Jacqueline Drak; Geeta Sadashivan; Amanda Karim; Wilma Dougherty (Chair).

2008-2009 BCC Reads!
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury

There was always a minority afraid of something, and a great majority afraid of the dark, afraid of the future, afraid of the past, afraid of the present, afraid of themselves and shadows of themselves.
-from "Usher II"

BCC Reads! is Bellevue Community College's annual common book and community reading program. Its mission is to strengthen literacy practices, promote campus and community collaboration, and generate excitement about ideas through reading and learning together.

BCC Reads! has been funded in part under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by the Office of the Secretary of State, Washington State Library division.

BCC Reads! The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
Scholarship Winners 2008-09

BCC Reads! Scholarship Selection Committee has chosen to award scholarships to the following students. This year the contest had 38 participants. We are proud of all of the students and their thoughtful projects. Please congratulate them and their instructors! Join us in recognizing the winners at the Scholarship Reception April 22, 2009, from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm in the Gallery when we will also host the BCC Reads! Keynote Speaker, Dr. Ted Roush, NASA Space Scientist, and the artists of the exhibit, “Fragile Existence.” Free and open to the public.

Anna Hall
Short Story: "September 1949: First Contact"
Instructor: Geeta Sadashivan / Division: Arts & Humanities / English 101 Fall 2008

Jay Dena Hart
Visual Art/Craft: "Beauty from Ashes,” a Quilt and Artist Statement
Instructor Endorsement from Jacqueline Drak / Division: Sciences

Roberta Kang
Essay: "Dignity"
Instructor Endorsement from Nancy Eichner
Division: Arts & Humanities / English 093 Student Fall 2008

Each student receives a tuition scholarship for Spring 2009, up to $1,000. The scholarships are in part funded by the Bellevue Community College Faculty Association (BCCAHE) Community Fund. Contributions were also made by the Arts & Humanities Division and the Library Media Center. BCC Reads! is supported by a grant from the Washington State Library with funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Projects will be on display in the Library Media Center beginning in Spring Quarter 2009.

Collaborators: Center for Liberal Arts, Library Media Services, Campus Activities Board