Humanities Mall Opens

Humanities MallOur brand new Humanities Mall project recently celebrated a lively grand opening ceremony with sunny skies and students, faculty, staff, administrators and our board president in attendance. The festivities were held in the newly landscaped area, featuring Café Camino, a new addition to our offerings of campus food service options.

 

The $2.424 million Humanities Mall project and numerous other facilities improvements on campus were made possible with funds from Measure E, the college’s facilities bond, which voters approved in 2002. Students are already taking advantage of the great Humanities Mall environment, perfect for studying and relaxing between classes. Free WiFi access and electrical outlets are useful features of the new space, one of many aspects of our overall technology plan. Watch for more facilities progress this spring and summer.

ECC Student to Visit NASA’s Johnson Space Center

NASAMESA student Mario Cabrera will travel to NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) for a three-day academic experience in Houston, Texas this month. He will participate in the National Community Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) program, designed to give students a look into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers. A pilot program funded by NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD) and administered by NASA JSC, community college students from across the nation will have the opportunity to work on a hands-on project directed by NASA engineers; attend engineer, scientist and astronaut briefings; tour NASA JSC facilities; and interact with students from across the United States. More...


Cabrera was chosen from among hundreds of candidates to attend this seminar. As part of the selection process, he was given an assignment to design and plan a robotics mission to Mars. He first wrote an abstract of the proposal, outlining the goals of the mission. Next, he drafted a timeline/budget including, launch date from Earth, landing date on Mars, duration on Mars, and return dates. Then, he developed a landing site; rover and lander specifications; and experiments. The final part of the assignment was a line drawing of the rover and lander, which needed to include the specifications listed in the proposal and all the parts needed to be clearly labeled. His outstanding work received two perfect scores! For more information on the Aerospace Scholars program, click here.

ECC at Carnegie Hall!

Congratulations to our own chorale, concert choir and women’s chorus, who will travel to New York this month to perform Mozart’s “Solemn Vespers” at the famed Carnegie Hall, led by ECC choral director Dr. Joanna Nachef. Dr. Nachef will also lead choruses from Lebanon: the American University Choir of Beirut; The Antonine University Choir, Hadath-Baabda; and Notre Dame University-Louaize Choir. The other choirs performing the Mozart work are California Academy of Math & Science Choir from Carson, Los Cancioneros Master Chorale, and Voce Angelicus, from Torrance. This is Dr. Nachef’s third conducting appearance at Carnegie Hall.

 

During a recent sabbatical, Dr. Nachef worked with these university choral groups in Lebanon. In July she returned to Lebanon and presented a concert of "Spirituals and Gospel Music" with these singers at Al-Bustan Festival. For a list of all ECC student performers, click here.


ECC student performers include: Brittany Alatorre, Christina Alvarado, Louise Bahar, Carlos Barrera Edward Benford, Haley Bill, Deborah Blair-Porter, Chris Craig, Agnes Garcia, Adrienne Fairley, Sabrina Fuster, Brianna Halpern, Jennie Harris, Elizabeth Harwell, Ben Horvat, Diana Jenki, Deceny Jones, Haley Jones, Saul Jordan, Brian Kawagoe, Candace Lee, Colleen Magera, Brian Masson, Steve McClain, Karen Mohan, Anthony Moreno, Paule Nahas, Sarah Nichols, Ashley Prewitt, Liana Rabay, Patrice Reiss, Rodney Rose, Dante Ross, Lizbeth Sanchez, Olivia Seraphim, Errin Smith, Chelsea Stager, Erin Tyson, Kimberly Villegas, Marcia Whistler, and Magaly Zamora.

Welcome to Commencement 2010

Dr. Wanda M. AustinWe welcome Dr. Wanda M. Austin, president and CEO of The Aerospace Corp., as our guest speaker for the 63rd Annual El Camino College Commencement Ceremony, scheduled at 4:00 p.m. June 11 in Murdock Stadium. Parking and admission are free – no reservations required. Congratulations to all our graduates! For more info on commencement, click here.

Dr. Austin assumed her current position on January 1, 2008. She previously served as senior vice president of the company’s National Systems Group. She was senior vice president of Special Studies from January 1 to April 1, 2004, and from June 2001 through December 2003 was senior vice president of the Engineering and Technology Group. Dr. Austin’s full bio continues here.


Before being named senior vice president, Austin was general manager of the Military Satellite Communications (MILSATCOM). She is internationally recognized for her work in satellite and payload system acquisition, systems engineering, and system simulation. Dr. Austin earned a doctorate in systems engineering from USC, master’s degrees in systems engineering and mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh, and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Franklin & Marshall College.

STEM Career Conference

STEM Career ConferenceA STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) Conference scheduled for 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. May 27 will give high school and middle school counselors, faculty and administrators the opportunity to gain information about El Camino College and Compton Center’s academic and support services, as well as join an interactive workshop and a student services resource fair. Lunch will be provided. Guest speaker is Jim Brazell, a 26-year leader in technology and innovation, who will discuss California’s emerging technologies, evolving occupations, and effective educational strategies. Brazell will also conduct a two-part workshop, integrating the latest in STEM teaching and career forecasts. Contact 310-660-3593, Ext. 3452 or click here.

Public Relations & Marketing Department
Wins Awards

SEEDS LogoThe ECC Public Relations & Marketing Department recently won six awards in a statewide competition. Silver awards honored ECC Matters, the college’s online newsletter, and the new logo designed for the college's Seeds program. Bronze recognition was given to our success in our social media marketing plan (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube); our media outreach program that announced our Osher Scholarship Initiative plans; the design of our football media guide; and a cable ad for El Camino College Compton Center. Congratulations to the PR&M team, Community Relations Director Ann M. Garten; Heather Parnock, publications supervisor; Veronica Cooper, administrative assistant; Omar Brenes, Web developer; Ellen Lorenz, graphic designer, and Dwight Ueda, photographer. More...


The Community College Public Relations Organization (CCPRO) gave the awards to the college at its annual conference. More than 300 entries from California community colleges were judged by industry leaders in publishing, printing, graphics, writing, web and social networking, and photography. CCPRO is a professional development and service organization that serves as a central resource of information and provides counsel and assistance relating to the advancement of community colleges statewide

Celebrate Student Success!

Project Success will celebrate its 23rd anniversary of helping students reach their goals at its annual awards luncheon, scheduled for 12:30-3 p.m. May 20 at Marsee Auditorium’s South Patio. Awards will be given to outstanding students, and participants are welcome to join an opportunity drawing. Everyone is invited to celebrate student success! Please contact B. Mims with any questions at extension 6037 or [email protected].

Nursing Department – Madden Conference

Madden ConferenceOur nursing department sponsored its 18th Annual Madden Oncology Conference on March 11 in Marsee Auditorium. This year’s conference, “Supporting the Patient through the Cancer Process,” hosted more than 350 nursing students, current and retired faculty members, and visitors from the community. Speakers focused on the topics of spirituality, mindfulness. Others participated in a drum circle, while four cancer survivors shared their stories. More...


The conference was possible because of a 1989 endowment to the nursing department from Ella Rose Madden. During her battle with cancer, Ms. Madden was cared for by registered nurses, graduate nurses and allied health care professionals who had attended El Camino College. She was so impressed with the care she received, that she left an endowment to the nursing department. A local newspaper reported that it was the largest endowment to El Camino College at the time. It was Ms. Madden’s wish that this endowment be used to educate ECC nursing students about the care of patients with cancer and chronic disease. In order to fulfill her wishes, the nursing department holds the annual Madden Oncology Conference during the spring semester and invites speakers from various disciplines to speak. The Nursing Department’s Madden Committee has already begun to plan next year’s conference, which is free to students and faculty, and costs a nominal fee to members of the community.

READ Book Celebrities Announced

READ Book CelebritiesCongratulations to our annual READ Poster “celebrities” for 2010! The recent unveiling in our library lobby introduced Elaine Cannon and Elizabeth Shadish, both of the Behavioral and Social Sciences Division. They were selected for their dedicated support and use of the library and for ensuring that their students' assignments include regular use of the Schauerman Library resources.

 

Since 2005, the library has celebrated reading in the month of April by creating posters featuring campus personalities posing with their favorite books. The event is part of the library’s annual celebration of National Library Week, and offered flex credit to all faculty who attended. Come on by, and check out who is “hanging around” the library!

Foundation Scholarships

Congratulations to our more than 320 El Camino College students who were honored for their academic achievements at the college’s annual Scholarship Awards Ceremony and Reception May 13 in Marsee Auditorium. More than $310,000 in scholarships were distributed – a $20,000 increase from last year. New this year is a teaching scholarship offered through the Osher Initiative for California Community College Students. In May 2008, the Bernard Osher Foundation made a generous gift in the amount of $25 million to the California Community Colleges system to fund scholarships throughout the state. Colleges throughout the state are now working to match these funds to create a $100 million endowment that will provide permanent scholarship support for California's 2.9 million community college students.


A major focus of the El Camino College scholarship program this year is increased funding and outreach to incoming high school students. Qualified incoming high school students can apply for a $1,000 scholarship each year for two years. Other new scholarships specifically support students pursuing careers in nursing and chemistry. Congratulations to all the deserving students who received scholarships for their hard work!

Blood Drive Results

Thank you to everyone who participated in the recent Inter-Club Council blood drive with the American Red Cross. Over the course of three days, 287 units of blood were collected and donated to the Red Cross. It is estimated that this can help save the lives of more than 861 people! We are proud of El Camino College’s tradition of generously donating life-saving blood to the American Red Cross, which relies on donors to replenish the blood supply that is in constant demand.

ECC Theater: Our Town

Our TownGet your tickets today! The ECC Theater Department presents Our Town by Thornton Wilder, winner of the 1938 Pulitzer Prize for drama: May 14-15 and 21-23 at the Campus Theatre. First produced and published in 1938, Our Town is a timeless American classic, rich with universal themes. This Pulitzer Prize-winner is widely hailed “the greatest American play” because its timeless message resonates deeply with audiences, who recognize themselves in the people of Grover’s Corners. The original New York Times review called Our Town “one of the finest achievements... profound, strange, unworldly significance... a hauntingly beautiful play.” It is Wilder’s most renowned and frequently performed play.

El Camino College Compton Center Transfer Student Rashad Lowery Follows His Dreams

Rashad LoweryRashad Lowery is on track to transfer to a four-year university to major in English in fall 2010. He is anxiously awaiting his college admissions letters—his first choice is to attend San Diego State University and his second choice is San Jose State University. Initially, Rashad chose to attend El Camino College Compton Center because he was living in Compton at the time and the location was convenient, but he really credits the Transfer Center and Elizabeth Martinez, Transfer Center Coordinator, with motivating him and helping him realize he could attain his life goals. “The Transfer Center really helped me out, from instructing me on what classes to take to encouraging me to go on university tours to check out school campuses, to walking me through the whole pro­cess of filling out college applications.” More...


In addition, Rashad says the Financial Aid office helped make things easier in terms of costs. He was able to take advantage of the Board of Governor’s fee waiver and benefits of the EOP&S Program. Rashad isn’t completely sure where his career will take him yet. Combining two things he likes to do, writing and playing sports, he is considering a career as a sports journalist.

Football Alumni

Football AlumniCongratulations to two Warrior football alumni who were recently selected as free agents in the NFL draft.  Vuna Tuihalamaka, linebacker from the University of Arizona, was signed by the Indianapolis Colts, and Verran Tucker, wide receiver from UC Berkeley, was signed by the Dallas Cowboys. Go Warriors! 

 

Student Art Show 2010

The El Camino College Art Gallery will present its annual showcase of student artwork May 17 to June 4. A reception and Art Department open house is set from 6 to 9 p.m. May 21. All of the works in this exhibition were selected by instructors as some of the best examples of student work produced at the college. The Student Show includes a variety of works created in a wide range of media. The exhibit provides a glimpse into the educational and aesthetic philosophy advocated by the ECC Art Department and shows a diversity characteristic of the contemporary art world. The majority of the works in the gallery are grounded in an academic approach to art study and training.

El Camino College Compton Center:
Inaugural Athletic Dinner and Auction is a Success!

Athletic Dinner & AuctionThe inaugural El Camino College Compton Center Athletic Dinner and Auction was a great success! The theme “Bring Back the Pride” brought guests to the Crowne Plaza Hotel in San Pedro to celebrate and raise funds in support of the Compton Center Athletic Department. Money raised will go toward much-needed classroom equipment, team uniforms and gear for deserving student-athletes at a time when California educational budget cuts make it extremely difficult to maintain athletic programs. Thank you to all who attended this great event!

ECC Grad Has First Book Published

Carlos SolorzanoA character in ECC grad Carlos Soloranzo’s first book is on a faith journey. Carlos is on a journey himself, writing a series of three books. The first, his recently published “Through Time & Eternity,” is a religious science-fiction text about the faith voyage of God’s chosen one, Joaquin, who finds himself countering the efforts of Lucifer and keeping the crucifixion intact. A high school teacher, writer, and musician, Soloranzo graduated from ECC and transferred to California State Univeristy, Long Beach, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees.