CalendarCongratulations to the Class of 2012!!
Congratulations to the El Camino College Class of 2012! We thank our speaker, Dr. Cinna Toy-Wohlmuth who addressed graduates at the 65th Annual Commencement Ceremony on June 8 at Murdock Stadium. From scholarships to awards, ECC students excelled this year. We wish them all the best in their future endeavors.
One outstanding graduate is John Twedt, who will transfer to UC Santa Cruz in the fall. Read John’s story here.
Kudos also go to Heather Conrow who will the University of Arizona in Tucson to major in geology this fall.Read Heather’s story here.
Congratulations to all of our graduates! Click here for a commencement photo gallery.
ECC Alumnus Becomes Finalist on ABC’s “Duets”
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| Jason Farol, right, is a finalist for the ABC show "Duets." Jason is pictured here with recording star Kelly Clarkson (center) and Jordan Meredith (left), another "Duets" contestant. |
Summer Sessions Are Here!
Welcome to summer! The eight-week and six-week summer sessions began June 18. As a reminder, the 2012 fall semester begins August 25. For Fall 2012, fee payment deadlines are July 17 for students who register May 15 – July 17 and August 20 for students who register July 18 – August 20. All fees must be paid in full or students will be dropped from all of their classes.
Alumni Photo Exhibit
All are invited to check out a summer exhibit by "Photography Fusion," an artists’ collective of ECC Photography Department alumni at Frame & Art Depot in Hermosa Beach. The exhibit is curated by El Camino College grad Gloria Plascienia. The group calls itself "Photography Fusion" because it was created through a fusion of different ideas and styles put together in an exhibition for family, friends, and the general public to view. Twenty percent of total sales from the exhibit will benefit the Redondo Beach Art Group (RBAG), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts, art education, and public art in the South Bay.
Have a Fun and Restful Summer!
Keep in touch with ECC news all summer long through 
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Be sure to visit or participate in the Creative Hobby Showcase, where employees will show off their creative side. Are you a quilter, knitter, painter, photographer or other type of craftsperson? Share your talent and display some of your masterpieces at this fun event, scheduled for May 22. Please contact the Staff Development Office to reserve your showcase space. We also look forward to Thursday, 5/24 for the Faculty & Staff Appreciation Day Reception, an El Camino College tradition where we thank the campus community for their dedication to the college and the students we serve. Everyone is encouraged to participate in Classified Professional Development Week activities! More info here.
2012 Distinguished Faculty and Staff
History professor Maria Brown and business systems analyst Cheryl Shenefield were recently honored with the 2012 El Camino College Distinguished Faculty and Staff Award. They were recently recognized at the 16th Annual Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day, an event designed to thank all members of the campus community for their commitment to the college and its educational mission. Congratulations to Maria and Cheryl! To read more, click here.
ECC 25th Annual Athletic Hall of Fame
The 25th Annual Athletic Hall of Fame banquet was a night for members of the El Camino College community to recollect memories of great athletic performances and athletes from the past, while acknowledging current student-athletes for their accomplishments. Six new members were inducted into the ECC Athletic Hall of Fame, which includes the 1971 state championship football team, which became the first team to be inducted as a collective member. More than 40 years ago, the Warriors put together one of the best seasons in the history of El Camino College football, finishing the season with an 11-1 record and a spot in the state championship game where they dominated Santa Rosa 48-14 at Bakersfield. Click here for full list of inductees: More...
2012 Hall of Fame inductees:
• Greg Bruckner, 1980-1981, golf
• Rose Duncan, 1970-1971, volleyball
• Bob Myers, 1966-1994, (coach) track, cross country, soccer
• Jack Preijers, 1980-1982, track & field
• Dan Speltz, 1986-1987, football
Volleyball standout Hunter Hovland and basketball star Amanda Young were honored with the 2012 Athlete of the Year Award; Norm Verry Scholarship Awards were given to scholar-athletes Erica Bender and Christen Clark; and the Ray Southstone Scholarship Award went to Anthony Lewis and Rukayah Bent-Mikail.
2012 Athletic Hall of Fame Image Gallery
Distinguished Alumni Award Nominees
The El Camino College Foundation is seeking nominees for the 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award. This award recognizes and honors outstanding ECC alumni for their contributions to the community. Nominees must have a proven track record of achievement in their chosen career, service to the community, or area of endeavor, and have gained local, state, or national recognition for their involvement. In addition, 10 years must have elapsed since candidates attended El Camino College. Anyone who wishes to nominate a former student for this award may do so by completing the nomination form by the June 30 deadline. Final review and selection will take place in August, followed by the Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner on October 6. For more information, please contact Katie Gleason at x6040.
The Community College Public Relations Organization (CCPRO) gave a first-place award to the newly redesigned ECC college-outreach and marketing folder. Second-place awards were given in the Social Marketing category for ECC’s social media plan, including the successful Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages, and in Radio Advertisement for a 60-second ad for KFWB’s “On Your Corner” live radio broadcast. ECC also won third place for the brochure “El Camino College Compton Center: Five Years of Success, Report to the Community.” 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.
ECC Watermen Take Summer in Style
Two ECC swimmers/water polo players are taking on interesting feats in their chosen sport this summer. Headed to Catalina? If so, watch for Adam Moine, who will swim from Catalina to Point Vicente in late August. He will be doing this 20-mile swim to raise funds for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation, based in Santa Monica. In addition, watch for Stephen Sorbom, who will be competing in the World Championships for outrigger canoe paddling in Calgary, Canada in mid-August. He will be competing in single and six-man outrigger canoes. Go Warriors!
Summer Read: ECC’s Own Richard Blount
Writes “Black Water”
Richard Blount, ECC men’s volleyball coach and lifelong South Bay waterman, has written an e-book titled “Black Water.” The book exposes the fragile nature of the Southern California eco-system, taking readers on a perilous boat ride of area waters while investigating offshore drilling. “Black Water” raises questions about safety at sea, international waters, limited enforcement, clear blue water, corporate greed and the unthinkable – oil spills off the Southern California coast. The e-book is available from many online companies including; Ibookstore, Sony, Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle and Kobo.
Warrior Fitness Challenge – Winners Named!
Exercise Fitness Specialist Kim Jones recently announced the inaugural winner of the highly competitive Warrior Wellness Challenge. Congrats to “The Facilitators,” led by captain Ora Bryant. Tom Brown, Refugio Luna, Steve Marselle, Luis Bonilla and Anthony Solano are also on the winning team. It’s not too late to get fit and have fun this summer! Come visit the Fitness Center for a great workout! To meet with Kim to set some fitness goals, feel free to contact her at x3667 or [email protected].
ECC in the News
Did you see the recent stories about El Camino College in the news? Here a few to check out: the Class of 2012 was prominently featured in the Daily Breeze, including this great photo gallery. In addition, a story ran in the Daily Breeze about ECC’s early registration for South Bay high school students, and ECC Director of Admissions & Records Bill Mulrooney was featured in the Community College Times.Football: Former Warriors Cornerback
Signs with Jacksonville Jaguars
Congratulations to Mike Harris, a cornerback for El Camino College during the 2008 and 2009 seasons, who recently signed a four-year contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars after the team selected Harris in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL Draft in April. Harris, a native of Miami, transferred to Florida State University for his junior season in 2010. Last year he had his best season for the Seminoles, racking up 58 tackles (43 solo), ranking second on the team. He added four tackles for a loss, one interception and one quarterback sack. In his two-year career at Florida State, Harris recorded 99 tackles including six for a loss, one sack, two forced fumbles and five interceptions. More...
Harris began his collegiate career at El Camino College in 2008 where he played defensive back and special teams. He recorded 26 tackles (17 solo), 10 pass defenses, one fumble recovery and one interception in his first season with the Warriors, helping lead the team to a 10-1 record and a victory in the American Bowl at Murdock Stadium.
The 5-foot-10 defensive back elevated his game in his sophomore season as he was tied for fifth on the team with 40 tackles and was second on the team with 35 solo tackles. He led the team with three interceptions, returning two of them for touchdowns. He had one fumble recovery in the end zone for a touchdown, recorded one safety and also led the team with six passes defended. Harris will be a welcome addition to an already talented Jaguars defense that ranked sixth in the league in total defense and eighth in passing yards allowed per game.
Myriad 2012: 50th Anniversary Edition
ECC students recently released the 50th Anniversary edition of the Myriad, El Camino College’s creative writing publication. In honor of the 50th Anniversary, Myriad 2012 features stories and poems from the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, and ‘00s. Congrats to ECC students – the Myriad is now included in the Library of Congress! Click here to see a list of works by current ECC students chosen for this year’s edition. More...
The following works by current ECC students were chosen for this year’s edition:
• Blair Tisius (Down The Rabbit Hole/Low Tide)
• Rosaura Morales (More Than Words Can Say/A Child’s No Real lay)
• Monique Judge (We Are)
• Julian Reyes (Breath/Apis Mellifera Idol)
• Camille Hove (Honey Dipped Legends/Crumble My Mind)
• Maricris Saker (Life’s Brew)
• Mila Annielo (A Night On Chat Roulette/It’s Your Last Semester)
• Hannah Klobuchar (Teach Me/Love Is A Universal Language)
• Chris Pankratz (Dive Bar Bathroom)
• Umarji Sumaiyah (Shoot For The Stars In Greyscale/Alice In Wonderland)
• Nick Giovati (Last Night/405/110/710)
• Lizzie Foronda (The Oath/Misty Mermaid)
• Michael Reyes (Finite)
• Julie Ames (Them)
• Marcell Barrett (Already Here)
• Luis Arevalo (Untitled)
• Aileen Aquino (Fingerless Gloves/Charles Osborne)
• Guy D. Denton Jr. (Unemployed/Monster In Me)
• Marie Palomino (Cezanne Blue Rose)
• Jeffery Johnson (Write The Music/Who Says Matters)
• Brandon Marshall (Shoreline Races)
• Izzy M. Micheo (Confused Society)
• Maritza Cardenas (Drum Rhythm Of My Thoughts)
• Robert Long (Peaceful Things)
• Patrick Osborne (The Curse and The Looking Glass/Make Like A Tree)
• Troy Ortega (And Now We’ve)
• Annie To (Lofty/To Fall Down Would Not Be So Bad)
• Sergio Cervantes (Dia De Los Muertos)
• Dylan Grant (Stylish Girl)
• Flor Smith (Celeste)
• Viris Vazquez (Peaches)
• Sean Reyes (Untitled/Hawaiian Girl)
ECC Music Student Wins First Place in
National Competition
ECC music student Cristian Garcia, 19, recently won the Senior Division of the American Guitar Society’s Bickford Scholarship Competition. Cristian competed against 15 other guitarists ranging in age from 18-25, some with bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees. He performed “En Los Trigales,” by Joaquin Rodrigo and “Tarantella,” by Johann Kaspar Mertz. In addition to his music, Cristian is focused on transferring to a university to continue his studies, specifically the Peabody Conservatory of Music at John Hopkins University in Baltimore. He also hopes to attend USC for his doctorate and to pursue a career in teaching classical guitar.
CDC Students Cross the Bridge
The El Camino College Child Development Center (CDC) presented a graduation ceremony for the preschool students who are headed to kindergarten in the fall. The "Crossing the Bridge" event at the CDC playground featured presentations from students in each classroom. Each child leaving the CDC program (headed for kindergarten) crossed a bridge from their teachers to their parents. Congratulations to our youngest graduates! Enrollment is now open at the El Camino College CDC for its fee-based preschool program. Flexible schedules are offered in this high-quality, year-round program, which is open to children ages 2 to 5. More...
The CDC is centrally located in the South Bay area, and offers a warm and inviting environment for children preparing for kindergarten, housed in a building specifically designed for preschoolers. Teachers at the CDC are academically well prepared, all are mentor teachers certified by the State of California, and all have been on staff an average of 11 years. The CDC is also a “laboratory school,” where future teachers are trained in best practices. The developmental curriculum prepares children cognitively, socially, emotionally, physically and linguistically.
The preschool encourages exploration, discovery, making choices, and play, along with social interaction to foster self-esteem, competence, and autonomy in children. Breakfast and snacks are provided. Parents are encouraged to participate in their child's education, and an open door policy is maintained throughout the center. The El Camino College CDC is accredited by the National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs. For more information, call the office at 310-660-3720, or click here.
ECC Compton Center Presents Class of 2012
El Camino College Compton Center celebrated its Sixth Annual Commencement on June 7 in Tartar Stadium. California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott addressed the Class of 2012. For a list of graduates, click here. Congratulations Class of 2012!
Tom Hazell: National Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee
The California Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame recently inducted longtime El Camino College coach and faculty member Tom Hazell for his lifetime of service to the sport. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum is America's shrine to the sport of wrestling and is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma. As the sport's only national museum, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame features an array of sculptures, photographs, banners, plaques, medals, trophies, uniforms and other memorabilia. Tom was a state champion wrestler for El Camino College and later a two time All-American for Oklahoma State University. He was also the ECC head wrestling coach from 1979-1991 and was inducted into the El Camino College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006. Congratulations Tom!
Teachers at the CDC are academically well prepared, all are mentor teachers certified by the State of California, and all have been on staff an average of 11 years. The CDC is also a “laboratory school,” where future teachers are trained in best practices. The developmental curriculum prepares children cognitively, socially, emotionally, physically and linguistically. The preschool encourages exploration, discovery, making choices, and play, along with social interaction to foster self-esteem, competence, and autonomy in children. Breakfast and snacks are provided. Parents are encouraged to participate in their child's education, and an open door policy is maintained throughout the center. The El Camino College Child Development Center is licensed by the State of California, Department of Social Services. For more information, call the office at 310-660-3720, or go to the CDC website
ECC Compton Center Stages
Nurses
“Pinning” Ceremony
Congratulations to the 28 El Camino College Compton Center students who graduated with an Associate of Science degree in nursing this spring! For a list of grads, click here.
ECC Track Stars
Congrats to the ECC Track team! Coach Kevin Hughley was voted South Coast Conference Women’s Assistant Coach-of-the-Year. In addition, Victor Martin was voted South Coast Conference Male Field Athlete-of-the-Year. Victor won the men’s shot put event at the SCC Championships with a mark of 52-7 ½, becoming the No. 8 All-Time ECC performer.
The women’s team placed fifth at the South Coast Conference Championships and the women’s 1600m relay team finished first at the SCC Championships. After a year of outstanding accomplishments, Rukayah Bent-Mikail was voted South Coast Conference Female Field Athlete-of-the-Year. The standout sophomore had a stellar freshman year in 2011, winning the state title in the triple jump. Her 2012 was even better as she finished the season undefeated in the triple jump on her way to her second consecutive state championship. Rukayah also set a new personal best of 40-5 during the South Coast Conference Championships. The mark was the No. 3 all-time performance by an El Camino College athlete and was just shy of topping Renita Robinson’s top mark of 42-1.
During this six-day trip, the students camped for several nights in Zion National Park, Utah and Flagstaff, Arizona. Two big unplanned adventures took the group by surprise. First, a huge dust storm in Monument Valley canceled the camping plans, leaving the group to drive three hours for an alternative. The best surprise was on Saturday morning, when group woke up to three inches of snow that had silently fallen overnight, which was magical to the majority of students who had never experienced snow. The trip was funded by a combination of science club funds, student contributions, one faculty donation, and Interclub Council funds. The group was led by Earth Science Professor Joe Holliday, with Vice President Francisco Arce, geology instructor Robin Bouse, and physics technician Daniel Wright also attending all or part of the trip on their own vacation time.
ECC Compton Center Honors Students at Annual Academic Awards Tea
El Camino College Compton Center’s annual Academic Awards Tea held on May 20 recognized the academic achievements of 16 honor students and 56 scholarship recipients. Scholarships awarded by both ECC Compton Center and the Foundation for the Compton Community College District totaled more than $40,000. For a list of recipients, click here.
Rowan has taught a variety of El Camino College photo classes during the last 22 years, including portraiture, intermediate-level view camera operation, gum bichromate printing, pinhole cameras, photograms, and the production of student photograph books.
Rowan’s work is found in prominent museum collections and archives around the world, including Harvard University, La Bibliothèque Nationale de France, the New York Public Library, and the Children’s Holocaust Museum in Japan. She has been selected as a finalist in the Photographer's Forum Best of Photography Competition, one of the highest honors in her field.
At El Camino College, Rowan provides leadership and mentorship for the adjunct faculty while overseeing the daily operation and maintenance of the photography lab and lighting studio.
She has served on numerous college committees, including the Division Council, Division SLO Committee, Division CTE Committee, and the Enrollment Management Committee. She annually organizes student photography shows both on campus and in the community, works collaboratively with other departments within the division and campuswide, and has hosted photogram workshops for children as well as master classes for photography students.
In planning for the future of the program, Rowan helped to secure Career Technical Education and bond funds that relocated the program with a new digital lab in the Art Building during the summer of 2009.
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Guess the Photo!
Can you guess where this photo was taken on campus? Submit your best guess hereand be eligible to win a fabulous prize! Submit entries by June 30.
Congratulations to Adrian Amjadi of the Art Department! Adrian correctly indentified last month’s photo, which was an image of the northwest corner of the newly remodeled Social Science Building. Angie won a gift card to Starbucks for her correct answer.
“Performing every week with Kelly was a highlight for me; she’s been a huge idol of mine since I saw her at my first audition,” Farol said in a recent TV interview. “Being up there and meeting all the contestants and superstars is really exciting.”
Farol grew up surfing at the local beaches, and can usually be found hitting the waves near the Manhattan Beach Pier. He graduated from South High School in Torrance before attending El Camino College. He then transferred in 2010 to California State University, Dominguez Hills, where he is pursuing a degree in kinesiology. Singing has always been a passion for Farol, though he put school first to fulfill family expectations.
He has no formal training, except for karaoke. His musical heritage includes his father, an architect and a great singer, who used to own a karaoke bar. Farol’s family has been very supportive of his musical aspirations.
“We are so excited for Jason, we have been at every show,” said his older sister Eliza Farol. “We have a pretty big family, so we take up a lot of the audience when we cheer him on. We are just proud of Jason and happy be a part of this journey with him.”
Farol is working on his singing every day and enjoys performing on the show. The next show will be live on Thursday, June 28. Superstars and their duet partners will perform songs from this millennium. The American public will vote for their favorites.