Triton College ushers in its 50th year with decadent cake, sundial

Triton College ushers in its 50th year with decadent
cake, sundial dedication
It was a joyous and celebratory occasion on Aug. 28, when
the Triton College community, as well as community
residents, area partners and dignitaries from within Triton’s
district, came to campus to help Triton kick off its 50th
anniversary celebration.
The event took place at Triton College’s newly remodeled
Commons Area, outside in the center of campus, where
Triton’s new sundial, commemorating the milestone, was
dedicated. The college held day and evening time
ceremonies to accommodate students’ and community
residents’ schedules.
The college celebrates 50 years of providing excellence in
education, which will be recognized with more events
coming in 2015.
“This is a very special day as we kick off the 50th anniversary celebration here at Triton,” said Triton College
Board Chairman Mark Stephens to the audience of more than 300 people. “Over the course of 50 years,
thousands of people have benefited from the work that we do here at Triton College. And we’re very proud, not
only of where we’ve been, but where we’re going.”
Triton College President Dr. Patricia Granados reflected on
Triton’s past and shared her expectations for the future of
the college. “Just like the very first day, back in 1964 when
Triton College was established, Triton continues to be
committed to that mission of being focused on student
success and serving our community to ensure that we are
developing a strong workforce that helps our communities
have strong economic development,” she said. “We’re very
proud of our journey as a community college… We’re
excited to share this wonderful institution with the
community for the next 50 and beyond years.”
The sundial dedication was followed by cake and
cupcakes prepared by Triton’s Hospitality faculty and
students in the Student Center Cafeteria. There, an array of Triton memorabilia, donated by the Triton College
community and community residents, was displayed for all to see.
On Sept. 13, Triton’s 50th anniversary was celebrated internally with a picnic for current employees, retirees
and their families. More than 300 individuals turned out for the picnic that included face painting, a reptile show,
bingo and other activities. The event recognized the contributions of Triton’s current and former employees to
the success of the institution.
The following week, Triton invited back its former student athletes and coaches for the first-ever Alumni
Athletics Day on Sept. 20. The day challenged current and former Triton student athletes to go head-to-head in
basketball, softball and soccer games.
“The purpose of Alumni Athletics Day is to celebrate Triton’s 50-year history of athletic competition by bringing
together generations of alumni athletes to engage in friendly competition against our current student athletes,”
said Lisa Scalessi, director of Triton’s Alumni Relations. “It was an opportunity to honor the past and also
celebrate the future with the introduction of Triton’s new mascot, Troy. We hope to make this a new tradition.”
Triton alum Gricella “Gi-Gi” Bueso, who graduated in 2012, enjoyed the opportunity to come back and play
women’s basketball on Triton’s court. “I think this is a great event to see old team members and play the game I
love,” she said.
Breann Schuh, 2009 graduate, learned about the event from her former women’s softball coach. “It’s great to
see the girls from my team again. We can’t always get together because some of us live apart from one
another,” she said. “I’m ready to just have fun.”
Being on campus, Charles Hudson reminisced about his time at the college. “Triton still has a beautiful
campus, lots of good people. It feels like home here,” said the 2004 graduate, who was pumped to play against
the current players of Triton’s men’s basketball team. “I’m ready to go and have fun, but at the end of the day,
I’m trying to win.”
Sharing in the occasion, many communities have shown their support of the institution by presenting Triton
College with proclamations recognizing its 50th year serving the district. The communities that have presented
proclamations to Triton are: Bellwood, Berkeley, Brookfield, Elmwood Park, Forest Park, Harwood Heights, La
Grange Park, Melrose Park, Northlake, Oak Park, River Grove, Riverside, Rosemont, Schiller Park and Stone
Park.
For more information about Triton College’s 50th anniversary, visit www.triton.edu/50
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Save the Date
GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY ALUMNI CELEBRATION
6:30 to 9 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015
Student Center (B Building)
The first graduating class of Triton College will be recognized and
honored during this semi-formal cocktail reception that will include the
unveiling of the Triton College Alumni Wall of Fame, featuring select
Triton College graduates and displays of historical videos and
memorabilia.
TRITON COLLEGE’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY GALA
6 p.m., Saturday, April 25, 2015
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 9291 Bryn Mawr Ave.,
Rosemont
Triton College is pleased to host a special gala to culminate the yearlong celebration of the institution’s
50th anniversary. The gala will recognize the history and accomplishments of Triton College as well as
notable individuals who’ve contributed to the success of the institution. Tickets are $100 per person.
Proceeds will benefit the Triton College Foundation which supports student scholarships.
For more information about Triton’s 50th Anniversary, call (708) 456-0300, Ext. 3201, or
visit www.triton.edu/50, or interact with us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OfficialTritonCollege!
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At-risk students receive extra guidance with Triton’s College Success
course
Earlier this semester, Triton College introduced its pilot College Success course to provide at-risk students with
additional help and guidance to ensure their success at the institution. This semester, 86 students were
enrolled into the course that is meant for students who placed into two or more developmental courses upon
taking the college’s mandatory placement test.
The course is designed to engage students in relevant issues focused on diversity, values and approaches to
learning, as well as get them acquainted with the campus and learn how to interact with their professors.
“The students who are in this pilot course came in engaged and excited about college, but they needed a bit
more guidance than students (who didn’t test into the developmental courses),” said instructor Jennifer Geary.
“They have a lot more questions that this pilot course helps them to answer and learn, as far as what is
expected of them in class and how to get around Triton’s campus. Not only does the class alleviate some of
that anxiousness they have, students in the class have made social connections with one another which is also
very important.”
Shelley Tiwari, director of Data Analytics, who serves as a liaison for the core 'Achieving The Dream' team at
Triton, said, “At the moment, we’re studying the effectiveness of this course through conversations with course
instructors to help us determine whether the curriculum needs to be revised. We also intend to assess learning
outcomes and student satisfaction via a survey to students following the course.”
She added the decision to scale up the intervention will be based on the end-of-the-course results.
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New Shared Governance Model to improve communications process
Triton College has made a change to its shared governance structure to improve the college’s communication
flow between on-campus committees, as well as to support the institution’s strategic planning efforts.
The new Shared Governance Model integrates communication, decision-making and planning processes and
will be evaluated and shared among stakeholders.
Triton’s shared governance committees, which are tasked with the responsibility of improving campus
efficiency, productivity and contributing to student success, are now organized into four working groups:
Business Services, Student Support, Campus Community and Academic Programs. Within the working groups,
committee chairpersons work together to ensure cross-communication and coordination of projects.
Information from the working groups is communicated to the Operational Assembly and the Academic Senate.
The Operational Assembly, a new shared governance body for the college, is concerned with issues related to
campus operations, facilities and student services; while the Academic Senate deals with issues related to
teaching and learning. Operational Assembly and Academic Senate share information with the College
Council, which is the central shared governance committee and serves as an advisory committee to the
President.
Kay Frey, director of Triton’s RSVP volunteer program for retired citizens and a member of College Council,
said, “This new shared governance model will provide opportunities for faculty and staff to communicate to
other stakeholders the work they do on the various committees in which they serve. It will provide the
opportunity to have more voices heard in the decision-making processes and campus issues at the college.”
With the new Shared Governance Model, information is expected to flow in multiple directions to reach all
levels, creating a more unified system of communications and ensuring stronger outcomes.
The new model will be analyzed and assessed for possible changes in fall 2015.
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Lots of laughing and learning at
Fall Family Fun Fest
Triton College gave families more than something to do on a Saturday
afternoon with its sixth annual Fall Family Fun Fest. Triton students,
faculty and staff gave families many things to ponder: How is that robot
able to swim through the water? What’s the next scavenger hunt clue?
How much DOES that giant pumpkin weigh?
Triton’s Fall Family Fun Fest provoked laughter and education for a true
bonding experience among families who attended the annual event on
Sept. 27 in the college’s Botanical Gardens. The event, attended by
more than 1,800 people, featured fall-favorite games and activities, such
as pumpkin painting, guessing the weight of a pumpkin and a corn maze,
as well as opportunities to learn about Triton’s many programs and
initiatives through activities, including decorating baked goods with
Triton’s Hospitality program and learning about how robots work with the
Engineering Technology program.
“The fest is a wonderful opportunity to invite our community to our
campus for some educational fun,” said Triton College President Dr.
Patricia Granados. “As an educational institution it affords us the
opportunity to have youth engage in learning in a very relaxed
environment with our faculty. While the college showcases its academic
programs, families learn about the wonderful educational resource Triton
is. Perhaps our young children might get hooked on engineering, math,
science or the arts.”
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Welcoming the new class of the President’s Leadership Academy
A new class of 20 future leaders were inducted into the
Triton College President’s Leadership Academy for the
2015 fiscal year. Composed of Triton faculty and staff
who work in a variety of departments, the class recently
returned to campus following their retreat that is
designed to foster leadership and support a
collaborative environment through team-building and
self-awareness sessions and activities. The academy
engages guest speakers from leaders within Triton’s
community as well as other professional organizations
and educational institutions, sharing their knowledge
and insight regarding leadership.
Dr. John Roueche, president of the Roueche Graduate Center of National American University, served as the
retreat keynote speaker, conveying information on how to excel in a leadership role. The Triton College Board
of Trustees also shared in a panel, offering participants the opportunity to understand the role of the board and
the challenges they face while leading the institution.
The retreat was an eye-opener and motivator for the participants.
“It validated what I felt the qualities of a leader should be,” said Cassandra Hutchinson, web systems analyst
for the college and participant of the Leadership Academy’s 2015 class. “Listening to the speakers, it taught me
that I should be more conscious as to how I interact with people in the workplace.”
Rolando Martinez, a college relations associate for the college, said the retreat taught him about his personal
leadership style. “While I’m passionate about social justice and cultural proficiency, I learned that there is
always more I can improve on in my position at Triton to support these aspects and I also learned that I need to
be more vocal in stating my opinions,” he said.
Part of the professional development opportunity includes identifying a group project to collaborate on over the
year that lends itself to Triton’s mission of supporting and fostering student success. The group will focus on
developing a Veterans Lounge and Resource Center on Triton’s campus, creating a space dedicated to
providing educational resources to veterans and active duty personnel and assisting them with the transition to
civilian life.
In addition to their group project, each academy participant will have the opportunity to work with Triton College
President Dr. Patricia Granados to develop a professional development plan, as well as attend a national
conference on leadership. Monthly meetings featuring inspiring guest speakers will be scheduled for
participants to attend.
The President’s Leadership Academy has greatly impacted the lives of the participants of this professional
development opportunity since its inception in 2008. To see how, click here.
“This year’s academy is special because it is my last class,” said President Granados, who will be retiring from
her position at the end of 2014. “This is a great group of individuals just like all the other leaders. We have a lot
of talent among this group, and I know they are all going to excel as a group and individually.”
This fall, the Leadership Academy class of 2014 introduced their completed project to the college’s Board of
Trustees, and his name is Troy. Troy, the college’s new mascot, will serve as an ambassador of the college,
spreading the word about the academic and athletic programs and resources and services offered at Triton.
The leadership team intends to have Troy appear at on-campus and community events as well as utilize social
media to create greater visibility of the mascot and the college.
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Building a greater Triton College
Triton College is on its way to making campus improvements that would not only support economic
development in the district but also prepare Triton’s students for a competitive job market.
Following Board approval of $53 million worth of bonds, the Triton
College Board of Trustees and administration presented a Bond
Revenue Campus Renewal Projects public meeting on Oct. 7 to present
proposed campus renovations the institution plans to pursue. More than
100 individuals attended the meeting held in the Robert M. Collins
Center Auditorium, sharing suggestions on what projects should take
precedence over others.
Economic development is the common theme of many of Triton’s new
proposals. Training students for the jobs of tomorrow is the prime
objective. Some of the proposed renovation plans include modernizing
the Child Development Center with an integrated childcare program and
a lab school teaching environment for Triton students. In addition, Triton
is proposing to update the Student Center, modernize Triton’s oncampus greenhouses, improve academic and athletics facilities on the
east campus and construct a demonstration kitchen and bistro lab for
Triton’s hospitality students.
Through the selling of the bonds, Triton College intends to modernize its
campus, which would address the needs of its students and prepare
them for a highly competitive world economy, as well as create many
new exciting job creation opportunities for the residents of the west
suburban area. The new dollars will position Triton as a leader in the
economic development of the district.
During this past summer, through a series of public community
presentations throughout the Triton district, Triton College presented the
proposal to rebuild its campus. At these meetings, the citizens of the district were invited to offer their
suggestions.
At the Sept. 23 Triton College Board of Trustees meeting, the Board approved the bonds to fund multiple
proposed projects that would be constructed within three years of the approval date.
Currently, the Triton College Board of Trustees is accepting suggestions in regards to the proposed projects as
they prepare to determine which projects are the most feasible and purposeful to pursue.
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Community leaders Ronald M. Serpico and Diane Viverito to be honored at
Foundation President’s Reception
Village of Melrose Park Mayor Ronald M. Serpico and Triton College Board of Trustees Secretary Diane
Viverito will both be honored at the 22nd Annual Triton College Foundation President’s Reception on
Wednesday, Nov. 19.
Loyal supporters Serpico and Viverito will be recognized for their commitment and
contributions to the Triton College Foundation, which serves students, alumni and
area communities by raising funds to develop new programs and services,
scholarships and updating campus operations and facilities to ensure students
have the resources they need to be successful at Triton.
Mayor Serpico holds deep family roots to the village of Melrose Park and Triton
College. His grandfather, Domenico Serpico, immigrated to the village in the early
part of the 20th century and his father, Ralph, served as an original member of
Triton’s first board of trustees.
Mayor Serpico is heavily involved in the community and has served on the boards
of several community organizations. He’s known for his belief in traditional family
values, his advocacy in fairness and his devotion to charitable organizations.
Trustee Viverito has been a member of the Triton College board since 1995 and
has served as secretary of the board since 2008. She’s the community liaison to
Cook County Commissioner Peter N. Silvestri and has been honored for her
achievements and considerable contributions to the community.
Viverito also serves as the chairperson of the Academic Affairs and Student
Affairs Committee of the Triton College Board of Trustees, is the board’s
appointed representative to several national and state of Illinois community
college organizations and is the co-chair of the Triton College 50th Anniversary
Steering Committee. She is known for her commitment to the well-being of
Triton’s students.
The annual anticipated event will feature the culinary talents of Triton’s Hospitality
students and local restaurants, as well as a silent auction and commemorative
program book.
Tickets for the reception are $60 per person and a table of eight is $440 ($55 per
person table discount). Ad prices are as follows: full page – $200; half page –
$100; and quarter page – $50.
The event will run from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Student Center, located in the B Building
on Triton’s River Grove campus. Community and business members are welcome
to attend.
The Triton College Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
For additional information, call the Triton College Foundation at (708) 456-0300,
Ext. 3758, or send an email to [email protected].
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Farewell: As I retire from the Presidency at Triton College in December 2014, I wish to express my
deep gratitude to you, our community for your unwavering support of Triton and our very important
mission of student success. You have been great partners over the years in our quest to provide quality
education and a well-prepared workforce, and I know your commitment to sustain the viability of our
communities will continue well into the future. With much appreciation, I say thank you and farewell. I
hope our paths will cross in the future.
Dr. Patricia Granados
|
From the Triton College President's Office |
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