Friends of the College - South Seattle College
Transcription
Friends of the College - South Seattle College
May 21, 2015 Friends of the College Celebrating the impact of a scholarship On May 13, the South Seattle College Foundation hosted the Friends of the College Celebration to acknowledge the achievements of Foundation scholarship recipients and to honor the generous donors who make their scholarships possible, as well as to announce the 2015 Outstanding Alumni Award winner, Jeff Maxfield, Executive Chef at the Space Needle and a 1997 graduate of South’s Culinary Arts program. Students were joined by family members, faculty and staff members and friends - all there to celebrate their success! The stories shared by recipients on the profound impact these scholarships had on their lives was truly powerful. Outstanding Alumnus of the Year Award Winner Jeff Maxfield, Executive Chef, Space Needle South Culinary Arts Class of 1997 Page 2 New Staff! Originally from the coal region of Pennsylvania, John moved to Daytona Beach, Florida, in 2001 and started an organization to register people to vote. His work there led to his election as chair of the Volusia County Young Democrats and a volunteer organizer and lobbyist position with the Volusia Teacher’s Organization. He earned his Associate Degree from Daytona Beach Community College and transferred to the University of Florida where he continued his activism in numerous roles while studying Political Science and City Planning. John has organized for the Service Employees International Union in California and Virginia as well as SEIU Local 6 and SEIU Healthcare 1199NW in Seattle. Most recently John co-founded a social enterprise and published his first book, Rent-to-Own Your First Home: An American Dream Story. Bonita Corliss BAS Program Coordinator for Professional Technical Teacher Education and Sustainable Business Science Technology Programs – Georgetown Bonita brings a wealth of experience as the new BAS Program Coordinator for Professional Technical Teacher Education and Sustainable Business Science Technology programs. Her career has always focused on adults and education whether as a Reference Librarian at Seattle Public Library, a retail trainer at Seattle Goodwill, an educator at King County Jail Health Services, Labor Management Coordinator for SEIU Training Fund, program coordinator of the BTECH grant at Seattle Colleges, or an academic advisor for Professional Technical education as part of the Institute of Business Technology at Bellevue College. The essence of her career has focused on assisting adults learn new skills that lead to better paying jobs in our ever changing economic environment. Bonita is excited to be working with the BAS programs and students at Georgetown. She earned a BA in History and a M. Librarianship from the UW, and a MA in Organizational Psychology from Antioch University Seattle. We hea wan t out r a pe to of y ep ou! If there’s something you would like to see in the next Update please contact Ty at: [email protected] v John Boyle Labor Educator for the Washington State Labor Education and Research Center – Georgetown ts toin a r g n o and cent staff curr positions new Leon Haskins Student Development Specialist – TRiO Student Success Services Leon has been working as an interim in TRiO for the past six months. He has introduced his skills and expertise in tutoring and training to our new Tutoring and Transfer Center, along with his passion for providing opportunities and access to underserved students in higher education. Since graduating from the UW with a B.A. in American Ethnic Studies, he worked as an Education Coordinator for MESA (Math Engineering and Science Achievement) at UW Seattle and Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, creating curriculum for STEM workshops and managing Summer Math programs. His teaching experience includes algebra, SAT prep and professional development workshops for K-12 teachers. Diane Strick Program Specialist II – Enrollment Services Diane brings many years of experience to her new position as the Program Specialist II in the Enrollment Services Division. Diane holds 12 years of work experience in the Registration Office at North Seattle College and 14 years in the Registration Office at South. In her new role, she will assume responsibilities previously held by Marla Coan, including quarterly reporting to the National Student Clearinghouse, SALT reporting, grade roster runs, grade changes, and investigating duplicate student identification numbers. As a former student at South, Diane worked in the Women’s Employment Network (WEN) Office assisting students acquire interview and resume skills. Elisebeth “E.V.” VanderWeil Associate Dean - Georgetown Campus EV brings her passion for education, organization, leadership, and practicality together to serve the Georgetown campus and programs in innovative, hands-on ways. EV’s work has taken her from public libraries to research centers, from universities to Microsoft, and from Washington to West Virginia. She received her doctorate in Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University and has taught courses in leadership, research, and literature, as well as a corporate trainer and consultant in organizational development and assessment. She was Director of Undergraduate Leadership Programs at Mountain State University and Program Manager for American Indian Studies at Eastern Washington University. She also holds a M.A. in Language and Literature and a B.A. in English, both from EWU – and an A.A. from Spokane Falls Community College where she determined that she wanted to spend the rest of her life in college. Page 3 New Staff!and creonntgrsattasfftoin Hongli has a Bachelor of Accounting from Renda University in Beijing and will soon graduate from South’s BIT program. Prior to joining the CIE, she worked as a lab assistant in Computer Services. She is looking forward to using her experience as an immigrant to the USA to help our Chinese students especially, acculturate to South Seattle College and life in the USA. Analea Brauburger Assessment and Continuous Improvement Coordinator (half-time position)/ - Office of Planning and Research Analea is currently a priority hire faculty member at South teaching Psychology. In her role as a Teaching and Learning Center Associate (TLC-A) on campus, she led workshops on teaching engagement strategies, alternative assessment, rubric creation, and more. She was also overseeing Canvas training and currently is our Quality Matters lead for the campus. Analea brings with her a background in assessment from her Ph.D. program in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from The Pennsylvania State University. She’s also been involved in curriculum design and assessment for Teach for America, The New Teacher Project, the Louisiana Virtual School, and the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts (LSMSA). Analea is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV) who served almost three years in Honduras working on improving water systems and sanitation in Central America. She’s recently initiated a process for ensuring we keep our valuable institutional memory here at South. We welcome Analea’s hard work and diversified talents into this position. Ngoc Chung Program Coordinator - Financial Aid Services Ngoc moved to Seattle in 2004, from Vietnam. A South alum, she began in the ELL program and graduated with an Associate in Business in 2010. She transferred to Central Washington University to earn her Bachelor of Arts in Accounting in 2012. Ngoc has worked at South for a total of eight years; while attending South Ngoc worked as a work study student in the financial aid office and continued on as an hourly employee while attending CWU, and most recently she has worked as a Program Coordinator in Enrollment Services. In addition to her career, for the past four years Ngoc has been a tax volunteer with United Way and received recognition from the IRS. Ngoc is passionate about learning new things and plans to continue her educational endeavors to pursue a Master’s degree. v Hongli Zhao Office Assistant III – Center for International Education cur positions new John Eklof Coordinator for the Cultural Center John has been working in the position for three years on a part-time basis. He brings a strong background of passion and knowledge in social justice and multiculturalism. He holds a Bachelor Degree in American Ethnic Studies from the University of Washington. While at the UW he worked as Peer Facilitator, assisting faculty with classroom discussion and lead class in community organizing events. He has worked as a Lead at the Wing Luke Museum where he provides attendees with information about Asian American History, culture and art from the Pacific Northwest and Seattle’s Chinatown-International District. He has been a public speaker for the last six years using Spoken Word to reach high school and college students. Keavy Gilbert Program Coordinator - Center for International Education Keavy has been working at South part-time in the Center for International Education since December 2013, and is now joining the full-time staff as an International Admissions Coordinator. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Keavy spent a year living in the Republic of Ireland as an international student while completing her B.A. from Boston College and went on to complete her interdisciplinary M.A. in Irish Studies at Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland. In her current role, she processes international student applications and serves as a Designated School Official within the immigration system, SEVIS. Keavy demonstrates exceptional communication skills, has a strong attention to detail, and provides outstanding customer service to prospective students, parents, and agent partners. Keavy loves being a representative of the college for our international students and partners, and is looking forward to continuing to help students achieve their dreams at South. In the news Links to news articles may be found in News & Press on South’s website. Click Here! Page 4 New Staff! and ceonntgrsattasfftoin Aaron brings extensive knowledge of South from multiple valuable perspectives and experiences. He is an accomplished student who graduated from South last June with an AAS-T Academic Transfer degree. Aaron has worked in various departments at South, including as an office assistant in Culinary Arts and an attendant at the art gallery. Most recently, he has been the Technical Education Office Assistant II since the late summer of 2014. Aaron’s professional demeanor as well as his knowledge of the campus, Technical Education programs, our faculty and staff makes him uniquely ready for the challenge of our Secretary Senior position. Sol Mendez Gender Equity Center Coordinator Sol has been working here for seven years in the part-time role. She brings an unparalleled understanding of the work that needs to be and can be done out of that center, and she brings a real commitment to the students she serves and those which she hopes to reach. Sol holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree with an emphasis in Psychology from The Evergreen State College. She has worked at Highline as Interim Program Manager and Advisor for TRiO Student Support Services and a Paralegal Alterman & Boop researching landlord and tenant laws and rights. Sol has ties to West Seattle through her community engagement; she serves as PTA President for Highland Park Elementary and is a Board Member of Delridge Grocery Co-op. Sol is also a Zumba Fitness Instructor. v Aaron Jamroski Secretary Senior – Technical Education curr positions new Yuki Tamura-Vanier Program Coordinator, AANAPISI/Title III Student Services Yuki has been selected as the new Program Coordinator for the AANAPISI and Title III-A grants. This is a full-time position that is responsible for daily office operations and administrative and clerical support for these two U.S. Department of Education grant projects. Yuki holds an MA in International Studies and a BA in Sociology, both from Japan, and an AA in Broadcasting from Los Angeles Valley College. Yuki brings strong technical, organizational and customer service skills and experience from former domestic and international positions to her new role at South. Former positions include Office Administrator for the Tokyo Investment Research Center, Administrative Assistant, International Programs, Hawaii Tokai International College, and, most recently, Administrative Assistant at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. Her first day in her new role was April 1, 2015. Eden Tullis Program Coordinator for Campus Activities – Student Life Eden is a first-generation college student with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Emporia State University. She moved to Seattle for the Student Development Administration (SDA) program at Seattle University where she completed her Masters of Education in 2014. During the past three years, Eden has successfully developed and managed student activities and programs, managed student employees and advised a wide range of student representatives. Most recently, she worked for the University of Washington Bothell as an Orientation Program Specialist. South Bike Riders Represent Bike to Work Day was May 15, and these hearty souls braved city streets and drivers fixated on their cell phones to self-propel themselves to work. It was a citywide event, and those taking part helped generate political momentum for safe and bike-able streets. From left to right, Monica Lundberg, Roger Bourret, Maureen Shadair, Heidi Lyman, Erin Barzen, Jesse Knappenberger, and Catherine Creason. Page 5 did you know? Alumni Mixer Reconnects, Creates New Bonds On March 24, we hosted South’s inaugural Alumni Mixer at the Northwest Wine Academy. With nearly 100 alumni and faculty members in attendance, the event was an excellent opportunity for all to reconnect, network and make new connections with the common bond of an education from South (and complimentary wine in hand). It was great to see and hear from students – both freshly graduated and those who walked long ago - who have found continued success in their academic and professional careers. To ensure the night was alumni-focused from start to finish, even the appetizers were provided by Lavish Roots, a catering company started by three alumni of South’s Culinary Arts program. Attendees paid a modest entry fee, with the proceeds directly benefiting our Foundation in their mission to provide scholarships and support to future alumni. ne g! i W tin s Ta Northwest Wine Academy complimentary tastings happen Wednesday through Friday, 1 pm to 6 pm. Veterans Status Renewed with Official Signing Ceremony South is once again certified as a Partner for Veteran Supportive Campuses by the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs. On April 13, we celebrated the veteran support behind that designation by holding a Veteran Student Center Open House where WDVA Director Alfie Alvarado and President Oertli signed the certificate, making our partnership official. Criteria for the designation includes having robust veteran student services, a culture that promotes well-being and success for veterans, consistent and sustained support from campus leadership, and professional development for faculty and staff on issues and challenges faced by our veterans. Page 6 did you know? “I would recommend it not just too all students but to some adults who are learning about today’s technology,” Hamilton explained. “Everyone at some point in life will require a little assistance in something and there is nothing wrong with knowing too much information. Knowledge is power.” For instructor Sara Newman, who has taught at each campus in the Seattle Colleges, lyndaCampus.com has been a helpful measuring stick for her classes. “I measure my students viewing and competency outcomes off of these videos with my own quizzes and projects,” Newman explained. “My students LOVE Lynda!” Introducing Lyndacampus.com There are some people who just seem to have all the answers. Lynda is one of those people. Recently, South Seattle College launched a new online library called lyndaCampus.com. Students, faculty and staff now have unlimited access to over 3,600 video tutorials to learn technology, education, creative and business skills at their own pace, for free. Previously, Lynda was only available to faculty and some staff, but not students. Nursing student, and music production enthusiast, Shatarra J. Hamilton has already taken advantage of this service and has even built a playlist of tutorials for herself. Understandably, lyndaCampus.com can be intimidating for instructors who are new to the platform. But Newman suggests this user-friendly library can be conquered by starting out “small and building from there.” “Find a topic in the library that interests you, first,” she said. “Then, if applicable, consider finding training that might supplement a lesson in your curriculum. From there, try assigning a video or two to your students and get their feedback.” South’s STARS and eLearning staff will provide a free 30-minute introduction workshops on campus to lyndaCampus; follow this link for the full schedule. Foundation Celebrates Outstanding Students, Faculty and Staff At the March 19 South Seattle College Foundation Board Meeting, three members of South’s community were recognized with the Foundation’s “Outstanding” awards. Here’s the rundown: The Outstanding Student Award went to Hassan Abdi, a computer science student who excels in the classroom and volunteers at the tutoring center and for the Women in STEM club’s Hour of Code events. Hassan had an accolade-rich school year, making the Dean’s and President’s Honor lists and being named to the All-Washington Academic Team. The Outstanding Faculty Award went to Ravi Gandham, a computer science instructor who not only inspires students daily with his enthusiasm for the CS field, but also advises the Women in STEM club and involves himself heavily in Ready, Set, Transfer! – Seattle Colleges program that provides low-income students with the tools and support needed to pursue STEM careers. The Outstanding Staff Award went to Debbie White, Interim Director of WorkSource Career Services. Debbie has prepared students in professional technical programs for job readiness by placing them in internships and employment and holding hiring events, mock interviews, employer panels and presentations. She also has helped students navigate resources for financial & job assistance. Page 7 South Students are Awesome! Top Scholar South Student Earns Top Scholar in the Nation Designation David Yama has heard it all. After receiving poor grades for most of his early scholastic career, he was told that he needed behavioral medication and he would never “make it.” At the age of 14, he dropped out of high school and entered the working world. He found himself working in a series of dead-end jobs that eroded his already low self-confidence. But David did have one thing that no one could ever take from him – hope. He had enough hope to know that he could make a better life – and that all started with an education. David’s journey of hope led him to South Seattle College, where he earned his GED. This accomplishment left him thirsty for more and he continued on his academic journey and will earn an associate degree this spring. With a 3.96 GPA, David was recently named the top scholar of the All-Washington Academic Team, becoming South’s second student to win the honor in the last four years. As Washington’s top scholar, David earned a spot on the All-USA Academic Team where he ranked in the top-20. David credits much of his success to South including instructors Rochelle Fonoti, Bob Dela-Cruz, Jacob Ashcraft and Jane Harness. “South has the most helpful faculty and staff anywhere, and so many opportunities!” With a lifelong passion for science, David will continue his scholastic journey with plans to earn a bachelor’s degree and, ultimately, a Ph.D. in bioengineering or synthetic engineering. His educational path is one of inspiration and hope, proving that at South you can truly “Start Here, Go Anywhere!” Seattle media and Washington politicians took notice of David’s grand achievement. The Seattle Times ran a front page story, King 5 did a profile piece, and Congressman Jim McDermott recognized David’s achievement in the United States congressional record! Aviation Students Test Their Skills in National Competition Competing against the very best in aviation maintenance across the nation, two teams of South students from our Aeronautical Technology Program traveled to Florida to compete in the Aerospace Maintenance Competition from April 14-16. They took on professional teams from Boeing, Alaska Airlines and Southwest Airlines and fellow college teams in a competitive – yet friendly - arena. It was an excellent opportunity for our students to test their abilities against those of their peers and network with potential future employers. Page 8 South Students are Awesome! Students Get Involved in Legislative Action at Nation’s Capital Three South students traveled to Washington D.C. in late March to attend the National Grassroots Legislative Convention and National Student Lobby Day. Vave Tatola, Robert Andrew Ribaudo and Ryan Lonergan - all members of South’s United Student Association - joined a national array of student leaders to design and mobilize grassroots efforts to address reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, campus sexual assault policies, and recruitment and retention of students of color in higher education. Their week culminated with an in-person meeting with Sen. Patty Murray’s top legislative assistant, and they have been busy reporting back to the campus community on their trip, lessons learned and plans for the future. Honor Roll Reception Celebrates Our Students South held an Honor Roll Reception on May 6 for standout students who earned President and Dean’s List status during Winter Quarter 2015. A good showing of faculty, staff and campus leadership attended, and we all relished the opportunity to personally congratulate and celebrate our students and their families for the immense amount of hard work that went into their achievement. Martin Scholarships and a Marketing Plan Win at UW Recently, three South students were recognized with the University of Washington’s prestigious Martin Scholarship. Those students, Sarah Phillips, Austin Tugade, and Sugar Sylvain, will receive $5,000 towards their next year at South, and then up to $12,000 a year for the next three years at the University of Washington. Students from 15 community colleges across the state applied, and South’s recipients account for three of the four total scholarships awarded. In other UW-related news, a group of ambitious South students were recently honored by the University of Washington. Amber Jiang, Gosay Aliyee, Louise Bayona, and Aliya Zhaxylykbayeva competed in the Foster School of Business’ undergraduate case competition, with behind the scenes help from Shorleh (Saleh) Samael. Not only were they the only community college who competed, they also took home first place honors for a marketing strategy they produced for the Seattle-based “Big Time Brewery.” Congratulations to everyone involved, including staff members Danna Culhane and Dennis Wu, who helped make this happen. Additional help was provided by Foundation Board Member Scott Robertson. Page 9 o s l South Staff & Faculty areAAwesome! Landscape Horticulture Instructor Van Bobbit was recently named “Educator of the Year” for 2014 by the Washington State Nursery and Landscape Association. A faculty member since 1990, Van was selected for the innovative programs he’s developed at South and his stewardship of our living classrooms and community gems: the Arboretum and Conifer Garden (the latter was recently nationally recognized with Reference Garden status by the American Conifer Society). His passion for teaching and the natural world make Van an invaluable asset to our college and students, and this recognition is truly well deserved. You are the man, Van! Faculty Member Honored by VA Puget Sound for His Work with Veterans South’s support of veterans sometimes goes beyond the borders of campus, as exemplified by the work of English Instructor Marc Barrington with returning veterans of the Afghan and Iraq wars. For the past year and a half, Marc has been facilitating creative writing workshops in coordination with Veterans AffairsPuget Sound. At the workshops, veterans learn key elements of good writing and create poems focused on exploring memory and place as a creative outlet. On March 12, VA-Puget Sound honored Marc with the Community Partner Award for his work. Congratulations Marc! Tony Vo Named an Emerging Leader by International Examiner The International Examiner, a pan-Asian media group operating out of Seattle since 1974, named South’s own Club Center Coordinator Tony Vo an Emerging Leader as part of their annual Community Voice Awards. Here’s what IE had to say: “Tony Vo is an incredible emerging leader. He has given voice to Asian Pacific Islander students as Director of the UW Asian Student Commission. He helped unite students and the API community to successfully reinstate the UW Southeast Asian Recruiter position and as a community builder, he started the White Center Super Hero 5K Walk and Run to engage the White Center residents and donate the proceeds to the White Center Food Bank, the White Center CDA and YES Foundation of White Center.” Way to go, Tony! v Van Bobbit Named Educator of the Year by WA Nursery and Landscape Association Mike Hickey Shares a Love for Poetry English Instructor Mike Hickey can often be found working with youth at the King County Youth Detention Center, introducing them to poetry, and how writing their own poems is an empowering experience. On April 25, he varied his outreach as a guest speaker and presenter at the Samish Islands Arts Retreat in Bellingham, where he led two writing sessions, read poems and held a Q&A. Since Mike is a published author and all, we’ll let him do the rest of the writing: “My favorite moment was when one woman told me she had hated writing ever since a sixth grade teacher told her a homework assignment was ‘horrible’ and looked like ‘a chicken had walked across the page.’ I kindly instructed the woman to write a poem titled ‘A Chicken Walking Across the Page’ and dedicate it to her sixth grade teacher. I could tell it was comeuppance that was long overdue and very liberating! I also sold a dozen copies of my most recent books Counterclockwise and A Dress Walked by with a Woman Inside. (Most of them were purchased with Canadian money, however, so I'm not even sure if I broke even.)” South Sees Largest Increase in Faculty Diversity Statewide According to a recent study by the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges, South saw the largest increase in full-time faculty diversity over a five years period (2009-2013), compared to all other community and technical colleges in the system with a 6.4 percent increase. The study also shows South has the highest percentage of full-time faculty of color at 35 percent. South’s mission relies greatly on the benefits of learning and working in a multicultural environment that is reflected in our student, staff and faculty populations. Week of Giving Illustrates Employee Passion for South South’s “Week of Giving” employee giving campaign was held from April 13-17, and the outpouring of support from our employees was amazing with $27,420 donated to the South Seattle College Foundation. So many from our ranks contributed to the betterment of our students beyond the hard work they do each day, and those funds will directly support scholarships, emergency funding, staff and faculty training and updated classroom equipment. Page 10 CAmPus Security Reports Suspicious person reminder Our Campus Security Department wants to encourage you to report any suspicious behavior you observe by calling 206-934-0911. Something you see or hear could be a warning sign. While your observations may seem inconsequential, there may be a part of a larger issue that security is handling. Remember, if you see or hear suspicious behavior; report it to Campus Security immediately. See It, Hear It, Report It. Vending machine burglarized Around 7:30 p.m. on March 27, a member of campus security noticed one of two vending machines in the RSB breezeway was ajar, with clear pry marks telling the story of brute entry. The container that holds money was missing, although the corn sugar-laden treats inside appeared untouched. The unknown suspects also tried to pry open the second vending machine in the breezeway, but were unsuccessful. This is an open case (pun fully intended), and if you have any information please contact Campus Security. The Turbulent Tale of a Stolen iPhone A personal crime report from Ty Swenson After having an iPhone stolen from my office last August, I was certain I’d never see my prized, flashy electronic device (that cranked up my hipness factor by at least a few points) again. After verifying it was most certainly a goner, I remotely wiped the phone of my personal information, locked it and set it to display a message with my work number if someone tried to activate it. It actually worked, and a few weeks later I received a call from a woman who claimed to have purchased the stolen phone off of Craigslist. Since it was locked, the phone was worthless to her and I (somewhat begrudgingly) agreed to pay her $100 to return it and help her recoup a portion of the $400 she’d just spent on stolen goods. Unfortunately, she left town with the phone and drove to San Francisco, with a pit stop at the Burning Man Festival, on a scooter. After several unsuccessful emails asking if she might be willing to send the phone back, I eventually gave up and accepted my iPhone-less existence. Fast forward to March, 2015: I received a call, this time from Colorado. A woman had my locked, stolen phone in her possession (given to her by the interstate scooter traveler during a chance encounter in California) and was trying fruitlessly to activate it. I told her the twisting backstory, and we agreed on the same setup as before: if the phone was mailed back and in working order, I would send the latest phone-hostage-taker $100. Lo and behold, a week later, the phone arrived in fine working order. The woman from Colorado became $100 richer (just in time for a humanitarian trip overseas), my faith in humanity was slightly repaired, and that iPhone never leaves my sight. I sometimes wonder if this was all some elaborate ruse, but it seems pretty exhaustive for $100. Quick lesson to be learned: Lock those office doors, even if you’re only gone for a few minutes. Tenure Awarded to South Faculty Mathematics faculty members Kim Llewelyn (far right)and John Toutonghi (Far left) were awarded tenure by the Board of Trustees on March 12. Kim and John have worked very hard to achieve this milestone in their careers, and we thank them for sharing their expertise with their students and peers. South has benefitted from their commitment to student success, knowledge and talent. At the tenure reception, the board also recognized Hospitality Management Instructor Hana Gala (third from right), who received tenure in October of 2014. Page 11 Follow us at South! ! www.southseattle.edu Clickwww.southseattle.edu/facebook www.southseattle.edu/youtube www.twitter.com/SouthSeattleCC http://instagram.com/SouthSeattleCollege Front row, from left to right: Vanessa, Ahky, Amelia and Rifka Back row from left to right: Yousuf, Andy, Ryan and Tyler. Drumroll, Please The students’ votes have spoken, and the official results from the USA student government election are in. First off, thank you to the 636 students who voted (a new record!). Secondly, a sincere thank you to all the candidates who ran for all 8 positions. Your passion for South and your fellow students is awesome. Here are your newly elected student officers for the United Student Association, year 2015-2016: President – Andy Ribaudo Vice President – Ryan Lonergan Issues and Concerns Officer – Amelia Nguyen Social Activity Officer – Ahky Ho Community Service Officer – Yousuf Dirie Public Relations Officer – Vanessa Le Communication Officer – Rifka Bahaman Treasure – Tyler Yamashita Students also approved the gymnasium/wellness center campus enhancement fee. For more details on the project, visit this link. South’s Hidden Forest Landscape Horticulture students led a “West Duwamish Greenbelt Walk Party” on March 23 to show community members the restoration work they are doing in conjunction with local nonprofit Nature Consortium. Ecological Restoration students are working to restore nearly 8,000 square feet of forest by planting 381 native plants. Page 12 a moment of zen... On April 14 Taijo Imanaka (seated left), the head priest at Seattle Koyasan Buddhist Temple, led a guided moon mediation for students, faculty and staff at the Chinese Garden. As participants connected with nature through their thoughts, the skies above answered back with a rare rumble of thunder. Photo by Phuong Nguyen, the Communication Team’s awesome Spring Quarter intern! The Update is South’s newsletter produced by the Communications Department: Glenn Gauthier, graphic design specialist and photographer; Kevin Maloney, director of communications; Ty Swenson, communications specialist; Mario Mitchell, web specialist. Get the publicity you need! The South community is encouraged to submit items of interest, including events, awards, presentations, conference attendance, student achievements, and photos. Fun pics also welcome! Email your items to [email protected]. Contact PIO 4-6 weeks prior to an event you want publicized via press release and/or readerboard. May 20, 2015 Friends of the Colle ge Celebrating the imp act of a scholarship On May 13, the South Seattle College Found Celebration to ackno ation hosted the Friend wledge the achieveme s of the College and to honor the gener nts of Foundation scholarship recipients ous donors who make to announce the 2015 their scholarships possible, as well as Outstanding Alum ni Award winner, Jeff Chef at the Space Needle and a 1997 Maxfield, Executive graduate of South Students were joined ’s Culinary Arts progr by family members, am. faculty and staff memb there to celebrate their success! The ers and friends - all stories shared by recipi impact these schol ents on the profound arships had on their lives was truly powe rful. More photos? Go to the G drive, PIO folder, Photos of South folder. Outstanding Alum nus of the Year Award Winner Jeff Maxfield, Execu tive Chef, Space Need le South Culinary Arts Class of 1997