Ta College
May 2013
Outstanding Faculty of the Year
Geoffrey Dyer
Every year EOPS honors a full-time faculty member at
The EOPS End of The Year Luncheon. The award is
selected by student voting.
Dr. Dena Maloney, Superintendent/President of Taft
College, presented Geoffrey Dyer with the Outstanding
Faculty Award.
2012‐2013 EOPS Outstanding
Faculty of the Year
Inside this issue :
* Outstanding Faculty of the Year
Geoffrey Dyer began his education as a student at
Bakersfield College and is a strong believer in the
California Community College system. In 2003, he
published his first book of poetry and continues to publish
his work in small journals and anthologies. He has been
teaching at Taft College since 2007. In that time, he has
learned more from his students than they will ever know.
He has been nominated by Phi Theta Kappa students as a
recipient of the One Professor Award. He is the faculty
adviser to the Taft College Literary Magazine Club, which
annually publishes A Sharp Piece of Awesome.
* Outstanding Staff of Year
* Outstanding Graduate Award
* 2012-2013 EOPS Graduate
* Student of Months
* Important Information and
Announcements
INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE: Writing isn't punishment
or a necessary evil. Writing is using language to express
ourselves and our ideas. Writing is art. Writing is fun.
Don't write because you have to! Write because you get
to.
Most Supportive Staff Award
Joanna Dumbrigue
Every year EOPS also honors a full-time staff member
at The EOPS End of The Year Luncheon. The award is
selected by student voting.
Kal Vaughn, Board of Trustee Member, presented
Joanne Dumbrigue with the Most Supportive Staff
Award. What follows is her Biography.
I have worked at Taft College in the position of Financial Aid Outreach Clerk since
November 2010. In my current position, my responsibilities include increasing and
promoting awareness of financial aid to students, parents’, staff and the general public
in a variety of settings and act as a liaison between the college and higher educational
institutions and Kern County high schools.
Previous to my employment at Taft College, I was employed with the Kern High
School District for 12 years working at Arvin High School and Ridgeview High School
in various responsibilities ranging from Instructional Aide to Finance Clerk. I was born
and raised in Bakersfield, California. I attended Arvin High School and graduated
Bakersfield College in 2002 with an Associate of Arts in Liberal Studies. I graduated
from California State University, Bakersfield in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal
Studies with an emphasis in Literature.
I am currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Educational Counseling at CSUB. I hope
to continue contributing to the growth and success of students.
May Birthdays
Yesenia Ayala
Amber Dean
Deyanira Garcia
Miyokang Kumangi
Nancy Landreth
Erica Miller
Monique Moreno
Anabel Nunez
Anhely Perfecto
Raul Romo
Ariana Sanchez
Allisa Tweedy
Susan Wagner
EOP Student Alumni
Michelle Beasley
Michelle was the keynote speaker for the Luncheon. She did a fantastic job
in encouraging our students to never give up using her own life
experiences. What follows is her speech:
“Persistence: Never Give Up”
Whenever I have listened to speeches in the past, I notice the speaker
usually quotes from famous people, so I thought I would do the same:
Leonardo di Vinci said: “Obstacles cannot crush me. Every obstacle yields
to stern resolve. He who is fixed to a star does not change his mind.”
Thomas Carroll once said: “When you start something, finish it.”
Most of you know who Leonardo di Vinci is, but I doubt any of you know who Thomas Carroll is. He is my father and as
a child he gave me many valuable lessons in life. Those simple words carried me through my education. When I was 17, I
graduated from high school and was off to college. I choose to go to Santa Rosa Junior College. I soon realized I was too
young, too immature, and not ready to be away from home. 6 months later I failed all my classes and returned home. I
later enrolled in Santa Monica Junior College. But being at home didn’t make me ready for college either; I failed out of
Santa Monica. I began to think maybe this is the one thing I couldn’t finish. Our parents had simple rules after we
graduated from high school; “you either go to school or you work.” So I went to work at Wells Fargo Bank. I hated it. I
didn’t like working from 9-5, I didn’t like being stuck in a building all day, but the one thing I hated the most was training
the kids who were headed to management positions. They would be given management positions, just because they had a
degree. I remember thinking some of these people were complete idiots, but they had what I didn’t: a college degree. I
realized then and there that I just needed to apply myself. I decided to try and finish school this time.
I went back to Santa Monica and successfully completed my GE. In the winter 1991, I transferred to CSUB as an EOP
student and received my degree in Child Development in 1994. I hadn’t given up, I kept going, I was persistent.
In 1999, after 6 years of working in child care I wanted to make a move to elementary education. I needed to earn my
teaching credential. I applied to the University of La Verne (ULV) and was accepted. I was excited and I was ready for
school, but life never goes as planned. I found out I was pregnant with my second child and happily postponed my
education. In 2001 I thought I was ready again, but no, I wasn’t. I was having my third child. Finally, in 2003 I began my
teaching credential at ULV. I remember my first class, we had to stand in a circle and say why we wanted a teaching
credential and what we expected out of this program. I don’t remember exactly what I said, but I remember saying I had
been trying to start this program for four years but kept getting pregnant and how happy I was that I wasn’t pregnant and
finally working on my credential. A week later, I found out that I was pregnant. I failed my very last semester at ULV
because I kept being hospitalized due to my pregnancy. I was happy and blessed to have a beautiful healthy baby, but I
was a little sad to have failed my classes. A year later I re enrolled and successfully completed those courses. I remained
at Laverne and began working on my Master’s Degree in Education and completed it in 2006 with a 3.96 GPA.
I am not encouraging nor recommending that you take the long road to your degree as I did. The purpose of my story is
the fact that when I finally got serious and started my education I was determined to finish it. I refused to give up. I was
persistent. As you leave Taft College and began your careers or continue your education at a University remember that; in
life you can do anything just don’t give up. I leave you with a quote from Michael Jordan, “I’ve failed over and over and
over again in my life, and that is why I succeed.”
Outstanding Graduate Award
Kathy Mixon
Michael Long, Board of Trustee Member, presented the award
for Outstanding Spring 2013 Graduate Award to Kathy Mixon.
The following is her bio:
“From the ashes rises the phoenix.” This phrase may sound
dramatic, but it couldn’t describe my life better. It was just three
years ago that a failed back surgery forced me to stop working,
sell my home, and travel 1,600 miles to seek a skilled surgeon to
restore my quality of life. I was a 47 year old unemployed,
single woman that rarely ventured out into public, and was in
indescribable pain.
In the blink of an eye, I had gone from being a successful bookkeeper to receiving Social
Security Disability. There are no adversities that cannot be overcome. In 2010, I had my fourth and
fifth surgeries that added 2lbs. of metal to my spine. I decided to put my recovery time to good use,
and I chose Taft College to get my AS Degree in Accounting. As soon as I was able to sit in a chair,
I signed up for online classes.
Being successful in my classes helped motivate me to be successful in my recovery. I gained
the motivation to return to the work force instead of being on government aid for the rest of my
life. With the encouragement of my family and the EOPS Staff at Taft College, I not only achieved
making the President’s List three times, the top 1% in academic achievement two times, but am
also a Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society member.
This is my last semester at Taft College. This Spring I will be a proud 50 year old grandma,
college graduate and ready to return to the work force. I am living proof that no matter what cards
life deals you, nothing is impossible and it is never too late to make positive changes in your life.
Taft College Graduation Procedures Spring 2013
May 23
Academic requirements must be completed.
May 24
Rehearsal for commencement is at 5:45 p.m. at Taft Union High School Football
Stadium - all graduates must be present if participating in commencement. Directly
following rehearsal will be commencement. Graduates will need to report for
commencement dressed in cap and gown. Please call Sandi Graham at
(661)763-7708 if you are unable to attend commencement.
May 24
Commencement begins at 7:00 p.m.
NOTE: Students wishing to participate in the commencement ceremony must maintain enrollment
requirements for graduation in order to remain eligible to participate.
EOPS Appreciates Your Support
The staff at EOPS and CARE would like to give a special thank you to Brock McMurray, Vice-President
of Student Services, for all the support he has provided the programs throughout the past years. Starting
July 1, 2013 Brock will be the Executive Vice President, Administrative Services/Chief Financial Officer.
We congratulate him and wish him well!
Graduates were recognized at the EOPS End of the Year Awards Luncheon
“Celebrating Excellence.” Brock McMurray, addressed our candidates for
graduation while Dr. Dena Maloney presented the graduates with the EOPS
Graduation Certificates.
2012-2013 EOPS Graduates
What follows are the names of the graduates and presenters in the picture from left to right
Marisol Gallardo, Amber Dean, Karla Contreras, Jennifer Ryle, Nancy Landreth, Liliana Salas, Edgar Padilla, Dr. Dena Maloney, Karlene Hernandez, Mayra Perez, Michael Long, Maria Valdez, Rodolfo Noriega,
Kal Vaughn, Tammie Mason, Lourdes Gonzalez, Kathy Mixon, Amelia Sandoval, Marisela Cabezas, Yesenia Ayala, Brock McMurray, Erica Miller, Deyanira Garcia, Roberto Mariscal, Claudia Garcia, Andy Reyes
and Bethany McWhorter
EOPS Student of the Month Awards
Rodolfo Noriega
Rodolfo has been on either the Vice President’s or the
President’s list since he first started studying at Ta College,
and he has earned degrees in both Business Administra on
and Social Science. He plans to transfer to CSUB in the fall
where he will con nue studying Business Administra on
with a concentra on in Human Resources.
Nancy Gipson
Nancy is finishing her degree in Administra ve Services this
semester, and she is the first person in her immediate family
to complete a college degree. She has been on the
President’s list each semester since she started at Ta
College, and she plans to transfer to CSUB where she will
specialize in Phlebotomy and return to working in the
medical field.
Tonya Pantalion
As the president of our Honor’s Society, Phi Theta Kappa,
Tonya has managed to maintain an excellent grade point
average during her me at Ta College, which has kept her
on the President’s list since day one. She plans to transfer to
CSUB where she will complete a Bachelor’s degree in nursing,
with an emphasis in emergency and trauma.
EOPS Student of the Month Awards
Kathy Mixon
Although she’s experienced hardship during the past few
years, Kathy decided to stay posi ve and return to school to
complete a degree in Accoun ng. While recovering from back
surgery, Kathy has managed to maintain an excellent grade
point average, and her scholas c achievements have earned
her a spot on the President’s list numerous mes. Kathy will
graduate this semester as a Phi Theta Kappa Honor’s Society
Member.
Juana Espinoza
Juana plans to complete degrees in both Criminal Jus ce and
Social Science. She has been able to maintain an outstanding
GPA during her me at Ta College, and this has earned her a
spot in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She plans to
transfer to CSUB to con nue her educa on in Criminal Jus ce.
Ginger Booker
Ginger has been on both the President’s and Vice President’s
list during her me at Ta College, and she has now
transferred to CSUB to pursue a degree in psychology with an
emphasis on gender studies. She hopes to use her exper se
in this field to counsel women and children who need help
becoming independent.
EOPS Student of the Month Awards
Liliana Salas
Liliana has earned a spot on the Vice President’s list in
consecu ve semesters, and she is also a Phi Theta Kappa
Honor’s Society member. She has already been accepted to
CSU Los Angeles, where she plans to pursue a Bachelor’s
degree in Television, Film, and Media Studies in hopes of
someday being able to create movies for Disney Pixar
Anima on.
Mayra Perez
In addi on to being a volunteering her me as a T.A. for the
Head Start Program at Jefferson Elementary, Mayra has
managed to earn a spot on the President’s or Vice President’s
list each semester during her me at Ta college. She is
currently working towards a degree in Administra ve
Services, and she plans to con nue her educa on in pursuit
of a degree in Child Development.
Monica Cisneros– Campos
As a first genera on college student, Monica was able to
juggle the demands of a full‐ me student‐athlete. In
addi on to making the Vice President’s list, Monica
contributed to the success of our Women’s Soccer Team this
year. She is gradua ng this semester with a degree in Liberal
Arts with an emphasis in Math and Science, and she plans to
transfer to either CSU Bakersfield or CSU Fresno to pursue a
math degree in hopes of becoming a University Professor.
EOPS Academic Excellence Non-Graduate Grant
Recipients
To be considered for an Academic Excellent Grant a student must first be and EOPS student in good standing
and must submit a Community College Scholarship Application. Students are then chosen based on their overall GPA and their unmet financial need.
From Left to Right:
Mariana Diaz, Ariana Freeny, Tammy Bresette, Stephanie Dargusch, Rebecca Levy, Rachel Sasi,
Laura Martin, Tonya Pantalion, Jose Salcedo, and Brenda Valenzuela.
EOPS/CARE Visit us at: EOPS/CARE website: www.ta college.edu/tcwp/eops/ EOPS/CARE Facebook: Eops Care Spring 2013 EOPS Counseling/Advising Contact Dates
3rd EOPS Counseling/Advising Contact………………………4/15– 5/24
Spring 2013 Taft College Academic Calendar
May 17-23…………………..Final Examinations
May 23………………………Spring Semester Ends. Last day to complete your classes
May 24………………………Commencement
June 6………………………..CSUB Transfer Specialist on campus
EOPS/CARE Staff
Lourdes Gonzalez
Coordinator/Counselor
(661) 763-7830
lgonzalez@taftcollege.edu
Alex Castro
Secretary/ Advisor
(661) 763-7723
acastro@taftcollege.edu
Chris Flachmann
Advisor
(661)763-7858
cflachmann@taftcollege.edu