T a f t C o l l e g e
February 2013
“It is never too late to make posi Ɵ ve changes in your life”
* EOPS Students of the Month
* EOPS Peer Mentors
* Former EOPS Student Success
Story
*Important Information and
Announcements
“ 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 2 lbs. 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.
-Kathy Mixon

I graduated from Cesar Chavez high school in Delano, CA and made the honor roll list all four years. I played soccer here at Taft College since
Fall 2011 at both the right and left Midfielder position. This season we were the first women’s soccer team from Taft to go to the playoffs. We ended up with a record of 9-8-3 and placed 2nd in our conference and 15th in the region.
Monica has been a Ta Ō College athlete since Fall 2011. In May, she will be the fi rst in her family to graduate from college.
I was on the Taft College Vice President’s List for Spring and Fall
2012. This is a big accomplishment for me because I’m a first generation college student. I will be graduating this semester from Taft College with my degree in Liberal Arts: Math and Science. After Taft College my plans are to go to either California State University, Bakersfield or California
State University, Fresno. I enjoy math and one day I would like to be a
Calculus Professor for a University of California.
-Monica Cisneros-Campos
My name is Yesenia Ayala. I graduated from Taft Union High School in 2010. I have been working as a Peer
Mentor for three years. I am double majoring in Social Science and Liberal
Arts. I also work for Jefferson
Elementary and am the president of the
TC Early Childhood Education Club. I plan to graduate this year on my 21st birthday! I would like to thank the
EOPS staff for the opportunity to work as a Peer Mentor. I would also like to thank my counselors and professors for guiding me in the right direction. My family has also been a big part in keeping me on track. Thank you, everyone!
My name is Becky Levy and I’m the newest Peer Mentor. I graduated from
East Bakersfield High School in 2008 and Bakersfield Bodywork massage school in 2009. This is my third semester at Taft College as an English major. I’m one of the editors for the TC literary journal, A Sharp Piece of
Awesome . I hope to graduate TC next spring and transfer to Cal Poly San Luis
Obispo. When I’m not working or studying, I enjoy reading Stephen King novels, collecting Legos, spoiling my dog and cats, and writing short stories. I look forward to meeting each of the
EOPS students and working with you all!
Hi, my name is Bethany
McWhorter. I have been working for EOPS as a Peer Mentor since
January 2012.
I would like to thank all of the staff here at Taft College who have continually helped me throughout the last three years of this incredible journey into higher education. I’m double majoring in English and
Communications and I will graduate this coming May . I will be moving to Oregon in August to attend Western Oregon University.

Apolonia Salazar was a TC
EOPS student from Fall
2002 until the time she graduated in 2005.
“Nothing is impossible in this life, if you do it with love.”
Hello, my name is Apolonia Salazar and as a former EOPS student, it is my pleasure to contribute to the February 2013 EOPS newsletter. During my time at Taft College, the EOPS department helped me tremendously with my educational goals and was an important part of my successful academic career.
Because of the EOPS services and support, I was able to obtain an Associate of Science degree and a certificate of achievement in Early Childhood
Education. After graduating TC in 2005, I transferred to CSUB where I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Child, Adolescent and Family Studies with a minor in Spanish in 2008. After graduating from CSUB, I transferred to the
University of LaVerne and in March 2012, I graduated with a Master’s of
Science in Educational Counseling.
I had a wonderful academic experience while at Taft College. I worked as student worker for the Maintenance Department and transitioned to an
Assistant Teacher at Children Center. I was offered a full time position at
Taft College as a Bilingual Secretary. Working at Taft College has given me the opportunity to develop as an individual and it has helped me discover the passion of assisting students with their higher education. As I stated in the beginning, I have always placed a great importance on my education and have had to compel to learn more and excel in life.
I am married and have a beautiful 10 month boy that I live for. I love being a mom. My hobbies are dancing and exercising. I enjoy traveling and getting to see new places, but most importantly I love spending time with my family. I want to thank all the staff members in the EOPS office and the TC family for guiding me through my educational career. This has definitely been a tough road, but I have accomplished what I always dream of. My Philosophy is
“nothing is impossible in this life, if you do it with love.”
-Apolonia Salazar

CRITERIA
1. Twelve (12) or more semester units completed during the semester.
2. Semester grade point average of 3.50 or better.
3. No grade for the semester below a “B”.
4. A grade of “P” in no more than 4.0 semester units.
Mirtha Andrade
Camisha Carr
Luis Celiz
Pablo Cuate
Nancy De Avila– Figueroa
Mariana Diaz
Natalie Ezell
Arianna Freeny
Sarah Jacquin
Davis Marroquin
Kathy Mixon
Tonya Pantalion
Mayra Perez
Daniel Rodela
Jeanette Rubio
Kassidy Rubio
Stephanie Walle
CRITERIA
1. Twelve (12) or more semester units completed during the semester.
2. Semester grade point average of 3.0 or better.
3. No grade for the semester below a “C”.
4. A grade of “P” in no more than 4.0 semester units.
Rodrigo Alvarez
Shara Bishop
Ginger Booker
Marisela Cabezas
Nicole Caldwell
Regina Carbajal
Ruben Cardenas
Monica Cisneros-Campos
Amber Dean
Claudia Garcia
Elisha Geier
Gabriel Gonzales
Gerardo Gonzalez
Olivia Jimenez
Ranay Knight
Becky Levy
Edgar Lopez
Jocelyn Martinez
Bethany McWhorter
Ramonique Redding
Alberta Reed
Andy Reyes
Raul Romo
Liliana Salas Ramirez
Jose Salcedo
Brenda Valenzuela
Ivette Vizcaino

Ɵ
Applications can be picked up at the Financial Aid Department. The application must include a 250 word biographical letter. Must be a full– time student. Completed applications are due at Financial Aid by March 22.
You must be a full time student to apply. 10 winners will receive a renewable $30,000 scholarship, and 90 finalists will receive a one time $2,500 scholarship. For more information or to submit an application, go to www.pge.com/ brightminds. The deadline is February 28.
Bakersfield College Registered Nurse– Application period for Fall 2013 Program is
Dec 1, 2012– Jan 15, 2015; transcripts needing to be evaluated and need to be requested no later than September 1, 2012. Applications period for Spring 2014
Program is June 1, 2013– July 15, 2013; transcripts needing to be evaluated and need to be requested no later than March 1, 2013.
Yoandra Angeles
Brook Black
Melanie Frink
Stephanie Gutierrez
Kristen Harmon
Jose Leon Sanchez
Ricardo Marquez
Cletis McCoy
Christina Ortiz
Jeremy Perez
Mayra Perez
Romanique Redding
Clarissa Rivas
Yesica Salazar
The EOPS Brag Banner gives all EOPS students the opportunity to “brag” about their accomplishments!
Toward the end of the semester the Brag Banner will be displayed at the EOPS “Celebrating Excellence”
Luncheon. Come by the EOPS Office and brag about your accomplishments today!

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
1st EOPS Counseling/Advising Contact……………………….1/22– 2/28
2nd EOPS Counseling/Advising Contact……………………… 3/1– 4/12
3rd EOPS Counseling/Advising Contact………………………4/15– 5/24
Spring 2013 Taft College Academic Calendar
February 15…………………..Lincoln’s Birthday Holiday
February 18…………………..Washington’s Birthday Holiday
March 25-29…………………Spring Break
May 17-23……………………Final Examinations
May 23……………………….Spring Semester Ends
EOPS/CARE Staff
Coordinator/Counselor (661) 763-7830 lgonzalez@taftcollege.edu Lourdes Gonzalez
Alex Castro Secretary/ Advisor (661) 763-7723 acastro@taftcollege.edu
Chris Flachmann Advisor (661)763-7858 cflachmann@taftcollege.edu