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Puente: Expanding your Horizon
Club Affirmation
I know I am Intelligent,
strong and determined
You are in College: Now What?
I have within me what I need
to be successful
Whether you recently graduated from high school or are a returning student,
there is always a moment of uncertainty about your decision to attend college. Your
mind will be filled with questions such as: How do I know if college is for me? What
is my career path? Who do I talk to if I need help? How will I adjust to this new
environment? All these questions can be overwhelming once they have crowded
your mind. It is never too late or impossible, however, to seek answers.
I feel passionate and
confident about my purpose
I dare to make a difference in
my world
Knowing where to start is always an important factor toward a successful
college experience. So how do you know where to start? Talk to a counselor, ask
your peers, take advice from faculty, and most importantly surround yourself with
positive people who value their education and who want to succeed in their future.
I speak what is only true and
positive
I hear and believe what I say
Inside This Issue:
Puente Cabinet
2
Student Spotlight
3
Program Highlights
4
Hot Trend
5
He Said...She Said
5
Voices of the Future
6
From The Heart
7
Putting Life into Perspective
7
Transfer Fact Sheet
8
VVC Campus
9
What People are Talking About 9
Program Information
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The Puente Program provides answers to all your questions. This program
is dedicated to students and making sure they are on the right path. Puente offers
support, encouragement, social networking, mentoring, one-on-one time with a
counselor, academic resources, campus tours, community service, and most
importantly the guarantee of a life changing experience.
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Fall 2010 Puente Cabinet
Milagros Magana
(Special Events Liaison)
Billy Macias
(Fundraising)
Daniel Carrillo
(Historian)
Christopher Armstrong
(Treasurer)
Jennifer Parra
(Academic Liaison)
Luis Diaz
(Vice President)
Tuan Trinh
(President)
Preston Aquino (ICC Rep)
Jerry Rojo (ICC Rep)
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Richard Garcia (Secretary)
Arlene Avila (Outreach)
Edgar Parra
(Activities Director)
Abel Torres
(Public Relations Liaison)
Congratulations to Jaime Ruiz, Puente Club
Summer 2010 graduate and transfer student!
Q: How do you feel about your experiences in Puente throughout your years at Victor
Valley College?
A: My experiences in Puente have been life changing. It is not only a program to help
students learn how to read and write, but also a place to be leaders while learning to serve
as good and responsible people.
Q: What has been your most memorable moment in Puente?
A: My most memorable moment in Puente was attending the 2010 Summer Leadership
Conference at UCR. It was an excellent opportunity to network with key staff behind the
Puente Project, as well as to make a life long bond with 60 other Puente students from
California. Lastly, I represented the Puente Program at Victor Valley College. This
experience was memorable to me because I was elected by my peers as their Southern California Puente
Regional President.
Q: Where are you transferring to and what is your major?
A: I will transfer to UC Riverside in the fall of 2011 and will double major in psychology and Chicano studies.
Q: What is your career goal?
A: My career goal is to become a community college counselor who inspires and motivates teens to continue
their education at a four-year institution. It will be an overall pleasure to help coordinate a program such as
the Puente Program. This program has given me so much, and why not give back.
Q: What are three of your successful study habits?
A: Time management, avoiding procrastination, and taking effective notes. Procrastination can either make
you or break you. It usually breaks you, so I try to avoid it at all costs. I consider myself a somewhat busy guy
and I plan before I think. To get through my day, I use a detailed planner. In it I record important deadlines,
events and/or activities in my planner, so that all gets done. Lastly taking effective notes. I always write
them out by hand nice and neat. Finally, I go over my notes right after class when all the information is still
fresh in my head, and then I type them out on my computer.
Q: Who has been a great inspiration in your life?
A: My greatest inspiration hands down has to be my parents. Now that I'm older (and wiser!) I see how much
they have struggled for my siblings and me, and I hope I can be half as amazing as they are. I give them my
respect for all their work and effort to move our family ahead. They always have taught me to be strong and
never give up under any circumstance. I will never forget their love and affection.
Q: Do you have any advice for new Puentistas?
A: Never give up because there is a great future ahead of you. Do your best, and remember that you are
capable of accomplishing your dreams. All it takes is courage, motivation and hard work. Always
remember “SI SE PUEDE!” Because if I made it, I am sure you can, too.
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Program Highlights
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Puente Club members serving food at our
Fund-raising event at Apple Bee’s on
November 21st, 2010.
Puente Club Mentor and Mentees having a
blast eating breakfast at the Puente Club
Fundraiser on November 21st, 2010 .
Puente Club Members pumped up before
the Motivational Conference at UCR on
November 20th, 2010.
Puente Club members competing against
each other on our Sports Event on
September 25th, 2010
Puente Club members getting ready for
dinner after the Motivational Conference on
November 21st, 2010
Puente Club members eating lunch after
their Orientation/Training on August 27th,
2010.
Puente Club members took their pictures
after participating in the “Make a Difference Day: Community Service” on
October 23rd., 2010.
Puente Club Spring 2010 Campus Tour Day.
Puente Club members at Pizza Hut after
Community Service Day on
October 23rd, 2010.
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Hot Trend
“Beyond The Fabric”
The fall season has begun and, as usual, cardigans,
jackets and scarves are beginning to crowd closets. What
are VVC students wearing that is new and eye catching?
As you walk around the campus, do you do a double-take
when you see someone with such unique attire? We
interviewed one student who talked to us about her
personal fashion sense.
Ms Katrina Ortiz is a Bio/Chem. major, an avid volunteer, and a kick boxer with an elegant sense of
fashion. Her favorite fashion establishments include H&M, Forever 21, Guess, and Bloomingdales. Her
motto is ―Embrace your personal style!‖ When asked what advice she had for others seeking fashion tips,
she had this to say, ―Express yourself! When you wear an outfit, wear it with confidence.‖
Fashion Commentator: Richard Garcia
He Said…...She Said
He Said:
My pet peeve against the opposite gender is a female who does not have a sense of humor. No
sense of humor is a complete turn off because I like to joke and tease. If a woman can’t forge a
good or decent comeback or at least acknowledge that I was making a joke, it’s a turnoff. Life
is too complicated to not enjoy and have a good laugh that will carve abs just by LOL. Also,
there are women who claim that all guys are dogs, liars, and cheaters. What’s up with that? No
one is perfect, but to jump to such a conclusion is a fallacy. My response to them is ―Please,
what you mean to say is that all the guys you’ve been with are dogs, liars and cheaters, so stop
blaming the entire male gender for your lack of taste in men.‖
Feature Writer: Preston Aquino
She Said:
Aside from the usual pet peeves such as lying, or popping gum, my personal favorite is men
who use profanity for no apparent reason. It’s unnecessary and quite trashy. Another favorite is
a guy who can’t laugh along with me. I smile 99% of the time, so it really irks me when people
have no sense of humor.
Feature Writer: Gina Galvan
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Voices of the Future
Students who are in the Puente Program experience changes and improvement in many different
ways through classes as well as support of each other. Some may view the program as their
second family, and some truly believe that the Puente Program is where they belong. Guidance
and academic support are what Puente is all about. Students work hard every day to reach their
goals because they know if they stumble and fall on the way, Puente will always be there to catch
them.
When I first joined Puente, I wasn't sure what to expect, but
now that I am a member of Puente I am so glad I joined. I have
learned so much from this program in the short time I have been
in it, and I have made so many new friends that now mean the
world to me. Puente has helped me to come out of my shell and
given me so many great new memories. I look forward to
learning as much as I can through this process.
Jeni Griese
Being in this program has been an amazing experience. I
learned many things that will help me with my future
academic and personal goals. The club has a group full of
motivated students and staff that I am proud to be part of.
Natalie Garcia
Being a part of the Puente Program is definitely an overwhelming
experience. I look forward to classes and seeing everybody from
the program everyday. I love the support and encouragement
coming from the Advisors/Teachers as well as the students in the
Program. Everybody is like a brother/sister that you never knew
existed. Puente is a place where I can express myself without
being judged, and a place where I learn new things everyday.
Tuan Trinh
My experience in Puente has kindled the leader in me. It has
helped me develop strong bonds with friends, to network, and
overcome adversity. In the Puente Cabinet I have learned
time-management, implementing new ideas and incorporating
them. I plan to take my newfound leadership skills and guide
others into not only transferring but also being the future leaders
of tomorrow.
Billy Macias
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From the Heart
Mentoring — as a college student (especially a Puente student!) you tend
to hear this word a lot. You might ask yourself why people think having a
mentor is important. Well, there are many reasons for having a mentor.
Mentors are people who provide guidance, encouragement, professional
and personal advice, and equally important, want to see you succeed in
your personal, career, and academic goals. They help push you through
when the going gets tough. They are the people you can count on when
faced with a difficult decision. They help you see possibilities and
opportunities for yourself that you may have never thought about or
considered before. As a college student myself, I didn't know the value of
having a mentor until I was ―forced‖ to have one. I had my first mentor when I was a graduate student
at Cal State Long Beach. Being a (graduate) student came with a lot of challenges at many levels, and I
am happy to say I had someone who I could count on when the going got tough for me—someone who
I could speak to, get advice and encouragement from, and be my cheerleader at times I felt I wasn’t
going to make it to the next semester, no, the next day! She was my voice of reason, and I can say some
very important decisions I made came from seeking my mentor’s guidance since she had ―been there,
done that.‖ After having my first mentor, I developed relationships with other professionals who also
became my mentors. Really, I can honestly say that it is because of my mentor’s guidance, support, and
faith in me that I was able to accomplish the many goals that I had set for myself. I realized that being a
success in college does not only come from the grades you get in college, but it comes from the
relationships you develop with others, especially those who genuinely want to see you succeed, and
from personal experience I can attest that to be true. I hope that one day you become that great mentor
that your mentor was to you!
Feature Writer: Lorena Ochoa, Mentor & VVC Counselor
Putting Life into Perspective
What I value most would be my education, but that wasn’t always the case. Ever since freshman year in
high school, I always had my sights on enlisting in the military and never was concerned about attending
a college or university. As I moved in my senior year to Victorville, CA and attended Victor Valley High
School, enlisting in the Army was more than a sure thing since there were scarce employment opportunities and I wasn’t motivated about attending college. After I graduated from VVHS, I contemplated what
college would be like and what if I enrolled and took classes. I knew I wanted to be successful and earn
money in my life, but didn’t know what steps to take if I entered college. No one motivated me to go to
college, and I decided to jump right into college to see what it could offer me. After an awesome summer
semester, I received a phone call and my current teacher spoke to me about possibly joining Puente and
what it had to offer. I’m now in my second semester of college and I would have to say that joining
Puente was the best decision I have made. That phone call changed my perspective and outlook on my
education. I am thankful that I had an opportunity to be a part of a prestigious club that has made a difference in my life. I look forward everyday for my English and guidance classes because I know everybody
in the class joined the program with intentions of becoming a better student and person in life. The club
also has made a huge impact on my life, and I encourage anyone who wants to transfer and make a lasting
bond with people who care about each other to join Puente and see what I am talking about.
Feature Writer: Preston Aquino
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Transfer Fact Sheet
Transfer Admissions Guarantee
Transfer Admissions Agreement
Just like it sounds a Transfer Admission Guarantee
Like the UC system, the CSU system also offers a Transfer
(TAG) entitles students guaranteed admission to some
Admission Agreement (TAA), a contract to guarantee
UC campuses as long as students maintain the required
GPA and satisfy specified courses and admission
requirements. To learn more about this opportunity
schedule an appointment with your college counselor or
contact a transfer center representative.
TAGparticipants
UC Davis
UC San Diego
UC Irvine
UC Santa Barbara
UC Merced
UC Santa Cruz
UC Riverside
admission by the institution. The same rules apply and
those who sign the contract will be required to maintain a
certain GPA, and satisfy specified courses and admission
requirements in order to meet contract conditions.
TAAparticipants
Unlike the UC system, there is no official list of CSU
campuses that offer the TAA. In order to develop a
contract, contact the CSU campus you are
attempting to attend and speak with an admissions
representative.
University of California and Cal State University Deadlines
UC System
Term attending:
A pplication initial filing period:
Fall 2011…………….……November 1– 30, 2010
Winter 2012………….…….……July 1– 31, 2011
CSU System
Term attending:
A pplication initial filing period:
Winter 2012……….…………….June 1- 30, 2011
Spring 2012……………………August 1-31, 2011
Spring 2012…………………..…July 1– 31, 2011
Fall 2012…………October 1- November 30, 2011
Fall 2012……………….…November 1– 31, 2011
Winter 2013……………..………July 1– 30, 2012
Spring 2013………………..…….July 1– 31, 2012
Winter 2013……………………..June 1- 30, 2012
Spring 2013…………………...August 1- 31, 2012
Please make sure to meet with a college counselor to stay on track.
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VVC Campus
What’s New At VVC?
Do the majority of the students fully appreciate the use of new technology on campus? I think not; I believe a majority of the students
are unaware of the changes being made here. In my search for student opinions, I encountered a number of overwhelmingly negative opinions,
from discontent to shame.
Few responses were positive, until I encountered Jonathan Camarillo, a student of VVC, San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC), and
Chaffey who expressed a great deal of knowledge about our campus. He claimed that a lot of the equipment, like that in the physics classrooms,
rival that of the universities in the UC system. He also added that VVC has been awarded Campus of the Year in 2004 and 2008 by the American
Student Association of Community College (ASACC). If that wasn’t enough, Jonathan shared that ―the accessibility is nothing to complain about,
especially with the parking and road direction upgrade for this semester.‖ As student of three JCs, he says, ―VVC, by far is the most accessible and
open campus. It feels like a privilege to attend such a great college.‖ A structural advancement that almost everyone at VVC has an acquaintance
with is the Advanced Technology Center (ATC). Though most are quite familiar with the building, many do not appreciate and fully comprehend
its function and its resources. The ATC, a 46,620 square foot open building, features ―twenty multi-purpose computer laboratories equipped with
state of the art smart classroom technology.‖ Most of these computer labs are used as classrooms, while others are used for the writing and math
centers. Even the East corner of the building is a tutoring center. Though that stuff is great, the main attraction of this building is the computer mall,
which stretches from the east side of the building to the west and houses computers that are all equipped with the necessary programs needed to
pass your classes. One of those programs is A.D.A.M., used by anatomy students, which is normally sold upwards from 100 dollars. To top it all
off the staff, workers, and volunteers are found all over the ATC ready to help.
Another advancement VVC has undergone to make our campus more eco-friendly is the solar plant, which was installed earlier this year.
This solar plant lies on six acres located on the northeast side of the campus and includes, ―122 arrays lined with 28 panels each‖ (Mcquilkin). The
solar plant will be used to power thirty percent of the campus, and if that isn’t impressive enough, it’s also ―the largest energy facility of its kind in
the United States,‖ as stated by college officials. In addition to the solar panels, VVC plans to develop a curriculum within its existing academic
and technical programs around this innovative solar technology including installation, operations and maintenance.‖ Not only is VVC becoming
greener, but also adding new programs to the curriculum that other JC’s have yet to explore. When you think of VVC, instead of spreading around
false and negative statements, you now know that our campus is one that you can take pride in. It is a campus filled with opportunities waiting to
be grasped. With all that said, I personally hope that the next time you encounter something that you deem as ―worthless,‖ you take a closer look
and do your research before passing off on something that may very well be nothing but beneficial to you.
Feature Writer: Daniel Carrillo
What People Are Talking About...
The Dream Act
Individuals live two realities, their own, and the one that exists whether people say it does it not. In our student body, there are those who
are stuck in the realm of secrecy – I speak of the AB540 students. For those unfamiliar with the term, ―AB540 students,‖ they are undocumented
students who attend a college or university. Fortunately, for those undocumented students, the Dream Act Legislation opens a new door which provides a possible solution for them. The Dream Act Legislation is a bill that could allow these students to receive financial support to help them step
through that door and make a difference in the world. We interviewed a student who is AB540 for opinions and experiences.
Another will be
interviewed who is against the Dream Act.
After Learning About the Dream Act, We Decided To Interview an AB540 Student. (Due to Confidentiality Purposes, the Student Wishes
to Remain Anonymous)
Q: What does the Dream Act represent to you?
A: To me, the Dream Act represents the opportunity for a better life, a new hope, a new beginning. The Dream Act is much more that just a piece of
legislation; it is a pathway that will lead AB540 students towards achieving success. I cannot begin to explain how important the Dream Act is for me and
for other students. The Dream Act will open up new doors for hard working students, doors that have been closed for so long.
Q: Many people say that the Dream act isn’t fair, because if it were to pass, money would be pulled from students who are here legally and
whose parents pay taxes. What do say to that?
A: I believe that this statement is incorrect. There are many people living in the United States illegally who do pay taxes. The Dream Act will give
students an opportunity to work and succeed in the United States; there is nothing unfair about that. Plus, the Dream Act will only help the economy
because by legalizing students it opens up more opportunities for jobs. If the Dream Act passes, it will increase tax revenue since it will legalize students
who will work and pay taxes. The Dream Act can be beneficial not to just students, but to the economy as a whole.
Q: What do you think it’s going to take to get this bill passed?
A: I think it is going to take a lot of determination and hard work. There are currently thousands of active AB 540 students who are doing their best to get
this bill passed. It is going to take each AB540 student's effort to make this happen, and I am positive it can!
Q: Anything else you want to add or want to people to know…any last comments?
A: I know I am only one AB 540 student, but I know I am not the only one who is trying to get my voice heard. We need this bill to pass, so it will open
up many opportunities for students that rightly deserve them. The Dream Act isn't giving legalization to just anybody, but it is giving legalization to those
hard working students that are putting their time and effort to be successful in life! Ask yourself this: if you immigrated into another country as a small
child and worked your tail off to be SOMEBODY in life, but people looked you in the eye and said, "Sorry, but your not allowed to be SOMEBODY."
How would you feel?
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Inside Puente
Club Meetings:
Puente Sponsors:
Target
Cabinet: meetings are every
1st And 3rd Monday from
11:30am-12:15pm.
Conroy’s Flower
General: meetings are every
Parra’s Key Shop
2nd and 4th Monday in the SAC
from 11:30am-12:15pm.
Club Events:
Leadership Retreat
(September 17th)
Welcome/Sports Day
(September 25th)
“Make a Difference Day”
Community Service
(October 23rd)
Puente Motivational
Conference
(November 20th)
Puente Club Flap Jack
Fundraising
(November 21st)
Upcoming Events:
Thanksgiving Community
Service
(November 25th)
Puente Club Fall 2010
Election
(December 7th)
Puente Program End of the
Year Recognition Dinner
(December 7th)
Newsletter Staff:
President……….Tuan Trinh
ICC Rep………..Preston Aquino
Secretary……….Richard Garcia
Historian…….....Daniel Carrillo
Club Member…..Gina Galvan
New Student Orientation and
Training
(date TBA)
Puente Club Committees
Community Service Committee: This committee is designed to identify &
coordinate individual/group volunteer opportunities for students.
Fundraising Committee: This committee is designed to organize fundraising
events to support club activities and provide scholarships for Puente students.
Marketing/Newsletter Committee: This committee is designed to develop and
publish a newsletter for the Puente Program.
Contact Us
Website: http://www.vvc.edu/puente
Email: vvcpc@hotmail.com
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Academic/Scholarship Committee: This committee is designed to provide
academic support and resources for Puente students.
T-Shirt Committee: This committee is designed to produce a T-Shirt for club
members.