. 2014
B
E
F
.
JAN
Stenger-Smith and
Cornett Receive
Excellence Award
Dr. John Stenger-Smith and Julie Cornett.
Dr. John Stenger-Smith, Professor of Chemistry, and Julie
Cornett, Librarian, are recipients of the 2013 John and Suanne
Roueche Excellence Award by the League of Innovations in
the Community College. The prestigious award celebrates
outstanding contributions and leadership by community college
faculty and staff across the nation. John is known around the
Cerro Coso IWV campus for his high energy and innovative
teaching techniques that inspire his students to succeed
through a rigorous curriculum. He is enormously influential in
attracting some of the most intelligent and dedicated students
to the college. The success of transfer students from Dr.
Stenger-Smith’s classes is a testimony to his commitment to
help students achieve their dreams of a higher education. Since Librarian Julie Cornett was hired she has brought
a new dimension to library services for all students and for
all modalities of instruction at the college. Library resources
have moved swiftly into the online environment, and Julie has
developed digital library resources, both open resources and
paid subscriptions, for student and faculty use. She piloted
an embedded librarian project within specific courses that
provides students with direct instruction in online resources
and research skills. As Cerro Coso seeks to improve the student
experience at the college through the Achieving the Dream
(ATD) Model, Julie is serving as the lead for the ATD Data
Team exploring how the college can be made better through
identified, scalable services and pedagogical practices.
“John and Julie deserve this recognition for their quality
teaching practices and outstanding contributions to student
learning,” said Cerro Coso President Jill Board. They will receive
their awards during the Leagues Innovations Conference in
March 2014. CONGRATULATIONS!!!
C ER
RO
E
COSO COMMUNITY COLLEG
Sine Looks to
Expand Leadership
Opportunities for
Students
Joshua Sine has joined Cerro Coso
Community College as the new
Director of Student Activities and
Athletics. He previously served
as the Director of New Student
Programs for three and a half
years at Dixie State University in
St. George, Utah. The Salt Lake City
native was a student athlete himself
as a quarterback for the Dixie State
football program and knows well
the academic and support needs
of student athletes. Joshua hopes
to build a leadership program at
Cerro Coso that encourages student Joshua Sine, Director of
engagement and creates a strong
Student Activities and
Athletics
sense of campus community.
“Helping students enhance their
leadership skills and engage in their communities will add value to
their college experience,” said Joshua. “I’m also looking forward to
working with our coaches to expand athletic programs and activities
that bring people back up this hill to attend events.” The mission of
Cerro Coso Community College athletics is to successfully develop
the student-athlete as a person, student, and athlete. Joshua’s
experience will assist in developing athletic programs that motivate
(Continued on Page 2)
Inside this Issue
Stenger-Smith and Cornett Receive Award
Sine Looks to Expand Leadership
Velasquez Trumpets Variety
ESCC Welcomes Yvonne Martin
Medina Dedicated to Student Success
Tolbert Behind the Life of a Party
Sherrick Leads Volleyball Team
The Power of Partnerships
Women’s Soccer Receives National Award
ESCC Career Connections
KRVECF Awards Scholarships
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COYOTE HOWLER
Velasquez
Trumpets
Variety
New PC Technician William
Velasquez possesses the
skills and knowledge that
comes with over 22 years
William Velasquez, PC
of information technology
Technician
experience in an educational
setting. Prior to joining the IT
Team at Cerro Coso, William worked for a K12 school district in Los
Angeles providing direct technology support for students, faculty,
and staff. “Making the user experience easier is what I enjoy most
about what I do,” he said. Originally from Los Angeles, William
met his wife Ana when she was only 10 years old. The two have
been married for 13 years and make their home in Lancaster. Ana
works as a Special Education Teacher in Los Angeles. William has a
collection of 7 trumpets and loves to play baroque music with his
piccolo trumpet and has performed with orchestras and bands as
a guest soloist for years; he even played the trumpet at his own
wedding. In his free time, William enjoys photography, video editing,
and dabbling with graphic design. William’s winning personality is
sure to deliver first class customer service. He has joined an amazing
team that meets all our technology related requests and challenges.
WELCOME William!
Sine Looks to Expand
(Coninued from Page 1)
and inspire students to connect with the community… building
important leadership skills, networks, and relationships that improve
the quality of student life and the community. “Preparing students
for success in college, careers, and life, is what I enjoy most about
what I do,” he concluded. Joshua holds a BS in English, Technical
and Professional Writing from Dixie State University and a Masters
in Educational Leadership from Portland State University. He and
his wife Allison have two children: Royal (2.5 years old) and Millie (1
month). Millie was born at Ridgecrest Regional Hospital shortly after
the young family arrived. WELCOME to Cerro Coso, Joshua!
ESCC Welcomes
Yvonne Martin
ESCC’s newest
team member
is not exactly
“new” to the
team. Yvonne
Martin took on
the temporary
Department
Assistant position
at ESCC’s
Mammoth
Lakes campus in
June 2013, and
accepted—to
Yvonne Martin, ESCC Department
the delight of
Assistant
her coworkers—
the permanent Department Assistant position in October. Yvonne
had been living in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, prior to her move to
Mammoth Lakes in 1996. She was a full-time mother, and when the
time came for her daughter, Rose, to go to school, the soon-to-be
first-grader imploringly told her mom, “I don’t want to go to school
in Mexico. I want to be a ski racer like my dad!” So the return to the
United States, and eventually the Eastern Sierra, began. The family
moved from the tropics to the snow-capped peaks of Mammoth
Lakes within the year. Interestingly enough, Rose Martin ended up
attending Cerro Coso Community College at ESCC’s Mammoth Lakes
campus. Never giving up her ski racing, she graduated with a 4.0,
and went on to UCSD to earn her Bachelor’s in Psychology. Rose
has recently left San Diego to return to Mammoth Lakes, where she
works for Mono County Mental Health in Child & Adult Protective
Services. Yvonne couldn’t be happier with what Cerro Coso did for
her daughter, and is looking forward to contributing to the success
of the college in any way she can. She truly loves her job, and it
shows! Yvonne’s goal is to be able to give back as much to Cerro
Coso as the college has given to her and her family. We think she’s
off to a good start. Best of luck, Yvonne!
Medina Dedicated to Student Success
Mabel Medina, East Kern
Educational Advisor
“Whenever you feel like
quitting, remember why you
started,” advises new East
Kern Educational Advisor,
Mabel Medina. Before joining
Cerro Coso, Mabel served
as a substitute teacher and
academic tutor for the Los
Angeles Unified School District
for 6 years. An internship at
Los Angeles Mission College in
the Financial Aid Department
taught her the different forms
of Financial Aid and the factors
affecting the eligibility of
students. She also participated
in workshops to assist students
with their FAFSA. An Academic
Counselor internship for EOPS
at LA Mission College and LA
Valley College allowed her
to participate in academic
counseling sessions, review
educational goals, course
requirements, explore majors,
plan courses, monitor academic
progress, and develop and
update student educational
plans. All great experiences that
prepared her well for her role as
an Education Advisor at Cerro
Coso’s Eastern Kern location,
where she will assist students
in establishing attainable
academic and career goals. “I’m
looking forward to assisting
students in clarifying their
educational goals, selection
of courses, and developing
student educational plans,”
she said. The middle child of
three daughters, her hobbies
include reading and running.
Mabel holds a Bachelor of Arts
in Sociology and Education from
the University of California, San
Diego and a Master of Science
in Higher Education from
Capella University. Mabel is a
WELCOMED addition to our
Counseling staff.
COYOTE HOWLER
Tolbert
Behind the
Life of a
Party
Meet Kara Tolbert, Cerro
Coso’s new Campus Manager
for Contract and Community
Education. Kara attended
the University of Las Vegas
earning a Bachelor of Arts in
Communications with emphasis in
Public Relations and Journalism.
While in college she landed a
Kara Tolbert, Campus
job with a large event planning
Manager for Contract and
company. “Event planning can be
Community Education
a very rewarding job, but it can
also be a very stressful one,” said Kara. No two days alike, planning
small gatherings to large events, like Celine Dion’s 5th Anniversary
at Caesar Place, is an experience unlike any other. “I loved the
creative aspects and the excitement of the job,” said Kara, often
working to the point of exhaustion. “It was a crazy, busy, sleepless
life. You cannot leave your work at the office, and you often feel cut
off from the rest of world.” It was a great experience for a young
lady in her 20’s, but Kara wanted a quieter life and a family. So she
returned to her roots and started substitute teaching for Sierra
Sands Unified School District. She earned a Teaching Credential
in English and taught at a number of local schools. When she saw
the job advertised at Cerro Coso she knew it was a good fit for her
experience. Her goal for these programs is to develop them into
two sustainable entities. Kara is very excited about a children and
teens summer program she is working on for community education
that will keep local youth entertained. Kara and her husband Justin
have two children: Autumn (14) and Emma (7). As if life wasn’t busy
enough, Kara owns Ridgecrest Thunder All Stars Competitive Cheer
currently the West Coast Regional Champions for a small gym for
youths 5 to 19. Tolbert’s Got SPIRIT! Welcome.
3
Sherrick
Leads
Volleyball
Team
in Postseason
Awards
Year two of Women’s
Volleyball at Cerro Coso
wrapped up in November
with awards for the Lady
Coyotes top performers. The
Foothill Athletic Conference
Ashley Sherrick, 2013
recognized several athletes
Women’s Volleyball Team
member
with all-conference honors.
Outside hitter Ashley Sherrick
was named to the First Team. Sherrick, a freshman from Ridgecrest
(Burroughs High School), receives the nod from the conference’s
coaches by ranking in the top 16 in kills per set for the state of
California. Sherrick becomes the first Coyote Volleyball player to
land first team since the program’s inception in the fall of 2012.
Second Team All-Conference recognition went to freshman libero
Adrianna Volentine (Ridgecrest/Burroughs HS) and sophomore
middle blocker Laura Metcalf (Ridgecrest/Burroughs HS). Rounding
out the recognition, was two-time all-conference performer Morgan
Fuller (Ridgecrest/Burroughs HS), a sophomore middle blocker, Nora
Sellberg (Lone Pine/Lone Pine HS), freshman outside hitter, and
Kelsey Lopez(Boron/Boron HS), freshman setter, were voted in as
All-Conference Honorable Mention. “To have so many of our players
recognized for excelling on the court just demonstrates the type of
program that Coach (Kim) Young is building,” commented Athletic
Director Joshua Sine. Sherrick and her counterparts led the Coyotes
to a 7-13 record, finishing 2-8 amongst conference foes. Way to
serve it . . . Coyotes!
The Power Of Partnerships
Starting in January and for the first time in over 20 years, residents of Inyo County will be able to take
the GED. Thanks to a coordinated effort between Cerro Coso Community College, and the Inyo County
Superintendent of Schools (ICSOS) office, the Bishop campus of the Eastern Sierra College Center will be
the site of monthly testing dates for a wide variety of State and National tests. The Bishop Campus was
recently certified as an official Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center. Pearson VUE is the leading provider
of licensing examinations for State and Federal regulatory bodies and the only California-sanctioned
company with the ability to administer the GED. The process started a few years ago after requirements
for EMT certification became national standards and there were concerns that volunteer EMTs in Inyo
County would not be able to travel outside of the County to take the national certification exam. According to Dr. Terence McAteer from
the Inyo County Superintendent of Schools, “we had been looking for a way to offer the GED test locally for years, and it just so happens
the same company Deanna had been negotiating with regarding the National EMT test is also the one authorized to provide the GED test.”
Now a variety of national and state tests can be taken at the CCCC Bishop Campus including: Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), General
Education Development (GED), Certified HealthCare Technical Specialist (CHTS), Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC), California
Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST), California Subject Examinations (CSET), California Teacher of English Learners (CTEL), and Reading
Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA), and more. “Pearson VUE testing is an example of community collaboration and persistence
bringing much needed resources to our community,” stated ESCC Director Deanna Campbell. Partnerships – Building a Better Future
Together!
4
COYOTE HOWLER
FOUNDATION FEATURE
2013 Lady Coyote Soccer Team
Women’s Soccer
Receives National Award
Only 26 schools in all divisions of collegiate soccer were recognized
with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America’s Ethics
Gold Award, and Cerro Coso Community College was one of
them. The 2013 season was definitely a learning experience for
the Lady Coyote Women’s Soccer Team. After completing their
inaugural campaign without a victory, there were some important
takeaways according to first year Head Coach Kris Dickson. “This
team went through significant growing pains but, collectively they
had a great attitude.” He continued, “I knew we couldn’t quantify
success in wins and losses. It was about making small strides each
match, which we did.” Dickson attributes the national award to
the team buying into the vision he set from the outset. The team
award highlights a year where individual recognition was received
as well. Goalkeeper Sarah McDonald was a unanimous selection
for the Foothill Conference First Team All-Conference. McDonald
saved more shots on goal this year, than most keepers see in a
whole career saving 173 attempts. McDonald’s first team selection
represents the first Coso Women’s Soccer player to receive such a
nod. Additionally, defensive specialist Jazmin Rodriguez received
Second Team All-Conference recognition for her consistent
performance. Dickson plans to build on the postseason award
momentum and, as he said, “hit the recruitment trail and let
student-athletes know there is a place for them to continue their
education and compete at a high level.” Way to Go Coyotes – You
Made Us Proud!
ESCC Career Connections
In an effort to help Inyo and Mono county residents find pathways to
gainful employment, the Eastern Sierra Employment Collaborators
group, in partnership with ESCC, proudly announces the 3rd
annual Career Connections Event. The fair is designed to offer
locals an opportunity to learn about job, internship, and volunteer
opportunities, as well as gather information about the education
and skills that employers find desirable. ESCC will offer guidance to
career-seekers with regards to career technical education pathways
available through Cerro Coso. This year’s event was held on January
30th, from 12-4 PM, in the Great Hall of the Bishop’s ESCC campus.
It is anticipate that this year’s Career Connections will continue to
build upon its already stellar track record! ESCC building pathways
to gainful employment.
L to R: Debbie Hess (Southern California Edison), Faith
Fortuno, Sean Jarrett, Krystina Lucas (in the middle
front row), Jessica Dodge (behind Krystina), Jackylyn
Wallace (middle front row), Jenny Hanley (KRV Ed
Cultural Foundation), Lisa Stephens, and Tim McGlew
(KRV Education and Cultural Foundation President).
KRVECF Awards
Scholarships
Five Cerro Coso students at the Kern River Valley Campus have
been awarded scholarships by the Kern River Valley Education
and Cultural Foundation (KRVECF) funded by Southern California
Edison. Jackylyn Wallace, Sean Jarrett, Faith Fortuno, Krystina
Lucas, and Jessica Dodge each received a $500 scholarship to
help pay for tuition, fees, and educational expenses. Together
the KRVEC Foundation and SCE provide valuable resources to
help students complete their programs and succeed in their particular areas of study. The Kern River Valley Education and Cultural Foundation puts on a free Summer River Rhythms Concert
Series, awards the Clayton A. Witherow Academic Achievement
Award, the Rev. Chuck A. White Memorial Scholarship as well as
other scholarships, maintains a Cerro Coso KRV Textbook Fund
and supports the arts and culture in the Kern River Valley. “The
KRV Education and Cultural Foundation is truly pleased to be
able to make these scholarships available for deserving students
here in the Kern Valley,” said Foundation President Tim McGlew.
KRVECF – Transforming Lives.
BAKERSFIELD COLLEGE
CERRO COSO COLLEGE
PORTERVILLE COLLEGE
About this Publication
The Coyote Howler is a publication of Cerro Coso Community College.
For more information about the stories in this publication,
or to include information in this publication, contact Natalie Dorrell,
Public Information Manager, at 760.384.6260 or
email ndorrell@cerrocoso.edu.