Dual enrollment launches college journey

Read the story "Dual enrollment launches college journey" appearing in the Arizona Republic on the benefits students and parents experience by participating in dual enrollment.

High honors and multiple degrees represent CGCC graduating class

More than 1,200 students graduate today from Chandler-Gilbert Community College. Of those, 35 percent have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher and 120 are graduating with multiple degrees or certificates. Last night, the college held an awards ceremony recognizing 67 students for their outstanding efforts in academics and leadership.

     “This is a very special time of year for us,” said Linda Lujan, president of CGCC. “We get to witness and participate in our students’ success and feelings of accomplishment. They have worked exceptionally hard to get here and our faculty and staff have worked equally as hard helping them along their educational journey.”

     Kolton Orcutt, president of the associated students of CGCC, is graduating with high distinction (3.75 GPA or higher) and receiving an associate degree in business as well as a certificate in accounting. Orcutt, a 2010 graduate from Basha High School in Chandler, originally went to the University of Arizona but returned to Chandler and began classes at CGCC in fall 2011.

CGCC's nursing Class of 2013.

     “Changing colleges gave me insight into how important flexibility and perseverance are in navigating this world of constant and increasingly rapid change,” said Orcutt. “There is no roadmap, GPS, or app to guide us into our future. Despite all our planning and preparation, life happens. We can choose to surrender or prevail. Tonight’s graduates have all prevailed and are charged with taking their newly acquired knowledge and transforming it into life-altering innovations and discoveries.”

     Orcutt will join Congressman Matt Salmon in addressing the graduates at the 8 p.m. ceremony held on the Pecos campus. Salmon was selected by the college for his long-standing support of education and of veterans. Lujan notes that, though they have different opinions at times, there are points on which she and Congressman Salmon agree.

     “In addition to support for education and veterans, we agree that we are fortunate to live and work in a democracy where each of us can freely share our opposing views in a respectful, civil manner, a hallmark of democracy and of academic freedom. We also agree that tonight is not about differences, but about celebration of our students and their accomplishments.”

     The scope of student accomplishments is as diverse as the range of programs offered at the college. Nearly 70 percent of graduates completed the coursework to transfer to a four-year university. Twenty-five students will participate in the nursing pinning ceremony at the Williams Campus at 2 p.m., a long-held tradition signifying their graduation to a board-eligible registered nurse. Others will graduate with certificates or degrees in a variety of career and technical areas that will put them in high-skill, high wage jobs immediately upon graduation such as aircraft maintenance, exercise science, engineering technology, powerplant maintenance, dietetics, computer information systems, massage therapy, and electric utility technology.

      “Regardless of our specializations, we are bonded by the education and wisdom we have acquired here at Chandler-Gilbert Community College,” said Orcutt. “It is this education and our unity to achieve more together than any one of us could accomplish alone that will give us the power to seize the successes that lay before us.”

View the 2013 graduation scrapbook. 

CGCC student receives national community outreach award

Christopher Vance, a sophomore engineering major at Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC), was selected as a 2013 Newman Civic Fellows Award recipient. The award recognizes college student leaders who have demonstrated an investment in finding solutions for challenges facing communities throughout the country.

Vance, a student liaison at CGCC's  Environmental Technology Center (ETC), helps design and build compost bins and other environmental-friendly projects on campus. He has given presentations about composting to local elementary schools and serves as the president of CGCC's Humanitarian Environment Action Team (HEAT), which focuses on informing and inspiring individuals about environmental issues and humanitarian disasters.

"I am honored to receive the Newman Civic Fellows award and look forward to furthering my outreach efforts," said Vance. "I hope to grow my leadership skills through my work at the ETC and in the community as well as motivate students, staff and the CGCC campus toward a greener and more environmentally friendly world."


Newman Civic Fellows are recommended by college and university presidents to acknowledge motivation and ability in public leadership. The students represent the next generation of public problem solvers and civic leaders. They also serve as national examples of the role that higher education can—and does—play in building a better world.

Newman Civic Fellows awards are made in memory of Frank Newman, who dedicated his life to creating systemic change through education reform. At the core of Dr. Newman’s leadership was a belief in the power of individuals to make a difference and in the power of connection with others.

Learn more about the Newman Civic Fellow awards.

Three CGCC honor students receive scholarships

From left: Krista Lawless, Linda Lujan, Heidy Santana
and Nancy Justman-Lopez.

Chandler-Gilbert Community College students Nancy Justman-Lopez, Krista Lawless and Heidy Santana were honored at  Maricopa Community Colleges Honors Scholarship Reception and Academic Showcase on April 29. Santana was awarded the Chancellor's Scholarship while Lawless and Justman-Lopez received Maricopa Foundation Scholarships. During the Academic showcase portion of the evening, Santana and Lawless presented a poster on Drug and Alcohol Awareness and Justman-Lopez gave a presentation on Nature and Man-Made Disasters: Japan's 2011 Earthquake, Tsunami and Meltdown. 

CGCC's honors program is one of the largest in the district and is led by faculty members Shirley Miller and Teri Mosier, who attended the event along with CGCC President Linda Lujan.

Williams Campus mural dedicated and named Dreams Take Flight

Artist Barbara Gomez cuts the ribbon in dedication of the
new Williams Campus mural, Dreams Take Flight. The
ribbon is held by many who helped paint the mural.

A new mural designed by local artist and Williams Field High School art teacher Barbara Gomez was dedicated and named today at the Williams Campus.

Led by Cesar Becerra, student services specialist at Chandler-Gilbert Community College, the mural brought together students, faculty and staff as they designed and painted the mural during the spring 2013 semester.

The mural represents the past to the present and is rich with imagery of the former Williams Air Force Base where the campus is now housed as well as the native people and animals of the region and transforms them into icons of CGCC's current programs and student success. Students selected the name Dreams Take Flight for the mural to reflect the power of education as well as a nod to the campus history and location near Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. View a time-lapse video of the project.

Chandler-Gilbert Community College President Linda Lujan
thanks the Williams Campus community for their vision,
support and participation.

Cesar Becerra provides a time-lapse video of the project
to Barbara Gomez as a token of appreciation for the hours
spent on the project.

CGCC recognizes nine in community with Teal & Silver Awards

Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) honored nine community leaders and organizations with their Teal & Silver Award during a breakfast event at the college's Williams Campus on May 7. The winners were recognized for their commitment to and support of CGCC students, employees, programs, services and the college community.


The 2013 Teal & Silver award recipients are:

• Arizona Public Service Foundation, Donor
• Barbara Gomez, Williams Field High School Art Faculty, Vendor Partner 
• Chandler/Gilbert Family YMCA, Vendor Partner
• Cox Communications, Technology Partner
• East Valley Jewish Community Center, Community Organization Partner
• Gail Barney, Mayor Town of Queen Creek, Community Leader 
• Lisa Traube, Weinberg 3rd Grade Teacher, K-12 School Colleague
• Maricopa Community College District Facilities Planning & Development Department, Community College Colleague
• Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, Business and Industry Partner

"This year's Teal & Silver award recipients have made a significant difference to the success of our students and in our college community as a whole through their contributions and commitment to serving higher education." said Linda Lujan, Chandler-Gilbert Community College president. "None of us do this alone. Through collaboration and leveraging our different resources, we make our colleges, organizations and communities stronger. We are truly grateful for their partnership."

The Chandler-Gilbert Community College Teal & Silver Awards Program was created in 2002 by former CGCC president Maria Hesse to recognize the contributions of individuals who support the college through various efforts. This year's recipients positively impact the college by assisting with the program or service improvements, supporting creative and innovative ideas, improving the quality of the college experience, supporting the delivery of instruction, providing resources or assisting with cost-saving measures and advocating for the college in media, with elected officials and the in the community.

Seventeen CGCC students honored as 2013 Artists of Promise

Seventeen students from Chandler-Gilbert Community College were selected as 2013 Artists of Promise and asked to participate in the ninth annual Artist of Promise event on April 16. The event is a gala performance and exhibition showcasing Maricopa Community Colleges' student visual art, choreography, creative writing, theatre and music competitions.

The Maricopa County Community College District sponsors annual competitions in creative writing, dance/choreography, music, visual art and theatre. The first place winners then perform their pieces for the evening's program.

The competitions in visual art and creative writing are also sponsored nationally by the League for Innovation in the Community College, and winners of the Maricopa competitions are automatically entered into these national events.

CGCC student artists selected for recognition include:

ART

Robert Danford, Valley of the Iguana (digital), League for Innovation Selection
James Bury, Woven Platter (ceramic), Honorable Mention Selection
Emily Palomino-Ortiz, Convergence (mixed media), Honorable Mention Selection
Tracy Baker Shaw, Captain America (pastels), Honorable Mention Selection
Brianna Voron, Study of Untitled (watercolor and ink), Honorable Mention Selection
Brianna Voron, Innocence (oil paint), Honorable Mention Selection
Lawrence Kuhlman, Large Platter (ceramic)
Thelma Moren Liszak, Purse with Gold Chain (ceramic)
Clay Martinez, Composition T.C. 38b (ceramic)

Tracy Baker Shaw, Piano Man (charcoal)


CREATIVE WRITING
Essay: Matthew Boye, West of Eden, honorable mention

CHOREOGRAPHY

Group: Hailey McCourt, first place
Group: Rachel Adams, third place

MUSIC
Composition: Jaden Medlock, third place
Female Classical Voice: Jessalina Nhieu, second place
Male Classical Voice: Samuel Loose, third place
Female Musical Theatre: Rachel Kimball, second place; Jacqueline Alcocer, third place; Michelle Moyer, honorable mention
Male Musical Theatre: Samuel Loose, first place



For more information about CGCC's arts program visit cgc.edu/arts.
For information on fine arts events within MCCCD visit mcli.maricopa.edu/arts.