Friday, October 25, 2013

300 calories a day

Many of the poor around the world survive on 300 calories each day. This fact was unacceptable to the students in Greg Trone's Health Education class and Sam Hodges and Al Paces ceramics classes.

Many community members agreed with these students and showed up at the Pecos Campus on Wednesday, Oct. 16 at the Empty Bowls event to buy hand-crafted bowls on World Hunger Day.

The ceramics students had been making the bowls since September. The day of the event, Health Education service-learning students helped set up, wrap up the unique bowls and serve the small bowl of soup that represented the minimal 300 calories the poor across the globe survive upon each day.

Southwestern corn chowder was provided by Chef Brian Dragos who works for Minor’s, a division of Nestle, and an autumn bisque was donated by Chef Wallis Berry from the Chandler Christian Community Center (CCCC).

Empty Bowls was a huge success, selling 480 handmade bowls and raising $5,170 to benefit the CCCC. The center partners with the college each semester through service-learning projects and will use the proceeds to fund their local food bank which provides 16,800 food boxes to those in need in Chandler and Gilbert, to support their Family Resource Center, and to prevent homelessness and help those who are homeless through programs like I-Help.

The CGCC Vocal Jazz Ensemble directed by Marcus Denton provided some of the musical  entertainment for the day along with several other CGCC student solo and duo performances.

Service learning employee Alex Cannell was essential in bringing the need to CGCC faculty and students. The successful event was an example of authentic teaching and learning that makes a difference in the community.

Written by Carrie Braaten and Michael Greene.


Thursday, October 10, 2013

Educator and Staff Employee of the year selected for Gilbert Excellence Awards

Anthony Braaten and Greg Wojtovich were selected as the Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) Educator of the Year and CGCC Staff Employee of the Year for the 2013 Gilbert Community Excellence Awards. The awards will be presented during an awards ceremony on Friday, Nov. 8.

Anthony Braaten, CGCC Educator of the Year
CGCC communication faculty Anthony Braaten frequently talks about CGCC as a whole working for the benefit of students. He models this vision by passionately and consistently addressing the needs of students in and out of the classroom.

In the classroom, Anthony encourages innovation and excellence through his teaching style and active-learning instructional methods. One example is the Tunnel of Oppression, where students experience the hardships of racism in a very personal, dramatic way. “Anthony observes where students are struggling and creates activities around that,” said Kolton Orcutt, 2012-2013 student body president.

Out of the classroom, Anthony serves as a faculty advisor to students, facilitates orientation sessions and volunteers to assist students the first week of each semester. He participates in many college committees including faculty senate and the president’s executive council, and, as lead faculty for the communication department, hires and mentors adjunct faculty and schedules courses.

Anthony’s deep and meaningful engagement with the community also is connected back to the campus. Hundreds of students have participated in service-learning projects with the Chandler Gilbert YMCA, where Anthony is a long-term volunteer, most notably as a vibrant member of the YMCA board.

A door is opened for all students to be successful when they are exposed to Anthony's empathic, energetic and supportive teaching and personality.

Greg Wojtovich, CGCC Staff Employee of the Year
Greg Wojtovich is a program advisor in CGCC’s Career and Placement Services. In his role, Greg develops the future workforce by helping students determine their career goals and connecting them with college, university, industry or professional resources to help them realize their dreams.

However, Greg extends his responsibility much further. He stays informed about programs within the college and the Maricopa Country Community College District as well as workplace trends and employment community developments, willingly sharing the information with both employees and students. Greg serves as a club advisor, frequently volunteers for college initiatives and assists in making presentations to college and high school classes. If he sees a need or can help a student, he does not question whether or not it is his job but takes initiative to ensure the student gets what is needed to be successful.

Greg leads by example of hard work, dedication and a passion for students and the opportunities he can make available to them. He is a mentor, colleague and friend to many and, as he walks across campus, he hears numerous calls in greeting from staff, faculty and students. Truly Greg has the coyote spirit of CGCC.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

NAACP presents CGCC's Crawford with Education Award

The East Valley chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People will present William H. Crawford, III with the Education Award at this year's East Valley NAACP annual Freedom Fund Gala on Oct. 4. Crawford is vice president of student affairs at Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) and was selected for his commitment to educational leadership and the academic success of his students inside and outside the classroom.

"Dr. Crawford exemplifies leadership in the educational community and beyond through his support, encouragement, and participation in activities and programs that promote educational equity which aligns with the mission and goals of the MCCCD and NAACP," said said Erica Alexander, representative of the East Valley NAACP.

Crawford began his employment at CGCC in July 2003 as an associate dean and was subsequently appointed to vice president of student affairs where he enhances the quality of campus life for students and extends the learning environment beyond the classroom. Prior to his career at CGCC, Crawford served as acting vice president for academic affairs and chair of Mesa Community College's (MCC) Administration of Justice Studies Department. He also served 10 years as a residential faculty member and seven years as adjunct faculty.

"Bill is an invaluable leader both at Chandler-Gilbert Community College and in the community. He is a consummate professional and a mentor to many at the college, ensuring that every action and activity taken at the college contributes to student success. The college is appreciative that he will be recognized with this honor,” said Linda Lujan, president of CGCC.

Before transitioning into education, Crawford was employed with the Phoenix Police Department for more than 23 years where he held numerous leadership positions and served with distinction. Currently, he serves as the president of the National Council on Black American Affairs’ (NCBAA) board of directors and is a member of the trustee board for the Greater Bethel A.M.E. Church.

Crawford holds both doctorate and master’s degrees in education from Northern Arizona University and a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University.

Psychology faculty published in industry-leading handbook

Psychology faculty Zoila G. Tovar-Blank, Ph.D. and Patricia Arredondo, president of the Chicago campus of the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, wrote a book chapter in the second edition of the Handbook of Multicultural Psychology published this summer by the American Psychological Association.

The chapter titled, “Multicultural competencies: A dynamic paradigm for the 21st century,” appears in volume two of the two-volume set, which presents the best science and best practice within the cross-cutting perspective of psychology. (Volume one focuses on theory and research and volume two on applications and training.)

Arredondo, a highly respected Latina psychologist well-known for her work in multicultural counseling, was invited to write the chapter for the handbook which is updated only every 10 years. She subsequently invited Tovar-Blank to co-author the chapter. They have co-authored many articles after meeting at ASU where Tovar-Blank was studying and Arredondo was a faculty member.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Arizona Horizons features Jazzoperetry, a unique art form created by CGCC vocal faculty

Arizona Horizons on PBS station Channel 8 aired a segment on Sept. 25 featuring the work of two Arizona-based opera singers who have created a unique new art form. CGCC vocal instructor Alexis Davis and her husband Earl Hazell have melded jazz, opera and poetry to form "Jazzoperetry." View the segment for a demonstration of their invention or visit their website to hear more at jazzoperetry.com.