Chinese New Year Celebration at Williams Campus

Come celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year, learn about Chinese culture, enjoy FREE food and live performances at the 2018 “Year of the Dog” celebration. The event will be held Wednesday, February 14 from 11 am to 1 pm inside Bridget Hall’s Higley Room and is free to students. Hope to see you there!

CGCC Announces Exciting 2018 Spring Performing Arts Season

Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) is excited to announce a season full of music, comedy, dance, theater and drama for its 2018 Performing Arts Season.

The theatrical lineup will kick off with the renowned musical “Monty Python’s SPAMALOT” by Eric Idle March 2-5. This Tony® Award Winning Best Musical retells the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, and features a bevy of beautiful show girls, not to mention cows, killer rabbits, and French people.

Following “Spamalot” is the theatrical comedic performance “Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet)” by Ann-Marie MacDonald in which Constance Ledbelly, a young English literature professor from Queen's University, goes on a subconscious journey of self-discovery. The comedy is a feminist revision of Shakespeare’s Othello and Romeo and Juliet, and takes the audience from a dusty office in Canada’s Queen’s University into the fraught and furious worlds of two of Shakespeare’s best-known tragedies, and turns them upside-down. The show will run March 22-24.

Rounding out the CGCC spring theater lineup is Clark Gesner’s beloved musical “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown”, based on Charles Schulz’s famous comic strip, Peanuts.  This musical comedy runs April 26-28 and features the entire Peanuts gang including Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Sally, Schroder and Snoopy in a variety of vignettes and songs.

“Spring 2018 will bring a well-rounded repertoire of dance, drama, comedy and musical acts to the stage for all to enjoy,” said Randy Wright, Division Chair for Communications and Fine Arts at CGCC. “We invite the public to come out and support the talent on stage, the students and faculty behind the scenes and to learn more about our performing arts program while enjoying a terrific show.”

This year's Spring Performing Arts lineup also features a variety of vocal and instrumental music concerts.  The Jazz Band Concert on February 12 starts a week of music followed by the Orchestra Concert on February 13 and the Band Concert on February 14.  

Jazz Night, the very popular event featuring the CGCC Jazz Combo, Big Band and Vocal Jazz Ensemble, will be happening on April 16. For something different, sit outside the amphitheater, enjoy the beautiful Arizona weather, and join the Jazz Combo for Midday Jazz at 11:30 am on February 28 and April 4.  For those of you who love guitar and percussion sounds, the Strum and Drum Concert on April 23 will be right for you.

If you’re looking for a night of fun and laughter, attend a Comedy Improv show with “Off the Cuff.”  This show has offered free live comedy shows, featuring the fresh and funny talents of student and community member comedians, for the past 18 years. Enjoy ridiculously funny, family-friendly, game-style improv comedy on February 23 and April 6 at 7 pm. 

If comedy isn’t your thing, maybe dance is. See a variety of dance styles choreographed by creative dance faculty at the Faculty Choreographed Dance Showcase on April 13 and 14. Or come and see the choreographic talents of students at the Student Dance Showcase on May 4 and 5.

 The CGCC Combined Choirs will perform Beethoven’s 9^th Symphony on March 25 alongside the Chandler Symphony Orchestra at the Chandler Center for the Arts. Other musical performances include the Vocal Major Recitals on February 5 and March 26 as well as the Spring Choral Concerts on March 27 and May 7. May continues as a jam-packed month with the Broadway Solo Performance Showcase on May 9, the Student Directed Scenes May 2- 3 and the Student Actors Showcase on May 4.

All shows are open to the public and most are free.

 For ticketed events, tickets can be purchased online or at the CGCC Box Office located on the Pecos Campus. The box office window opens one hour before show time. Attendees can purchase available tickets or pick up reserved tickets from Will Call. Student prices are offered to those with a valid student ID. Doors open a half hour prior to the performance. For additional information, further assistance or a complete calendar of events, please call the box office at 480-732-7343 or visit www.cgc.edu/arts.

 

Holiday Reminders

On behalf of the CGCC faculty and staff, we want to express our sincere thanks for allowing us to support you throughout the academic year.

A couple of reminders before we break for the holiday:

All CGCC campuses will be closed November 23 & 24
Classes resume on November 27
Midday Jazz Concert November 29
“Fiddler on the Roof” Performance November 30-December 2
Student Dance Showcase December 8 & 9
Student Actors Showcase and Marimba Concert December 8
Concert Choir Symphony of the Southwest Orchestra at the Mesa Arts Center Ikeda Theater December 9
Last Day of Regular Classes December 10
Final Exams December 11-14
Winter Sampler Music Concert on December 11
Broadway Solo Recital on December 13

We hope you have a wonderful holiday surrounded by family, friends, and of course, good food. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

Empty Bowls Raises Funds to Fight Local Hunger

Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) raised over $5,700 for AZCEND, formerly Chandler Christian Community Center, to assist families in need of food at the 5^th Annual Empty Bowls event on Tuesday, October 24^th. The event was sponsored by members of Student Life and the Service-Learning Office. Attendees purchased handmade ceramic bowls for $10 made by the CGCC service-learning ceramic students with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting AZCEND.

 

"We cannot thank our ceramics faculty and students enough for sharing their art in such a unique way,” said Alexandra Cannell-Wendt, Service-Leaning Coordinator at CGCC. “For every $20 raised, CGCC was to provide $100 worth of food to AZCEND. We are also thankful for nutrition students and faculty who helped serve soup and bread, our donors, and AZCEND for partnering to help end food insecurity in our community.”

 

Event attendees were served a 300-calorie meal which included a cup of hot soup and a bread roll donated by Dilly's Deli and Liberty Market. This small portion meal was meant to signify the average number of calories a food-insecure person eats in one day.

 

Empty Bowls at CGCC is part of a district-wide fundraiser that raises funds for families in support of World Food Day (October 16), a day of action for people around the world to come together to declare their commitment to eradicate hunger.

 

AZCEND’s mission and vision is to change lives by nourishing minds and bodies to create a connected thriving community and to have a healthy and productive community built on a foundation of dignity and hope. Each year AZCEND distributes over 15,000 food boxes locally with enough food to feed 50,000 adults and children. For more information about AZCEND visit www.azcend.org.

 

 

 

 

Celebrate Native American Heritage Month at CGCC

In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) will be hosting the annual kickoff on Wednesday, November 1 from 12:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. at the Student Pavilion at CGCC’s Pecos Campus. The event will feature Master of Ceremony Moonie, live dance performance by Indigenous Enterprise, poetry by Roanna Shebala, music by Rae Scott and authentic fry bread by Yellowman Fry Bread.

The festival is free are open to the public and sponsored by the Vice President of Student Affairs, CGCC Student Life and Leadership, Co-Curricular Programs, and Maricopa Community Colleges District American Indian Early Outreach Office.

November is national Native American Heritage Month, and is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native people.

CGCC Welcomes Heard Museum Curator to Pecos Campus

Interested in learning more about Native American history in Arizona? Join CGCC and Marcus Monenerkit of the Heard Museum on Monday, October 23 in the Agave Room at the Pecos Campus for an intimate look at Native American heritage and culture. Marcus is the Director of Community Engagement for the Heard Museum and an expert in Native American art and history. Some of the exhibits he has curated for the Heard Museum include: Beautiful Games: American Indian Sport and Art, American Indian Codetalkers, N. Scott Momaday: Poems and Paintings, Stars and Stripes in Native American Art, and Sole Stories: American Indian Footwear.

Marcus will available for the following timeslots on October 23:

Session 1: 8:30 - 9:45 a.m.

Session 2: 10:00 - 11:15 a.m.

Session 3: 11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

Session 1 & 3: Managing Change- American Indian Sport Exhibition.

Examine the educational benefits of creating museum sport exhibitions.

This session will take participants through a catalog of exhibition photos and anecdotes connected to the Heard Museum’s exhibition: Beautiful Games: American Indian Sport and Art. The story is guided by 15 years of research focused on the goals of exhibition pedagogy, art education, and alternative models for resource stewardship.

Session 2: Natural Collaboration- Why, Who, and How.

Participatory session that seeks answers to questions about the best practices for meaningful and purposeful collaboration. Session examines Native

Pragmatism. Introduced by Scott Pratt, U of Oregon. Native Pragmatism is a look at the origins of the most American philosophy and the American Indian connection to its framework of community, interaction, pluralism, and growth.

About Marcus Monenerkit

Marcus has worked in the museum field for 19 years. His career began at the National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution. He has been at the Heard Museum since 1998. Presently, he is the Director of Community Engagement for the Heard Museum. His formal education includes a Bachelor degree in Anthropology from Wichita State University, and a Master of Nonprofit Studies from Arizona State University. His goals are to continue to strive for knowledge using a multidisciplinary approach, and define the importance of art to both sociological theory and practice.

What is the Heard Museum?

Heard Museum – Incorporated in 1929, the museum’s mission is to be the world’s preeminent museum for the presentation, interpretation and advancement of American Indian art, emphasizing its intersection with broader artistic and cultural themes.

Since its founding in 1929, the Heard Museum has grown in size and stature to become recognized internationally for the quality of its collections, world-class exhibitions, educational programming and its Dedicated to the advancement of American Indian art, the Heard presents stories of American Indian people from a community perspective, as well as exhibitions that showcase the individual work and beauty of traditional and contemporary art.

The Heard Museum sets the standard for collaborating with American Indian artists and tribal communities to provide visitors with a distinctive perspective about the art of Native people, especially those from the Southwest.

CGCC’s David Muñoz Receives Alberto Ríos Literary/Arts Award

The Victoria Foundation to honor Muñoz for his literary contributions

Chandler-Gilbert Community College is pleased to announce that Dr. David Muñoz, Residential Philosophy and Religious Studies faculty member has been named the recipient of the Albert Ríos, Outstanding Literary/Arts award by The Victoria Foundation. This award, named after the renowned Arizona poet and long-time Arizona State University professor Alberto Ríos, recognizes the contributions of local educators who have made a significant impact on literacy and art in education.

“I am honored to receive the Alberto Ríos Outstanding Literary Award,” said Dr. Muñoz. “The work of Alberto Ríos, is truly a representation of not only the Chicano community, but also the immigrant Hispanic community living in the state of Arizona, at the beginning of the 21st century. I am humbled to receive this award from my peers and to represent Chandler-Gilbert Community College.”

Dr. Muñoz’s literary and academic career spans more than 40 years. A native of Mexico City, he began his college career at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico in the department of Philosophy and Letters. Following graduation, he migrated to the United States in 1975, where his academic journey continued. He obtained several degrees in numerous fields including an associate degree in Theatre Arts from Southwestern College; a bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies from Grand Canyon University; two master's degrees, one in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary, and the other in Hispanic Literature, from Arizona State University and a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion from Trinity Theological Seminary.

Along with his passion for education, Dr. Muñoz also has a passion for Hispanic/Chicano writing and sharing his devout culture with his readers. He is a bilingual writer, and has written in several genres, short stories, chronicles, essays, and a number of textbooks. His works include: “Insanities, Soundness, and Reality: A collection of short stories told perhaps by the same person,” “Editorial Garabatos,” “El Santo Don Patricio,” and “México de mis recuerdos,” to name a few. He also founded “Peregrinos y sus letras,” an internet bilingual magazine platform for authors from around the world to share their works.

Dr. Muñoz came to Chandler-Gilbert Community College in 1994 as an adjunct professor in religious studies and philosophy. He gained residential faculty status in 1997. Since becoming a member of the CGCC community, Dr. Muñoz has inspired thousands of students through his teachings and love of writing. Each year he introduces students in his class to the literary works of renowned Hispanic/Chicano writers such as those from Stella Pope Duarte, Sandra Cisneros and Lucha Corpi. He also works effortlessly to bring these authors to the campus of CGCC to engage with students in dialogue about their literary contributions.

“This award gives me the opportunity to see that my work has not been in vain,” says Muñoz. “Because all us, as a community, continue to improve ourselves and will maintain our effort, to always present an accurate image of what it means to be Chicano, Mexican-American and or Hispanic, in the United States of America.”

Dr. Muñoz will be honored at The Victoria Foundation’s 8th Annual Arizona Higher Education Awards event on September 6th at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel.

Greetings Coyote Family!

Hope you are enjoying the last few weeks of your summer break. Before you know it, you will be back on campus at CGCC meeting friends, filling your brain with knowledge and making new strides towards accomplishing your academic goals.

As the fall semester approaches, we wanted to share a few important reminders to ensure you have a smooth back-to-school transition.

Class Schedule

The first official day of classes is Saturday, August 19; however, many of you will start classes on Monday, August 21. If you have questions about your current class schedule or simply need to make a change to your schedule, there are many options to do so.
Click on our online registration page, visit our campus registration offices located inside the Coyote Center on the Pecos Campus and Bluford Hall on the Williams Campus or contact a representative by phone at 480-732-7320.

Parking

Also, if you are new to CGCC this fall and plan to park a vehicle on campus, you must register your vehicle with the CGCC Public Safety office and secure a parking decal.

Per campus policy, all CGCC students, faculty and staff are required to obtain and display a MCCCD parking decal while parking on campus. Failure to comply with the parking policy will result in ticketing and possibly towing of your vehicle. Parking lots are patrolled daily by campus security, so please act soon and secure your proper credentials.

CGCC Pride

Don’t forget to stop by our campus bookstores to purchase books, school supplies and the latest CGCC gear. The bookstores sell a variety of CGCC branded items including t-shirts, sweatshirts, notebooks and water bottles. Purchasing these items is a great way to showcase your Coyote school spirit. Beginning this week, the bookstores will extend their hours to accommodate students back to school shopping needs. Visit the campus bookstore website for locations and hours of operation.

Celebrate

Lastly, we are excited to announce that this October marks the 25^th anniversary of Chandler-Gilbert Community College! There will be a campus celebration event on the evening of October 12^th. Save the date and more details will follow.

We can’t believe it’s been 25 years since we opened our doors. On behalf of the faculty and staff at CGCC, we want to thank you choosing CGCC as partner in your education. We are truly grateful and humbled to share in your academic journey and we look forward to celebrating this wonderful milestone with all of you.

That’s all for now. We look forward to seeing you on campus, and enjoy the rest of your summer break.

Go Coyotes!

The Great American Eclipse Viewing Party at Chandler-Gilbert Community College

Experience one of America’s greatest celestial wonders by attending The Great American Eclipse viewing party at Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC). The CGCC Physical Sciences and Engineering Division, and the Astronomy Department, is hosting a viewing party for students and the local community on Monday, August 21^st. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience this rare astronomical moment by viewing the total eclipse through specialty telescopes while learning about its significance from CGCC astronomers. In addition to the viewing party, CGCC will live stream the eclipse on the campus Facebook page for viewers alike.

“This event is important to the CGCC community as it puts us in contact with multiple parts of our history, and of the development of astronomy as a science and the beautiful nature of this cosmic alignment,” said Ángel G. Fuentes, CGCC Astronomer and faculty member. “Students, staff, and the community will have a chance to take a closer look at the sun in a safe manner. They will be able to see sunspots (if any are visible), and slowly see the moon moving in front of the sun.”

The Great American Eclipse, is a total solar eclipse stretching across the United States going from Oregon through the heartland of the U.S., all the way to South Carolina. This type of eclipse has not been seen for almost 100 years. The last total solar eclipse that was visible in the U.S. from coast-to-coast was on June 8, 1918. Totality of the eclipse will only be visible in the path of the umbra, the darkest part of the eclipse’s shadow, which includes Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and South Carolina. The eclipse will appear as a partial eclipse everywhere else in the continental U.S.

A solar eclipse occurs when the sun, the moon, and the earth align. Sunlight hits the moon, and the moon casts its shadow into space. As the moon, and the earth move in their respective orbits, the shadow of the moon moves over specific parts of the surface of the Earth. This creates the eclipse. “This eclipse is also special because its totality will only be visible from American soil,” said Prof. Fuentes. “Eclipses have been an important part of the history of our civilization, and have come to mean different things to different cultures. Eclipses have particularly special meaning to Native tribes, Mesoamerican, Aboriginal, Celtic, and Greek cultures, just to name a few.”

Event attendees will have the opportunity to view the eclipse in a safe manner through telescopes equipped with certified sun filters making it safe to look at the eclipse. There will also be demonstrations on how to build a pinhole camera which is another safe, easy option to view the eclipse. “It is important that people never look directly at the sun, even during an eclipse,” said Prof. Fuentes. “There are many easy options people can use to view the eclipse such as a homemade pinhole camera, a pasta strainer, number 14 welder’s glasses or certified eclipse glasses. Never ever use a telescopes or binoculars to look at the sun without a properly certified filter.”

The Great American viewing party will take place on Monday, August 21 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in front of Ironwood Hall on the Pecos Campus, by the Grounds for Thought coffee shop. The event is free and open to the public. For more information on the eclipse visit https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov.

Chandler-Gilbert Community College Honors 2017 Teal & Silver Recipients

Community leaders recognized for their contributions to CGCC!

Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) honored their 14th Annual Teal & Silver award recipients during a breakfast event at the college's Williams Campus on Tuesday, May 9. Ten winners were recognized for their dedication and support of CGCC students, employees, programs, services and the college community.
The 2017 Teal & Silver Award recipients are:   
• Bill Rotondo, Chandler Christian Community Center-Community Organization Partner
• City of Chandler & East Valley Jewish Community Center-Community Organization Partners
• Cynthia Nannetti, CGCC Law Enforcement Training Academy Instructor-Community Leader
• Diane Fernichio, Step Up Schools Mesa-K-12 School Colleague
• Dinah Guy, Highland High School-K-12 School Colleague
• Orbital ATK-Business Partner
• Rosanne Shaw, Chandler High School-K-12 School Colleague
• Southwest Airlines-Donor Partner
• Troy Rundle, ASU Vet Success-University Partner
• Violet Nelson, Chandler High School-K-12 School Colleague

“The community leaders and businesses honored with a Teal & Silver award provide Chandler-Gilbert Community College and its students with vital support that improves their experience and contributes to their success,” said William Guerriero, Chandler-Gilbert Community College Interim President “Whether through direct interaction, funding for scholarships, or support for the college and its’ programs, we are truly grateful for their involvement and dedication.”
The Chandler-Gilbert Community College Teal & Silver Awards program was created to recognize the contributions of individuals who support Chandler-Gilbert Community College through various efforts. 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, support the delivery of instruction, providing resources or assisting with cost-saving measures and advocating for the college in media, with elected officials and in the community.

Chandler-Gilbert Community College’s 14^th Annual Teal & Silver recipients were honored May 9 at celebration breakfast event at the college’s Williams Campus in Mesa.

Back row from left to right: Leah Powell, City of Chandler, Mike Miller, Southwest Airlines; Rick Kettner, Orbital Sciences; Bill Rotondo, Chandler Christian Community Center-Community; Diane Fernichio, Step Up Schools Chandler Hadassah Baldinger, East Valley Jewish Community Center; Dinah Guy, Highland High School; Violet Nelson, Chandler High School and Troy Rundle, Arizona State University Veteran’s Success Program.

Front row from left to right: Rabbi Michael Beyo, East Valley Jewish Community Center; Nachie Marquez, City of Chandler; Niki Tapia, City of Chandler; Cynthia Nannetti, Chandler-Gilbert Community College Law Enforcement Training Academy and Rosanne Shaw, Chandler High School.

CGCC Men’s Golfers are Headed to Nationals

Congratulations to Coyote men’s golfers Michael Marreel (sophomore) and Tommy Sullivan (freshman) for their achievements on the course this season. Both golfers recently qualified for nationals and will represent Chandler-Gilbert Community College at the National Junior College Athletic Association Men’s Golf Championship tournament May 23-26. The event will be held at the Longbow Golf Club in Mesa.  Results can be found at www.golfstat.com under the men's golf results and schedules tab.

Michael was named second team all-conference this year with a scoring average of 73 while Tommy lead the Coyotes with an average scoring of 75. Both golfers will compete for a national championship title alongside some of the best collegiate golfers in the nation.

On behalf of the entire CGCC community, congrats on your accomplishments and good luck at nationals. Go Coyotes! 

 

Edgar Allan Poe’s Stories Come to Life in CGCC’s Production of "Nightfall"

CGCC Performing Arts Department invites you to attend this weekend’s production of “Nightfall With Edgar Allan Poe,” a student led production based on the eerie writings of renowned writer Edgar Allan Poe. The play retells four of Poe's most famous works: “The Raven,” “The Fall of the House of Usher,” “The Pit and the Pendulum” and “The Tell-Tale Heart” through different styles of storytelling.

“Edgar Allan Poe's work is some of the best-known horror ever written; and after reading Eric Coble’s “Nightfall,” I experienced the desire to bring the material to the stage in a unique way,” said Shaylnn Reynolds, play director and CGCC theater professor. “The cast worked exceptionally hard on preparing for this unconventional production and we hope the audience enjoys our show.”

“The Raven,” the most poetic of the four tales, is told using interpretive movement, shadow play and gloving. “The Fall of the House of Usher” is recounted in the style of 1930-40's black and white horror movies mixed with film noir. “The Tell-Tale Heart” presents a whole new outlook when viewed through the lens of Dr. Seuss.  And “The Pit and the Pendulum” explores the interior of the human brain when the id and subconscious separate and gain sentience.

Immerse yourself in “Nightfall with Edgar Allan Poe” and check your heartbeat at the door! We hope to see you there.

Show Details:
“Nightfall With Edgar Allan Poe”
Arnette Scott Ward Performing Arts Center - 2626 E. Pecos Rd. in Chandler.
Performance Schedule:
• March 23, 24 & 25 at 7:30 pm
• March 25 at 2 pm

Tickets:
Ticket can be purchased for $10-$12 online at www.cgc.edu/arts or at the box office by calling (480) 732-7343.

CGCC Student Leaders Attend National Hispanic Conference

 

Ten members of Chandler-Gilbert Community College’s Hispanic Student Organization (HSO) had the distinguished honor of representing Arizona at the 35th Annual United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI) National Conference in Chicago February 16-19. Freshmen Isabelle Rosales and Dalia Prado were among the CGCC representatives to join over 6,000 attendees for the unique cultural experience and educational opportunity.

The annual conference was held at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Hotel in downtown Chicago and featured representatives from 40 states including the 10 representatives from CGCC. Conference attendees had the opportunity to meet with recruiters, influential Hispanic leaders, national policy-makers and potential future employers. The conference theme ¡La Luche Sigue! Core Values Never Give Up inspired attendees to inspire positive change in the Hispanic community.

“This conference was so much more than just a networking opportunity for me,” said Prado. “I was inspired, empowered, and motivated to be an activist in my community and work harder in school. The workshops and speeches given at this conference empowered me in finding out more about my identity as a Hispanic woman in this country.”

HSO students participated in workshops on a variety of topics including professional development, diversity and community empowerment; and they attended career and graduate school expos throughout their two-day visit. The students also had the opportunity to participate in discussions about taking pride in their heritage and the importance of unifying as a culture. 

“I will always remember the many themes of this year’s conference and apply them to our community in hopes of bringing us closer together,” said Rosales. “As Chandler Gilbert Community College approaches becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution, I will apply the lessons of empowerment to fellow Hispanic students to encourage them to continue to further their education and be a force of change within our community...because Si Se Puede!”

If you are interested in learning more about the Hispanic Student Organization at CGCC contact the organization’s advisor Greg Wojtovich at greg.wojtovich@cgc.edu or 480-857-5213.

Four students from CGCC named to All-Arizona Academic Teams

Recognized for academic achievements and distinguished leadership

CHANDLER, Ariz. –  March 20, 2017 --Four Chandler-Gilbert Community College students were recognized for their outstanding academic achievements and distinguished leadership at the 2017 All-Arizona Academic Recognition Ceremony on March 9 at the Hilton Phoenix/Mesa Hotel. Students Yessica Avitia, Danielle Jones, Adrian Ruiz and Rachel Torne joined 22 other Maricopa Community College District students to be honored for their success.

“Congratulation to Yessica, Danielle and Adrian and Rachel’s on being named to the All-Arizona Academic Team,” said William Guerriero, interim president at CGCC. “We commend you on your hard work and determination needed to receive this distinguished honor. We are honored to have you as part of the CGCC community and know you will go on to achieve great success in your academic and professional careers.”

To be considered for an All-Arizona Academic Teams, students must maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale, be in good academic standing, be working on an associate degree, demonstrate leadership and be involved on campus and/or volunteer in their communities.

In addition, Phi Theta Kappa, American Association of Community Colleges, Arizona Community Colleges, Arizona Board of Regents and USA TODAY help these exceptional students reach their educational goals by awarding scholarships and issuing tuition waivers to Arizona’s three universities: Arizona State University, University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University.

Judging to select the recipients consisted of three rounds. In the first round, a group of local businesses, civic, education and government leaders reviewed applications and chose the recipients of the award. Only two students are selected from each college campus. The selected recipients’ applications were then forwarded to Washington, D.C., for second and third rounds of judging and scoring by representatives from various federal agencies and national education associations. Those scores were used to rank the students for first, second or third state teams. First Team members receive a $1,000 scholarship, Second Team members a $750 scholarship and Third Team members a $500 scholarship to one of Arizona’s state universities.

Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Williams Campus

Danielle Jones - Third Team

Transferring to: Arizona State University -- Major: Power Plant Engineering
Jones plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in power plant engineering at Arizona State University. Her 12-year commitment career goal is to earn the Designated Engineering Representative (DER) certification through the Federal Aviation Administration.

 

Adrian Ruiz - Second Team
Transferring to: Arizona State University -- Major: Nursing
Ruiz plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing at Arizona State University and become a registered nurse at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and later continue his service to the military and veteran community as a registered nurse at the Phoenix VA Healthcare System.

Chandler Gilbert Community College, Pecos Campus

Yessica Avitia Santos - Second Team
Transferring to: Arizona State University -- Major: Business
Avitia plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in business at Arizona State University and become a CEO of an international company while continuing to volunteer for organizations such as Boys and Girls Clubs and StreetLight USA.

Rachel Torne - Second Team
Transferring to: Arizona State University -- Major: Early Childhood Education/Special Education

Torne plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and special education
at Arizona State University and become an early childhood teacher for kindergarten-third graders or for an early childhood autism program. Torne plans to simultaneously earn her master’s degree, endorsements for her teaching certificate and be highly involved in the education community.

CGCC Celebrates Black History Month

Chandler-Gilbert Community College campuses have a full lineup of programs and activities this month to celebrate the rich intellectual and cultural contributions made by African Americans in the United States. We have everything from performances and special guests to a gallery reception and poetry reading. See a list of our events below. All events are free and open to the public. Hope to see you there

Rocko the Dog to Receive 'Bucket List' Wish, Earns College Degree

Chandler-Gilbert Community College’s (CGCC) alumni community is now more diverse than ever with the addition of its first canine graduate, Rocko the dog!  Rocko, our lovable four-legged friend, was presented with an honorary "AGEC" (A Generally Educated Canine) degree from CGCC on January 23 during Dr. Regi Munro’s Anatomy & Physiology class.

Earning a college degree was the next item on Rocko’s "bucket list." The 8-year-old Lab mix who was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer had been in and out of shelters for years.  Maricopa County Animal Care and Control (MCACC) says Rocko had been surrendered to their Mesa campus because his owner was moving and could no longer care for him. Last March, he was adopted but returned to the shelter a month later. In May, another person adopted Rocko, but once again he was surrendered — this time because he was sick.

MCACC volunteers have grown attached to the lovable Rocko who has become far more than a companion, but an inspiration.   Especially for Mike Mosteller, Rocko’s new foster parent, a retired U.S. Marine who suffers from PTSD and has found both a friend and a source of therapy in Rocko as a service dog.  “When people hear that I have taken in Rocko, they call me a hero,” shared Mike, “but it’s Rocko and dogs like him who are the real heroes.”  It is this bond with Rocko that led Mike and the MCACC family to make Rocko’s final days his best by creating a bucket list of experiences they felt he would love.

The first item on Rocko’s list was to be a real fire dog and ride on a fire engine.  Sure enough, on January 13 Rocko joined the Mesa firefighters sounding the siren and cruising through the city on a fire engine drawing the attention of the community.  Rocko’s endearing story was picked up widely by local news outlets and when people learned of his pursuit they wanted to help.

Dr. Munro reached out to the MCACC suggesting that Rocko next check off his dream to graduate from college.  As the chair of the Biological Sciences Division at CGCC, Dr. Munro saw real meaning to having Rocko join her BIO 202 Human Anatomy & Physiology class.

"It is important for me that my students know that all members of their family matter and count.  I impart on my students the importance of balance with school family, friendships, and our pets," said Dr. Munro.  "Also, I was touched by how Rocko and Mike found each other, help to heal one another and bring joy to each others’ lives.  I have many student veterans and several students who have service dogs attend school with them and help to provide emotional support and care.  I found it only fitting that for all our dogs do for us, Rocko should be able to earn an honorary degree of his own."
Dr. Munro, with the blessing of Dr. William Guerriero, interim president of CGCC, e-mailed her bucket list idea for Rocko to MCACC, sharing her reasoning and the connection she felt to his and Mike’s story.  MCACC and Rocko enthusiastically accepted the invitation and at approximately 10:30 am on January 23, 2017 Rocko took one small step for dogs, one giant leap for dog-kind.  Rocko’s tail wagged as Dr. Guerriero and Dr. Munro presented him with an "AGEC" degree in front of a classroom full of students, staff and local news outlets.

What’s next on Rocko's bucket list?  After fighting fires in Mesa and donning his cap and gown in Chandler, Rocko, a die-hard Cubs fan, hopes to run the bases at Sloan Park and lounge in the outfield.  Beyond that, Rocko, Mike and MCACC are hard at work planning the next adventure.

Want to help Rocko cross off his list?  Help him to stay healthy!  Rocko's initial tests for his diagnosis, his chemotherapy medications and doctor’s visits are being covered by Creative Contributions, a local non-profit organization helping shelter animals gain access to full service medical care. Visit www.creativecontributions.org to help Rocko and many other animals in need.

View the KPHO CBS Channel 5 clip 

Save A Life, Donate Blood Today

Chandler-Gilbert Community College has partnered with United Blood Services to host a blood drive at the Pecos Campus on January 24, 25 & 26 from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm. The United Blood Services bus will be parked on the sidewalk of Queen Creek Mall located south of the Saguaro Building. Visit www.bloodhero.com code: CGCC to schedule your lifesaving blood donation. One donation of blood has the potential to save three lives.

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Hermanas Conference Promotes Science, Technology, Engineering and Math to Latina Middle School Students

This Friday, over 200 middle school Latina students from surrounding East Valley school districts will participate in the annual Hermanas: Diseña Tu Futuro (Design Your Future) Conference at the Chandler-Gilbert Community College Williams Campus in Mesa. The one-day conference hosted by the Intel Corporation in partnership with CGCC, introduces underrepresented Latina students to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) related careers, interact with successful Latinas in STEM fields, receive encouragement to finish school, attend college and to pursue their goals. 

 During the Hermanas Conference students will engage in fun, interactive workshop activities about solar cells, DNA, coding, physics, astronomy and chemistry. In addition to the activities, students will have the opportunity to attend a college fair, participate in the Latina Town Hall and listen to encouraging words from special guest speakers Anna Tanguma-Gallegos, Arizona Science Center and Erika Diaz; former Hermanas participant, University of Arizona graduate and current medical school applicant. 

 

Click here to read more information about the Hermanas Conference

 

CGCC to Host Native American Book Author on November 16

Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) is honored to host Dr. Andrew Needham, Associate Professor of History at New York University and author of “Power Lines: Phoenix and the Making of the Modern Southwest” for a discussion and book signing event as part of CGCC’s Native American Heritage Month activities.  The event will be held this Wednesday, November 16 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Pecos Campus Agave Room 1240. During the presentation, Dr. Needham will read excerpts from his book and participate in a Q&A session with attendees.

 

Dr. Needham’s book is based on the growth of Phoenix’s reliance on electricity and resources from the neighboring territory of the Navajo Nation. “Power Lines: Phoenix and the Making of the Modern Southwest” explores the often-untold story of Phoenix’s growth—a federally subsidized postwar boom that exploited the Navajo Nation and spurred the roots of the contemporary coal-fueled climate change crisis. This event is free and open to the public. Books will be available for purchase onsite.